Good In Uncertain and Troubling Times

 It was an extremely foggy morning, with warnings from all the weather services to be especially careful while maneuvering roads as the fog congeals, gathers, dissipates and begins retreat. Here at the house we are kind of in retreat mode but the sun hasn't broken through enough for a full on retreat to begin. I can at least see the outline of the neighbors house. 

We had perfect attendance at breakfast this morning. All the kittens, teenagers and older cats gathered. Yesterday, I mixed in a little heavy cream with the last remaining drops of milk and I think they were there and on time merely for the extra cream. This week a few new flavors of food has been introduced, so they are very happy about that. Around the milk bowl this morning the babies pushed out the adults from the bowl. It was a mass milk event and it was quite fun to watch. Now, with full tummies, they will wander off to the nooks and crannies of the yard where they like to take their naps, well except for Punky...that gravel road holds too much attraction for her. 

In CBS core group time yesterday, we finished up chapter 3 of John. I don't think I have ever realized how much John the Baptist influenced others within his followers to become followers of Jesus. John the Baptist evokes thoughts of baptizing, preparing the way and the like, but those broad themes broken down are so interesting. Roy's class is a couple of weeks behind ours so we enjoy discussing the lessons. To be honest, I do much better with a story, so the miracle of turning water into wine held onto me more than the theology, although I love it, of John 3. Roy is more involved with the theology aspect so we have well rounded discussions. Roy made a great observation about the servants at the wedding and Jesus telling them to fill the 30 gallon jars; it took time to fill those jars. Did they take smaller containers and make multiple trips to a well? Certainly, they didn't drag the jars and then drag them back. Filling the jars...time, we can take away that this is like faith and sometimes how our prayers happen. We pray, then listen to what we are to do. Will we really take the time to do like the servants? They saw the miracle, they were a part of that faith that Mary had in Jesus. For me, in Roy's time thoughts, I remembered that sometimes the middle part of anything is not fun. Beginnings are fun, endings with the results are fun...the drudgery of waiting and to be a willing participant of God's plan, are not fun being in the middle. We miss the joy and delights of the middle because we are either too anchored in the past and in the beginnings or we are so anxious for the filling of the jars season to be over.   

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Well, I wish I could say that what I wrote about above took root in my heart and was the default setting now. Writing about time and being in the middle and enjoying the moments. The only thing I can say about the following story is that, I didn't act out on my thoughts. That is not of any good of my own. The day started at Reems Creek. I had $35 of blooming bucks to use and somehow in the past the dates for redeeming the blooming bucks has never worked in with my schedule. I went looking for hibiscus but the few plants remaining didn't grab my attention. So I went with what I know, knockout roses. Truthfully, not much has to be known to plant and grow knockout roses. Then to CVS to pick up a prescription and then onto Publix. I have been trying to go there on Monday-Wednesday to stay away from the weekend preps of customers. It was crowded for a Thursday but here of late, Publix seems a lot busier than usual. Anyway, it came time to checkout. First line I stood in had an Instacart shopper buying groceries for three different clients. So that is just like standing in line with four people ahead of you. When it dawned on me, Instacart, I moved to the only other line open other than self checkout and the express line. A mom with three kids, dang! I was fooled, she was also an Instacart shopper with two orders and her own. I wish I could tell you I didn't fume internally. I thought about saying something, you know like have an Instacart lane for those doing multiple orders. Your customers that are coming into the store are being put into a disadvantage. Both times the shopper didn't look Instacart, cause usually they are the ones in tank tops and a general disheveled look. When finally, my groceries were being checked out, I smiled and chit chatted. It does bug me to get behind a multiple order shopper but I think the fact that I needed to wee wee, how adult of a description, probably led to my impatience with the whole situation. 

