Cletus

Chickadee Photo-bomb – Day 813

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What are you lookin’ at? – Photo: L. Weikel

Chickadee Photo-bomb

My feathered friends were in fine fettle today. Comings, goings, dodging of snowball-sized snowflakes. There was even a chickadee photo-bomb thrown into the mix. Life doesn’t get much better than having access to such color and sassiness, puffery and strategy.

We’ve formed a mutual admiration club that only seems to improve with time. I ensure their supply of sunflower seeds is topped off and never in danger of depletion and they provide a non-stop tutorial in avian culinary predilections and territorial posturing.

It just so happened I received an article about those very habits in my inbox this morning, which made my observations all the more enlightening.

Patience – Photo: L. Weikel

A Mere Sampling

It should be noted that the photos in tonight’s post are from only one of my feeders. The truth is, there’s an entire cadre of winged ones that don’t even deign to visit this particular feeder, probably because it’s so close to the house. As a result, these photos are but a mere sampling of the visitors we entertain.

The truth is, these spoiled creatures have access to seven other feeders on another side of our house. I just happen to feature photos mostly from this feeder because they’re the easiest for me to take. Indeed, sometimes it’s hard for me to get anything accomplished when they’re flitting and kibitzing with each other right outside my window.

And then there’s the occasional Boeing 747 that lands on the feeder, scattering all the little ones from hither to yon. I’m talking the red shouldered woodpeckers and blue jays, mostly. While these beasts were around today and sending everyone away in an occasional frenzy, they seemed a bit camera shy.

Don’t talk with your mouth full – Photo: L. Weikel

The Others

After I topped off the seven ‘other’ feeders, including the peanut coil, I stood very quietly on the porch and just observed. It did not take a full sixty seconds before everybody got the word that the goods had been delivered. A free-for-all was here for the taking.

Many of the birds that grace our land enjoy nibbling their kibble directly from the ground. Cardinals tend to be ground feeders (although they obviously won’t hesitate to imbibe from a feeder if need be), as do juncos. I didn’t realize that until today, when as I stood stock still on the porch to see who would show up if they thought I’d retreated inside, I saw at least fourteen juncos show up and do a little dance under the peanut coil.

I’m pretty sure they were more interested in the sunflower seeds I’d scattered there than the peanuts, but you never know. I’m always surprised by the little guys that try to wedge a peanut twice as big as their head out of the coil. I have to wonder: is that a ‘meal for the day?’

Crowd at the bar – Photo: L. Weikel

Sacrifice

I made the conscious choice to keep my phone (and hence my camera) in my pocket as I stood in observation mode on the porch. It was a sacrifice, but I didn’t want any movement of mine to scatter them. I wanted to see if I could get them to feel safe enough to eat freely in my presence. At one point, my quick count of all those prancing on top of the snow, clinging to the feeders themselves, and kibitzing from the overhanging branches of the maples came to at least 68.

I have to admit, it was a precious few minutes early this afternoon when I was graced with their trust. I’d decided to refill the feeders at that moment because the snowball-sized snowflakes that had pelted the area in a barrage of white fluff (it got deep fast) had subsided. The Weather Channel app on my phone was remarkably accurate this storm – and true to their prediction, I had a window in which to refill the feeders.

As I stood there watching and listening to the house and goldfinches, chickadees, juncos, cardinals, sparrows, woodpeckers, blue jays, wrens, and nuthatches call to each other, the snowstorm resumed. The flakes were no longer big enough to build a fort with singlehandedly, but they were falling so thickly and furiously, my eyelashes were coated and I could swear the birds were ducking.

This was a wonderfully beautiful, long-lasting snowstorm that I was delighted to enjoy with the birds that share our land and home with us.

Cletus and Spartacus, on the other hand, the ones who usually are first out the door? That was not on their agenda today.

