As near as I can tell, Flo has evolved in her life and chosen to retire as a barn cat. She spends little time in the barn these days, or even in her woodshed retreat. She seems to have given up hunting, we see none of the carcasses that Mother used to scatter all over the place. We never see her hunting or chasing mice or snakes. Mostly, she sits in her rocker or suns herself in the back yard or follows me and Maria around when we garden or do barn chores.

Admittedly, Flo had a tough life, she was living under the porch and hiding in the rafters in the woodshed for months before she revealed herself to Maria through the Studio Barn window. If you are an animal in need of attention, and you have your wits about you, you will show yourself to Maria and the good times will roll. Maria is Mother Teresa of farm animals, she brushes, cuddles, chats and ferries treats back and forth.

Flo studied the percentages and figured out there is no percentage in running around a barn when there are rocking chairs with towels on a porch that offers shade from the sun and shelter from wind and rain. Good food comes out in tins and there are laps to sit on and cuddle. She has to put up with a few dogs, but that does not seem to be a problem for her. I think she is now a retired barn cat.