Hat on Top, Coat Below
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A Week in Photos: 2026, Part 37
September 17, 2026
Monday, September 7: Quiet day at home. Wandered the property, looking at the different apple trees and the blackberries that are coming to the end of their season and following a path I hadn’t taken before that turned out to be full of slugs, some of them mating (wasn’t sure at the time but did some research later and yeah, that’s what was going on), as well as deer droppings and suspicious little mounds of dirt that make me think there are moles of some sort out there too. The leaves are starting to change colors, including those of the big leaf maples along the driveway.
Tuesday, September 8: There’s a single fireweed plant in the bed along the side of the house that’s now blooming. Not sure if it was planted there intentionally by the previous owner or if it’s a volunteer. Either way I’m happy it’s here and that we didn’t accidentally pull it up earlier in the year when we weeded that bed.
Wednesday, September 9: Ran some errands, and our route meant we were able to see Mount Baker from an angle I hadn’t before. Back at home, I was Mr. Karen’s assistant as he did some painting on trim up along the roof where we’d had some bad wood replaced (painting it wasn’t in the roof guys’ contract). Then in the evening, we had family over to watch the first Seahawks game of the season.
Thursday, September 10: Work began on our new gutters, which mean the old ones were knocked off and fell all around the house.
Friday, September 11: Well here’s an unexpected twist: as the gutter guys were finishing up their work, I heard what I thought was meowing outside. First time I dismissed it as surely I hadn’t heard that. Then I heard it again, and got up to look outside and lo and behold, there was a cat peeking at me from the end of the deck, under which it had apparently been hiding (perhaps getting away from the gutter work noise). Where did this cat come from? What was I going to do about it? It was very friendly, walked right up to me and let me brush the cobwebs off its face. It didn’t seem inclined to wander back to wherever it belonged, instead hanging out on the deck and later taking a nap on the stone wall next to the flower bed on the side of the house. It seemed interesting in coming inside the house but I was hoping it would head on home so didn’t let it in. Mr. Karen checked with the neighbors and even met some we hadn’t yet to ask if this was their cat; it was not. As got toward dark, the cat was still here so I decided given we’d heard about a cougar in the area I should bring it in for the night. I made a quick trip to the store for a disposable litter tray and some cat food. When I got back, the cat was nowhere to be seen. I made a lap around the house with no luck spotting it. I wondered if it had finally headed home but when I looked out again toward the spot where it had first appeared, it appeared again and came right to me and let me pick it up and bring it inside. We set up the bathroom off the kitchen as a temporary cat room. It ate a Churu treat. It meowed pitifully when closed up in the room by itself, so Mr. Karen and I sat with it in his office next to the bathroom. It was content to hang out with us, doing cat things like sitting on Mr. Karen’s paperwork and later on my laptop while I was using it. I posted a notice on the local lost and found group on Facebook. I looked at what the humane society recommended (another lost and found site included, so I also posted there). Eventually we had to put the kitty in the bathroom and go to bed.
Saturday, September 12: While I was sleeping, someone responded to the post I’d made on the lost pets group saying she thought that cat might be hers. I sent another photo and she asked to come see if it was her kitty and we set a time. The cat in question was happy to sit on a blanket next to my laptop instead of trying to nap on the keyboard. The woman and her two teen children came and thought it looked like their cat but not quite the right size but since the cat had been missing for three weeks they thought that made sense. We speculated that the cat might have gotten into the work trailer that the gutter guys brought up and that’s how she got all the way across the freeway and up to our house. The cat went into the carrier they’d brought without even needed to be bribed with a treat and off they went.
Sunday, September 13: Mr. Karen left for a solo road trip, leaving his birthday balloon behind to keep me company. I enjoyed the pastel sunset on my own.
On this date in 2008 through 2025: No journal entries
2007: Harry Potter Baby Quilt (would I make this now? nope; know better, do better)
2003 through 2006: No entries
2002: Re-entry
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2 Comments Leave a Comment
September 29th, 2026 at 5:44 am
Great photos. I love the leaf selfie. And it was kind of you to take care of the cat. That’s a pretty sunset.
September 29th, 2026 at 10:42 pm
Billy, no way I could have left that cat outside all night even though I am allergic (antihistamines help with the worst of the reaction).