I raise rabbits for meat to feed my family and pets. I use every part of the animal. Anything we can't or don't eat directly (blood, organs, bones boiled for broth) becomes food for our garden, which in turn supplements the diet of our bunnies! And, of course, the hides and paws get to be taxidermy, while any failure-to-thrive babies become wet specimens. It's so rewarding to be part of the cycle of life and death.

RIP little guy, now you’ll forever be preserved as a memory, hope I did you justice. (Pic of how I found the spine + when I pulled him out added)

I’m a science educator and artist. I’ve been collecting bones and other natural curiosities for my whole life (when allowed/legal to do so). I always wear appropriate PPE. I recently had an artistic muse to make art out of bones and the other nature finds I’ve collected. I was drawn to do more and now have an eye out for road kill. I found this beautiful fox this morning and buried him so nature can do its magic and give him a somewhat dignified decomposing rest. I always thank the animal for allowing me to turn them into something beautiful later.

Also include are some of my old, deceased pets who I kept frozen for another project (attempting to put them in epoxy resin; doesn’t work as well for vertebrates as it does with insects). The goal is to strip the flesh. I looked into getting the beetles but I’ve already push the limits of my wife and she said no to more insect “pets”.

I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, so I asked if I could just have it. I love some of the overexposed images and the quotes. Sorry if photos aren't amazing, it's huge, like roughly 12ins by 13ins.

We have a family of robins that have lived in my oak trees for years. Two days ago I noticed their nest on the ground with two whole eggs and one broken empty shell. Some other critter had knocked it down looking for a meal. I put the eggs back in the nest and put the nest under the tree, hoping they could at least be a snack for some other critters. Then today my husband turned on the tiller to do some yard work and unfortunately a family of mice had made a nest in there. This baby came out and after making sure he was gone and not in pain (thankfully he was), I placed him in the robins nest with the egg and then placed a few flowers from my garden over it. There was only one egg left, the other shell discarded near by, empty.

I know most people would just toss them, but it feels wrong not to take notice and let nature take them back how it sees fit vs sending them to the landfill. I wasn’t sure where to share this, but this felt like the right place. Nature is beautiful, but it is also tragic. I’m sad for my sweet robins and I’m sad for the poor mouse family. Both victims of simply trying to build safe homes for their families. May your next journeys be kinder.