Franklin shows off his inner panther
Here’s Frankie in 2019, demonstrating the panther-slung-over-a-branch style of repose.
Today we’re going back to the old way of autumn creek posting, with just a two-cat escort. The “kittens” will be back soon! The reason being, there are so many pics my head is spinning.
More than meets the eye
I’m never satisfied with the creek posts and I keep going back because there is always something I missed.
The Flow
I don’t really go with the flow, I go back, seeking more.
Other shores are sparkling
The other bank with its other leaves beckons.
Not so easy approach
It’s really not far.
Bumpy space
But there’s so much right here.
Hazy Misty Leafy
I’m going to make this shorter as I suddenly needed to leave the computer as I was posting. In my haste I hit the publish button too soon, so sorry about that. I hope I can restore this post.
Here’s Shelley, our friend’s cat:
Shelley loves this vantage point!
Boss and Catwoods Book
Here is Boss after reading my book. It has put him in a good mood! Check it out for your own winter reading or for holiday gifts, it may seem a little expensive but it is a long book, highly researched and with lots of information.
Back soon, again, sorry about the mixup and I hope, temporary disappearance of this post.
ETA: Thanks so much to everyone who commented and whose comments haven’t appeared here. I had to scramble today and published too soon, then I had to disappear the post in order to finish it and apparently the comments are being treated as being for a different blog. I’ll try to restore them when I can. They are in my email notifications.
I live near a creek in a forest, in close observation and awe of the wildlife outside, as well as the domestic animals of the household. I'm writer Leah T. Alford. I was "catwoods" on this site Catwoods Porch Party, Itchmo Forums for Cats and Dogs, and a few other sites that may or may not exist now. I have now published a book, and the publisher wanted it called Catwoods. I never expected the book title to be the same as my username, so for now I've changed the username to Leah. For more info, click the "About" button above.
Catwoods Porch Party 
Good to meet your cats as I dig into Catwoods and their world.
The kitties and I are glad to see you here, Layla! And I’m happy you are reading Catwoods. The setting is the same but the kitties will be different, as the book ends in 2005. Vol. 2 will continue to the present and will include the kitties you see here.
Leah, your photos always make me look at water, leaves, trees (nature) & cats in a whole new way — they open my eyes to seeing these beautiful things anew. Thank you. Deb
Deb, thank you so much, it means a lot to me that you like the photos!
Great post Leah! Franklin looks like proper Sweetie as always and remember me my Megan Sweetie! Nice collection of images of nature and the colorful mix of leaves, streams and ponds. All the Best for New Year! Best! Ashraf
Thank you Ashraf, I’m glad you like the pictures! I’m so sad about the loss of your Megan Sweetie though. Hoping you have all the best in the New Year too!
Thanks Leah. Loosing my Megan Sweetie was not something I was prepared for so soon. Part of me now is totally empty and the home is very quiet without her lively presence. She always talked to me and now I can hear her in my head and make me feel very sad. I hope I can get over the sadness and resume my normal life soon. On September 04, 2020, she exhibited problem passing urine, right away I took her to vet, and I must admit, these vets are partly blame for her death and there is nothing I can do to take actions against these people which also made me angry and sad. They did not do full diagnosis first time yet charged me awfully high, over the past three months, I have taken her to vet several times and the fees shot up to over £500 pounds. They gave her some injection and pills and for a while, I thought they were working, and now that my sweetie is gone, I trace back and feel, she probably would have better off without these vets. But then again, if I would not take her to vet, I would always feel I have not done my best to help save her. Injections and pills did not stop her to die but she like all cats, remain tough and resilient and absorb pain silently even in her last seconds of dying. She was full with courage! Even in her very last moment of dying, she made efforts to softly talk to me as she always did through her life. Kudos to my Megan Sweetie : August 01, 2013 – December 26, 2020. She was not born on August 01, 2013, it was her adoption day. The agency I adopted from told me she was 2.5 year old then, so my best guess is she was around 9.5 or 10 year old when she crossed the rainbow bridge. Hence its sad, because I did not expect her to die within 10 years of her life. I always thought she would live 12-15 years. Thanks again Leah! Ashraf
That is so sad about the vets Ashraf, and I know you did everything you could for Megan Sweetie.
