The Knitting Fiend

Several people have written to ask about The General’s frame of mind. He was very, very snuggly for a few days after Biggie’s death, but he has resumed his regularly scheduled late spring and early summer activities.

“Spring activities? Are they different from winter activities?” Absolutely. During winter, The General helps with the knitting. During summer, he romps with small outdoor animals. Last summer, The General’s outdoor friends were limited to chipmunks and rabbits, who I am afraid, do not enjoy the romping with The General.

However, in the past month, a frisky squirrel, noticing the absence of a rather large, swift athletic black cat has taken up residence in our maple tree; the squirrel enjoys taunting this fat orange cat.

Above and to the left, you can see The General and his challenger facing each other. Can’t see the squirrel? Look to the right!

You may not believe this, but that squirrel keeps daring The General him to catch him. This squirrel sits in trees and watches The General. When The General moves more than 20 feet away, the Squirrel runs down and starts racing back and forth on the split rail fence making loud squealing noises. He keeps squealing until The General notices him and assumes his jungle puss hunting position.

The General then approaches slowly; the squirrel stands his ground. Eventually, The General gets close; he winds up his fat haunches and springs. The squirrel always manages to leap into one of the many trees over hanging the fence, runs quickly up a trunk of branch and gets away.

Then, he turns faces The General and laughs at him! Seriously, the squirrel digs his little claws in the tree, faces down then laughs and laughs. Heck, he doesn’t just laugh; he runs around, barks and yips with joy!

The General always looks up at the squirrel, tries to climb but discovers the squirrel is a better climber. Then, he turns away, walks over to a timber and nonchalantly sharpens his claws. He moves further away and pretends to sleep in the grass. Then, the whole thing starts over.

Jim and I sit on the patio, drink our beers and laugh.