Mike the Mower Man fertilized the front yard yesterday and I had hoped he would begin on making the new flowerbed. With the temps up a little bit, probably better he didn't. But still, I would like to be able to get the bulbs in the ground. We have another shot at cooler temps next week. I didn't clean out the flowerbeds like I had planned yesterday. I was talking to Lisa yesterday and said I have tons of work to be done in the house, yet, I want to work outside. We both agreed it is the fact that we know there won't be any pop ins so the house can be a little cluttered and maybe need to be vacuumed. Vacuuming, isn't my hold back. 😇

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Mike the Mower Man is here this morning making a new flowerbed for me. It is really an extension of where roses, trees and some daylilies have been planted. My work is just now beginning for me. It is supposed to rain this afternoon, so I am going to get started in a little bit. Our neighbors are working their compost pile and getting their flower beds in shape as well. 

Since March I have done a lot of things to keep occupied but not only occupied but I don't know, not productive, but I guess the social distancing thing has made me more open to learning stuff. I have worked flowerbeds, broke up and laid down flat rock, put together a desk, nursed sick kittens, got back into reading, cleaned out closets, and I know there is other stuff, I am just not remembering it right now. Oh yeah, canning peach butter and making strawberry freezer jelly. Fried green tomatoes too. Painted a barn quilt. Good things have come out of uncertain and troubling times. 

Knots, Fog and Green Tomatoes

 With temps in the 40 range this morning, that seemed like quite the warm up from the mid 30s. The sun is shinning, Carolina blue sky and just a few clouds here and there. Got the roses and azaleas out of the garage yesterday to soak in the sun. On Saturday the plan was to stain the deck furniture but alas the top of the Thompsons Water Seal would not open. So no stain but the furniture returned to the front deck awaiting another day. Got the two chairs in from the flowerbed down in the yard. Haven't brought the table up yet. With all the furniture moving over the weekend, this morning all the muscles in my shoulder and arms are crying out with soreness. 

It was so good to be back in church yesterday after taking a sabbatical Sunday last week. The new sound system is wonderful and no more projector on a tall stand in the middle of a pew. Our class had a mini meeting afterwards. We have taken on, well not a project, not a ministry...we have accepted a call to help. That's a good way of saying it. Sometimes it is tempting to say, well being older now, God really can't use me or us. That is not true at all and when the thought comes we should take it into captivity in Christ. Maybe we shouldn't hold a responsibility that better suites a younger person, but we can still be fruitful. It is just keeping our eyes and hearts open to the needs and call given to us by the Lord.  

Last week was the first attempt at making fried green tomatoes and it was a success! Brenda gave me two green tomatoes and the cornmeal/flour mix to try. Brenda made it easy for me to attempt because if she had given me five tomatoes, I probably wouldn't have made them. Over the weekend I read an interesting article about overthinkers. Yes, I belong to the overthinkers of the world. In the article the author gave this suggestion, for overthinkers, break it down into smaller pieces to digest. That makes sense because if things are broken into smaller chunks whether it be work, reading, chores, or errands, I'm better at getting stuff done. Roy is a take on a big project type of person and that challenges him to complete the project whereas I feel more accomplishment in getting four out of six things done. Can an overachiever and an overthinker get things done together? Yes, well mostly. 

A couple of weeks ago while tying my shoestrings, I did a double knot. Not a big deal, but and I laugh while writing this, for all these years since probably being 7 or 8 years old, I have never tied a double knot because my mom told me, they are too hard for me to get undone. Yes, that is probably true as an 8 year old but not a 66 year old...well...anyway, with longer laces in shoes and boots, I had to resort to the good ol double knot that I refused to tie for all these many years and mostly I am able to get them untied without any problems. Every once in a while, a knot takes patience and a knack for tedious work, which isn't in my sweet spot, but so far I've been able to get everyone of them undone. 

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Fog has changed my plans for today and that works out just fine because Mike the Mower Man just texted that he will be over to mow and I can show him where I would like the spring bulb flowerbed. His tiller is up and running and he will take care of doing this sometime this week. There are a couple of errands to run as well so a change in plans is not a bad thing. 

