Tales of Mildred the Cat: BACK after 2.5 months on the lam.

This year when Rooster got out his old, winter farm coat he said, "Mama, you know what this coat makes me think about?"  I said, "What?" He replied, "Millie."  "She loved this old coat."  I felt sad that he would never see his buddy-cat again.  I just consoled him that she was a "good ole' cat."  Later that week, his little sister actually prayed for Mildred.  Daddy thought she was a bit optimistic after 2.5 months since her disappearance from the backyard. 

The story of Mildred and her lives really begins many moons ago.  She wondered up with a Siamese brother while we were playing on the trampoline one winter day.  We really don't know where she came from, but she loved kids.  She and Rooster formed the most magnificent bond.  Nevertheless, Mildred has "issues."  She is only about 2 and has used up 6 lives already, so I estimate her life expectancy, according to the old cliche, to be only about one more year since she is using up lives fairly quickly.

 Life 1:  She was chased onto our roof and could not get down. I rescued her with J's old, very tall roofing ladder and a box.

Life 2: We went camping and she got stuck in the tallest tree EVER.  We could not find her for a couple days.  Finally, Rooster pointed straight up one day.  We coaxed her down with some food a day later.

Life 3:   She got in our freezer. I estimate her to have been in there just over an hour.  The kids had gotten Popsicles earlier in the day and then slammed the door.  Thank goodness I decided to eat pork chops that night that had to be thawed out.  She enjoyed some frozen hot dog buns while she was there.  It was summer so she warmed her buns quickly in the driveway!

Life 4: She has been stuck in the car for many days/nights looking for crumbs I suppose. I am sure she did have plenty to eat in there.

Life 5:  On a family hiking expedition, Rooster's aunt decided to carry her across our creek to the falls.  Later the next day, we realized we never saw her make it home.  After calling the surrounding farms, I loaded up all the kids and we hiked back down there to find ole' Millie.  Our lab followed us across the creek.  She bounded up a large hill/cliff and when she came back guess who was following? Little Millie had survived a day/night in the woods. We carried her back across the water and home.  I wish you could have seen Rooster's face.  Little did I know...

Life 6:  Her most recent stunt is to wonder over a mile from the backyard to my Dad's woods (of all the places she could have wondered she went across the road and up the hill to my parents?)  We were out searching for my dad's missing calf a few Saturdays ago and after 2.5 months Rooster heard her meow in the woods and thorns.  He started yelling, "Mama, mama, it's Millie. I saw her!"  I just sat there with the baby thinking "poor kid. He has found some wild tom cat out here." Then, I heard my Dad say, "I got her. Is this her?" At this point, Rooster was shouting, "It IS Millie. IT IS MILLIE!"     He and Bobo got her to the old blue truck and we brought her home...AGAIN. 

Her main issue (among many):
When we leave, she leaves.  This time, when we went to Disney for a week, she left for 2.5 months. 



This cat is a people person, but can survive in the wilds somehow.


Curiosity just might indeed kill this one folks.

Mildred almost froze in our freezer, has been stranded across the creek, has been rescued from roofs, trees, and cars, and now the wilds of my dad's back pasture.  If he did not love this cat so much, she would be GONE.  I figure sooner or later she will be, so we should enjoy her this year! 


Where will she go next? What will she try next? 

Poem update for Our Buggy! One year old for 2014!

If you ever wonder…

You came a tiny 10- day-old bundle in a large, soft blanket,

Tiny legs like twigs…our first foster child,

And you were KNOWN.

I prayed and swayed and prayed and fed you all through the night,

Your soft and lovely hair to stroke…

And you suddenly BELONGED.

I bounced, I patted. I swayed some more and then there were those

Chubby legs and kissable cheeks…

And you were undeniably LOVED.

I sang and chatted and laughed and smiled and then came your

Coos, goos, and sideways smiles then

Full open-mouth grins…

And you were ADORED.

You began to babble and moan yourself to sleep, make other sweet sounds to my ears,

Then constant smiles that makes everyone your friend and all your giggles of delight…

Six months went by and you were totally CHERISHED.  

At eight months we prepared to say goodbye, but knew you’d be part of our family forever.   Despite my heart breaking, I felt BLESSED to have loved you for a small part of your very special life. 

By ten months you were thankfully back after 14 nights apart and us feeling lost.  You are part of our lives indefinitely still and despite that unsettling notion, loving you is purely fun as you are a contented soul so easy to enjoy: dancing, singing, chattering and squealing.  You have brought so many much joy. You are totally TREASURED at 12 months, our Buggy.

Love,

Mama

Prayers I am praying for your life sweet one:

Philippians 1:6

⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Jeremiah 29:11

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
  
I trust you Lord with this precious life so completely.  It is not easy, but you are GOOD and FAITHFUL.