That Young Black Cat, She Finally Found Something New (another mostly true story)
‘If only I had something new to do,’ / she mused, ‘some wander most adventurous / like when the nearby fields grew tall / towering greens from which wild fowl fed and flew / as a feisty feline and precocious / I must have a venue change or else climb the wall!’ // She walked along the window pane / and looked out to neighbouring homes / where she hoped to find something / new, something beyond the back lane / rocky road where she often roams / with her green eyes wide and wandering. // When her attention was caught / by the towering dark roof / of the local convenience store / the cat at once decided she ought / to climb to its black peak as more proof / of her worth to those who already her adore. // Out the door, through adjoining yards she went / glancing round this and that corner / going over then under fences small and tall / till she stood at the wall she meant / to surmount as a foreigner / without fear (though windy it was) she may fall. // She looked passed blown leaves at two garbage cans / standing beside a wooden shed / right next to the store painted so pink / and up she jumped, her clawed feet and hands / reaching each peak by but a thread / yet of no better place she could think. // Having achieved her hazardous climb / she contemplated some swaying trees / unaware her human hostess stood near / at a bus stop, as passed the time / the woman looked up only to freeze / seeing her beloved black feline knowing no fear! // Thus the feline had done something big and new / and not seeing her master’s silent stare / descended and went home more than content / for from this day excitement the cat drew / indeed deciding she’d again climb—dare / herself to ascend any site worthy of her scent.
(Frank Sterle Jr.)
Interesting poetry Frank! A story in verse.
Cats do love edges — hanging off of and peeking over them. Or pawing at one’s feet resting off a bed’s edge. …
THAT BLACK CAT, SHE INVADED HIS DREAMS (mostly a true story in verse):
She laid by his bared feet / at the foot of his bed / though in his dream they’d meet / which they did in his head. // For this sleek black feline / she’d been in there before / such she’d never decline / as that cat he’d adore. // A myth it couldn’t be / that her claws touched his toes / as the dreaming did he / was about that she knows. // The dream she boldly caught / that night she did invade / was the dream she had sought / the dream she’d long delayed. // Within she placed her claws / upon his sleep-bound feet / all performed with no flaws / then and there they did meet. // Though not feeling abused / by prickling on his toes / he still looked down confused / at each of five toes, two rows. // Naught of her did he find / in his dream created / though back to wakened mind / he saw her and stated // ‘Mimi, it’s you—you rascal!’ / yet he still adored her / while finding comical / her response a smooth ‘murr’. // From the thick mattress down / she landed without woes / as he said ‘You little clown— / you leave alone my toes.’ // Thought she, ‘Again we’ll meet / as you dream fast asleep / when the toes on your feet / from my paws you cannot keep.’ (Frank Sterle Jr.)
Nice poem, Frank. I think I’ll delete the duplicate below as it’s a bit long when written out that way.
Thank you.
Gorgeous pictures! And the landscape ones almost – ALMOST – outshine the kitties.
Thank you iamthesunking, and the kitties thank you too! They are very pleased with your viewpoint!
All these photos are beautiful especially the cats! 🙂 ❤
The kitties and I thank you, Deborah!
You’re welcome! 🙂 ❤
Lulu: “It sure would be fun to splash around in that pretty creek!”
Charlee: “You dogs have a weird idea of what’s fun.”
Ahahaha, I agree with Lulu but our cats would agree with Charlee!
Thank you for your kind words about our loss.
You’re welcome. ❤
Yore fotoss are AMAZIN Miss Leah! You are such a grate foto graffer…wee ‘feel’ like wee are there.
Franklin yore a lovelee house panfur!
An Shelley yore purrty!
**purrss** BellaDharma
The kitties and I thank you so much, BellaDharma and LadyMew, for saying all those nice things. I am really not so good at photography, it’s just that the creek makes such strange reflections and shadows, and I photo edit until it looks weird enough to me . . . and I have fun doing it. I’m very happy you like it! Franklin and Shelley thank you too and send purrs and meows and head bonks!
Yore cree-ative Miss Leah….LadyMew does not have that skill…all tho mee weerd fotoss mee ferst Winter here were furry kewl.
