2022 will soon be wrapping up. As I look back on this past year, I reflect on the losses of some incredibly wonderful felines: Dash, M.K. Molly, and Gadget. Thankfully, Old Girl did not join the Bridge Club this year. Not only is she walking stronger each day, but she no longer flees in terror every time I come into her sight. In the mornings, when I enter the shop to feed, she actually shadows me, staying near my rear legs. Quite a contrast from her past behavior.

But that is feral cats and that is how they roll. They hide their pain so effectively, and when it finally overwhelms them, their feral instincts kick into high gear. Anything bigger than they are become instant predators. Since they know they are low on the food chain, they do all they can to stay off the menu.

For so many years, she kept hidden under the house with her own clowder. Now with Gadget gone, she is the last of the “Under the House Gang.” Thankfully, when they sealed off the house, she did manage to merge successfully with the shop kitties. It took time, but it did happen.

With our temperatures slated to start plunging into the frozen zone soon (I have already dealt with a busted pipe in the pasture) I have stuffed as much straw as possible in the back rooms of the shop. The kitties, should they desire to, could build some impressive tunnels now to keep warm. The new black kitty, who I am temporarily naming Slip is still quite elusive. He slips quickly under the fence when I go out to feed and takes off to the creek on a run. I can’t even guesstimate how old he/she is at this point. I suspect once the snow and winds kick up, he will find his way into the shop joining the others.

Because of the burst pipe, I shut off the pump at the well house. Now all the water for the cats is being carted from the house. I am grateful we have two wells here. Speaking of water, the house well has been tested and nothing alarming has been discovered. It is hard water, which I already knew, and there is some acidity to it, but it is within normal ranges. The testing was tricky when you are looking for health issues. They have a huge list and each portion of the items are grouped according to the health issue they are testing for.  Each group carries its own individual pricing.  I had to be very selective in what they tested for as it could have been spendy to test for everything. This year, we only made a fraction of what we usually bring in for CATS. Testing for everything going on with Kota wasn’t possible.

I received quite the blessing this Thanksgiving. I discovered quite by accident, a cassette tape Mike made for me many years ago. By the time we got married, we had quite a collection of letters, photos, cassette tapes and phone bills (remember those?) He made the tape after I flew to Alaska from California to meet him for the first time. We had a wonderful 8 days together, camping, fishing and discovering ourselves along the way.

I listened to the tape twice. I thought I had gathered all the letters and tapes about two years after he passed and burned them on the pile giving them all back to him on his birthday that year. I missed one. God meant for me to miss one. This was the one to miss and one I will not burn. I had an Epiphany after listening to his message to me. I am weary of being sad. He would not wish for me to be sad. It’s time now to move forward—

So here’s to a Better Year in 2023 for ALL, on all Fronts.

May Peace and Love follow you through the upcoming Holidays-