
Franklin, felis sylvestris catus, office assistant
Sylvestris is said to have several meanings; the one I see most often is “of the forest”. But for this photo essay it will designate “forest”, and felis will designate “cats”.

Reflections of the forest in a steam
Many creeks run through sylvestris; this one is closest to us.

Leaves pause at the rocks
Boss and Lynx
Felis can’t live in sylvestris anymore. It just isn’t safe for kitties there, or in any of those former forests now modified to be cities, suburbs, and other places. (We do have to make an exception for those cats who are feral and cannot live indoors with humans.) Sylvestris became attached to the name felis. My own feeling as to why that fits is because of the unusual way in which humans and felis became acquainted. We didn’t deliberately breed them for domestication like we did other animals, they stepped out of wild spaces and came to us, drawn by the rodents around our stored foods. Both species adapted to each other. Lynx really looks like a small wild felid, I think!

Colors sneak into view

Expanse

Spooky

Sun and trees painting water

Autumn seeps

Sweet little Moonpie

Momentary unstillness

Casual gathering
There aren’t a lot of leaves gathered in the creek now, like there were on the last trek down there. Rain washed those away. There also aren’t any fully turned trees all red, all orange, or all yellow. The sweetgum and oak trees are just now getting going so maybe? in a week or so? Maybe more leaf patches in the creek too? Our weather doesn’t know what to do with itself.

Stripey the performer!
Stripey doesn’t do windows often. He loves to roll around and play! He’s a big show-off, sort of like Sylvestris in autumn.

Dense yet patchy
I like the color mixes of the slow fall, myself.

Reflections reach the depths

Magnolia float
About four of those broad-leaf magnolia trees are part of this jammed up leaf bunch.
Y’all, I have so many pictures already of the creek, the trees, and all the cats; enough to likely keep going all through the winter, and with more in the camera. So here’s our friend’s cat, Shelley, for her cameo; it’s sunset, the light is low, so her pupils are wide to gather in more light:

Evening Shelley
And, here’s Boss again, pretending to ignore my book, Catwoods (another way of saying felis sylvestris), which would make a great holiday gift. That silver decal is a nifty MUSE Award Winner sticker! And, it’s a long book, about 363 pages, for long winter reading ahead. Boss won’t be impressed unless we can publish the second book, where he comes along!