It’s a snow day, Mommy – Photo: L. Weikel

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Wolf Moon – Day 809

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Full Wolf Moon – Photo: L. Weikel

Wolf Moon

Tonight’s full moon is known as the Wolf Moon. It’s also known as the Cold Moon, which for obvious reasons is teeth-chatteringly appropriate this evening. At least that’s true for here in eastern Pennsylvania.

It’s been a while since I wrote about the stars, moon, or planets. I’m not sure why; the past several nights we’ve marveled at how the stars look almost telescopically closer due to the heightened clarity of the winter atmosphere. My Sky Guide app has been getting a workout.

And the moon – as it’s grown from the tiniest sliver over the past two weeks to the blockbuster beacon it is tonight, we knew she’d practically be blinding in her brilliance as long as the clouds held off. Even the smallest crescent this month threw moon shadows. It’s frustrating when the best nights to stargaze (even with the floodlight of a full moon drowning out the paler of the pantheon) are so bitterly cold.

Funny Coincidence

As I may have mentioned the other night, tonight’s full moon is occurring in the sign of Leo. Aside from bringing a bit of drama into our lives and emotions, I discovered a literal connection to tonight’s Leo moon.

Tonight we had another Wagon in the Shamanic Caravan. As I’ve mentioned before, I conduct these Wagons on Zoom. Most people when they’re journeying lay down or get comfortable in a chair, so during the time that they’re actually journeying, they’re usually out of my line of sight.

It took all I could not to burst into laughter, then, when I looked at the video feeds from all the participants on my laptop and all but one had a cat looking right at me. Seeing them all looking at me – looking right into the camera, so to speak – was just a little bit spooky! And then I glanced to my left and there was Cletus, at first just sitting there (like the rest of them!) looking at me. Then he mrrrowed and threw himself on the floor, squirming on his back in playful half-moons, assuming a submissive position that I know full well would result in bloodshed if I actually reached out to pet him.

Yes…I know his tricks. Luckily for me, though, I was rattling, so I wasn’t tempted.

Guardians

The fact that all the cats were especially attentive to the journeying this evening was interesting. They definitely appeared to be in serene guardian poses as their humans ventured off on adventures of consciousness.

One thing I will say: the moon had some fascinating messages for all of us this evening.

(T-302)

First Flurries – Day 759

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Cardinal in First Flurries – Photo: L. Weikel

First Flurries

Yup, it’s definitely starting to feel like winter, even though we’ve not technically arrived there yet. Here in eastern Pennsylvania we experienced our first flurries and snow coating of the season.

I hope I never get so old that I don’t feel the joy of ‘first flakes’ fluttering in my heart as they come cascading out of the sky. I know, I know. There are personal safety issues that arise with the arrival of the slippery stuff. I’m not talking about the stresses that might accompany having to walk or drive anywhere essential in the snow. I simply never want to have my first reaction to seeing snow be anything other than a touch of childlike glee.

Critter Reactions

I’ll admit it; I had to laugh at the birds falling all over themselves at the feeders. I should’ve taken more photos of the house finches, goldfinches, nuthatches, and cardinals crowding and dive bombing each other at the feeder just outside my living room window. You’d think it was the equivalent of avian Black Friday.

But I did manage to get a lovely photo of a mama cardinal that looks almost staged. I only wish I could activate the ‘live’ feature of the photo within this post because when I hold my finger down on the photo in my phone, you can’t miss the curtain of flurries falling from the sky as she turns and winks at me.

Squirrel Squatter – Photo: L. Weikel

Squirrel Squatter

While I was making my morning coffee, I had to laugh at the unexpected sighting of a squirrel balancing on a metal hanger for a floral basket. I cannot imagine that its tiny little peds aren’t freezing. I hope they didn’t stick to the metal when s/he went to move. They probably didn’t, although I was surprised at how long it hung out there. It did not look like the most comfortable perch.

Luckily, the temperature was just under freezing. I think that tongue-sticking-to-a-metal-pole type of reaction only happens when everything is in a deep, deep freeze.

