Cat on a Piano

I have posted multiple versions of this shot. Madam is regal as she poses on the piano I don't play anymore. In this photo her contracted front leg is visible. She was one of the kittens born to a stray in the barn. There were four of them. The mama became friendly, unfortunately she disappeared after they were weaned. She'd been spayed so if she did run off, which I doubt, she wouldn't be reproducing. Three of the kittens were part-time house cats, including this one. Mona had no interest in coming inside. Miss Priss started disappearing for up to a month at a time. The last time, in 2018, she was gone for three months and we didn't expect to see her again. In late November she came limping into the barnyard. She was thin and had a dangling front leg. She became a house cat without any complaining. From the knee down she had no feeling, she was fine from the knee up. I wrapped the dragging foot until I decided what to do. In the meantime her leg contracted and I decided she could stay that way. It's not dragging, she didn't need to go through the trauma of surgery and I think it gives her balance. She gets along well. This is her fifth year as our tripod. Those four kittens will be eight at Mother's Day.

I've got soup simmering, I made tomato sauce for chili yesterday. I realized I have not made chili this year, so I'll make it today and serve it for dinner tomorrow. I think it's better the next day.

We had overnight rain and it's been raining on and off. It's supposed to snow later, so it's definitely soup and chili weather around here. I read two emotionally heavy books in a row. By the time I finished Beloved I was drained. I've read one mystery and started on another. I have always liked mysteries, so it was my go-to for lightening up. I like to guess who-done-it. Fortunately, Minnesota isn't banning books. I can't believe I am typing those words and that it's not conspiracy talk. Banning books is back. I don't bring these things up for my own sake. I spent my adult life engaged in politics, now, I can't withstand the, well...horror. Autocrats don't acquire that total power by themselves. We don't need to go back too far in history to see how it's done.

Okay, that's enough. As hard as I try to tune out, I am well aware and it's in my mind and sometimes I need to open the pressure valve. We will have soup and biscuits for lunch, a sirloin cap roast for dinner, a crackling fire. Red wine for me, rye whiskey for Mark, listen to some music and pet a cat. May you have your own pleasures.