Meet Jewel...

I'm not as bad as Leesa and Amy. I just got one cat. One 1-yr-old cat. She was a stray who had kittens in my daughter's house this summer, and the neighbor started feeding her but kept her outside. And had her fixed and got her shots and taken care of for fleas. So she really was a free cat. Isn't she beautiful?

Within minutes of coming into my house (after weeks of deciding if I could make an outdoor cat stay indoors), she was in my lap purring loudly, on her back, belly up, taking a nap. Never saw a cat do that. So well adapted to her surroundings so quickly. She is the sweetest cat I have ever met. Her purr is very loud, and yet her purr is demure. She even slept with me from the first night at the bottom of the bed on the sheet I provided. I have become one of those cat ladies who talks to her cat. I promise to keep the posts about her to a minimum. Oh, who am I kidding???

Yes, I am allergic, but I know how to manage things as an adult. (Don't put my face in their fur would be the first step.) She snuzzles and follows me around the house in the morning when I get ready for work. She has no ambition to run away which I feared she would since she has never lived indoors. I really believe she is relieved not to have to fight the street traffic any more.

And she used the kitty litter box immediately.

And because she is the sweetest cat I have ever met, I have named her after my favorite teacher who was the sweetest person I ever knew. Mrs. Helen Jewel Brakke. So I have named my new kitty Jewel. Not like the gem stone Jewel, but after Mrs. Brakke.

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are, you are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!'

Edward Lear
(1812-1888)