An THE creek an shadowss must liek you alot!!! Mew mew mew……
**purrss** to all, BellaDharma
Thank you ❤
Yore furry wellcome Miss Leah!
Wee wish you, Franklin, Shelley an all THE Kittiess there a Meowy Catmass ❤ ❤
amazing photos as usual! Truly magical!
Thank you so much, hairballsandhissyfits! The kitties and I appreciate it!
So, so beautiful!
Thank you catscue, the kitties and I appreciate it!
Such beautiful photos. It must be so serene there. And of course, we love the kitty photos.
Thank you for your kind words Lola, I’m happy you like the photos and I appreciate it. The stream does give us a peaceful feeling when we are able to go sit awhile. The kitties thank you too!
Aww! The cats are amazing! 🙂
Thank you Flora’s Week Show, the kitties and appreciate it!
Your welcome! 🙂 Have an amazing day! 🙂
The good thing about Nature is there is always a reason to go back as there is always something new and different to see and photograph. Sometimes I think, oh I’ve photographed this a billion times I should walk past it… but when I look back at the older photos they are so very different. Happy holidays to you all. Freddie is trying to type something but I’ll just say he and Frankie send their best holiday wishes to your felines.
That is so true, RMW, as I’ve become increasingly limited I’ve had to go back to the one spot on the creek instead of walking further along it, but the photos in the one spot year to year and week to week all differ! Happy Holidays to you and your friends and family and kitties! Our kitties say thank you to your Freddie and Frankie for their greetings, the kitties and I appreciate it!
The pictures of the cats and the wooded areas seem ethereal. Maybe they are! Thankyou for sharing these. You have a wonderful generous spirit. It shows in your posts and especially your book. 💖
Penny thank you so much for saying such sweet things, they mean a lot to me! I appreciate it and the kitties do too. I’m so happy that you like the book! I’m finding the best part of making a book is when people read and enjoy it!
I love when cats sit like Boss…so regal!
I love that too FACE Foundation! Boss loves to cross his front paws!
😀
Dearest Leah,
Franklin Panther looks very much like our Spooky Panterino… all black boy.
Pieter is half way through your oh so interesting book.
Our 2nd kitty died at age 4.5 because of heart worm diesease…
He came to me that morning for cuddling, something he never did! He was sweet but not one to hold or sit on your lap. I told him, oh, you are changing? Wanted to grab him in our hallway and hold as I was so touched by his ‘change’ but he ran off, down the stairs.
When supper came we could not find him. We walked. the entire wood garden and looked for him, calling out. Nothing. Only next day when Pieter took our little RAV4 our of the garage for taking it to Rotary lunch, he noticed that Spooky was below it.. He’d died under the car. So he said his farewell to me by cuddling as he felt he was not going to live long.
We had the vet do an authopsy on him as it was at the time that several pets had died from certain pet food. Then we learned he had a massive heartworm and he died from having too much fluid in his lungs. That had come oozing out of his mouth too. We both were heartbroken.
That very vet had given us the spot on meds to protect them against ticks but NOT against heartworm as we always had done so. We changed vets and since then, I’ve been ordering the spot on meds from PetCareChoice.com as we want to be sure!
One worries about our fur babies and if you had 6 like we, it is a handful. Now we’re down to 5…
Hugs,
Mariette
Your Spooky Panterino sounds like a beautiful kitty and I’m so sorry you lost him. We lost one to heartworm disease which was in the lungs too, as you know from reading the book. I’m so glad you are both enjoying the book! Many thanks, and hugs, Leah
Spooky Panterino is still very much alive… We had two previous Spooky kitties; 1st one was a girl, foundling as she hid in the raspberry patch and slept underneath the pump cover! She got hit by a car as she came back from her Dachshund girlfriend across the street. In front of Pieter who was dispersing ant killer on the front lawn. The driver (racer!) never slowed down. She was not wounded but obviously hit hard… She was only 1.5 and way too young to die! The 2nd Spooky from the Humane Society had the heartworm and he died at age 4.5. Spooky Panterino is 14 years and 8 months so he did well so far, as did his 3 surviving siblings. Their sister got also hit by a car…https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2010/09/you-like-to-meet-our-3-feline-boys.html
Panterino due to his Mom & Dad being from Acapulco, México…
Here you can read more about that: https://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2010/09/telling-you-tale-of-our-4-feline-girls.html
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh I’m sorry I got the Spookys mixed up, Mariette. And I’m sorry you’ve lost kitties to cars. I really hate it when drivers speed through a neighborhood, or anywhere really, it’s just not needed. I’ll go check out your links, thank you!