Sadly, I think Miss Priss is no longer with us, either by being rescued or by meeting an untimely predator. It has been a week since she last hung around the back but I do not give up hope because these other cats have been gone for a while and then show up one day. There have been several recent sightings of Camo to give an example. Out of the seven kittens Punky had, three remain and Mama Cat has four, but I think one is fading. I have been trying to catch it and hopefully, I'll be able to do that today. It gets in such small spaces where my big hands don't reach. The good news with the cats is, Hector Proctor sat and then fell asleep on my lap in the late afternoon. The little one that had me a bit nervous has a lot more life to it and has been playing and eating with siblings. 

Mary Joyce, neighbor across the way is back from visiting one of her daughters. She feeds the ferals as well and I think she enjoys their antics as much as I do. Her little doggie doesn't enjoy them as much. Having the gate to the backyard working gives them a little more protection for when the big dog gets loose. Don't know who he belongs to but he is a big honkin' dog. 

Found the Three Rivers cornmeal/self-rising flour combo and now I can fry up green tomatoes every time I find green tomatoes. 

Beginning Days

 A social distancing typical Thursday began with a trip to the license tag office in Marshall. Got the truck tag and Penlands was open. Love that store, the fried pie lady had delivered and visiting with Georgette is truly a delight. Went over to Publix and shopped the BOGO sale and came home. Unloaded and put away some of the groceries, then got the truck and made a Lowe's trip for two more azaleas and small paint roller. Going to stain the chairs that I bought this summer with the same stain color as the fence. It is a honey color stain. Think that will look good with the darker redwood stain of the front porch and deck. On the way home I called Brenda to see if she would like to ride about the countryside on this beautiful fall day. Right before I picked her up, the electricity went off. Checked the outage map and saw there was an outage in the Leicester area. At first I thought we were a part of that but I got the feeling we weren't. Texted my neighbor, they had electricity, so I alerted Duke Energy about the outage. Brenda and I went down the river road and over to TJs. She hadn't been there before and so it was fun introducing her to one of my favorite places. Roy called while we were returning home and said Duke had called and they think it is a frayed line from the fence install. They were sending a crew. Got home and about ten minutes later the first guy showed up. Sure enough a fence post had been set and cemented on top of a line. Cement eats away at the electrical line coating and thus, loss of electricity. Replaced the line and then an inspector or two came, got information and by about 9:00 pm, everyone had left and I settled in to eat supper, a light supper. All the work delayed feeding the kiddos, so they were happy to have the driveway back to themselves. Frankie, the gray cat with blue eyes, showed up. He is not around much and for this I am thankful. He intimidates all the cats except for a couple of kittens who didn't know any better. In the past when this happens with other male cats, they know or seem to know it is naïve kitten bravado. They take a playful swipe at them but Frankie got all bowed up and wasn't playful at all. This got Mama Cat involved and she took a lick at Frankie and beat him back off the driveway away from her kittens. So, I fed them closer to the garage and played lunch lady Doris by standing there keeping watch so the little ones could eat. Adding lunch lady to my resume along with hawk watcher and dog shoo-er.

On Wednesday, I headed over toward the Waynesville area. Went to Barbers and got some Ever Crisp and Granny Smith apples, and well of course, some apple cider donuts. Made a quick stop in Belk and found the cutest turquoise truck with pumpkins. The pumpkins are a lid and can be removed, so this little truck can be used year round. It will look good on the back porch cause I got that teal/turquoise vibe going.  

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Woke up to 35°temps. Our area has a frost warning but surrounding counties have freeze warnings. Remembered last night about the warning, so traipsed back out to bring in roses and azaleas. The dahlias in the backyard don't look as if they were affected, so that's good. A little more time with their dazzling beauty. Yesterday evening after finding the side attachment for the mower, I went back out and picked up mowing where I had left off. The grass is really too high for this mower right now and had to make multiple stops to clear the bottom of the mower. Had to keep enough power to propel it up the hill to get it into the garage. When Mike came yesterday to aerate the yard I wondered if he thought he was being replaced so I sent him a text last night telling him the story behind a partially cut lawn and no he wasn't being replaced. 

