Business As Usual

Each morning after walking the dogs, sipping a 1/2 gallon of coffee, sitting in the rising sun and hopefully absorbing enough vitamin D to ward off the epizoodies, I prepare a bowl of cat food for Puff. She greets me at the door with a warm and eager MEOW. The routine is the same, we sit together on the rug outside the kennel while she eats, then she hops up onto my lap for the feline equivalent of a deep tissue massage. Soon afterwards she's ready for her walkabout. She gingerly trots out of the barn and into the corral where she finds the perfect spot to conduct her morning business.

Much to my surprise, she leaves the kittens alone and exposed with the barn door wide open; although, she does look back frequently to see that I'm at my silently agreed upon post.

This morning her business coincided with the horse's morning stroll to the watering hole. While Liam awaited his turn at the well, he noticed Puff scratching around in the dirt. Endlessly fascinated by all things new and different, he pranced over to say hi and perhaps join in the fun. Not at all amused by her unwanted companion, Puff sought refuge and solitude in the next corral all the while keeping a watchful eye on the barn door.

Once out of Liam's playful reach, she got down to business, covered it with due diligence and a bit of dirt, then returned with a new found bounce in her step. Back inside the barn, she conducted the usual head count. Content that all is well, she hops back into the kennel welcomed by three yawning, stretching kittens who barely noticed she was gone. I leave the barn in total agreement: all is well.