Good day

Rascal had a good day today.   Lately Rascal has been coming outside with me in the morning when I go out to check on the cattle and their water trough.  I open the barn door so Rascal can go inside and look for mice.  And there are mice inside.  Today when I looked back outside the house I saw Rascal by the toolshed on his way back from the barn.  When he got to the snow-free grass he dropped a mouse and played with it.  After a bit he came walking to the house and I let him inside.  Over an hour later I checked the area but didn't find a mouse body.  I'm sure he killed it by the way Rascal acted when the mouse tried to run away.  I believe the birds later took the mouse body.

Rascal got his fur - mainly neck and chest area - brushed twice today.  He was fine with me brushing him and seemed to like it.  Of course he doesn't stay still and I have to bend over and follow him while brushing him.  When I stop walking he will immediately turn around and come back to me for more brushing.  He also likes to gently pat a metal ball with a bell inside when I brush him.  One pat - ring - then he walks away.  A minute later he walks back and one more single pat on the ball for another ring.

And Rascal had a little time laying on, then next to, my lap this afternoon.

He was laying on my lap and having his neck rubbed as I started this post.  But after a bit of typing and no neck rub, Rascal left.   He'll be back later.

On my lap

Apparently Norwegian Forest cats are not lap cats. And Rascal is that way for the most part.  Unless he wants his neck rubbed, then he will come up and sit on my lap. He likes his neck rubbed due to the long mane around his head.  When I finish the neck rubbing or head petting Rascal will then get off my lap.  An exception is in the afternoon if I am sitting on the couch, after the neck rub and head petting, often he will reposition himself and then lay and sleep on my lap.

He did so yesterday afternoon.  He had his head on my knees and was curled up and sleeping.  He looked like a giant snowball on my lap.  I wanted a photo of this but I didn't have my camera nearby.  Today I made sure my camera was nearby on the couch.  And again he laid on my lap after the petting was done.  I got a few photos.  Today he laid more on his left side than right side, so the black showed up more.  If he lays more on his right side, he is whiter.

I now call this the "Rascal blanket" as it is easier to have him lay on my lap if I have the blanket over my legs.

Laying on my lap

Even so, after a while of laying on my lap, he will get up and lay next to me.

Laying on my right side

A short time later, he moved over to lay on my left side and is watching the bird at the feeder outside the window.

As I write this post Rascal came over and is laying on my lap.  So I have to pet him now.

Another snowy day

Rascal came outside for a short time while I shoveled some of our recent snow.

My wind ornament

Looking at a train over a half a mile away.