These days it's all about the kitty

In the absense of the flock, my animal companionship is in the shape of a cat (although some say, the personality of a dog).
Just one week before my move to Indiana, I found the most gorgeous kitten outside the local library. Inside, the staff told my that he had been out there all day. He was impossible for me to leave, because he a) was skinny and hungy and b) appeared to be exactly the type of cat I've always wanted. This is what he looked like when I brought him home:













I had thought he was half grown when I found him, but a trip to the vet revealed that he was only about 9 weeks old. Furthermore, the vet commented "this is gonna be a big cat." He ended up moving with me and has turned out the be quite an extraordinary guy. Here he is last fall looking for a name for himself and reading The Scarlett Letter:

And now, at 10 months old, he is nearly 16 lbs and has blossomed into a long haired beauty. He has a wonderful easy-going disposition and seems very smart. He likes kids and often seems to enjoy being carried around like a baby by one of them. He follows me around the house and has been known to let out a loud kitty howl if he can't find me. Here is one of my favorite photos of him leaping for a feather toy (his favorite):And the resulting exhaustion from such vigorous playing:

What a big picture poser... He seems to like modeling.