First Day of a New Month

We're done with January. It was messy, unpredictable, sometimes beautiful, sometimes filled with frustration, oftentimes filled with great hope. February builds on that: we're still in the thick of winter, so yes, it's going to be cold, very cold here, in Wisconsin. But I'm with those who believe that this is a time to maybe relax just a little more. Let go of your frustrations of the past two years.Yes, I do believe that there is something better around the corner. I'm not a fool: I'm not predicting it's forever, or even for the rest of the year, but those of us who are vaccinated and boosted and haven't great health worries or tiny infants at home should think about what's been missing in our years of Covid anxiety. Maybe we can reintroduce some of those missed moments?

I'll be reintroducing some of those missed moments. (My sidebar tells it all!)

But not today. I'm still very much focused on figuring out a future for Razzle Dazzle Berry, the cat we took in a couple of days ago. This ball of matted fur.

One Ocean reader has a lead for a possible placement. Ed and I are working hard to make her more adoptable. But it's a challenge, despite the fact that this kitty has the nicest personality of any cat I have ever met.

She just *looks* awful. Plain awful. (It takes 3-6 months for a long haired cat to regrow her fur. But first you have to shave the old stuff off. We haven't quite gotten to that point. We're hoping we can save some of it.)

The kitty worries are paired this morning with a quick baking project. I mentioned Yossy's book now in two of my recent posts. Today I poked around my cupboards to see if I had what's needed for one of her snacking cakes. I do!  So I whisked up a Whole-Grain Strawberry Cake. 

And as I would have predicted -- it's a winner. Normally, as Yossy would tell you, stuffing your cake with strawberries will give you a soggy batter, even when fully baked. Her idea is simple and clever: slice the berries and arrange them on top. Oh, and add cardamom to the batter. (Cardamom is such a fantastic spice -- it's like mixing up ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon, without overdoing it. People say it's citrusy. And earthy and warm. Wouldn't you want something earthy and warm with your coffee in the morning? The whole cake is so perfect for breakfast!)

I take a walk afterwards. Ed is busy, but I need movement. My knee and ribs need movement. So I walk, thinking about cakes and kittens and kids and the beauty of February.

And in the afternoon, I pick up Snowdrop. We are having our proverbial one-day-and-one-day-only warmup today, and I suggest skating. No, I urge and coax and cajole her to skate.  A short spin on the ice, before the evil Arctic air blows in tomorrow. 

Not today. I promise I'll go when the warm air comes back again.

I smile. It will be a while.

But we do something special at the farmette. I introduce her to Berry. I'm curious how this cat will react to a little girl. (All our ferals, even Dance, are terrified of young kids. Little people move fast and in unpredictable directions. Dance will let Snowdrop come near once in a while but for the most part, even she keeps her distance.)

And inside the writers shed, Berry gets up, sees the two of us and in her usual slow meditative way, she walks over and looks up with hopeful eyes. 

 

A petting child? I like that! Thank you! -- all this I read in the sweet gentle cat eyes.

In the farmhouse, Snowdrop and I read and play and the day passes and it is a good one. Really good. 

(deer come out to say good bye when we leave...)

(Sandpiper aims for a high five with his usual happy grin when we arrive at my daughter's home...)

And a warm February hello to you too, little guy!

With love...