The cat came back-week in review 6/6/25

I have a cat named Black. Very original, I know, but it started with "That Black cat", and Black stuck.

Black is -without question- the most aggravating animal I've ever had. It walks under me, weaving in and out, between my ankles, until one of us trips, usually me. This isn't funny in the morning, on my way to the coffee pot. Black also begs for food, with a full bowl in front of it. ("it" because we have no idea the gender) It's not unusual to hear "BLACK,I JUST FED YOU", screamed multiple times a day.

Jekyll and Hyde in cat form, purring and rubbing one minute, and the next, a full paw swat to the face.

Anyway, about a month ago, I let Black out so that I could clean in peace without a landmine cat under foot. And Black...didn't come back. Days passed, then weeks, I called here kitty kitty everyday, and we looked everywhere. Who knows how old Black is, it could be a feline silver alert situation. So I printed a few pictures, forgave Black for all the tripping and bad attitudes, and told everyone, "Poor old Black, I hope it had a decent two years with us", and made my peace.

Until this week. I was outside picking flowers and heard a very distinct "merrr?' And sure enough, Black's back. Skinny, hungry but begging for food already in the bowl. Shenanigans resumed instantly. I never thought I'd be so happy to trip over a cat.

Meanwhile, my lawnmower is missing from the repair shop. The owner called to tell me it's lost. Lost. Before I spiral(grass is very high) I like to imagine my red lawnmower, getting homesick, checking itself out of the hospital and cruising back home, having an adventure along the way. Brave Little Toaster style.

UPDATE: mower was stolen! There's a lawyer involved and everything.

In small town crime news...I got a phone call from my neighbor(God bless Kathy!), telling me to get inside and lock up! Apparently, there's a bad guy on the loose, and the cops were looking on my property. So in I went, locked up tight, weapons ready, wondering if I should warn the dogs or just trust their instincts. I drove to the mailbox, instead of walking, imagining different scenarios in my head and how I'd handle myself like I was in a true crime special. Fun times

My debit card(my only card) was compromised and shut down for fraud. My nearest bank is over an hour away, so to conserve gas, we are in a full on Mother Hubbard situation- staying home and eating from the depths of the freezer. I've been very creative, calzones one day and a whole Thanksgiving turkey the next, that lasted the next few days.

In a fit of resourcefulness, I also made peanut butter/banana bread. And then cracked a whole egg in the mixer, shell and all, while it was running. Pulverized eggshells are not an easy thing to fish out. Desperate to save the meal, I did what I could and baked it anyway.

Now, I'm one who's meal is done if I find sketchy things that don't belong. Sand, hair (blehhh) or one of those hard things in hamburgers. Game over. So, I told the kids to be aware of possible crunch in the banana bread.

And Lauren said, "It's fine, we'll treat it like a king cake baby."

That's the spirit.

So, Black is back, bank fraud but we still ate well, I have a dramatic lawnmower, I might be housing a fugitive and I have kids who'll eat shellbread joyfully.

-Amy

Back in Black

Calzones ready to go

Ready calzones

Shellbread