Friday, March 29, 2024
backyardcat photographscatscookiemy household of felinesphotographssenior cats

Cookie’s Spring Adventure: 2011

photography of tortie cat in grass
This is the life!

I’m headed out to clean up my garden for the first time this spring, and I’m remembering Cookie having such a good time last year—especially escaping through the hole in the fence after waiting for me to turn my back long enough—and napping in the sun, and all the years we did this before now. It’s been difficult to be out there with all these memories, but I’m sure she’ll be with me, along with Namir, Stanley, Moses, Sally and Kublai.

Wow, this is the life! I could lie in the sun all day!

Yesterday, mom stopped everything she was doing and went outside in the middle of the day. We haven’t done that since I-don’t-remember-when! I know it’s been getting warmer and the days are getting longer—I’ve seen 19 years of this—but I can never quite keep track of where we are. But when mom does this, all the signs point to SPRING!

First thing in the morning, we went out on the deck and the air was still cold but smelled so good I got up on my green table where I can see the whole yard. It’s not easy for me to get up here anymore and it takes a few extra steps but I was inspired!

tortoiseshell cat on table
Here I am on my observation table.

Then it felt so good I got up on the deck railing and said “hi” to mom who was pointing her black box thing that makes pictures all over the yard. When she turned and saw me, first she took my picture as she always does, then she asked “just what the heck I was doing on the deck railing when I was 19 years old?” I didn’t see why being 19 made any difference in my being on the deck railing and turned around and walked around to the corner, but mom would have none of it and she picked me up! I was so mad I think I even let go of a few profanities. Then she set me on the deck and moved my green table too far away from the railing for me to step on it because “I stumbled a little bit”. She worries too much.

tortie cat on deck railing
What's wrong with being on the railing at 19 years old?

Then we went out in the yard and I walked all around and smelled everything while she got to work. Look at this jungle of branches! I remember when Namir and I used to hang out on this picnic table. I miss my buddy, even though he used to pull my tail.

cat looking into wooded area
Mom has a lot of work to do!

Mom had to help me out of the tomato cage, but I could have figured it out eventually.

cat in wire tomato cage
I didn't really need the help, well, maybe.

I had to keep checking on her to make sure she was doing things correctly. Humans do things for strange reasons—for instance, I can’t figure out why she covered up the hole in the fence in the corner of the yard. I loved to crawl through there and I’d end up in a completely new place. Mom would drop everything and come running, but she couldn’t fit through the hole and had to run all the way around to get me. She didn’t have to get me! I knew where I was! Now I can’t get through there anymore.

tortie cat observing
Sometimes I can't figure out humans.

I don’t like to get my picture taken but sometimes she sneaks up on me and catches me off guard, like when I was taking a bath and enjoying the sun. She said I made a “nice composition”. I thought I was a tortoiseshell cat.

tortie cat on duff
I thought I was a cat, not a "composition".

After all that activity, I was ready for a nap. I used to just curl up on some leaves and grass in the sun, but it felt kind of cold and uncomfortable. Then I found that mom had tossed her flannel shirt on the ground and that was just so nice and cozy, and it smelled like mom.

tortie caton flannel shirt
Mmmm, cozy and warm.

Everyone knows when I stretch out my right arm, the one with the fully orange index toe, that I am a happy kitty.

cat with paw outstretched
I am one happy girl.

(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…………………….)

cat sleeping
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

______________________________

All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in purchasing one as a print, or to use in a print or internet publication.

Bernadette

From health and welfare to rescue and adoption stories, advocacy and art, factual articles and fictional stories, "The Creative Cat" offers both visual and verbal education and entertainment about cats for people who love cats, pets and animals of all species.

19 thoughts on “Cookie’s Spring Adventure: 2011

  • What gorgeous memories of Cookie !!! I was out in the garden this weekend myself and had Zappa and Tiger and Smokey (my barn kids) making sure I do things right………….. I also found that the catnip is up….. so all my indoor kids had nip parties….. Hang in there…..

    Lisa

    Reply
  • Lovely memories and such great photos of Cookie. Spring is the time for renewel and regeneration 🙂

    Reply
  • What happy memories for you. They make me smile, and I hope they bring you joy.

    Reply
    • Rumpydog, yes they certainly were, and I knew last year they’d bring me comfort some day. Most of all, I’m glad to share!

      Reply
  • Hey, it’s Jet here. What a lovely chronicle of your outside visit… wish we had a fence so we could lie out in the sun… My feline brothers enjoy lying on Mom’s clothes, too.

    You are a wise 19 year old, your Mom just wants you safe, you know how those humans are.

    Reply
    • Jet, only certain kitties get to go outside without the leash, and Cookie was one of them–I’m only fenced on three sides. Cookie always felt I needed to be supervised or I’d be the one to wander! I really didn’t have to worry about her, she was very wise and careful. Thanks for visiting!

      Reply
  • ooohh..totally swett…photos so cool..I kinda take off whenever I see Mom or Dad pick up a camera or iPhone and I stop doing what ever I was doing…wait…and they get bored and leave. I must’a had a bad thing happen once upon a time when a human pointed something at me??? oh well…I just know I’ll get better in time…love your blog…paw pats Savannah

    Reply
    • My guys just have to get used to it or they’d be running all day long! The Fantastic Four were raised with a camera in their faces…

      Reply
  • Lovely pictures and great commentary by Cookie, Bernadette. And what a remembering —

    Reply
    • She was ready for adventure, no matter what was happening. Yes, a wonderful memory.

      Reply
  • What a lovely post. Thank you for sharing that Cookie memory – you brought me right into that garden with you and her. I know it must not be easy being out there without her now, but somehow I sense she is still with you and enjoying the day from above…

    Reply
    • Deb, it’s been a process, but I’ve been avoiding this one. As I always say, they’d hate to see us be unhappy just because they aren’t with us physically, so out I go, and remember her and many others.

      Reply
  • solveigerga

    Wow, Cookie looks pretty, and a lot like one of my cats, called Nelly!

    Reply
      • solveigerga

        Yes, they’re special.

        Reply
        • Is your name Solvei? It’s kind of like Sylvia, a name I always liked, it means “from the forest”. Anyway, I think tortoiseshell cats are special as well. If you’d like to share your tortoiseshell cat stories with a group of tortoiseshell cat lovers, feel free to visit us on a blog post on The Conscious Cat that is devoted to our tortoiseshell cats, our other cats, and our pets in general: http://consciouscat.net/2009/08/17/tortitude-the-unique-personality-of-tortoiseshell-cats/. We are from all over the United States and Canada, and a few members from Europe.

          Reply
        • solveigerga

          My name is actually Solveig, a Norwegian name which means “from the strong house”.

          Thank you for the invitation, I’ll maybe write a short story.

          Reply
        • Of course, Solveig! Sometimes it throws me off with profile names when they are all mashed together. I love names, that’s why I asked, and you are more than welcome to write a story and join us on The Conscious Cat.

          Reply

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this:
Verified by ExactMetrics