Some mornings, I never have to go farther than my back porch for neat photos of animals and their lives.

Minnie and Flo curl up together as the temperature drops to keep warm. It is touching to see these ferocious independent barn cats, each with their own ferociously guarded territory. They support one another warmly.

A few feet away, the Imperious hens were having their morning panning session in Maia’s fiber chair. When there’s no sun and it’s chilly, the barn cats take care of one another and yield their fiber chair to the hens, who are happy to use it.

I’m loving the Imperious Hens these days, they are quite regal and entitled and quite pleased with themselves.