Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Indian Summer

I'm told that's what we are currently experiencing and I for one am all for it. Jack and I have been sunbathing and having leisurely dust baths, with the occasional snack of dry leaves. Ahhhh. Jack likes the leaves so much that he wads them up in his cheek and the woman then has to fish around and remove them. He says they're "near as good as chewin' baccy".

The extraordinary weather has brought the cat back into our orbit. When it's the least bit cool she lounges in the house in whatever spot takes her fancy. These days she's been prowling in the barn, searching for small rodents to demolish in a long drawn out ritual. It always ends with tiny body parts strewn throughout the place. Even by cat standards she is eccentric and Jack and I both behave very respectfully in her presence. TJ found out that taunting her results in painful lacerations to the visage. Jack always says "Mornin' ma'am, jest on muh way", and scurries off without looking her in the eye. She has the ability to suddenly materialize out of thin air ( she once dropped down out of the rafters into a flake of hay we were eating ) so we must be on our guard at all times. We think she slipped and fell out of the rafters but would never dare suggest it because any of you who know cats know they will never, ever admit to a mistake.

Arctic weather is supposed to return by Sunday so we are making the most of these few short days. With the cold weather, the cat will vanish back into the house and the vast number of tiny spleens and tails and who knows what else that she lavishes upon us will dry up until spring.

4 comments:

Dougie Donk said...

Lucky you with some residual warmth. We went from a week of howling gales & torrential rain, to a week of sub-zero temperature & the odd flake of snow. Now back to wind & rain. Humph!

I have changed my opinion of the value of waterproof blankets with built-in neck covers,as it allows me to be out in the big field every day & supervise the goings-on of the lunatic ex-racehorse. I have decided that he is rather fun to play with, but cannot understand his glee when the woman makes him wear a saddle & bridle & then points him at large jumps. Surely it would be much better to instruct her to jump such things alone? But no, the foolish fellow says that he enjoys the speed & adrenalin surge. Evidence (if it were needed) that we donkeys are on a higher evolutionary plane.

You are also fortunate that your feline gives up hunting in the winter months. Ours takes up residence on my stable door, so that he can stay out of the rain but still survey his domain & decide which unfortunate creature to kill next. Horrid creature!

Anonymous said...

Scottish mist?
Dougie - Here in Canada, where our entire knowledge of Scotland is guided by repeated viewings of the "Hamish Macbeth" series, we assume that Scottish weather is a combination of cheery sunshine and gentle sprinklings of soft "Scottish mist." It is a little depressing to hear this isn't true, as Fred and I have been saving carrots with the hope of cashing in on a trip to somewhere balmy like Scotland.

This morning we are socked in with thick fog. This is a perilous situation at Elfwood Farm, where a brown quarter horse can come hurtling out of the mists and flatten small brown donkeys at any moment.

It is beyond the ken of mere donkeys to understand the ways of equines. We know that Annie tolerates the fat lady's forays under saddle because that is the only way she gets to see other horses - particularly Wilbur, an ancient quarter horse Annie finds (inexplicably) attractive, though he never gives her the time of day.

Her equine majesty is in a constant state of pique for reasons we cannot fathom - could be something to do with the weather (though it is 19 degrees C today). Fred is mumbling darkly about her "being in season" whatever that may mean.

We rarely see felines in our barn, though they are rumoured to lurk in the loft. I make it my business to chase anything that comes in view - chickens, cats, dogs. Fred generally backs me up unless it is porcupines.

Dougie Donk said...

Ah Ginger

Hamish MacBeth was based in the Highlands of Scotland, which are under the influence of the Gulf Stream, so they do indeed get balmy weather in the summer months. However, my woman was there for work this week & reports several inches of snow, which apparently won't clear from the tops of the mountains until mid-June.

I would suggest that you cash your carrots in for somewhere pleasantly warm like France or Spain, but I hear that they are not adverse to making a meal of their donkeys!!!! Given that, I can only recommend that you stay with people who care for you in a manner befitting such a noble species as ours.

Our feline killed another mole today. I approve of this, since they leave dreadful mounds in my field & ruin my favourite rolling spots. In general however, I can see why felines were associated with the dark forces - scarey beings!

billie said...

Sheaffer, we have had several days this week of 80 degree weather, and night-time temps in the 50s!

Now it's raining and a cold front is coming in, so back we go to the chill.

Hope you and Jack are taking full advantage of the reprieve!