Completely off topic… (I just had to share)*

No, I’m not talking about Rob and I – it’s the cats we “inherited” when we moved into our rural house. (the young girl up the street started out with two cats, and they have… hmmmm…. increased in number)

They’re outdoor cats and take care of rodents, snakes, spiders and frogs for me! Over the last four years I’ve given in and begun feeding them and in gratitude they leave all sundry of “gifts” at the door – including gnawed-on (dead) frogs and a squirrel’s tail (just the tail). Those six cats have adopted Robert and I. Every now and again a new cat will show up, but be promptly chased away. By Garfield.

Five out the six cats tolerate me, but Garfield, the orange, male, alpha cat, loves me. He really does. Whenever I come out on the deck he emerges from whatever sheltered spot he’s been sleeping in and hops up where I can pet him. And does he purr… (it’s loud enough to hear through the sunroom glass)

If I’m writing outside, he’ll hop onto the table and the only way I can carry on working is if I push him off. If I’m looking out at the pasture, he’ll hop onto the deck railing and try to crawl into my arms to snuggle.

It’s odd. He’s quite stand-offish with the other cats, but with me, he shows his love.

Today and yesterday have been cool and drippy – not quite raining, but everything is soggy. I think the cats are a little out-of-sorts… This morning there was a a show down between Garfield and an interloper – his younger look-alike!

First I heard the yowling. I thought someone was in pain…

Then I saw Garfield had his look-alike cornered. They attacked each other with claws and teeth, rolling all over the deck in a fury of flying orange fur.

Here’s what’s left: