A couple of years ago, our large volunteer barn cat moved into the house through the dog door and decided he liked it better in here. On the whole, he's a very nice and friendly animal and we don't object much except when he occasionally brings a vole or mouse in from outdoors (usually they are still very much alive.)

Well, this spring three other apparently unattached cats from the area have taken up occupancy in our barns. We assumed they were after mice, and since we have too many, that's ok, too. One of them used to stalk birds in the yard until I harassed him a bit with a slingshot and dried beans. Now he stays away from the bird feeders and waits for mice in and around the barn. Until today, I'd seen no evidence that any of the three were actually catching mice. However, this particular one was eating a mouse just outside the barn door when I walked past him this afternoon. Ick. But he seemed quite satisfied with it.

In contrast to the rain, rain, rain we had in May and June, now we have daily forecasts of rain that never falls. Everything is drying out. Even the mosquito population is starting to shrink noticeably. Oddly enough, though, we still have no hay deliveries. Despite repeated messages left for our customary supplier, who has sold us all our hay for the last ten years, no response and no hay. If he doesn't respond by tomorrow, we will be forced to start calling other suppliers in order to get what we need before the season's over. This seems very strange, but we have no way of telling what's going on. Switching suppliers probably means a higher price, but within ten days we will be dead out of hay here.

August is shaping up to be the month with no weekends. All of them are eaten up by one thing or another, most of which are commitments that can't be broken or rearranged. I don't like that, but I know some people thrive on it. I generally prefer weekends to be unplanned, quiet, and lazy whenever possible.

The cold is still here. Today is the seventh day since I noticed the first symptoms. Yuck.

Tags: cats, farm, weather
Current Location: Home in the oak grove
Mood: tired

Well, we knew it would happen eventually. RikkiToo, the author of this year's holiday letter, decided on New Year's Eve that he had earned the right to enter the house. After sitting outside the glass sliding doors to the yard for about an hour, he popped in through the dog door and explored the house. As usual, a perfect gentleman, even when the original Rikki had a hissy fit at his presence. Neither dog objected to him, nor did little Tikki, the other house cat. Gary made a point of showing him where the litter box is, and where the food dishes are, though he took little interest it seems.

When it came time for evening chores he churred and followed us out to the barn, where he stayed the night. We wondered if he'd come back in later, but he did not... Not until late afternoon the next day, anyway. After chores were done, everyone fed, as it was getting dark, in through the dog door again. This time he found my sleigh blanket folded on a rocking chair and immediately adopted it, going to sleep on it. He was still there when we went to bed. Evidently he stayed in all night, because this morning I found him sleeping in Sarah's favorite chair while she was asleep on the carpet in front of it. I guess he's moved in.

He let us trim his claws and go over him with a flea comb (no fleas, thank goodness) without any complaint. I wonder if he'll keep patrolling the barn or if he has decided to retire to the fireside now. He's a very bright and friendly cat, and has been here for more than two years. I'm really surprised that it took this long for him to figure out the dog door.

Tags: cats, farm
Mood: amused