A still, calm Sunday this. Won’t you join us?
As I emerged from behind a hedge this morning, I spied our little flock of local ducks, quietly foraging. I didn’t have the camera handy, so I took the pictures after what I describe next.
I stood very still and watched this little gaggle, for quite a while. When they noticed me, they stopped nibbling and stood there. Again, for quite a long time.
I turned around, to see this.
Actually it’s not quite what I saw at the time – I wished I had my camera then, to get a snap of Bugs as he lay on his side, paddling at the window with his paws. Too cute.
Like this, from a while back, so you get the idea:
I loved how the ducks seem to “talk” to each other. Their little clucks and trills and murmurs were so minute, I only could hear them if I concentrated.
I loved how they gently stretched their necks toward each other, gently nibbled at each other. Were they saying to each other, “I am here, I’ve got your back, no worries?” I fancied so.
After a long while, they resumed nibbling. I went for my camera.
I wanted to get a shot of Bugs from outside, without the screen door intervening – but this happened. You can just see my hand, on its way to redirecting Bugsy back inside. It was no big deal. Nothing frantic.
Just – please go back, Bugs, I need you to stay inside.
Now I want to let the pictures speak for what came up next. For me it was happiness. I can’t help but feel that these pictures show what might be Bugs’s emerging maturity. That he’s taking in what’s going on out there – he’s definitely interested –
– but he’s not frantically trying to get out and kill, nor is he frustrated or struggling in any way – I love the serene beauty I feel when I look at these. I hope you do, too.
Ahhhh Sunday. It’s a work day for me – but because so many others are “off,” the traffic noise that’s a usual constant is quiet now.
I love quiet. I love the feeling of this morning.
May we all be graced by calm, peace, by simply taking in what is.
A quiet moment, for you all to enjoy with me I hope and trust.
catself 
He’s so beautiful. Is it not safe outdoors there? (For Bugs, I mean…setting the ducks aside for a minute!)
Oh I rather think it’s pretty safe, generally speaking. But — there’s another boy-let around and he, Sushi (interesting choice for a name), is fighting feisty. Sushi beats up on adorable little neighbor-guy Crowbar — Sushi has ear mites etc. and who knows what else etc. — after the poor little Rudy experience, I want to take no chances. I’m going for peace of mind. Plus, it really does seem as though Bugsy is not so crazy about actually being outside. He seems to like the idea, oh for sure — but when he actually gets out there — nuh-uh not so much. Under the house he goes. So — like I said. I’m going for peace of mind. Inside.
Who’s Rudy? That Sushi sounds like a character. Probably from the Stripey school of neighbourly relations….
Wouldn’t that be a thought to make the blood run cold. Sushi and Stripey. Like the Kray twins, terrorizing the ‘hood. Argh. Rudy is, dang I should say was, alas, my friend’s little valiant guy, who was just diagnosed with feline AIDS and — alas — dispatched to the Bridge. I wrote about him earlier. When your e-subscribe thing was down?
Rudy, Crowbar, and Sushi. That’s quite a neighborhood!
The photos look to me like a cat that’s pretty happy observing the world from inside. He looks still, but not still in the I’m-being-still-so-when-I-launch-myself-through-this-screen-it’s-a-complete-surprise way… Nice, Bugs!
I’ve gone outside a few times – mostly because there was an opportunity and I felt like I SHOULD take it. But there’s so much going on outside. So much trouble to get myself into, and no one to help me. It was really overwhelming. So I’m really content to be an inside cat. Maybe Bugs is recrafting himself to be content where his is…
Well, Pedro, you’re a diligent businesscat, we know that — those “shoulds” are big on the landscape, aren’t they. I’m with you here. I did the same thing, gave it a couple of tries, partly because one “should” have as many experiences as possible but probably mostly because my dense Bean just wouldn’t get it that I wasn’t as thrilled with Out as she was . . . . I ask you. Really. We don’t need Out, do we? There’s Jimmie to explore for us. We’re cooler than that. Yah. We do live in an interesting situation here. My Bean has a braid all the way down her back and it keeps getting in my food and where the food goes once I hoover it down and I’ll spare you details of the “poopscicle” event this morning unless you really want to know that was pretty exciting I must say — anyway. Where was I. Oh yes. Hair. So Bean’s neighbor has dreads that are even longer than my Bean’s braid. He appears to be a male bean. If I’m reading things right. Can you imagine? These beans! How to comprehend. Sometimes, really, I’m at a loss. You?
Bugs has beautiful eyes!
Doesn’t he just. Honestly, I could and do spend long periods of time just gazing at them. In a discrete kind of way, of course. Don’t want that challenging eye-contact dynamic to start up. No, not at all.
Aw, Bugs is growing up…he’s learning that discretion is the better part of valour…or he merely has his Sunday Easy going on. With a Cat, it’s hard to tell.
What isn’t, where cats are concerned!
I dearly love that last picture of Bugs – eyes so full of wonder.
Or is he just wondering what those duckies would taste like?
What a lovely thing, to step outside and meet up with a group of ducks, and such a peaceful way to spend some moments of your day.
Yes. Lovely by you and me — but who knows, by Bugs. Could be that as you suggest, the dining angle is all that’s there — like I said to Lounger — who can tell. Anyway — lovely by us beans!
Bugs has figured out that being inside is not all that bad! Food that you don’t have to hunt, warmth, soft things to lie on, a human to antagonize/interact with when desired… from a formally feral’s perspective that must seem like heaven! Even if it doesn’t have ducks.
So it would surely seem to me . . . .
Of course, now I’m imagining a small flock of ducks taking up residence in your home.
Not a good idea.
For sure. I’d do almost anything for Bugsy — but I’d probably have to draw the line at the flock. One? I might consider it. Wonder how long it’d survive. Or whether I would. Even money.
I see his bright-eyed contentment. He’s learning the art of duck-appreciation.
I can’t imagine a cat tackling a duck, but I shouldn’t underestimate their skills.
For real! Off-comment, minlit has described one of hers as “leaping like a harrier,” seizing birds out of the sky. Our little cuddly fur-muffins can be quite the killers.
I love what my rods and cones are doing observing the beauty of Bugs with that gorgeous gray fur against the blue door. Such art…well, I guess I’m probably still under the influence of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art…spent five hours there today! AMAZING!!! Completely over the top.
Oh fabulous. Isn’t it interesting how visits to art museums leave their “stamp” on the visual, sometimes for hours after. I’ve noticed & enjoyed that before. So glad you’re still vibe-ing to it. I can’t wait to go, myself. Soon.
Let’s go together!
I’ll be in touch. BTW, those collards were the tops!! And I got so many compliments on the clothes! MWAH!!
Poppy would love a penpal, but she’s too busy gazing out the window to see what the neighbors are doing!
Poppy has her priorities, after all.