the best laid plans

. . .

See that black cat there? That’s effie.

My sister has been here in Nova Scotia for a few days – hanging with the Beaucoups and Lucy 1.0 while our brother/Lucy’s daddy is in New York. This evening, she’ll be coming for her weekend stay at the Cat Farm. In anticipation of her arrival, I polished the antique brass bed in the guest room, altered a bed skirt for the perfect fit, and pressed the sheets and white duvet for her bed. I was very proud of myself. Ready a week ahead of time.

effie has recently claimed the guest room as her own. She loves to lay under the window, atop the pillows. She’s got a good view of the bird feeders below, and the room stays relatively cool when we draw the blinds. I love effie, and she doesn’t ask for much, so I try to be accommodating. That being said, I really didn’t want my sister sleeping in effie’s discarded fur. effie sheds about a pound of floof per day, so it was a legitimate concern. So, I covered the bed with an old flannel sheet, tucked it in under the pillows, and smoothed it down over the sides of the bed. Ready ahead of time and clever.

But do you see that lump under effie? By her front paws? That’s niles. That’s niles sleeping under the protective cover. That’s where niles has been spending the hot afternoons. Under the protective flannel sheet. Nestled up against my sister’s pillows.

Ready ahead of time, clever and outmaneuvered by a cat.