Cats in the Yard

Yesterday was another cold and cloudy day; if we were staying here for only one week, which we used to do when we were still working in demanding jobs, we would have been disappointed that nearly half the week was gone with little sunshine.  But by sunset, the clouds had disappeared and the clearing sky augured a nice day today.

And so it was, bright blue sky and temperatures in the 50s.  In the afternoon, I ran again, 5.1 miles this time, back along the Town Boardwalk and then farther down Highway 12 to the former location of Peace and Plenty, the name of the first place we ever stayed out here in 2001, 2003, and 2005.  Alas, that place no longer exists, purchased by developers and torn down to be replaced by a tall, many-bedroomed rental house.  But the original house was a wonderful place, decorated with paintings by the owner (she has a studio in Edenton now), as small as Ocean Watch but clearly built with care and love.  We still think often about "Peace and Plenty" and what that concept means to us.  We have tried to make our own home in Highlands a little Peace and Plenty of our own.

The sun was bright and the sky was cloudless, and when I returned we sat out on the deck for the rest of the afternoon, enjoying our first real day of "beach weather," the surf making a continuous roar in the background.  When we came in for dinner, the shade under my chair was immediately claimed by a black cat that lives in the area, one which we have seen in previous years.

Martha noticed another black cat, and I went out to discover the two of them sunning on the front porch of the adjacent unoccupied house; when I went out to take a photo, I discovered a third cat, a gray cat, on our own porch, terrified by my appearance.  These are feral cats and they do not come when called, although I expect they would be glad to receive left-over seafood.  Having cats so close by makes this seem more like home to us.

"Our house is a very, very very fine house,
With two cats in the yard;
Life used to be so hard
Now everything is easy 'cause of you." - Crosby, Stills, Nash

There was no left-over seafood tonight.  I drove up to Dockside 'N Duck again and returned with fresh red drum, which Martha sauteed in butter, accompanied by roasted vegetables.  Delicious.  And no leftovers.