I'm Cold!

  While I do love winter and while I do understand that most of the country is far icier that we are here on the Bayou, I am cold.  I stay cold.  Perhaps this is due to whatever ailment has an unrelenting grip on me but I feel the cold this year.  My feet, legs, shoulders all seem akin to ice cubes!  Most winters, I am good with the two cast iron cookstoves providing the only heat in the Little Bayou House.  Even though it rarely gets above 60 degrees inside (except when I bake), a t-shirt and jeans provided enough warmth.  I admit that I am not as cold-hardy as Son.  His winter-wear is the same as his summer togs.  Shorts and a t-shirt see him through all seasons.  Unless he is splitting firewood, he does not even wear shoes!  This year, I have tried donning a sweater thinking it should help to warm me but I still "shake in my boots"!  I have tried all sorts of warming tisanes...no help.  I am just cold...downright cold!

  However!  Someone recently came to my rescue.  The past few nights have seen the temperatures drop to near freezing causing the house to cool dramatically.  At night, the blankets on the bed have raised to mountainous extremes.  Three deep and I am still shivering!  But my guardian came to visit and all is well.  Ms. Nycto, the Bayou Princess cat, rarely comes inside but for the past few nights has insisted on entering and being near me.  She practically clings to me at all times.  Which is good.  She has been sleeping on the bed (actually on my feet) and is like a living bed-warmer.  With her help, I have managed to sleep soundly and warmly.  During the night after she thinks I am asleep, Ms. Nycto softly pads her way up to cuddle near my chest or against my back.  Ahhh!  Relief!

  Growing up on the farm, animals were not allowed in the house except when some plate of food or bottle of milk was accidentally spilled. Then either the dog or cat was allowed in to help clean up the mess.  (Waste not, want not...if we could not eat whatever was spilled, at least one of the critters would feast.)  Since I grew up thinking animals should stay outside, it almost surprises me that I am ok with one sleeping on the bed with me.  Maybe I should not look upon Ms. Nycto as a mere animal, maybe she is my doctor in this case. Her presence is helping to heal me.

  The only thing bad about having this cat in the house is that the other cat, Ms. Put, the Bayou Queen, is a bit skeptical.  In her frail, later years, Ms. Put has been allowed to spend all of her time sleeping in front of the wood stove.  The old cat can hardly see, hear or smell anymore so being outside with the coyotes, fox or even the owls is out of the question.  Ms. Put and Ms. Nycto have never been buddy/buddy.  They do not like each other or even tolerate each other.  Having both in the house at the same time is like treading on thin ice.  I am waiting for a full on cat brawl to erupt in the middle of the night.  Hopefully, Ms. Put will stay in the dining room and Ms. Nycto will not venture off my bed.  A cat fight is not something that I feel up to refereeing.   I'm too cold for that!