This morning Barbers has an unusual FB post explaining they are an orchard and when a particular kind of apple is gone, it is gone for the year. When I was there Wednesday, a lady who obviously was a tourist, had a melt down in the middle of the store when she heard they were all out of honey crisp apples. It was kind of embarrassing to watch and she ended her apple tirade with this statement, "I'll just go to Costco and get honey crisp apples, they keep a good supply." Anyone who has ever eaten apples straight out of the orchard knows that processed and waxed honey crisps from Costco, while tasty, aren't as good as an orchards. She yelled this like some kind of threat so that someone would go to the back and say, okay, we were holding out on you. I did learn this morning though, the ever crisp apple is not another name for a candy crisp apple...and candy crisps are one of the three remaining types of apples to be picked. When they post candy crisp, you can bet I'll be out the door. Either their crops didn't produce a huge yield this year or more likely in a pandemic state of mind people are buying more apples than other years. The honey crisps went quickly. 

Love these days, these beginning days of crisp, of flannel, of jeans, of apples and boot. There is a sadness though as produce stand season winds down. 

Such Is The Life

 We are coming up on the sixth anniversary of buying our home here in the mountains. Time flies when you're having fun. We didn't actually move into the house when we closed in October of 2014 but by Thanksgiving we had contractors and painters in the house working. One of our requirements on finding a house was, it had to be nothing like our home in Texas. Thus, no open concept, limited storage (haha), no humongous owner suite bathroom...well you get the picture. I would take more storage here but it is what it is. We love our homes, but I truly love our home here. We have done more to the outside than we have done on the inside. Dare I use the overdone word, cozy? It is a cozy home with interesting nooks and crannies. 

The days are shorter so working in the yard at evening time is becoming limited. I worked yesterday morning outside but came in and got cleaned up to run over to the grocery store. My friend, Dena, had ordered Lupe's Tortilla fajitas over the weekend and I got to thinking about the deliciousness of those beef fajitas. Time to Google it up and found a copycat recipe. Had a hard time finding skirt steak, but at last had success. Ordered Adobo spice from Amazon and it arrived yesterday. So, either today or tomorrow, I will try my hand at making some of the most delicious fajitas one ever tasted. 

Loved our core group discussion yesterday on John 2. I couldn't help but laugh thinking about an episode from King of the Hill. Bobby Hill has to give a report in Sunday School on John 2. He is practicing his report to his mom Peggy and his cousin LuAnn, he ends by quoting the last two verses in John 2 from the KJ version. Peggy responds, well you need to pep up that ending. It needs something more and Bobby reveals he is quoting scripture and Peggy is a bit embarrassed at her response. 

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A rainy Saturday morning. I have a lot of things to do inside but I am feeling a bit lightheaded this morning. Nothing too bad probably from dehydration yesterday cause I didn't drink as much water as usual throughout the day. 

There were a lot of people around the house yesterday. Nathan and Andrew were here early cutting back shrubs and trimming trees. Then they put out pine straw cause it is that time getting ready for winter. They were just finished when the paint guys arrived and ironically, our neighbors had paint men up to their place at the same time. That's the most traffic I have seen on our small road to the houses. Before staining the front deck and porch the guys came and pressure washed them. I had moved most everything but had a couple of things I could not move. They finished up and left, then Brenda and Larry came over. Brenda had told Larry about the blacksmith gate and how the bottom hinge had stopped working. He will come back next week sometime and fix that for me. Sure appreciate that. Yesterday, while working outside and in the garage the big brown German Shepherd came running across the driveway and about scared the peewaddling out of me. With the presence of that dog and with all the noise generated around the house from work, most of the kittens were absent yesterday. Hector Protector, Mama Cat and kittens, Miss Priss and a brief momentary sighting of Radley were the only ones around toward evening. Did a walk around the yard looking for anything unusual but all was well...except for a small pumpkin that had rolled down the hill from the driveway and landed in front of the flowerbed. Hector Protector sat with me on the steps after supper and even Miss Priss came close. Hector is about halfway decided that climbing onto my lap might not be such a bad thing. 