Slugs

And then there were the spoiled creatures that live in our home. Cletus and Spartacus were not venturing far away from the fire. They much preferred watching the flakes from the window or the door. Or even better, from the vantage point of inside their dreaming eyes.

Cletus & Spartacus – Photo: L. Weikel

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Little Things – Day 742

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Precious Awakened – Photo: L. Weikel

Little Things

Each and every day, particularly right now, focusing upon the little things in life, the things that make us smile, is an act of self-love. Off the top of my head, listening to my cat Precious snore like a longshoreman while curled up on the back of the couch right behind me fits that bill.

And now that I start to contemplate the many ‘little’ things I’m grateful for, I see how many of them revolve around non-human creatures, especially Spartacus (our Boston Terrier), Precious, Tigger, and Cletus. I can say without qualification that they bring a dimension of joy and comfort into my life that I’d be lost without.

Tigger Snoozing – Photo: L. Weikel

You know me…recounting the joys my four-legged companions bring to my life is something I engage in routinely. And it’s not at all likely that I’ll stop dipping into the pool of love they provide anytime soon.

That’s at least partly because simply living life in 2020 and paying attention to our collective reality means we are bombarded with news that hurts our souls. Literally. Even if we only cursorily glance at the headlines just to see where we stand as a community or a country, it’s enough to drain our energy and leave us feeling defeated, deflated, or perhaps occasionally worse: enraged.

Our nervous systems are drenched in the fight or flight hormones of cortisol and adrenaline. And unlike pretty much all other times in our nation’s history, because of the ubiquitous nature of technology in our hands, we are kept mercilessly up-to-date on the latest atrocities being waged against the things many of us care about most.

Spartacus & Tigger getting some flame time – Photo: L. Weikel

Purring and Comfort and Walks

Beyond the scientific proof that the purring of cats is healing to the physical body, I for one can attest to how my cats have mended tears in my emotions since I got my first kitten at age six: Katen. Katen was a black and white domestic shorthair cat with a white hourglass on his nose. He got me through my childhood, pure and simple. He was my closest confidant (although I was lucky enough to have a couple two legged ones too – you know who you are).

It’s amusing to me to realize that he was black and white – just like my beloved Sheila and Spartacus; just like Cletus. Indeed, just like the marvelous Stinky who’s been around recently.

I love feeling the heft of a cat on top of the covers, his purr resonating through the layers of sheets and blankets. (I will admit to allowing Spartacus to nestle along my back underneath the covers. Talk about a comfort.)

And the walks. The walks are good for all of us. All of these little things, these opportunities for giving and receiving love, make my life incredibly rich. I hope you have such little things too.

Cletus with a rare smile – Photo: L. Weikel

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Gorgeous – Day 740

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Our new friend – Photo: L. Weikel

Gorgeous

I was going to title this post ‘Reputation,’ since that’s the keyword attributed to Skunk in my tried and true Medicine Cards* by Jamie Sams and David Carson. But after I looked at the photos I have to share, there really is only one word that comes to mind. Gorgeous.

Just look at this amazing creature. I can only presume this is the same one that got spooked last week (and let it’s displeasure be known) when Spartacus suddenly bounded in its direction. Clearly Spartacus’s presence has not dissuaded it from finding the plethora of sunflower seeds much to its liking and well worth the stress of dealing with a cat and a dog that uncannily resemble some of its closest relatives. (What is it with us and black-and-white pets?)

In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to discover that Cletus and our Skunk Friend are involved in a little inter-species flirtation. They bear an uncanny resemblance to each other. In fact, I saw Stinky bolt from underneath the feeders, waddling furiously to take refuge, alarmingly, underneath my car. Had I not seen Cletus bound down the flagstone path only moments before, I would have assumed it was he and not given it another thought. They’re almost identical in size and fluff.

