In what has become our usual morning routine, the big dog barks, wakes up the little dog, who wakes me and I fly downstairs and run outside to make sure the cats aren't being eaten by coyotes.
Today, there were no coyotes, but without my glasses on yet, I couldn't make out what the kitten was chasing, something dark that kept running and getting caught, getting free and getting caught again. Dashed back into the house and put on glasses. Turned out, the kitten had found a vole. I would have rescued it, but I think she played too hard with the little rodent for it to survive long.
Both Jinx and the mama cat, Calypso, watched for a while then left baby girl alone with her treasure and yowled at me for some canned cat food. Why chase breakfast when you can order and have it served to you?
I am amazed at how early I am able to pick ripe tomatoes this year! Along with the Silvery Fir Trees, I've picked my first Cherokee Purple, and there are dozens of three types of cherry tomatoes.
While my friend who was rehoming four of the kittens was here last week, she and I picked aronia berries for her to take home. She is an avid baker and canner, while I usually freeze the berries and forget about them in the freezer.
Grasshoppers and/or earwigs are eating leaves of everything in the garden, but I do have a few peppers that are ripe and ready to pick.