Sitting by the window

This afternoon Rascal wasn't interested in coming outside with me.   He preferred to sit on the couch and watch me out the window.

Window break-in

Today when I went for a two-hour bicycle ride Rascal wanted to come outside when I did.  Usually when I come back home after a bicycle ride I call for him and he comes.   Today he didn't.   When I went into the house, there he was on the floor welcoming me.  Then I saw the window screen on the kitchen floor.   That was how he got inside the house.  Today it was warm enough to leave the windows open.  He jumped up and pushed the screen down.  Rascal often gets what he wants.

It's a jump to the window.  A small opening.  And a narrow windowsill.  But he did it.

I took the screen outside for the photo.  Then put it back in the window from the inside.

Rascal after welcoming me back home.

Bat

This morning I found a dead bat in the hallway.  I'm sure Rascal killed it.   Hmmm... since it has been warm this past month, and Rascal goes in and out at night, I leave a nearby door slightly open so he isn't waking me up over and over.  I bet that was how the bat got into the house.  I doubt Rascal brought inside.  He seldom brings mice he "plays with" / kills back to the house.

Here is the bat after I tossed it back outside.

Sleeping on a warm afternoon

Rascal sleeps during the day and goes outside in the evening when it is cooler.  Usually when I try to take a photo when he is sleeping he wakes up and moves.  He must have been tired this day as he didn't wake up.

Hanging around with me on a warm day

Rascal wanted to hang out with me on the porch on a warm day a few days ago.

A few mornings ago after 6 am I was woken up by a loud low growl.  I looked outside and saw Rascal growling at a new neighbor cat near my backdoor.  No fights.  The neighbor cat was low and laid or slowly moved away.  Rascal followed and told the other cat to leave, this is Rascal's place.  I went outside to help and the other cat then left and headed for the road.   Rascal wanted to follow to the road but a loud pickup driving by convinced Rascal to turn around.  He came back home with me and we went back to sleep.

Waiting to be by me

This afternoon I had work to do.  But Rascal wanted me to stand here while he laid near me and watched and listened to the cows and also the vehicles drive by down the road.

Sleeping on a warm afternoon

Rascal doesn't usually lay on his back when he sleeps, but this afternoon he did.

Eating grass in the rain

We have had over an inch of rain the past few days.  This morning Rascal jumped off my bed as I was somewhat sleeping in order to throw up on the floor.  Later he went outside for a little bit in order to eat some grass.  It was raining lightly.  Rascal is now stretched out across my lap with his head on one arm.  So I am typing this with one hand.

Valentine's Day gift

Rascal (Donna) gave me a mug on Valentine's Day when I took Donna to her doctor appointment this morning since Donna's car was still in the repair shop.  When I was getting dressed this morning Rascal grabbed onto my pants with his claws and tried to pull them off of me before I could fasten the pants' belt.  Why are you getting up so early? Come back to bed to spend more time with me.  It took some effort for me to get dressed this morning.   The mug is so appropriate.

The cat on the mug looks like Rascal.

Helping on a warm Winter day

Rascal is getting outside a little more lately.  He is more used to living here and is starting to realize this is his place.  He even spends time in the barn.  Sometimes all afternoon.  Now that the barn is not packed full of small hay bales he can jump up and lay on some, and also walk around looking for mice.  I only leave the barn door open during the day.  I don't want the neighbor's cat to come and mark the inside of the barn as his territory.  Even though I built up a good part of the north fence to keep him away, occasionally I find his footprints in the fresh snow and going into the hayshed building.  So the neighbor's cat does come around once in a while.

Today it was wet outside.  Rascal is not fond of wet ground, and after a short time outside he walked to the house door.  So I carried him to the corral so he could then walk to the barn.  Rascal doesn't like to be held.  He is also pretty "chunky".  So it was a struggle for me to carry him to the corral.  He then walked to the barn.

Earlier this week Rascal came out to help me outside.