Franklin does the panther pose well. Beautiful photos.
Thank you Correne, I’m happy you like the photos and Franklin thanks you too!
We always miss something. But most of us don’t realize we have missed something.
My husband and I were driving into town the other day and he asked, “Is that a new building/business?”
I replied, “No, it’s been there a while.”
Actually the place had been there for 20 years.
We all look with different eyes. 😉
That’s certainly true ladysighs and I experience that as everything in town changes so rapidly. I ask myself, when was that built? all the time, lol. Then there’s the old quote, “you never step in the same river twice’ since nature is ever-changing.
I love how the leaves are still so colorful! And, Frankie and the other kitties, well, they always look good!!!!
Thanks so much Polly, I’m happy you like the pictures, and the kitties thank you too! Most of those leaves have gone now, but they did linger into early December. I’m just slow posting them and I probably have enough to keep on all winter, lol.
A fascinating play with colour and great cat shots.
Denis1950 thank you, I’m happy you like the photos! The kitties thank you too!
We have 6 and we feed some ferals. Shelley is the cat of a friend who does not go on the Internet.
Lovely
Always good to see the kitties and the autumn photos are beautiful!
The kitties and I thank you, Lavinia, and I’m happy you like the photos!
All the photos are gorgeous – both kitty and nature. And I really like the blanket Franklin is on.
The kitties and I thank you, and I appreciate it! I like that blankie too and wish I could get another one like it, but it’s very old and I don’t think it’s available any more.
Franklin looks spectacular. I’m still sharing my autumn wanders too, so why not the creek? It’s so colorful! Which reminds me, I didn’t get a single water photo that I liked this year.
Franklin and I thank you, Bernadette! I have many more autumn pics, this was supposed to be twice as long.
I’ve been admiring your autumn tree pictures and have meant to comment but have been rushed lately.
I always get lots of pictures of both water and trees that I can’t use. But I have fun taking them!
Beautiful photos of your kitties and nature. XO
Thanks Ellen, I’m happy you like the pictures and I appreciate it! XO
Hello Leah. The first photo really grabbed me. Solid black against all those other colors. 👍👍
Hi Neil, I’m happy you like the Franklin pic! That’s my favorite blankie for black cat pictures but it was getting sort of worn so we don’t use it as often now. I’ve had a hard time finding another really well-done color combination in an inexpensive light blanket online.
I love Franklin showing off his inner panther! Do his eyes really match the color of his blanket?
He does have gold eyes and the blankie has some gold . . . I did crank up the color saturation a bit. Some times in pictures his eyes look very bright gold, and sometimes they look much paler, depending on light and angle and all. Franklin is happy you noticed he is panther-like!
If your post went prowling it came back before I got here … Franklin looking for all the world like he’d ALWAYS been right there looking at me! Love your photos – creek & cat images – thank you for perking up dusk hour … heading into New Moon …
Jazz, I’m so happy you liked the pictures and I’m glad they came at dusk for you, that is such a marvelous time of day . . . long story and it appears I’ve lost a couple of the early comments . . .
You have a beautiful creek and beautiful kitties.
The kitties and I thank you so much Chuck! Autumn really brings out the best on the creek!
That I second, I see the love and fascination for both. 🤗
The kitties and I thank you!
Such beautiful photos! And Franklin is definitely very panther-like. 🙂
Thanks so much Lynette, I’m happy you like the pictures and Franklin loves to be told he is panther-like!
All of your photos are totally wonderful!
Thank you Brian, I’m happy you like the pictures and I appreciate it!
More kitties. All beautiful with Franklin doing a wonderful job panthering.
Thanks Tim, the kitties and I appreciate it! And Franklin especially likes that you recognize his panther-ness!
Your creek pictures are magical! 🙂
Thanks so much Susanne, I appreciate it!