Cat Has My Back #sol18

Please note: I am not actively participating in the Slice of Life Challenge, but I have a sister-in-law who is. As I texted her earlier this month, “Mayhaps I will participate next year.”

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I have three A-B-C cats. Abacus is male, while Bibbidi and Cannoli are female. See? A-B-C names, so they are my A-B-C cats. They are littermates born last year. I took them in from a couple in our church family. As best I understand, their mother was dumped off, had her litter of five and was killed only weeks later (I thought she got hit by a vehicle on the road, but I also heard she was killed by neighbor dogs, so I don’t know the correct story and don’t want to know).

            They are outdoor cats, but before you get any ideas that I don’t care about my outdoor felines, please think again. They have their designated “cat shed.” They are spayed/neutered and are up-to-date on shots. They are litter box-trained. During the cold months, I have a heated cat tent and a heated water bowl for their use.

            It is obvious that Abacus, Bibbidi and Cannoli were worked with a lot before they came to live here. They enjoy being held – cuddled – and absolutely love attention. They will follow me around like a dog. When Abacus wants to alert me to a possum in the yard or an empty food dish, he will meow at me very seriously (truly, it is a distinct meow). They all like talking to me when the mood suits. They are fantastic mousers.

            The pictures I’ve shared are of Cannoli in one of her favorite spots – on my back – as I’m dealing with their litter box. My mom happened to be at my house and so witnessed this and helpfully took some pictures. She even gave a play-by-play at one point:

·         “She is grooming her paws.”

·         “Now she’s lying out on your back.”

·         “She’s coming close to your neck like she’s going to sniff you or pat you.”

            It turns out that dogs aren’t the only best friends, though I love them, too. It’s just that cats are this woman’s best friends (of the furry variety)!

Cannoli has my back.

Results of Cannoli having my back during Muddy Season.

The Book Bug Baby #sol18

Please note: If you are commenting on those posts actively participating in the Slice of Life Challenge only, stop reading right now. I know of this challenge through a sister-in-law, but did not take up this challenge myself.

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This adorable little guy is my nephew, Liam. As with any proud auntie, I will gush about his adorableness and his alertness and his intelligence. I will proclaim his perfection and revel in his smiles, giggles and coos. I love listening to him “talk.” He’s so expressive about it, as his entire body is often utilized in his “conversations,” from waving his arms to bending his knees up and blasting off as he makes a particular point. Unsurprisingly, I am smitten with him.

            Liam enjoys being read to, which is why I couldn’t help but share this photo. It was taken just over a month ago at four months old. Such command of the book he has! What an avid reader he is! Such a prolific life he’ll surely lead!

            Does it surprise you that I go through withdrawal when I haven’t seen him in over a week?

Like a Giant Tree in a Storm #sol18

Please note: I am not a teacher, nor am I actively participating in the Slice of Life Challenge by the Two Writing Teachers. But one of my sisters-in-law is, and when I came across the inspiration for this piece, I couldn’t help but write up my own little slice. If you are someone participating in the SOL Challenge and want to read slices from active participants only, please do not hesitate to leave this page now. But for anyone sticking around …

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I want to read fortune cookies that have a frivolous fortune, to say something amusing that I know won’t actually happen but am entertained for the briefest of moments.

• “You will move to a mountain chalet.”
• “You will soon find yourself with a great sum of money.”
• “Something pleasantly important will happen to you in the next three days.”

Instead, here is what I read: “Be calm, like a giant tree in a storm.” It was technically my mom’s fortune, but I read it so my mom would not have to put on one of her umpteen pairs of reading glasses (a representative mixture of actual prescription glasses and cheater readers). While not the fortune-made-of-dreams that we would’ve liked, we were still amused.

Because there was some enactment involved. I got up off the counter chair, stood as a sturdy tree trunk and put my arms akimbo like calm limbs. Now picture my mom. She did roughly the same, though her tree-limb arms were all over the place. But she claimed they were calm limbs that happened to be blowing wildly around as she, a giant tree in a storm, remained calm.

It was priceless, and I’m so glad no one else was there to video it.

So, while not a fortune, it is sage advice. The next time you feel like the angry storm or the wild, frustrated winds of an angry storm, be calm. Be calm like that giant tree in the angry storm.

I’d also like to add that those redwood trees have nothing on us!*

* This is a lie, and the writer of this post knows it. As does her mother.