This morning, Boo and Bobsey showed up for treat time and then when opening the garage door, Punky, her crew, the fab four, Mama Cat and her group were all there greeting me with very loud meows. Fed them in the garage and the fab four have opted to nap in the garage as the rain comes down. This particular litter has been the friendliest to other cats, used beds, blankets and opportunities more than any other litter since Mama Cat brought down Cali, Camo and MJ. I hung a new toy in the tree limbs that has a lot of elasticity to it. They love that toy and so far the knot I tied is holding on as they pull and try to walk away with it and once they let go it springs back to the tree. The toy is also purple and gold, so that's nice. This morning Punky showed up with the two Straw Jrs and Biggio. Don't know where her two black kittens are. They could still be asleep and showed up once I went back inside. When I went out there a little bit ago, all the bowls were licked clean. It was a hungry group this morning. 

I watched a little bit of the Yankees/Rays game last night. I kind of liked the fact that the Yankees lost. This year, they can't blame Houston cause they didn't play them in the regular season or in the post season. 

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LSU lost yesterday and I am kind of glad we don't get the SEC Alternate channel. I wasn't one of those fans who thought we were building an Alabama-esk dynasty. Everything came together to have a good season no a great season last year. Rebuilding is tough but necessary. Yesterday was one of those times I root for the Aggies because they were playing Florida. In between putting up summer clothes and getting out the fall and winter, I would catch a few minutes of the Ole Miss vs Alabama game. Quite interesting to watch and maybe just maybe Arkansas will be ranked higher than LSU this season. Such is the life of a fan. 

I am taking a sabbatical Sunday. Feeling a bit lightheaded yesterday took a lot out of me. Then Buddy came and went all through the night, every hour on the hour. Sometimes the rain was so hard during the night, it woke me up. So, another day off the roads even though I don't feel lightheaded today I thought it might be best to give that another twenty four hours. I didn't drink enough water on Friday so that could be the reason for the feelings yesterday. 

Looks like today holds scattered showers more so than widespread rain. I did a little more work in the garage this morning, not really work work, but some stuff needed to be moved so I can continue going through storage boxes in the garage and get ready to make a Goodwill/Habitat for Humanity run with stuff. 

 

Loving These Autumnal Days

 Today is a chamber of commerce kind of days here in the mountains of North Carolina. The fog was especially thick this morning, even worse than yesterday. I had to get out in it yesterday since I had a 9:00am dentist appointment...more on that later. After breakfast, it was a good morning to go out front and pull dead zinnias. They were quite beautiful this summer and just about one of my favorite flowers. The dahlias are still blooming as well as wildflowers. This morning with a good price and free shipping I ordered two raised garden beds that are easier to work in. Mike the Mower Man was here yesterday and he will be back this week to aerate the front yard and then next week hopefully he will be back with his tiller to make some smaller flowerbeds for bulbs and such. 

A couple of weeks ago during a dental checkup, my dentist saw a new problem with a very old implant. He addressed it not for cosmetic reasons but for good dental health. It is the tooth that broke right after getting married. I did not know red beans had little rocks in them while I prepared one of Roy's favorite dishes. This is one of the reasons I have tried to stay out of the kitchen, where most accidents happen. 😉 So this tooth has had a root canal and then broke again in 1999, to be replaced by an implant in 2000 that had to be redone due to the oral surgeons lack of detail focus. All these years that implant has bothered me some. Dr Hodges saw that the gum was receding from the abutment and metal was showing. So this is an implant, that was probably of a generic brand, that never fit correctly and now in 2020, isn't it so appropriate for this to happen now, has a potentially hazardous problem. So Dr Hodges asked if I could do some research to find out the brand...my research was limited cause the oral surgeon has passed away and no one bought his practice. But my wonderful dentist researched and yesterday said he believed he knew what type it was, that he just had another patient with the same problem, discussed with his brother, a dentist...they are in practice together, and contacted the oral surgeon that did a lot of implant work on me in 2017/2018. Now to take off the old crown, except the screw was stripped in the implant. Nothing was working until Dr Hodges remembered a old kind of hand crank from implants in the long ago. That did it and the rest of the appointment went swimmingly. He declared it officially a good day. He also gave thanks to the Lord for wisdom. Man, I was praying for him the whole time and last night Roy told me he had prayed for the appointment. New crown will be fitted in November. Funny, the year began, January 1st with an abscessed tooth. This has not only been the year of social distancing, it is the year of implants and crowns. I have to be so careful with this implant in the coming weeks because it is a ceramic crown and the dental cement they used is more for newer types. Here is a blessing though, if it comes apart, I won't have to be careful when I smile, cause I'll be wearing a mask in public.

