I'll Call It Like I See It

by sheila morris

Category: photography

  • all cat adventures point to Pretty

    all cat adventures point to Pretty


    If the Jeopardy question was who loves to rescue people, animals, random family castaway treasures – the correct answer would be who is Pretty?

    If the Jeopardy question was what particular super Cat Sleuth solved the mystery of the Bully Cat’s permanent stomping grounds weeks ago – the correct answer would be who is Pretty?

    Bully Cat’s crib – one block south of our house

    Yes, Pretty observed with her cat detective skills several weeks ago that we have neighbors a block down the street from our house (the opposite direction of Neighbor John’s cat condo) who regularly leave their garage door open at night…just enough for a cat to scoot under. She suggested that cat might be Bully Cat since I mentioned I saw him occasionally in the vicinity of the open garage door on my morning walks. Aha.

    Today I spied Bully Cat hustling toward the garage door

    My last view of BC was his tail as he made himself little to slide under it.

    However, 15 minutes later when I finished my walk he mysteriously appeared in front of our house, gave me a wary stare and then looked longingly toward our carport – perhaps for Carport Kitty who never materialized.

    Bully Cat was exploring my yard trash today

    where in the world is Carport Kitty?

    Not to worry. Although CK was nowhere to be seen when we came home from babysitting late this afternoon, Pretty called to me from the kitchen a few minutes later with the welcome words the cat is out here looking for you and her supper. I sprang into full meal preparation mode with her Fancy Feast chicken pate plus a generous helping of Meow Mix pellets. Yummy. She allowed a brief pet as I placed the bowl in front of her. Sigh.

    I stood guard to protect her from undesirable interference from either Bully Cat or Yellow Cat now revealed to be the Orange Tabby.

    Seriously. I stood outside in the cold carport guarding a cat’s dining experience for what seemed to be an interminable amount of time. My dogs eat their meals in 30 seconds, but this cat made a career of her dinner.

    As for Pretty, she was safe and warm inside catching up on her Tweets, getting ready for tonight’s Jeopardy, perhaps plotting her next rescues. Thank goodness she rescued me.

    *************

    Stay safe, stay sane, get vaccinated and please stay tuned.

  • was Fats Domino in love with a cat?

    was Fats Domino in love with a cat?


    I’m walkin’, yes indeed
    And I’m talkin’ about you and me
    I’m hopin’ that you’ll come back to me, yeah

    (lyrics from I’m Walkin by Dave Bartholomew/Antoine Domino)

    Carport Kitty spied on morning walk today

    under Neighbor John’s truck

    Carport Kitty has been a no show in our carport for the past couple of days which is always worrisome for the Alarmist in me, but this morning I saw her in one of her favorite spots under Neighbor John’s truck. Neighbor John is the creator of the cat bed and breakfast where stray cats spend the night during cold weather – I am always happy to see CK in John’s driveway as I walk past even though she rarely acknowledges my overtures of good will.

    In the interim, whether sent as an ambassador by Carport Kitty or just another entrepreneur looking for food, this cat visited yesterday afternoon at CK’s feeding time.

    yellow cat

    I made this mistake.

    not a full meal, mind you – not Fancy Feast – just snack

    Later in the afternoon Bully Cat and a small black cat were seen running for cover out of our carport when Pretty and I opened the kitchen door to leave for the Gamecock women’s basketball game last night. (We crushed Kansas State to remain undefeated.)

    But why is Carport Kitty so fickle?

    I’m lonely as I can be
    I’m waiting for your company
    I’m hoping that you’ll come back to me    .

    Okay, Antoine better known to me as Fats, you must have been in love with a stray cat. I totally get it.

    Carport Kitty

    **************

    Stay safe, stay sane, get vaccinated and please stay tuned.

  • train up a child in the way she should go…

    train up a child in the way she should go…


    and when she is old, she will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6 or something like that)

    Or in our house, it’s more like bring up the little girl as a University of South Carolina Gamecock fan and, hopefully, she’s a fan for life. Not that it will be an easy life. Haha. But she comes from a long line of Gamecocks who have endured the good and lean years in athletics and remained loyal forever to thee, Carolina.

    Teesa, will I meet Cocky

    I love a basketball gym, but where is Cocky

    Nay Nay, did someone say something about my bow

    Teesa, I love the Gamecocks –

    even if I didn’t meet Cocky this time

    Alas, Cocky was spotted below where we sat several times and of course often in the spotlight in the middle of the arena performing his Mascot duties, but by the time Teesa maneuvered her way with Ella to the floor, Cocky had walked out through a different exit. Bummer. Next time.

    The Gamecock women’s basketball team continues to be ranked #1 in the nation in the Associated Press poll of the top 25 NCAA programs. We have a large target on our backs now, but team veterans as well as newcomers are stepping up. And yesterday in their victory over Elon they had another newcomer waving her white towel during sand storm at Colonial Life Arena.

    Go Gamecocks!

    *************

    Stay safe, stay sane, get vaccinated and please stay tuned.

  • are Carport Kitty and Bully Cat an item?

    are Carport Kitty and Bully Cat an item?


