The (mostly) black brothers indoors. From top right, Brio, Pilgrim, Pharaoh, and Mystery.
Bagheera providing valuable assistance as I weeded a flower bed.
The hard, hard life of a barn cat. Bagheera, Rascal, and one-eared Cory.
Into the woods with Rascal.
I love that you have a cat that goes exploring with you.
I love The Spring picture! It looks like Rascal is going fishing!
Rascal is well-camouflaged in the woods and by the water.
Sometimes it takes me a minute or two to spot her when I look around. She does not stay “at heel” out there, more like if she were on an invisible 25-foot flexi lead. She always keeps tabs on me, and when I move, she moves, but she might be found in any direction, including up!
Here’s Count Pharaoh in the process of stretching back across my arm, which he does often. He likes to get upside down in my lap and then do an upside-down super stretch. Good shot of his wacky teeth, which are impressive when you have the right viewing angle.
And Rascal in the woods yesterday.
Cotton and the rhododendron.
The flat blocks were used to hold down the edge of the landscaping fabric. I need to add more mulch to cover them, as the current mulch has gotten a bit beaten down. Meanwhile, the cats do love the shelf to perch on.
Sunrise in the wild, wild woods with Rascal.
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And here is one of my favorite rock formations. I call this the throne. Sorry for odd angles; to get a picture with me, I have to prop the phone in trees and on rocks.
Rascal is not a lap cat. She will get next to me, a very high statement of affection from her. But she will not get in a lap. This cat is the antihesis of a snuggly lap cat. She is aloof, reserved, dignified, and with most of the world unfriendly. But she is a character.
Of all of the cats I’ve known in my life, which is well over 100, she is second. The one who is first was more than a cat, and I doubt she’ll ever lose that position, but Rascal is at the head of everybody else. I love them all, of course, but some stand out more than others.
This picture purrfectly illustrates life with cats, I think. Psalm caught in mid act and not even feeling guilty about it.
Solo with that familiar dilemma for cat owners. Trap? Invitation? Choose wisely. The particular cat makes it harder to tell. Solo is 100% attitude. Sometimes, she is affectionate. She also is the most habitual biter on the farm. You can never be sure if she’s listening to the angel or the demon on her shoulder at any given moment.
Psalm makes a supporting appearance.
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Arriving home yesterday from a concert. The cats are always a welcoming committee. Some meet me at the car - in fact, Bagheera often jumps on the car. Always after it stops; they are car wise, but I have learned that the THUD right after I put it into park was not the engine falling out. Some wait on the porch, knowing I’m heading that way. Always nice to be welcomed back.
Rascal in the creek.
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Cotton on Saturday. Even a sentinel cat has to have a nap now and then.
This morning, it was raining. We had pounding T-storms early this morning, and it was still raining steadily, though not lightning anymore, when I went out to do chores. The cats were up on the large, dry porch waiting for me. I fed them there, then went down to feed the horse, then turned back, mentally cancelling my walk in the woods because of the weather.
Nope, I forgot to clear this with management. As I was coming back from the pasture, here came Rascal toward me, tail waving in displeasure. She had left the dry porch and left breakfast, and now, she stopped in front of me and delivered a double-barreled tortoiseshell glare. I was heading in the wrong direction, back to the house instead of off into the woods.
I informed her that it was raining, although that fact should have been obvious. Nope. Silent judgment.
Finally, with a sigh, I turned around, and we took a walk. In the rain. Because she wanted a walk.
Rascal will sometimes walk through the creek, straight through it. She does not actually play in the water, unlike Solo inside, whose adventures as Lady Splashalot have relegated the water dish to being located in the shower. But while she does not seek out or splash in water, Rascal obviously does not see water as an obstacle when she wants something. This morning, she wanted a walk. Yes, ma’am.
Yes, it was actively and quite steadily raining. But hey, if your cat is demanding a walk in the woods, what are you going to do?
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Rascal is very intrepid. I love that kind of cat.
