A Day Filled With Surprises

Never a Dull Moment

I’d like to say today has already been beyond ordinary, but frankly, ordinary days are the exception, not the rule nowadays. But this one certainly raises the bar for unusual. As it’s Saturday, I thought I might sleep in for a bit, and actually did…kind of. The cats seem to know when it’s getting close to 8, and become rambunctious, if only to start demanding attention.

Artemis held pride of place on top of me while Pyewacket claimed his own, special spot on my pillow where he rubbed his furry face against my head until I got the message he needed skritches NOW! While Scrappy Doo and Ishtar did a remarkable job of feigning patience, Lazarus saw no need to pretend and began his morning “where’s my breakfast?” song, loudly, and proudly. Unfortunately for Laz, Artemis and Pye won this time, and got to cuddle for another hour or so.

Laz was truly long-suffering this morning, as another breakfast delay came in the form of Sacajewea who decided she absolutely had to be inside the house, under the guest room bed today. No amount of hissing, or noses in her face would remove her until I brought out the big guns. Putting the Roomba in the guest room, I turned it on, and waited until it made its way under the bed and flushed out the stubborn, little explorer so I could take her back to the garage, growling and hissing…at least until she realized breakfast was imminent. She’s a sucker for a bowl of wet food!

More Gifts

Peace reigned while I enjoyed my breakfast and coffee, and put a bunch of pings on hold until I was properly caffeinated. Only then would I put on my Consultant hat and deal with client issues which couldn’t wait until Monday, even if I had the extra time to give when what I already know will be a crazy day rolls around.

I made the mistake of stepping outside to check on Cinders and Max, who were more than happy for the attention, by the way. That part was no mistake, and has become a habit lately. While administering the requisite amount of chin and cheek skritches, I noticed what appeared to be a corpse on the front lawn. At first glance, I thought it was avian in nature, but quickly realized my mistake (birds don’t have long, skinny tails), identifying it as yet another rodent. Again, I questioned whether or not Max was the gift-giver, as he typically plates his catches and leaves them near the kitchen door in the garage.

And This Week’s Hunter is….

Yet he has been acting out of character a lot lately. The first of his recent presents was carelessly tossed next to the compressor. The second, he carried around in his mouth until I acknowledged his hunting prowess, and admitted my mistake in not crediting him in the first place. So it’s not a stretch to assume the latest, though left outside to be cleansed by the rain, is his doing as well. Either the rat population is growing lately, or he’s traveling farther afield to keep the neighborhood safe from ratkind.

I do wonder if Sable has started hunting too, though, and simply consumes her catches, or leaves them where I’ll never find them. Although she may have spent a large part of her life inside a sheltered space, I have no doubt she was foraging for food before she was trapped, and allowed to give birth to her two daughters in warmth and safety. As she’s not inclined to do more than watch me from a safe distance (which grows shorter over time), sharing her catch is much too personal right now.

At least I got the drama and craziness meter filled early in the day. I’m looking for a little peace and quiet after my walk this afternoon, but know the Murphys are stalking me this weekend, so I’ll keep my guard up for a couple more days. In short, I’ll expect the unexpected, and not be too surprised by whatever form it takes.

A Healthy Dose of Gratitude

My gratitudes today are:

1. I’m grateful for cats who hunt down the rodents rather than letting them re-occupy my garage and homestead.
2. I’m grateful for Saki’s easy acceptance of me and my household, in hopes she’ll be able to show her mama we mean her no harm.
3. I’m grateful for the Roomba when there’s a cat under a bed who needs to come out.
4. I’m grateful for daily walks to keep me moving, my daily steps up over 10,000 most days, and my stress level in the manageable range.
5. I’m grateful for waking every morning to snuggly cats.

About the Author

Sheri Conaway is a Holistic Ghostwriter, and an advocate for cats and mental health. Sheri believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful and help entrepreneurs touch the souls of their readers and clients so they can increase their impact and their income.