Ponder this:

Friday, July 19, 2013

Drama, country style

Thursday, 10:00PM
Molly and I set off for our field walk around 7 and down by the old orchard I realized that Peep was coming with us, fifty feet behind. Molly playfully chased her into the old, old orchard, which is a MESS of tangled vines and weeds. So far as I know, Peep is in there still. While Molly was frolicking with Peep, she disturbed a fawn with just traces of spots left on its back and it burst out down into the fourth field (out of sight from the house). Molly thrashed around in the brush for a few seconds and then burst out in hot pursuit and chased down well into (and beyond, I think) the fifth field. Our great recall is off the table when there's a deer in the picture. She came back all smiley and pleased with herself. When we passed the orchard again, Peep and I yelled to each other, she sounding pouty, but she wouldn't come out. Molly thought since she'd had such a good time mining for deer there, she'd give it another try, and BY GOLLY, didn't she get another fawn out of there. The thing came out and almost turned toward me but went across the path to where the old barn collapsed. Molly reappeared and went completely in the wrong direction, but retraced her path. So Molly got to chase not one, but TWO deer tonight.

An hour later, we went down to see if Peep would come out, but she would only call. I'm worried, but the brush is too thick and I can't get in to her. 
Oh. And on our attempt at cat retrieval, Molly found a nest of baby birds a foot and a half off the ground and ate them. It's been a great night for Molly....

I'm hoping to wake up to a Peep cat on my doorstep. If that doesn't happen, we'll be out for an early walk!



Friday, 7:00AM
I was awake at 3, up at 4 making supper to get it cooked before the heat of the day, in the back yard calling and calling for Peep at 4:30. I planned to hold the resumption of the Peep search until the supper was out of the oven, and was sitting on the screen porch when Molly came scampering in from the front yard (the front door was open to let in the early morning cool). I thought she was just coming in to say hello, but when I got up to get her breakfast, there was Peep lounging on the floor. I was so relieved and happy! and rushed to make sure she had kibble and fresh water. 
I wanted to get Molly's morning walk out of the way early while it was still cool, so we set off and behind us, here comes Peep once again. She caught up and stayed on a course parallel to Molly, but forty feet to the east. When we all reached the thickety part, Peep apparently said, "Chase me!" and Molly did. Peep went up a silver maple tree (lots of winding, twisting limbs) and cried for attention. "Watch me! Watch me!" I stood below and observed her performance, as she pranced back and forth on narrowing limbs, chewing off small twigs, frequently casting glowing golden eyes at me to make sure I was appreciating her skill. When she leapt five feet from one limb to another, thirty feet above the ground, I had to leave. I didn't want to encourage her daredevil showing off. I headed back for the house. I looked back and there was Molly sitting and watching her kitty sis. They both reappeared about the same time. Peep is happily and staidly playing with her little bell-balls now, looking at me as if to question why I would worry about her since she is so expert at taking care of her small self.

Gawd.

13 comments:

Olga said...

Cats are pretty good at taking care of themselves. Molly sounds like areacal.

DJan said...

We worry about them anyway, whether they can take care of themselves or not. It's just our nature as the ones who love them so much. Sounds like things are settling in for your furry family. :-)

Joanne Noragon said...

We've always had cats who followed the dogs who followed the person taking them on a morning walk. One year we even had a flock of wild turkeys surrounding the whole lot, walking up the road. The dogs were cairns and not about to take on a turkey. The cats thought about it.

VioletSky said...

My cat used to like playing silly beggars and I'd finally find her watching me as if I was some kind of idiot for spending the last several minutes calling out and searching for her while she was quietly under a chair or hedge. Yours sounds a bit like a show off!!

Carolynn Anctil said...

Sounds a lot like my two. Except, my cat will not hesitate to clean the dog's clock, but good. And, she's a fraction of the dog's size.

SmitoniusAndSonata said...

Wicked little Peep ... a real drama queen !

Rose ~ from Oz said...

Gawd alright! June, you had my heart thumping before I got the end that is. I was sure you were going to tell us that Peep had got herself tangled in the thicket and you had to bravely chop your way through to save her!
-chuckle- Molly without doubt, thinks she is in doggie paradise!
Mmm, sounds like it's terribly HOT over there!

rachel said...

Two naughty children, that's what you've got! Life is going to be a lot of fun, that's for sure.

But - she ATE the baby birds? Ah well, the wolf gene isn't that remote, is it.....

Pauline said...

LOL! If you change the names, these could be kids you're talking about (well, except for the eating the birds part...). So glad you have pets again to make your days exciting :)

Sandi McBride said...

animals...they are our life...it seems they are yours as well. Enjoyed this so much
Sandi

threecollie said...

Hoo, boy, I can imagine how scared you were. Wow. Our guard dog got loose yesterday. He is a cat killer, which is why he can't run loose at all. When we went to look for cats they were all absent. However, as soon as the boss got him back where he belonged down they came from trees and out from under trucks and tractors, fairly wiping their brows with relief. No casualties.

Friko said...

Give ‘em half a chance and they’ll perform all sorts of tricks for you. It’s gratitude with dogs and superiority with cats.

Like you it is I who have no use for me. It is I who have a very poor opinion of myself. I am not to blame and neither are you, I believe. We were trained from an early age by those who should have nurtured us.

I think you are brilliant, a real star.

Vicki Lane said...

So glad she came back! We had a scare with my pup Willa yesterday -- she took of into the woods and there was a great deal of frantic barking which was abruptly cut short. My husband was convinced she'd encountered a bear and, taking a rifle, set off in search of her. Half an hour later, he returned to find her unharmed but frightened in the front seat of our Jeep. Whew!