But just look at this skunk’s luxurious pelt! Its back is almost entirely white with a black stripe – as opposed to black with a white stripe – and its ample and impressive tail is adorned with a flourish of brilliance.

Adorable – Photo: L. Weikel

Sassy and Adorable

What gets me is the sassy and adorable attitude. I know I should be viewing this beautiful beast’s presence in our yard with more dismay, but I can’t. I love that it’s sharing space with us, at least for the time being. I just hope Spartacus has learned to be at least a bit more circumspect when catching sight of it.

And it most definitely feels quite at home. The other night, when I took these photos, it initially loped in a frenzy to take refuge underneath my car. But it bravely peeked out and waddled back toward the porch where I was standing within less than a minute. I was astonished.

I took a cute little video of it meandering around the yard. It didn’t seem to mind at all that I’d flooded the area with light from the garage and porch. It ventured over our Hill of Moss and trotted through piles of leaves, stopped to sniff and snuffle at the base of our maple tree until nonchalantly returning to the source of its evening repast: our birdfeeders. All the while, I sat on the porch videoing and photographing it.

I was reminded of the hilarious video about the honey badger. Honey Badger “just don’t give a shit” – and neither does our resident skunk.

There’s a lesson here for me – and probably a lot of us. Perhaps on a lot of levels. I just know it.

Just look at that tail – Photo: L. Weikel

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Familiars – Day 615

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Spartacus – A Happy Boy – Photo: L. Weikel

Familiars

I adore the four-leggeds with whom we share our life. In fact, I cannot imagine my life without having at least one of them in the family. Luckily for both of us, Karl shares my need to be surrounded by my familiars.

Nothing proves that point more clearly than that we honeymooned on Cape Cod – and adopted a gorgeous solid gray kitten at the ASPCA in Brewster, Massachusetts. Yes, our very first official act as a married couple, on the very first business day of the week following our marriage that weekend, was to drive through Cape traffic instead of going to the beach to see if we could find a kitten to adopt.

Brewster was his name and he was a trooper. While he ruled the roost for a year on his own, he oversaw Karl’s birth and eventually schooled him on the proper way to sneak hard cat food when I wasn’t looking. He gamely and not begrudgingly shared our laps with his ‘little brother’ Karl.

Fast Forward to Today

At the moment we, as you’ve occasionally been made aware, we share our home with two dogs, Sheila and Spartacus, and three cats, Precious, Cletus, and Tigger.

I could write about our beasts every night. Especially lately, they’ve been providing me with an abundance of fodder, some amusing and some sort of hard, but I’ve been trying to hold off.  Last night, however, brought a message that was hard to ignore.

Messengers

After completing my post for the evening, I made my way upstairs. Usually Spartacus is already upstairs with Karl, making a warm spot for me. Sheila, no longer able to navigate the stairs, sleeps downstairs in her soft furry bed. That makes me sad, but she doesn’t seem to mind, so I’ve become resigned to it.

Cletus religiously makes a pest of himself while I’m writing my post (every post, every night) by stomping around if he’s inside, howling to be let out, and then after he’s been outside for about 20 minutes, hurling himself against the screen door out front and sticking to it (with his claws) like Velcro – until his claws slowly rip the screen. That’s how he demands to come back in. He does this a couple times while I’m writing.

Precious is our paranoid one. If anyone came to visit (pre-Covid), she’d disappear and not be seen or heard from again. Not until the interlopers left. She’s mostly a loner, but every once in a while she’ll become frantically affectionate. It’s weird. But we love her. Even if she is a cellar-dweller.

And then there’s Tigger. We inherited Tigger from Sage after he (and his fiancé Sarah, truth be told) adopted him from a pet rescue place in central Pennsylvania. It ended up not being a great look for an RA to be harboring a fugitive kitty, so Tigger relocated to Bucks County. I think I’ve relayed the story of his name elsewhere.

