This little gal has been the resident mouser around here for about 23 years. She spends her days on the front porch now, leaving the capture (and eventual presentation at our doorstep of many mice, moles, snakes, and bird)s to the younger generation. This summer there were three feral kittens and their mama who showed up and caused Old Mama Kitty all kinds of grief. We had to send the mother and two of the babies elsewhere and kept one little orange and white kitten to take over the mousing duties, leaving the old gal to take her much deserved naps on the lounge chair. We named her Little Bit because she was so tiny and dainty with such a quiet little voice. She was the one her mama brought from the barn and placed at my aunt’s feet. My grandma always said that the mama will give you the best kitten and she was right. While the feline matriarch will let my aunt scratch her back with her foot, Little Bit will climb up into your lap and purr like crazy. I’ve never been much of a cat person, but these two farm cats have captured my heart. Old Mama Kitty won’t be with us too much longer, but hopefully Little Bit will provide us with years of devotion.
The neighbor’s golden retriever, Willy, is traipsing around my trailer as I write this. He’s young and sleek…a gorgeous deep reddish gold. His paws rustle through the leaves and I can hear him panting at the door, hoping I’ll come scratch him behind the ears. Thankfully, our road isn’t terribly busy. I’d hate it if something happened to him.
Yesterday was really fun. I called up my younger daughter on FaceTime on my iPad and my nearly 83 year old aunt was mesmerized. We didn’t get a paper today so I pulled it up online and showed it to her. I chatted with my cousin’s daughter in the evening and found out she can FaceTime as well so we’ll get to see her baby. That must seem amazing to one who has never operated a computer. Not that my aunt is uneducated, mind you. She reads the top news and financial magazines every week. She was one of the first Head Start teachers in Washington, DC. She’s been around and is quite interesting to talk with.
I had a totally indulgent day of rest yesterday. I believe I will get a few boxes emptied today. I have a barrel of apples in the cellar and I need to make some applesauce for winter days. Maybe I’ll bake a couple of apple pies. I also need to get out for a walk and enjoy the nice weather predicted for the next few days. I have the new Lehman’s catalog to look at and I’m going to order a seed catalog or two for planning the garden for spring.
Today marks the end of my first week as a farm girl! I think I’m settling in just fine. <3