Boss and Catwoods book
There will be more pictures, I just work slowly. I may be slow to respond to comments, too.
What a lovely post! Would you be so kind as to guest blog post for my site? if you’re so inclined, here’s a link to general guidelines: https://wp.me/p6OZAy-1eQ
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da-AL, thanks so much for your kind words, I appreciate it! And thanks so much for inviting me to do a guest post for your site! I would love to, and I’m really flattered that you asked me! I love your site, I think it’s excellent! I don’t know how soon I can though as I am struggling to keep up with everything and have a worsening health condition. Best regards and Happy New Year till then, Leah
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all the more reason for me to send my very best thoughts to you dear Leah, for a healthy happy 2021. as for guest blog post, no worries — anytime is a great time. ❤
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Aaaw, I love your cats, Leah. Balm for the soul. We had a cat fence inside our forest because there are too many cars and predators for kitties. It has been really cold here and the squirrels have been knocking at the back door for nuts… The lady who lives in my house is nuts!
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The cats and I thank you, Kerry! My dream is to have an enclosed outdoor space for the kitties, a really sturdy catio of sorts. That won’t happen for awhile though. Squirrels are cute and fun but they can really be a nuisance too! We’ve had three really cold nights in a row, brrr and argh! Cheers and Meows, Leah
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In retrospect we should have built something like a lanai because the cats became allergic to Texas (mold, tree pollens) – they were desert cats. Love to you, K x
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Hugs and love back atcha, Kerry!
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Stunning photo/art as always, Leah. I did read Catwoods and really enjoyed it. Put a review on Amazon. My wife is now sheltering neighborhood ferals, so the book will be in her stocking this Xmas. There are also a few “Southern” things in there that I borrowed for my own recently released book. (Hope you don’t mind.)
Happy Holidays to y’all!
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Pete I did see your review of Catwoods and I appreciate it so much! And I thank you for getting my book, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! No worries on using the Southern sayings in my book, I’d like to see them at least remain known as part of the language. I’m fascinated by regional and colloquial language and the ways language forms and changes. Strangely, to me, the one negative remark I’ve gotten about the book was an objection to that language. And though I live in a college town, it’s been part of the world l live in. I see your new book is out today! And I will be checking it out! We are trying to set me up with an e-reader as the book herd here needs thinning, so I hope we can do that soon and I’ll have your new book! Cheers, Meows, and Happy Holidays!
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Lovely Kitties, all of them! And Sylvestris sure put on a show for us all to admire! Some of the more ‘watery’ pictures look like impressionist paintings! Beautiful!
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The kitties and I thank you so much, Meezer’sMews&TerrieristicalWoofs! We appreciate your kind words!
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Great post as always Leah. The images of forest, leaves, and all the sweeties made the most very moving and joyful! Keep up the great work! Saludos! Ashraf
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Thank you so much Ashraf, I’m happy you like the pictures and post!
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Charlee: “We’ve never seen a sylvestris, but we bet they are full of birds!”
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They are indeed Charlee! They have lots of cover so I don’t see them as often, but a cat would be able to hear them.
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I love black cats! Those are elegant!
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The kitties and I thank you, tanssitytto! I love the black kitties too!
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We here are so lucky to enjoy our mild temperatures. People want to see fall foliage from a car because it’s cold. We can meander the creeks just as these fallen leaves do. I myself spent last winter solstice running around half baked playing woodland creek priestess at the park on 216 enjoying high seventies and flowing springs that the natives used because of unusual ground saturation. I was wearing a primitive cat mask the whole time so indeed I was felis sylvestris.
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Tracy I do love those warm temps too! Your last winter sounds marvelous! Cool way to celebrate felis sylvestris! I still manage to get close to the smaller creek though I can’t go far due to the limitations of serious chronic illness. (I don’t ever say exactly where it is online.) I can’t walk as far as I used to so I hope no one gets tired of the same location for the pictures. Meows!
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So easy to love cats, and adding the artistry just adorns the pleasures. Thanks, Leah.
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Thanks so much for your kind words, David!
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Beautiful photos as usual and Happy US Thanksgiving!
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Thank you so much, the kitties and I appreciate it!
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Beautiful silvestris and felis today, Happy Thanksgiving!
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Thank you so much, Catscue, I appreciate it! Happy Thanksgiving back atcha!
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Lovely images – thank you for sharing. Thanksgiving love and purrs from Deb and the Zee/Zoey gang – Zee, Zoey, Mia, Peanut, Rolz, Kizmet, Jazmine, and Shadow.
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Thank you so much Deb, I appreciate it and I’m happy you like the pictures! Happy Thanksgiving also from us and our kitties! (BTW I left a comment on your Thanksgiving post but because I changed my username last night I think it must have gone to the moderation queue.)
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Beautiful
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Thank you so much, I appreciate it!
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Your welcome
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This was a wonderful blog! I love the kittehs and the beautiful grounds. I take so many pictures of the world around me — maybe I should showcase a few like you did!
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Thank you so much, I appreciate it and the kitties do too! I think posting pictures that you take of scenes you encounter daily and posting them is a good idea. I’m not able to do it every day and make the site entirely about my days, but in autumn I take so many that it seems that way!
Leah and kitties
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I think Shelley is giving Stripey some competition.
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That could be! Shelley is quite the glamour girl!
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This blog post is so lovely ❤
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The kitties and I thank you Norman!
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Such beautiful photos of nature and all your adorable kitties. XO
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The kitties and I thank you, Ellen! XO
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Beautiful fall colors! Best watched from windows by the kitties. 🙂
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I’m happy you enjoyed the colors, Island Cats! And I agree, kitty enjoyment of outdoor scenes should be from the windows!
