Tempting Fate!

   I have to admit that Bat, the Bayou Prince Cat, amused me when he decided to take a nap in the old cast iron pot.  Obviously, the pot was toasty warm which made it the perfect place for a snooze on a chilly day.  Well, he is at it again!  This evening, I lit a fire in the old cast iron wood-burning stove.  This is an antique cookstove that has top plate burners and a working oven.  The oven warms nicely but unless the fire is kept stoked and the door closed, it never gets overly hot.  It stays nice and warm but not "burn to the touch" hot.  While in use, I keep the oven door open so the heat can enter the room.  The oven door being flat open almost on the floor also provides a convenient place to stack a few "fire sticks" as my granddaughter calls them.  It only takes a handful to keep the old stove going for some time.  Mr. Bat has decided that the open oven is an "open invitation".  That silly cat moved into the oven as a napping spot! I am really going to have to watch him this winter so he does not decide to jump on top of the stove!  THAT does get really hot...hot enough to burn his paws.

  Never before has any of our bayou cats taken a liking to sleeping inside the oven but this cat is way different than any of the others.  He is far more inquisitive and far more adventurous.  Given a half of chance, he will attempt anything.  He is one goofy daredevil and is going to find himself in a heap of trouble some day.  He has already been bitten by a cottonmouth (dry bite, thankfully), chased by the eagle (smart enough to dive under the pier) and has taken a swim in the Bay (his doings).  His nine lives are going to be used up quickly if he does not start being a bit more careful.  Sleeping inside an oven may not be helping matters much!  Oh, Bat!  You are one silly cat!

Not a fun find.

   So the dreary days carry on and I am about as dismal as they come.  While I love a good rainy day, there is too much to be done to be confined indoors.  The gardens are becoming overgrown, the oak leaves are falling in mounds and the garden paths are being washed away by the torrential rains.  I do not need to be stuck indoors while letting the place run amok.

  At one point, I could stand it no longer so I slipped out the back door.  A drizzly rain still fell but I was bound and determined to be outside.  Since working in the Small Gardens was a bad idea, I headed to the woods.  There, the tree canopy would offer some protection...not much...but some.  The ground was soggy causing the footsteps to be muffled.  I am quite sure if Bat, the cat, had not been tagging along with me, my other critter friends would have been freer with their visits.  He has a way of putting a damper on my critter communications...we will have to work on that.  Instead of critter finds, I found something I wish I could have avoided.  Some rather large stinkhorns had popped up right next to the path.  These things were huge at about six inches tall and over an inch in diameter.  This was the first time I have ever noticed this type of stinkhorn and with its proximity to rotting hurricane debris, I had to wonder if perhaps this, too, washed in on the tide.  To be honest, I could have done without finding the stinkhorns.  They are not a favorite for obvious reasons.  Shortly after finding the fungi, Bat, the cat, thought it would be great fun to attack them.  Thus ended my escape.  It was time for a cat bath...not fun, either. 

Oh, Bat!

   The "throwaway" cat that my son-in-law rescued from a flooded parking lot seems to be flourishing now that he has a good home.  How people can mistreat others (human or animal) is beyond me.  I guess, as much as I do not wish to believe it, there are some pretty hateful people in this old world.  Anyone who would harm a tiny kitten is likely to not worry about harming their fellow mankind.  What has this world come to?  Saddening, for sure.  

  But, back to Bat, the Cat!  The Bayou Prince has settled in to being the ruler of the Little Bayou House.  He has not been allowed to roam freely about the Bayou since there are a couple of feral tomcats running about the place that would not think twice about killing a newcomer.  Perhaps when he is full grown and can hold his own against such threats, he will be free to go as he pleases.  Bat does not seem to mind the inside life, however, as he has never even tried to go back out that door since Robbie brought him here.  Perhaps he remembers his old life and has decided this cozy place is more to his liking.  Fine by me as he is good company.

  What is really NOT fine by me is that Bat has laid claim to my favorite pieces of furniture.  It appears that these are now HIS favorites and I am banned.  First it was the purple rocking chair and now....the BED!  Ever since we got him, he has wanted to snuggle with me at all times especially in the evenings.  Now, he tries to beat me to the bed so he can get the prime spot!  There is one certain throw pillow that he simply adores and, if it is moved, he is not a happy camper.  My little buddy tugs and tugs on that big, ole pillow until it is situated just so, then, he promptly plops down and snoozes.  Hopefully, he does not grow too much more as he will take up to much space.  I do need some place to sleep!  Silly Bat!

"My Chair"

   I made a mistake today.  I admit it.  I was wrong.  I was wrong to think that I could sit in the rocking chair for a few moments.  Obviously, this act is not accepted and should not be repeated.   I am referring to the purple porch rocker.  Bat, the Cat. has decided that he is the sole owner of this chair.  Granted, I started it by tying different toys to the arms and back of the chair but I had no idea what that would bring.  The chair is now his private domain and I am never to use it again.

  My mistake started when I was taking a break from the kitchen makeover.  I had to sit for a few.  As soon as I plopped myself down in the chair, the cat started staring at me.  Then, he "attacked"!  No, he did not claw nor bite but he did snag my sock!  That crazy cat nigh on pulled my sock off of my foot!  Then he pounced up on my lap and proceeded to try to push me from the chair.  Ok, Bat!  You can have your chair!  I will sit elsewhere.  He was satisfied and immediately started playing with the toys.  So much for sitting.