Morning Has Broken

Up before the birds. Animals to feed. Laddie is on the love seat in our room. He always looks at me with his sad spaniel eyes as if to say, "Can you get up now?" Sometimes, I just melt, when I look at him. I rolled over and sat on the edge of the bed...he is on the floor by me just a wagging his plumey tail. I get dressed in a hurry, lots to do today, and feed him. Out we go, he on his leash...or is it the other way around? He has to mosey around...look for the choice spot....change his mind....more looking....is that a dog coming down the road.....more sniffing....hey I'm getting tired of standing here. He finishes the 1st job....then the walk to the mailbox, to get the paper and on the way back he finishes what he set out to do. I quietly slip out of the house and go to take care of the kids cats. They are in the Bahamas....I am taking care of things at their house. As I pull in the drive I spy Abby the elusive cat in the upstairs window...watching me. I move on to the garage and hear a mewing at the door. I open it and Sammy, the lover cat, greets me by brushing against my leg. Meows very quietly. In walks the rascal, Charlie. He rubs against my leg and sneezes. He has allergies. It is a flurry of cat motion....they swirl around me, knowing that I'm not here for long, so they better get all of me that they can. We all go down to the family room and get out the food. Meow, meow! Little cat dances. Abby and Charlie eat out of two different bowls. Sammy eats off of a paper plate on the carpet. They follow me to the laundry room and climb on different places to watch, while I give them fresh water. Two bowls...particular cats. Next comes the dreaded litter pan. Or pans in this case. Charlie is always the most interested in this procedure. He circles around my legs and jumps on top of the litter box. They like a clean pan...me too. I put their little droppings in a zip lock baggy or two and up the stairs we go. I usually sit on the couch and look at some magazines, while they play around me. This morning, I am the gardener there too. I lock up the house and start to water and deadhead the flowers. It's a good sized yard and it takes me a while to do this. Two of the cats are in the windows observing. I am finished till this afternoon. Get in my car and start on my short drive home. It's a wonderful day...an old man is walking his old dog, some young women are out walking together and mostly ladies are in their yards making things attractive. Men are in their cars whizzing by to go to work. I don't see any kids...too early, it is summer and they are sleeping in. As I pull in the driveway, I think how lucky we are to have these simple pleasures. What beauty is all around us! Now I am here looking out my computer room window...there are two Japanese Beetles on the screen. I'll be glad when they are gone. Why did God put these things in my yard?

Balisha

By the way, we had a wonderful dinner with our Priest the other night. I was a bit concerned about what we would talk about with him for a whole evening. He came and just made himself at home, enjoyed dinner and the entertainment that Joe had planned for later. He knows us much better now and we know more about him. He took home a doggy bag!