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Mee-yow wow “Sun an treess paintin water” iss our FAVERITE foto Miss Leah!! All yore fotoss are so colorfull an lovelee. You are so tallented.
An Boss yore lookin mitey hansum an Lynx yore gorgeeuss! Moonpie wee cuud bee bookyendss!!!
Happy Autumm to all of youss’ there…..
**purrss** BellaDharma an ((huggiess)) LadyMew
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BellaDharma, I am so glad you and LadyMew like our pictures! The kitties are happy too and they appreciate the nice things you said about them. You and Moonpie do indeed look alike BellaDharma, two gorgeous girl kitties who are black! Happy Autumn, purrs, and hugs to you and LadyMew!
From Leah and the kitties!
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Mee-yow iss lovelee to have a looky-like as purrty as Moonpie! All yore catss are all so lovelee!
Mew mew mew our Autumm has terned to Winter since Novemburr 30th nite….wee now have 3 feetss of snow Miss Leah!!! EEKKK!!!!
**purrss** an ~~head rubss~~BellaDharma~~
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Yikes on the 3 foot snow BellaDharma! I know it’s hard to deal with. We had a blast of below freezing air last night and will again tonight, we do get that here sometimes, but this is early in the winter for us! Purrs and Meows to you and LadyMew, from me and the kitties!
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Iss OKay Miss Leah…..wee used to lotss an lotss of snow here! Butt it beein too chilley to go out inn Condo makess mee a bit sulky…. 😉
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My 2 Norwegian “Sylvestris” Cats approve this post!
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Ahahaha always happy to get the approval of highly discerning cats!
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🙂
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Dearest Leah,
Yesterday, when we came back from our run to Atlanta, a good 2 hours + 15 minutes, one way drive, your book was in the mailbox. The personal note is appreciated very much and my husband started reading it already and told me of some of its content. Using his magnifier. At the moment I too would have to use a magnifier. Hoping that my December 17, eye surgery goes well and will help. Doing so many chores… Trying to catch up on life after so much had been put on hold while publishing our book of 450 pages. But so glad we got that accomplished. Love the cover of your book and all its info, read that over breakfast with a magnifier… Will eventually find the time to read it. Thanks for putting all your stories into print!
The same with the above post. Lovely kitty photos and the mention of autumn unfolding. Yes, like leaves, drifting off in a puddle in the stream, that’s how our life’s stories drift off. The better for writing them down.
Hugs,
Mariette
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Hi Mariette, I’m happy you like the pictures, thank you so much! And thanks also, for getting my book. I’m glad it got to you relatively quickly. I hope you both enjoy it and I hope your eye surgery does help. I am sorry you are having to use a magnifier to read, the print size was a publisher decision. I am trying to do an ebook copy and I think you can enlarge those, so if I can get that going I will send you that. I don’t know how soon that might be as we have had some complications and I’m not too well right now. It may have to wait until next year. All the best and hugs, Leah
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Don’t worry Leah, we’ll get it read! Hope you feel better soon. 💞
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Such pretty photos and cats! I love your turquoise walls too! (I know I’ve said that before but had to say it again)😋
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Thank you so much nanasworldweb, I’m happy you like the photos and kitties! I’m also glad you like the wall color. It’s fun but I have noticed sometimes it throws a little too much green into the pictures. Those would probably be better with a more neutral wall color! But, after the tornado I wanted to use the vibrant colors I prefer, lol.
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Stripey looks like a real character all right. That is a great view out the windows. Too bad they cannot all go outside for a walk but I understand the dangers that lurk and the fear of getting lost. Wish my leaves were washed away down the creek.
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Stripey is quite the kitty guy indeed . . . Long-range plans and dreams include catios but meanwhile safety must come first . . .
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Happy Thanksgiving!
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Thanks Greg, to you also!
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They are all beautiful kitties, Leah, and the autumn photos are gorgeous!
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Lavinia, the kitties and I thank you so much! I’m happy you like the photos!
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Hi Leah. You know, your nature photos in this essay remind me of Monet paintings. I like them!
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Thank so much Neil, I appreciate it and I’m happy you like the pictures!
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All great photos. I love the one with the two of them in the window.
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Thank you so much etikser, I appreciate it. The two in the window is one of my favorite kitty photos, too!
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Stripey!What a cutie!
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Stripey and I thank you, B.! Stripey is quite a character!
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Your forest is absolutely beautiful! We understand the not being safe out there thing, we worry about our ferals too. Too much construction have driven coyotes into our neck of the woods and they pass right through our back yard frequently.
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Thank you so much Brian, I’m happy you enjoyed the forest! Yikes at the coyotes near you! Coyotes do worry me. We’ve seen and heard them in past years, not so much recently. Coyotes have been seen in town once in a while, but not the area of town where our ferals are. The ferals are pretty good about staying in the yard where they have lots of shelter, but I still worry about them.
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Love the colors, they’re beautiful and so are the kitties. Great photos.
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Thank you Correne, the kitties and I appreciate it!
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Your photos are delectable – so lovely, both kitties and fall colours. 🙂
The kitties certainly love that window sill, don’t they?
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Thank you Lynette, the kitties and I appreciate it! The kitties do love the windows and the light is good there, too.
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So enjoy your photo essays! Leaves and cats intermixed is delightful …
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Thank you Jazz, I appreciate that! I used to just have two cats in a landscape post but now they all want to be there . . .
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The cats are all gorgeous. They may all be waiting for their turn in the limelight
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The kitties and I thank you, cat9.984!
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Leah, your cats are all beautiful! Lynx does look like a wildcat. The fall colours are beautiful too. ❤️
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The kitties and I thank you, John!
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😎
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Beautiful colors and cats. The photo of Boss and Lynx in the window is wonderful.
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Thanks, Tim!
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