Category: nature friends
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Black cat
So this cat kept hanging around my outdoor classroom at school. It kept getting within a few feet of the kids, who were obviously delighted to see this furry visitor.
I was worried someone was going to bitten or scratched, so Tom valiantly came to help trap the cat.
Once we got her, she was shuffled off to the vet to get fixed and get all her shots.The plan is to release her back into the wild. But there are a few kids around here who seem awfully fond of her…
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Murphy
Tom is a cat person. A cat person who married a dog person. But the dog person has family members with cat allergies. So we just kind of tucked the whole cat discussion on the back burner.
But this year we decided it was time.
Tom began a search of shelters, looking for the perfect kitten. And a few days before Christmas, he found one. The only catch was that the woman coordinating Murphy’s adoption was coming home from vacation and wouldn’t be back until the next day. They assured him that no one would be adopting him until the next day and to come back then.
Neko and I were at riding when they discovered Murphy, so that evening we went back to visit him to insure that everyone could cast an informed vote. But when we walked in, his cage was empty. He had been adopted 30 minutes earlier.
You have never seen three such miserable children. They sobbed the entire drive home. They were inconsolable. Tom was crushed.
We put the word out we were looking for a kitten. We found a litter locally, but Tom wasn’t ready yet. He wanted a few days to get over the loss of Murphy.
But then, standing in his favorite record store, he got a call—our kitten had been returned and was available for adoption again.
Welcome home, Murphy.
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Last day of horse camp
On this last day of horse camp they had a small show. Each group had a chance to show off what they learned and give their parents ample photo ops.
I watched the wobbly first-timers, nervously clutching the reins and attempting the tricky rhythm of posting. I smiled at the familiarity.
But then there was my girl. Sitting tall, heels down, weaving through barrels and then breaking into a smooth trot. I realized, as I watched her up there, that she’s been riding just about a year now.
This horse thing? I’m beginning to suspect it’s not just a phase.
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Entomophobia
Between parenthood and being a preschool teacher, I think I’ve pretty well kicked my fear of insects in the head.
