R.I.P. Misty

Yesterday Misty (the feral cat) didn't show up for dinner. Her habit of late has been to appear right at the door, practically ready to ring the doorbell in order to be served. At first it didn't concern me too much. Just thought she was running late. And cats are unpredictable creatures who will gladly worry you if they have a party to attend. Multiple checks for her yielded nothing.

This morning I put out her dry food as usual. Fully expected her to come running within a few minutes. Kept checking, and checking, and checking. No Misty. As Nellie and I were coming home from walkies, a nagging, gloomy feeling came over me. For some reason I was drawn to our corner - the area I call the thicket - and started peering in. There was a dark gray mound, which I really couldn't make out too well, lying in the middle. Could be anything I tried to tell myself, but I just knew. Took Nellie home, called for long suffering partner, and we went out just to reassure me that it was nothing to be alarmed about. It was Misty. A coyote is suspected. There are no words that can convey the rage and sadness her death has caused. She was so close to letting me touch her; she had briefly come into the house. We were making such progress. And then this. She deserved so much better in life. She deserved a loving, safe home. She didn't deserve what happened to her. She will be missed every day.

I found a poem I wrote when I was 17 that sums up my feelings. 

She's such a tease

Misty has been teasing us for a few days now. She looks longingly at a door and I obligingly leave it open for her to waltz in. She has, very briefly, on two occasions. Today was a bit different. Both long-suffering partner and I were busily getting laundry organized in, of all places, the laundry room. We noticed her in the Critter Café and opened the door to see what she was up to. Don't worry, there were no birds or squirrels in sight. Anyway, Misty heard the door open, and as the laundry room in one place she has briefly explored, she walked over to peer in. Once she saw there were two of us taking up space, she decided against coming in, but seemed very uncertain about that. Just to see what might happen, I left the door open and found things to do while I talked to her. She kept coming over, walking away, coming closer, and we hoped for the best. The closest she got was the threshold, but that's progress. I thought of feeding her just inside the door to see what she would do, but was convinced not to. If we go through this tomorrow, the food bowl will indeed be just over the threshold. Rains are coming and, for her sake, having a dry warm place to hang out seems like a good idea. We'll see what happens.

This is her first foray into thinking about entering the room:

And now she's bolder, but still not entirely enticed. Patience...something I'm not known for!

Squirrels rule

I have a squirrel who loves to come right up to me and take a walnut out of my hands. Of course, that leaves no opportunity for photo evidence. So this adorable little statue in a garden will have to do.

  

It's time to say goodbye...to the arch and corner plantings that is

The arch that everyone in the neighborhood loves has seen better days. (To see it in its glory, check out the 3/31/24 post). So it's gotta go. But don't despair. There is a new arch in the making right next to it. In fact, there are a couple more starting up as well. Unfortunately the foxtail agaves are maturing at roughly the same time, and flowering means they are done with their lifecycle. It sounds a bit daft, but that makes me sad to know that plants that have given the garden such beauty and life, are now nearing the end.

You can see the new arch forming right in front on the left.

There's one which is going to impede the driveway, so alas, it won't be allowed to stay very long.

And this one really makes me sad. This an agave that was mature when we moved in eons ago. I guess everything decides to retire at one point or another.

Now, you're going to confirm that I'm absolutely bonkers for deciding that the corner area is far too overgrown and not the artistic vision when first implemented. So, it's going to be reworked and be less of an obstruction to viewing passing pedestrians when we're trying to back out of the driveway. So say goodbye to the jungle look.

I've already done a bit of pulling out and thinning. Amazing the things you find under all that foliage. Definitely overdue for a clearing up. Don't hold your breath for the new look. It'll take a while for it to take shape.

Can't get enough architecture

Once again, going down a street that is too familiar and gasp! happen to notice yet another house with interesting lines. I sometimes wonder if dog walks are really sleepwalking adventures since these things go unseen for so long. The lines on this house are interesting and give me an idea for something in the garden. Whether that idea materializes or not is a different story. Don't hold your breath. 

 

Misty is just chillin'

At  last my obsessive desire to make Misty comfortable (other than just making sure she's fed), is happening -- sort of. She has finally accepted the basket I put out for her as a good resting place until she convinces me to serve her dinner. Or breakfast. Or an afternoon snack. Whatever. Anyway, while she doesn't curl up in it for very long and doesn't use it for her bed at night, she deigns to curl up in it to make me happy. Or just because she can. Don't know, don't care. Just delighted she uses it at all. And yup, she's the dark spot in the basket.