“So are we second cousins or first cousins twice removed? Or is that the same thing?”
“Actually I think you might be 3rd cousins once removed.”
Aunt Odile has the bunnies’ favourite family album on the kitchen table spread open on the family tree page. She painted it herself as an intricate fir tree complete with multiple branches and roots, showing how the whole Nibbles dynasty has grown – the Králíčeks in Bohemia, The Havuçs in Anatolia, The Saltandos in Catalonia.
Olé and Elton are standing on the same chair leaning over the book so they can properly see, while their beloved aunt tells them about their famed English cousins that are listed in the sand-bank roots of the tree: Mr. and Mrs. Rabbit and their kids, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter.
“Apparently Peter was a bit of dare devil.. he actually worked as a stunt bunny in later life.. always managing to land on his feet and get away.. but usually by the seat of his pants.. sometimes even without them. Oh, the stories your uncle Didier used to tell about Peter! To be honest I think he was a bit in love with Lettice. She was Peter’s mother, Mrs. Rabbit, but she wasn’t the same after that business with her husband and Mrs. MacGregor’s pie. I don’t remember much about Flopsy and Mopsy. But Cottontail – She was was a ground breaker, the one who wrote the original Rabbits’ Rights Freedom Charter.. A great knitter too. And always so stylish. What a Rabbit! What a role model. You should both feel very proud of Cousin Cottontail.”
Before Aunt Odile could continue, the door burst open and Coco rushed in, wearing quite the most delightful fluffy cream coloured tutu.
“Coco, cherie!”, cried Aunt Odile, “The tutu is lovely but you can’t go and pick carrots dressed like that. Ask Olga if you can borrow some culottes from her. I’m sure they’re dry now after all that splashing in the river yesterday. “
‘Did someone say my name?’ Olga called from the garden outside. “I’m just getting the washing in from the line. If you lot can wrap up the carrot cake, we can all go out for a picnic in a minute.”
Picnic! You only had to say the word and the Nibbles started getting their hats and scarves together..
As for the picnic, the adventures in the river, and the Christmas party, you’ll find them all in the stitches and fun of The Nibbles – a brand new pattern for 4 bunnies and their very elaborate wardrobe of clothes, created by the celebrated toy maker, Cinthia Vallet. If you would like to join the KAL and knit the bunnies along with Cinthia just subscribe to the Mouche And Friends Club. Meanwhile we’ve taken care of the supplies you’ll need to make The Nibbles with our special Nibbles Bundle-Maker. You can pick and choose from the Bunny Hardware Pack, mini-skeins for the clothes, woollen toy stuffing, and bunny-coloured J&S Jumperweight for their bodies. Whatever you need will come boxed in our special Nibbles tins – so you can keep things organised while you make them and have a place for them to live once they’re done.
And if anyone’s in the mood for a Nibbles Christmas party, there’s a rumour they might just decide to have it in Lower Clapton. More on that soon..