Message to Mommy

Which leads me to the scenario that greeted me when I went to bed last night:

Mouse with Dog underneath – Photo: L. Weikel

I know; right? It’s as if they were lines up perfectly, in some surreal real-life enactment of a Medicine Card* pick! Mouse reversed with Dog underneath.

So freaking weird.

The only one who could’ve set this up would be Tigger. Had Precious participated in this macabre message delivery scheme, she definitely would’ve eaten the head off the mouse. Especially if she wanted to convey is as a ‘reversal.’

So. Tigger? Was that you? Were you behind this message to Mommy?

Tigger – Avoiding My Gaze – Photo: L. Weikel

Hmmph. Good thing I’m not squeamish. Poor mouse.

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Decipher This Look – Day 447

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Cletus – Photo: L. Weikel

Decipher This Look

This is Cletus. I challenge you to decipher this look.

You’ve met him before. He’s the cat who ‘ran away’ for a month, but actually, it turned out, was so directionally challenged that he simply couldn’t find his way home in spite of being only half a mile away from us. Indeed, after approximately 30 days of ‘living off the land’ on his own, not more than half a mile away, he talked himself into believing that he was a feral bad-ass.

Cletus also routinely insists upon going outside every night, because – well – he’s a tough guy. A bad-ass. A feral monster from Philly. Nobody needs to know that he growls and hisses at me when I wake him from his slumber to put him out every night. (There’s a reason I do this.) He insists; don’t let him tell you otherwise.

Nor do they need to know that he loves to snuggle and cuddle in the morning, kneading his way back to memories of his kittenhood, shortly after he was rescued by Andrea and adopted by us.

A Worthy Prop

It’s true; I’ll admit it. For all of his surly demeanor, I am the first one to exploit him for his beauty and sassy attitude. He’s a wonderful distraction. We should all be grateful to him for giving me something to write about besides the dismal state of our union.

All of which leads me to today’s photo. Is this cat happy? Is he satisfied and content with his life, appreciating he’s safe and warm, living in a home with unlimited food and water and a cozy spot of his own by an indoor fire? Or is he plotting to take out an eye?

Some days, I assure you, I only barely escape his wrath.

(T-664)

Laptop Guardian – Day 405

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Laptop Guardian – Photo: L. Weikel

Laptop Guardian 

Now and then we all encounter obstacles. Every once in a while, we run into unexpected snags to our most thoughtful plans or well-practiced habits.

This evening, my long-standing routine of writing my nightly 1111 Devotion post on my MacBook Air, a habit precipitated by my Dell laptop’s nervous breakdown shortly into the establishment of this Act of Power, was nearly entirely derailed by Cletus.

I first encountered Cletus the Laptop Guardian when I glanced across the room and focused my attention on my MacBook this evening. When I walked over to my writing machine with an eye toward crafting my post (and maybe even getting to bed at a half reasonable hour – an idea instantly THWARTED), I realized this was not a case of simply placing said portable computer into my lap.

No, I was going to have to face the Laptop Guardian.

He Looks Innocent Enough

At first glance, this evil trickster looks innocent enough. In fact, he almost appears to be downright cute. Possibly even cuddly.

Half a stretch here, a “come hither” extended paw there. Oh yes, he looks like he’s just snoozing near the laptop because, oh, I don’t know. It was warm? It whirred occasionally and he mistook it for a purr? I don’t honestly get the attraction.

I make my move, assuming I should have nothing to fear. He is a good kitty. Or so I tell myself, completely disregarding any and all experiences I’ve heretofore had with him.

Yikes! A faint merrow and a shift of position change the game.

Cletus the Guardian’s Stink Eye – Photo: L. Weikel

Nope. He immediately assumes lockdown position, swiftly morphing from innocent playful mode to full-on stink-eye. It’f obvious that f I even think about slipping that laptop out from under him, he will slice my hand as thoroughly as any guardian slays a dragon.

Hmm. There’s distinct tension in the air. I’m tired. I don’t feel like having to mess with this psycho cat. (“Good kitty” my behind.)

