The days are growing shorter. The sunlight is weaker. It’s much too cool to be outside without a jacket. But there’s a wonderfully clean scent in the air, and I breathe it in eagerly. The atmosphere is free of irritants, and my allergies are given a much-needed reprieve.
I reach down and collect firewood for another chilly evening, and look around at Autumn’s bounty. Leaves–in varying hues of reds, browns, and golds–are everywhere. I see them clinging to branches, I hear them crunching under my feet, and I smell them burning in the neighbor’s yard.
November heralds that winter is but a few leagues away, which gives me a greater appreciation for this season.
I look down at the snoozing Magrat, her winter coat complementing the Fall palette. Smiling, I think back to the adventure we three shared.
“Life Finds a Way”
That Saturday morning greeted us with a warm and sun-splashed day. When we went outside, we saw that our little visitor had returned. She was lying contentedly in the grass, next to our raised bed, where we were trying to raise veggies & herbs.
We walked over to her and I was amazed (for this was the first time I saw her with my own eyes) that she did not run away, as I’d seen so many cats do. He was right; she was a scrawny little thing, barely out of kittenhood herself.
He leaned down and petted her.
“She no longer looks pregnant,” he declared.
“Oh, she must’ve had her litter last night.”
He shook his head, “I doubt it. She didn’t seem that far along. I think she lost the litter.”
“Oh no!”
Our visitor stood up, stretched, and yawned in a way I would later come to love. I sighed as Himself and I went about backyard maintenance. As we went from one part of the yard to another our new friend followed us around. When Himself began to head back towards the house, she accompanied him instead of staying with me. As he walked she would go a little bit ahead of him then wait for him to catch up, but her path diverged slightly from his.
After a few moments he said in wonder, “I think she wants me to follow her somewhere.” His curiosity overcame him and he followed her until they both disappeared behind the shed.
“…Dear!”
