As the world thaws, for now anyway, it has become a misty, drippy sort of scene.
Gone are the icicles!
Our neighbour’s gutter amused me!
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The recent heating bill was eye-watering but a thought occurred which put it in perspective…
Since we left Seattle, their winters have become much colder. Heating that house would be ruinous!
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Timing really is everything. More than once I made spontaneous moves that saved me in one way or another.
“Now is time for snoozing!”
Willow and Sophia are not exactly curling up together, but they share the space in front of the fire quite harmoniously these days.
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“I snooze too!”
Muffin has reclaimed her bed. Why had she abandoned it? Maybe because Tinkerbelle sat in it for a nano-second?
Who knows?
Since last year’s losses, a lot has changed, as we knew it would and it’s a progressive sort of thing.
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In a multi-cat household there is no way of predicting the shift that will occur when one of them is gone, or what the knock-on effect will be.
No longer challenged by Lucy, Willow began sleeping on my bed.
Lucy never growled at Willow and she only ever slept on my bed when drugged, the penultimate night of her life.
We read into animal behaviour the stuff of our imagination. How could I know that she forbade Willow to be on my bed? Or that Willow obeyed?
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Of course I don’t.
I only know that when Lucy was gone, Willow promptly began sleeping at the foot of my bed.
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Not long after, Penny and Toby were gone and Lily’s behaviour changed.
In his last years, Toby was very attached to me, often by my side and usually sleeping beside me.
After Toby died, it was as if Lily decided I needed looking after.
She began poking me again, the way she had years ago, and looking up at me, wanting me to pet her.
Talking to me.
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Earlier last year, before any of the other changes, Muffin had decided she quite liked being made a fuss of and she too began poking me as I sit at my desk.
“Lap!” She cries, “Want lap!”
So I push my chair back to make room for her, elongating my arms to reach the keyboard.
And that was fine until Lily resumed wanting to sit behind me.
Sandwiched on a narrow chair between two demanding cats is not exactly comfortable and it can be a bit distracting, but we make accommodations for our little darlings.
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Soon, Lily decided to occasionally spend nights with me and additionally, Patches has tended to give me a portion of her time.
Patches seeks no-one’s permission. She just arrives: “Here I am!”
Willow has so far not taken exception to these intrusions, though I suspect she disapproves.
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It’s poor Blackie who seems to have lost out, not that she complains.
She always used to cuddle as close to me at night as she could manage, purring like a pneumatic drill.
She comes now for brief cuddles and then vacates.
It’s entirely possible that the new arrangement is of her own choice, of course.
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The way I toss and turn in bed may well be too disturbing for her and these winter nights are chilly, so I daresay the corner next to a radiator is where she prefers to be.
Maybe I should create a board game?
‘Catopoly’? It could become a huge seller! Cats-shaped counters moving around squares on a board named after parts of your house. Cards in the middle would say things like, “Advance to the lap, do not pass go, do not collect $200′. Or, “You have the bed to yorself. Miss one turn”.
Best wishes, Pete.
Or “Oh dear, a vet visit. Miss two turns while you trap the patient.”
Thank you, Carolyn, for your photos of the beautiful cats enjoying the warmth and safety of home!
Joanna
Yes a board game is a neat idea. You have a winner there.
A board game is fine, so long as the box is big enough to sleep in!
“Cat’s musical chairs” or maybe “Guess the next move”. I really like your close shots of the cats – especially the one from Lily.