And then I follow his gaze and realize: I’m up to this task! I’ve got this.

Classic Bribery – or Bait and Switch?

Regardless, I know I need to be smooth and quick. Deftly removing my necklace of Christmas lights and palming them to maintain surprise, I approach Cletus again. This time, though, I dangle the little lights close to his fur, but carefully maintaining my distance. I don’t want him snagging them.

Score!

He’s distracted enough for me to swipe the laptop out from under him while he contemplates the dazzle of Christmas lights dancing enticingly on his fur.

I hope you guys realize the risk I have to shoulder sometimes just to get a post written every night. It’s a tough job, but…

Joyous Solstice!

Cletus the Guardian: Bribed – Photo: L. Weikel

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Zen Puss – Day 383

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Zen Puss – Photo: L. Weikel

Zen Puss

Never underestimate the ability of things to go sideways when you least expect it.

That said, I’m trying to maintain my sense of humor. OK, maybe not a lot of humor. How about perspective? Yes, that might be more accurate.

I’m definitely not finding myself feeling a lot of hilarity at the moment.

However, I have to figure that I took this photo of Cletus this morning for a reason. I am finding it impossible at the moment (for whatever reason) to access the photo I was going to write about tonight. So…I’m going full Cletus.

A Model of Serenity

Maybe those of you who are reading this post (whenever you end up reading it – either minutes from when I post it or a year from now) need to see this usually oh-so-cranky cat exuding this palpable air of calm repose. I mean, really: check it out. Even the position of his paws is zen-like.

Funny thing is, he’s been particularly irascible lately. I’ve been chalking it up to both a cold (he’s been sneezing) and the appearance of two feline ‘cousins’ for a few days. It’s been so bad that he even deigned to sleep on our bed this morning, which is when I managed to snag this shot.

Full Cletus

If you notice yourself feeling a little edgy over the next few days, try going ‘full Cletus.’

You might even find a peace that leaves you purring.

(T-728)

Full Moon Cletus – Day 335

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Clete and Precious – Weirdness begins – Photo: L. Weikel

Full Moon Cletus

Our ‘thinks-he’s-a-badass’ cat, Cletus, is one of those felines who loves you one second and tries to stab you in the eye the next.

Especially around the full moon.

This is unlike Tigger, who comes to me like a puppy when I call, cuddles with me in bed, and honestly seems to adore me most of the time. Even when he’s angry with me, he just flicks his tail in my general direction. Never does retaliation figure in his  agenda.Nor does Cletus resemble Precious, who flees from any discord immediately, whether it’s real or imagined, and does not return until we’ve all long forgotten whatever it was that made her bolt to begin with.

In the past day or two, with the approaching full moon, Cletus’s been pulling out all the stops to make me think he might actually love me. OK. Have affection for me.

I’ll admit, it can be intoxicating to have an animal look at me adoringly. And I fall for it each and every time. It’s like Lucy and the football.

Weirdness

So I was skeptical a few days ago when, out of the blue, Cletus started randomly showing up on my usual seat on the couch. In fact, the first morning this usurpation of my space began, I was nearly ready to sound the alarm – for not only was Cletus hanging out where I usually sit – so was Precious. And they were sleeping beside each other!

This was some seriously anomalous behavior.

I will eat you and your young! Photo: L. Weikel

Since that initial incident, I’ve witnessed Cletus sleeping deeply on my red backjack a number of times.  Today was no exception.

The only difference this morning was that I managed to snap a few photos that capture exactly the volatility of his emotions. And for the record? He did manage to snag me. Yup; he drew blood. Not a lot, but enough. I swear, he never lost his ‘kitten claws.” They’re so sharp, he often nails me and I don’t even realize it until several hours later.

Watch your feline companions tonight, people. Werecats.  I’m pretty sure they’re a thing.

“What? A Gentle Spirit lives here…” – Photo: L. Weikel

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