    Every new relationship has its highs and lows – peaks and valleys can be expected. Carport Kitty and I are no exception; we have developed a pattern I call Now you see me, Now you don’t. I leave you to surmise who’s the Now you don’t see me actor.

    Yesterday I made a plan to skulk (as opposed to stalk) around Neighbor John’s driveway on my early morning walk to try to catch a glimpse of Carport Kitty who was in the Now you don’t see me phase for the past three days. I peered over his hedges as I walked down Cardinal toward home and saw that only one of John’s trucks was there. When I reached his driveway and could see above the hedges, I looked anxiously for CK. No cat in sight. Sigh. Major disappointment. I was about to just walk on by when I looked down, startled to see a multicolored ball of fur sitting very still near my feet.

    …calmly curled at the bottom of the driveway next to the street…

    Carport Kitty soaking up the early morning sun

    I told Pretty when I got home I was sure CK would be dropping in for a Fancy Feast meal at some point during the day since she had clearly been waiting for me plus I knew she’d been impressed by my reminding her of the yummy meals we served in our carport (even though she never acknowledged my presence by a glance in my direction). Pretty shook her head and repeated her mantra I think she’ll show up when she’s hungry. Pretty stands by her cattitudes.

    Alas, she was neither hungry nor thirsty yesterday apparently. Now you don’t see me was still in effect.

    Today was a new day. Would I ever see Carport Kitty again, I wondered.

    Why, yes. Late this afternoon someone was hungry.

    She waited at the bottom of the kitchen steps while I prepared fresh water and her dinner. She didn’t rush to eat but seemed to be keeping an eye out for something or someone else. I thought I had seen the blur of Bully Cat leaping in the air and running away when I opened the kitchen door to pick up Carport Kitty’s food bowl. To quote Tweety Bird, I ‘tawt I taw a puddy tat.

    Maybe CK was afraid to eat because Bully Cat lingered in the bushes somewhere. I stood guard while Carport Kitty ate.

    I spotted Bully Cat at the edge of our yard next to the fence

    Ha. He sees me guarding poor pitiful Carport Kitty’s dining experience with her over the shoulder fearful glances.

    She carefully ate her Fancy Feast broiled chicken pate, and then she walked away but hid under our car. Now why would she do that? She knew I was protecting her from Bully Cat.

    she left her Meow Mix – someone had drawn closer

    Bully Cat enjoyed the dry food left by Carport Kitty

    Thanks to my followers who are much more cat savvy than I am – you recognized the possibility of a food scam and figured my relationship with Carport Kitty was apt to be a threesome.

    Bully for you!

    ************

    Stay safe, stay sane, get vaccinated, Happy Thanksgiving! and stay tuned.

  • joining the community of lesbian cat lovers

    joining the community of lesbian cat lovers


    Carport Kitty has dropped by around dinner time for the past two late afternoons and I, as Pretty predicted, make sure to rush her food to the carport before she has time to think I have failed her. No sign of Bully Cat. And no sign of Carport Kitty following her Fancy Feast and Meow Mix. She is not one to linger for a visit, but she has at a minimum allowed me to give her a quick rub when I set her food down. This was the extent of our relationship.

    She stopped coming by in the mornings to eat so I assumed Neighbor John must be a bed and breakfast arrangement for the heated condo accommodations. However, I walked past his house on my regular early morning walks with my eyes turned toward John’s driveway just in case Carport Kitty might be up and about for a stretch in the sun. I hadn’t seen her at his house for a while until this morning.

    There she was sitting in Neighbor John’s driveway

    I stopped to chat but kept my distance in the street. How were things working out for her in the heated condo? Did she like her friends who roomed with her at night? How was the breakfast and by the way, I have delicious Fancy Feast at our carport this morning if you’re interested. Otherwise, I will see you for dinner.

    Carport Kitty running toward me

    To my astonishment I felt movement behind me, turned, and saw Carport Kitty actually trotting behind me like one of my dogs would do. Evidently mentioning the food made an impression.

    The next thing I heard was the sound of garbage trucks rumbling down the street behind me, and I thought (being the Alarmist Pretty thinks I am) of the irony in the story I would tell of how I was welcomed with my newly minted membership in the Cats for Lesbians Club only to have that membership revoked because Carport Kitty had been killed by men who didn’t care about animals.

    The men did care, though, and slowed their gigantic commercial vehicles as Carport Kitty leaped in front of me and raced up our driveway. I moved as fast as I could to get her breakfast. Close call.

    As CK dined, I noticed from my kitchen spying post she ate quickly, glancing around like something bothered her. I fed the dogs, then went back to check on her only to find Bully Cat having a go at the food. First of all, I think I showed improvment in my cattitude by not opening the door with hysterical obscenities. No, no, no.

    I opened the door which caused the Bully Cat to retreat to our garbage cans – not a full retreat – but not disrespectful. I appreciated that and simply said you have to go away because Carport Kitty needs me more than you do. (Maybe I waved my arms a little with a Shoo or two.)

    Bully Cat did retreat across the street, Carport Kitty finished her breakfast. My membership in the community of lesbian cat lovers is temporarily secure.

    **********

    Stay safe, stay sane, get vaccinated and please stay tuned.