snow-day slideshow: wild cat, elusive buddha
IT’S A DAY OF MUFFLED SOUNDS AND LOTS OF SHOVELING. A day tucked in feeling thankful the wind hasn’t taken out the power (even though it keeps devilishly re-covering walkways as fast as I clean them, invoking its formidable power of drift). It’s a day indoors with Jack the Demon Cat, and it began at 4:30 AM.
Someone, you see–someone who wasn’t a sleepover-type house cat in the nine years since he adopted me, not until this winter–has learned to open the door to the upstairs. Where I sleep. Or try to. And he wanted to go out.
But no, on second thought, maybe not. It’s snowing; can you clear me a path maybe first?
I bundle up; I get my shovel. The path is cleared in the dark, amid swirling wind and snow.
He inspects my work.
No, I think I’ll just wait a little while longer. I can hold it.
OK.
But I think I’ll scream pretty much nonstop while I wait.
Perfect.
And then, finally, at first light, out he goes–barreling head-first into a snowbank, completely foregoing the paths I’d shoveled, and digs himself a little snow-cave of a restroom.
Charming.
That’s him at the window now, wanting back in.
And then before I can get my tea, the backyard Buddha starts playing hide-and-go-seek–like the wind and like Jack, he’s a trickster today–and…well, you can just see for yourselves. Where’s Buddha?
Click the first thumbnail to start the slides, then toggle from image to image using the arrows beside the captions, or the arrows on your keyboard. Enjoy.
-
- By first light this morning, the snow had more than reached the downstairs windowsills, tucking us in and muffling all sounds except the roaring wind.
-
- From upstairs, I could see the snow still coming down, and blowing like mad.
-
- The front walkway (in front of these chairs), which I had shoveled before bed, had been all but erased by another foot or so of snow.
-
- The nearby birdbath looked like a bundt cake or giant molded dessert.
-
- But where oh where is Buddha, the one who watches out above the backyard frogpond? (Answer: He’s the pointed helmet with one stealth eye slit in the middle of this photo.)
-
- Remember, just a week or so ago, he’d looked like this, before he went underground.
-
- By the time it was light enough to take photos, I’d been up for hours. Jack (who after 9 years of living outdoors has chosen this year to become a house cat), pried open the staircase door at 4:30 and came to get me…then wouldn’t go out until I shoveled him a path. The snow on his head is from digging, which he likes to do in the drifts and banks.
-
- More than that, though, he likes to sit inside and watch the birds and squirrels, while I shovel.
-
- I carved a shovel-wide path in the accumulation on the long front walk, and another around back, and dug out my car and the garage, and by then I was ready for a sit-down.
-
- No such luck. All the chairs were otherwise occupied.
I’m strangely jealous. Not of the shoveling, of the opportunity to hibernate. The snow missed us, but the wind won’t leave us alone.
We had outdoor cats before and they seem to love getting out there in the worst weather. Even when we moved here and had to make them indoor cats because the road is too busy they still wanted out every so often. Jack is so handsome, you just have to forgive him for his early morning antics.
You did such a nice job of writing that “conversation.” It has great reality. I hope Jack appreciates you as he should–you are a great mom/friend to him and a great storyteller–everyone so interesting should have such a chronicler.
There’s something so nice about burrowing in isn’t there? A chance to slow down and unwind… after all the shoveling that is :)
Thanks for the great images and story! I think we have the same color of yellow green in our gardens!
I guess it’s a skill, but how do you remember where your paths are under all that snow. Whenever I have to shovel, I’m paranoid about digging into the garden bed, and I end up doing it every time.
I love the image of the chairs. If you look at it long enough, those looks like snow creatures sitting in the chairs, “sunning” themselves.
Oh, and your cat is a scoundrel – he and my Smokey would get along nicely.
Nothing like a former tomcat to keep you busy. The picture of Jack with snow on his forehead–with that demonic/defiant look in his eyes–is adorable. I enjoyed listening to your radio show while I shoveled my drive- and walkway yesterday.
I loved your snowy pictures – and we think we have snow in England!! The buddha one made me smile.
I like your obelisks – do they have lights on them?
Hi, Sandra. Yes, the obelisks have small white lights strung all over them; fun at night in winter. Nice to “see” you.
The chairs in the snow is a perfect shot. Love the cat too.
Welcome, James. The chairs were shot through the upstairs screened window. Funny that it even came out. And oh, that Jack…how in the world did I turn into someone who takes pictures of her cat? :) See you soon, I hope.
Anyone else having problems with the slide show when viewing from a smart phone or iPad? I keep exiting because the “next” button seems so close to the “x” button. Any chance it can be tweaked Margaret?
Wow. That’s real snow. I’m a little jealous too, but not of the shoveling.
Do you know about Jack’s past? Where did he spend his winters before he adopted you? Such a beautiful boy! It’s OK to take pics of your cat. A few.