Excitement at the Homestead

As I am unofficially attempting the photo365 thing, I grabbed my camera and went out in stocking feet to the unkempt backyard, determined to find something of beauty or intrigue to photograph. The most obvious display of grandeur -- about the only thing blooming other than the fruit trees and the ever-purple lavender and potato plant -- was this rose. We get about three blooms a year from it. We give it very little tlc.

Bloom, almost blasted

Then my eyes alighted on the next most colorful items in the currently drab yard, an obscenely neglected rose hip. I suppose I should be embarrassed about how badly I neglect these lovely rosebushes -- gardening has a low spot on the priority list at the moment. I intend to amend that evil; it's one of my goals/intentions for the year. But despite the neglect it belies, I find the color compelling.

Rose hip and tarp

Then suddenly, FatKitty darted out of the nether regions of the backyard in a full sprint. I laughed at him, assuming he was reacting out of fear to my Senior Citizen Golden Retriever. I continued shooting in the yard, determined now to demonstrate proof that yes, indeed, SoCal does have an autumn season. (The Santa Ana winds are blowing all the leaves off our ash trees.) Only as I shot the ash trees did I come to realize the true nature of what caused FatKitty's flight response.

Interloper!

Indeed, an interloping feline had trespassed our bounds. FatKitty enjoys a good rumble every now and then, but what made him run? The big picture became clear.

Treed!

Seldom have I seen SeniorCitizen-GR so focused and intent! His posture says it all.

I've got 'im, Mom!

I've no doubt he would have stayed there all day if I'd let him. He was positively shivering with excitement, teeth chattering.

Wistful

But I figured I'd better take mercy on both him and the treed critter. I offered him a peanut butter bone (Kong toy) for his good GR skills and for knowing the difference between our cats and trespassers. (Good boy!)