Sophia is spooked.
We have no idea why.
She has always been very timid, very afraid of strangers and it is only recently that she has come to trust me again. More or less.
Today being cleaning day is not much help, especially since the vacuum cleaner has developed an annoying tune.
Grant had sorted out a prior problem but now something else is wrong.
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Do you have phases where everything is out of sync? Appliances stop working. Batteries go flat. Light bulbs burn out. The simplest things turn into projects?
You pick up a bag of groceries and the bottom falls out. You stub your toe and then bang your head.
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It’s getting old! Let’s hope it was just a May thing.
Meanwhile, Sophia. She had her annual check-up recently and got a good report. She was doing really well.
Then a few days ago she began being finicky about her food.
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Finicky is one thing. They all play that game, but we realised that Sophia was barely eating and this morning she is spooked as if something frightened her.
But I have been in the house for several days and it’s been very quiet.
These are moments when I get stressed myself, trying to work out what is wrong.
Oh, if they could talk. Or if I could read their minds.
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My little Darling is having some kind of moment as well.
Maybe the two of them had a fight but I would have heard it.
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Maybe they are picking up the unsettled vibe of the country as we wait to find out whether we shall be plunged into chaos by politicians in Washington DC.
Repercussions will be serious and yes, I am anxious about it but there is not a thing I can do.
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Millions of people stand to lose their employment. There will be no pension payments and no medical care. No help for the homeless, or veterans, the list is endless.
For many this would be disastrous and it enrages me that we should be treated this way by our own government officials who are supposed to represent our interests!
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“There’s not going to be a carrot shortage is there? “
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“Or a peanut shortage?”
The Thrasher is one very busy bird, rushing about on the ground, mostly under the bushes, but lately it has been interested in nuts and bits of suet.
It moves so fast, it’s hard to catch. It is very handsome.
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Grant planted some seeds.
Then a Robin came to dig.
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But the Robin was not after seeds!
It had found itself a beak full!
Of something!
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There will be no shortage of milkweed.
When we first came here we wondered how we could get some but it simply arrived and it thrived and this year I am having to pull a whole lot up or there won’t be room to breathe!
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Hot weather is forecast.
But at least we got through May with civilised temperatures.
We can be thankful for that.
Thank you, Carolyn, for your concern for your creatures, keeps me entertained!
Joanna
Oh, let’s hope animals can’t sense the bad vibes of politics … because then we have lots of stressed animals here in SA! May Sophia soon gets over whatever it is that’s bothering her.
I hope that equilibrium is restored soon! I love the cat thermometer!
Do you have phases where everything is out of sync? Appliances stop working. Batteries go flat. Light bulbs burn out. The simplest things turn into projects? You pick up a bag of groceries and the bottom falls out. You stub your toe and then bang your head.
That’s my entire life, Carolyn.
I hope there are plenty of carrots for the Groundhog, just saying… Happy to send you some, mail order.
Best wishes, Pete.
Enjoyed your article.
Thank you for so seamlessly weaving in the latest Washington dysfunction.
What miow indeed.
And ordinary life with its ceaseless piling on as you so well describe it:
“Appliances stop working. Batteries go flat. Light bulbs burn out. The simplest things turn into projects.
You pick up a bag of groceries and the bottom falls out. You stub your toe and then bang your head.”
Life (with and without cats) is always full of mystery. But cats and other animals do give it meaning.
Thank-you.