Life with the Feral Fam goes on. The coming and going and changes don't surprise me anymore. Since Cali, Riley and Strawyer, Hector Protector is one of my favs. Although, I think the other day I confirmed Hector to not be a he but a she. Most mornings Hector or Hectoretta meets me as soon as the garage door opens. Before picking up the bowls, Hector needs that petting. I try and pick her up several times a day to get her used to that. Night before last Hector spent the night in the garage by her choosing. I put out a blanket, food and refilled the indoor potty. All in all, she was well behaved up there are a lot of paw prints on the front of Mustang Sam.  

It feels again like a power shift among the cats. Being home so much due to Covid the inner workings of cat relationships is more apparent. I think somewhere along the line one of Punky's black and white kittens and one of Strawyer's orange cats haven't been around which means something probably got them. Punky isn't hanging around as much but makes it by afternoon to eat. Don't know if she misses Straw or what or if she is looking for a change of scenery. She takes her litter with her except this morning, Junior was around. By the afternoon Biggio showed up and likes to hang around with Miss Priss. Got some cute pictures of them. 

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Errands are calling out to me this morning. Just have a couple to do. Have core group this afternoon as we study John 2. Think this week's homework has been the most interesting by far. 

Buddy enjoyed the flannel sheets last night. Got a great deal from Macy's and the best...? Little sheep flannel sheets. She stuck around most of the night which hasn't been her habit of late, but with cooler temps she is looking to stay warm. 

Doing the seasonal change out of clothes, taking my time with it because tomorrow we will have 80 for a high. If I get the chance later this afternoon it will be back out to the front flowerbed to continue getting it ready for fall and winter. 

His Name, Strawyer

 With great sadness and a heavy heart to write about one of the sweetest cats ever. I named him Strawyer because he loved to sit on the spread out straw I had placed around the porch to keep he, Punky, Riley and Camo warm. He would find the highest straw pile and luxuriate in the splendid softness. Straw and Punky never came near me when they were kittens. They ran under the deck. I started playing with them, using the children's fishing rod to engage them in play. Punky and Strawyer bonded as brother and sister, almost inseparable throughout his life, really just until recently. Strawyer's mother is Camo and his father was Big Daddy. His sister is Punky and his brother Eric, lives on the horse farm above us, survive him. Oh and two young kittens.

