Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Today's Cats and Flowers



Giant and lovely snapdragon
Reasons these cat pictures are bad: 1) I took them through a dirty window  2) I had to zoom in so as not to scare away the cats, so they are blurry  3) The glare made streaks in some photos 4) my garden hose is always lying around cluttering up the background.

I wasn't prepared for having so many cat visitors in one day. The first one to arrive was the one I will name Boots. He was so interested in my clogs. I decided to put some food out for Boots, because, I'm very sad to report, Jim hasn't been around for a month. I might as well try to make new friends by means of my leftover cat food, because I'm afraid he won't ever come back.

Boots
The next picture shows Boots eating, and looking nicer. Except for the white feet, he isn't the prettiest. But then, Jim wasn't very good-looking until he had eaten regularly at my step for a few months.

Pincushion
I watered the yard thoroughly this morning, and will again Friday before we leave for Oregon to visit kids and grandkids. So I had to take pictures of flowers. I love my garden, even if it is pretty messy. If I loved it better I'd coil up the hose every evening.

Boots didn't eat all the food, so there was still some later on when Girlfriend came by.
Girlfriend




Last of all, just at dusk, came this odd-looking feline whom I'll call Two-Tone....

Two-Tone
Oh, I take that back. It's almost dark now, and Cow Cat is here -- I can see through the window as I type -- and what do you know, there is still food in the bowl. Cow Cat visits several times a day, usually, and always looks in the window and in the bowl, even though we have shooed him away many times.
Cow Cat a year ago

We didn't like him because he's ugly. But Goldilocks questioned the morality of that opinion....at least, that's the challenge I felt in my heart when she said, "Why won't you feed him?"

Calendula with oregano
Last year when I wrote about the cat visitors, I had chosen Jim, the black cat at the bottom of this post, as my favorite. So we discriminated against Cow Cat. Pippin said he may have a classic deformity of the face that makes him look the way he does. It's not his fault. So perhaps I will take pity on him after all. Will he forgive me my past unkindness?

This yellow California poppy is very beloved, because it is unusual. The bright orange are much more vigorous and easy to grow, but I managed to get this one established, and it comes back most years.

Cow Cat is unusual, and he keeps coming back. Maybe I could learn to love him, too.

9 comments:

The Armstrong Brood said...

Fun to read this. I love your honesty about why you did not like Cow Cat. Poor fellow. :-)

Jeannette said...

A lovely story. yes, sweet looks are an easy reminder to enjoy and give love...but sometimes the deeper places of the heart are reached through other means.
Did I ever tell you about the cat lady? Maybe I shall sometime...

If the pale yellow poppy makes any extra seeds...I could give them a good home. Enjoy your garden and then may you travel with a light heart.

Pom Pom said...

Cow Cat has a long face, doesn't he? He is undoubtedly humble. You reminded me that I do not like coiling the garden hose, but Bill insists I do it each time I water. Do you plant catnip? One of our favorite cats used to roll around in it. Have a wonderful trip to Oregon!

Leslie said...

I want to take a trip to Oregon. sigh. Lovely flowers. I sure like the sweet pink snapdragon. I've had a kitty watching me from outside the fence a couple of times recently. I think it belongs to my neighbor. I don't put food outside though, because it attracts the HUGEST slugs you ever saw. Dis-gust-ing!

M.K. said...

I'm amazed at your kindness and generosity to feed so many stray cats at all! Someone should do it, and I'm glad you enjoy it. Yes, you should feed even the ugly ones, I think. The snapdragon is astounding! Love them. Have a safe trip!

victoria said...

Aww, I love the story of the cat visitors and their names. We only have one, who won't let me near. Now I'm inspired to try and take a photo of him/her.

MKM said...

I think cow cat is charming in his own awkward way! I hope you become friends.

Martha said...

3am I awoke because of a cat fight...let our dog out the front door and it stopped!

Your snapdragons look lovely...that's how ours will look at the END of summer!!! I can't wait...

Gumbo Lily said...

Your back step is a Cat Mission, isn't it? I like your garden -- hose, clogs and all. Signs of life, I say.

Happy Mother's Day.
jody