To Those Who Showed Up

Today we remember all those who died maintaining Canada’s independence and freedom. Not all joined the armed forces to defend their country. Some wanted recognition; some were running away; some were scared not to join up; some didn’t like bullies; some wanted adventure; some felt a sacred calling. But they all put on a uniform and were ready to fight. Most did fight, and many died.

Because of them Canada is free and strong, a country other countries look up to. Yes, Canada is flawed and imperfect, with a hundred motives for doing what it does, not all of them noble. Much like the men and women who fought and died for its existence.

But when there is a just cause for which to fight, you don’t have to fight it for noble reasons to be a hero. You just have to show up. I am proud of those who showed up, as I am proud of the nation they helped preserve, a nation just like them.

They Grow Up So Fast

In response to yesterday’s publishing of a video of Largo playing fetch, Undine remarked that she thought that Rhapsody’s kittens might still be growing. Here, then, is an image to throw into the discussion. This is Rho, with one of her little boys.

Fetch with Largo

Largo likes to play fetch with Yellow Fuzzball. Sometimes, he and his brother will be lodged downstairs in the library, especially at meal-times, to keep them from distracting the others. When I let them out, the first thing Largo does is come to me to ask where Yellow Fuzzball is. I tell him he’s the last one to have seen it.

When he finds it, he likes to play fetch. The rules are simple, and the game can go on for quite a while…

Tree Surgery

Sometimes, life isn’t about cats. Sometimes, it is about trees. Trees, you say? That’s right. There are several trees in the Cosy Cabin’s back garden. One, I’ve long suspected of being dead. I was told very recently that the previous owner planted all the trees the year before he left. If so, then one of the trees simply didn’t take. It looked dead when I moved in, and seemed only to have had the one crop of leaves before expiring. In fact, it was weak enough to require the previous occupant to strap it to its living twin for support.

We have a great deal of wind in my part of the country, and sometimes it is very strong. The wind Friday night was considered strong even by veterans of it, and it blew over the dead tree. It didn’t fall all the way, as it was being supported by its brother, which was also pulled over, due to it being lashed to the other.

In the morning, I had to figure out a way of removing the tree. Taking it out of the ground was easy: I just pulled it out. The roots seemed not to have grown or perhaps had become quickly diseased and died, for there were no roots at all; all that was in the ground was about a foot of buried trunk. Nonetheless, pulling a grown tree from the ground made me feel like Samson. I should have carried it triumph about the neighbourhood.

My neighbour came over when she saw the tree had blown down. She offered to help take it apart. She had a small tree-saw, a ferocious-looking switchblade affair, and a couple of branch-shears. We made short work of the tree’s corpse: within an hour, it was in pieces. We also secured the living tree, to allow it to grow upright again after being pulled over a bit. I was very grateful for her help.

I was sad to have to remove the tree. It’s not like they grow overnight. But this one had died prematurely and had to go. I was glad that it was a relatively rapid and easy operation. And the cats weren’t aware that it even happened.

Moxy's Technique

Every cat has his own way of kneading. Imogen’s is very deliberate, as if each flex is a conscious decision; what I call ‘slow dough’. Brazil barely lifts his paws. Moxy’s is one I have not seen elsewhere.

Notice the technique. One paw almost doesn’t even clear the surface, and the toes give a slight clench. The other paw elevates right off the surface and bends backward, often in a complete ninety degree angle. He does this all the time, though he varies which paw completes which action. It may seem to be labour-intensive, yet he can do it for a long time, and apparently enjoys showing his enjoyment.

And I enjoy seeing it.

Little Tough Guy

I have noticed that Andante is the bravest among Rhapsody’s kittens. Though three out of the five are no longer present to compare, I recall him usually being in the forefront of doing things. I had a visitor to the Cosy Cabin last weekend, and while Largo was reticent about meeting the new human, coming out then retreating, coming out then retreating, Andante was more daring, and stayed to watch the person’s behaviour.

This is him with the vacuum cleaner. It’s shut off in these photographs but he won’t withdraw when it is on, backing away only when its nozzle is almost touching him.

This bodes well for an integration into a new home. He’s such an attractive cat that I am surprised there hasn’t been more interest in him. But when there is, his new humans will find that under all that floof is the heart of a brave cat.

Every Cat Has It

Cats are creatures of poise and style, and yet…every cat has that one moment of gracelessness…