The past few weeks Strawyer has been struggling with his tail and back legs. Neighbor Nancy noticed he had an abrasion under his tail. She tried to get him. I had tried as well but for the first time in his life he hissed at me. He hasn't been around for about four days and that is his longest absence. I had started to look around his hangout places because it seemed like in his struggles he might have died. Today, I decided to get away from the cat drama. When I returned home I fed everyone and pretty much was in for the night. I came downstairs and saw Boo looking in the window. Boo is so low on the pecking order in cat world that he usually eats last. When I see that forlorn look, I will go out onto the porch and put treats on the steps for him. I was getting ready to go back inside when I saw Strawyer at the food bowls. Several of the bowls were on the pallets I have out there and at first I thought he was stuck but he began making his way toward the porch, completely dragging his hind end and back legs across the flat stones in the yard. Quickly I ran into the garage to get him some food and I brought the dish to him. I fed him his favorite flavor, beef and salmon. Yes, he was a surf and turf kind of cat.  Hector Protector stood with and leaned against me and the other kittens, Mama Cat and Punky almost sat in a circle around him. Mama Cat began loving and rubbing on him. These two never got along until this last week. I was beside myself, what to do? I called Nancy and asked if she and her daughter could come down and help me get him. I had tried to put him in a carrier but he wouldn't get in and hissed at me. I found the pet playpen, set it up and put a bed and blanket in it. Straw was moving toward the wooden plant chairs he always loved, but I knew he wasn't going to them but heading under the house. I picked him up, without a problem. I held his legs in support and only when Nancy and Nayia came toward me did he try to work out of my grip. Thankful I had on my thick leather gloves. Got him in the playpen and I looked for an emergency vet. Found Med Vet on Brevard Road and called. Nancy drove us over there. The staff were so caring and helpful. We left because of Covid protocol but the Dr called just as we were arriving home. Strawyer was in a bad way, just the beginning costs of his surgery etc was going to begin at $1000 and would probably become more like $2000-3000 with so much nursing care afterwards. I have Buddy to think about but I asked if we did all this would Strawyer have any quality of life? No and then I asked would he better off if we had him put down. Yes, the Dr said that would be the best for Strawyer. He was so kind and assuring as he talked me through everything and said to be so thankful to have found him before a predator did and giving him a peaceful end. They assured me the nurses would hold and love him as he transitioned. They asked if I wanted the body and I said to Nancy I am running out of cemetery plots. He will be cremated and his ashes spread in the forever pet area garden. I'll go and pick up the playpen, bed and blanket tomorrow. As they took my information for payment, the amount sounded too low. They waved the initial diagnoses fee at the Dr's request.  

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The sun, bright blue skies and cool temps give me comfort this morning. Drinking coffee, taking care of Buddy and getting treats out to the feral fam. They heard the door open and I was greeted by a hungry group. New this morning to treat time, Strawyer's two sons. I hadn't even mentioned that on Wednesday, returning from taking Mini Priss to the vet, the sight of orange fur on the side of the road, in front of the house caught my attention. One of the three kittens had gone down to the road and had been hit and killed. 

The Straw Man was one of those special ferals that grabs your heart. He was beloved by Facebook friends who only knew him from pictures and stories. He was a big, strong cat yet he had the gentlest spirit. He look Mr McBeavy under his watch care. Edee adored him. Straw was picked on by dominant male cats that came through the area looking for some action. Last winter he pretty much took ownership of the feral cat house that was heated. If he wasn't in it he was on top of it. 

For a kitten that avoided and ran from me, his attitude changed at some point, He would come in the garage while I fixed their food and rub against my legs and in turn that influenced Punky to start doing the same. I will miss him this morning, more than I am right now writing this. I'll probably tear up when I pick up the pet playpen later from the emergency vet. I'll probably write more about him in the coming days cause he was a favorite and a treasured "pet." Yesterday morning, FB Memory was Strawyer and Mr McBeavy both touched my hand with their noses a year ago. It was the first time that had happened. 

Talking with Roy and then with Dena last night helped me settle a bit so that falling asleep would be easier. They both had to endure my disjointed ramblings. Last night, with Buddy sleeping in the midst of soft sweaters in a storage container, the feral fam holed up wherever keeping warm, the thought came and I could see in my minds eye, Mr McBeavy, Strawyer's young son who was killed on Wednesday, Riley, Cali, Big Daddy, Big Sissy Daddy and other members of the Feral Fam, welcoming him to kitty heaven. He probably greeted them the same way he did in life, press his head against them and then give a playful swat at the top of their heads. 

Strawyer, you were a good cat. Loving and gentle. Thankyou for trusting me to do right by you at the end of your life, guess you used up your nine lives in a two year time. Thanks for spending them here. I'm going to miss you.

***I know there is probably not a kitty heaven, so be assured my theology hasn't gone off the deep end in my sadness****