When I think of words to describe Zip, I think of “happy,” “safe,” “curious,” “tough,” and “strong-willed.”

We are having a lot of fun watching him, talking to him, and observing him as he grows more robust and more present by the day.  Eery day he is more and more at ease here, more explorative, more affectionate.

It didn’t take him long, and we have learned a lot from our other barn cats; we handled his arrival thoughtfully, patiently, and wisely. Maria took the lead and knew what she was doing. She is a cat person; I’m still learning. Zip is quite a personality. He is transforming the farm.

But I have come to love Zip and enjoy his company. He is full of himself, playful, eager to hunt, and happy to be touched, hugged, or rubbed.

I’m doing my head exercises, and they are helping me reduce the intensity of my vertigo since my accident. I’ve decided to skip physical therapists and do some head exercises independently, the recommended faster cure for head injuries and concussion aftermath.

My head is still spinning for much of the day. My heart goes out to NFL players who get concussion injuries often. Severe concussions can cause brain damage that is not curable.

Fortunately, my injury heals if I rest for a few weeks. I’m trying

My foot is swatched in bandages from yesterday’s surgery; most pain and discomfort have disappeared. The stitches will be removed next Tuesday. Zip hangs out with me now as does Zinnia.

The apple tree is his favorite place to hang out and is a perfect spot for a cat. We are impressed by Zip; he has a ton of personality, and he and Bedlam Farm have fallen deeply in love with one another. I love this cat and spend time with him every day. For some reason, this is what Maria and I needed. He is already one of the dominant spirits of the farm.

He always runs out to visit us trusts us, and today, he hung out with us as we sat outside. I might get the impression that he has sensed Maria’s sadness and is coming to show his concern. Who knows what goes on in the mind of a cat?

He is a thoughtful creature, given to staring out into the landscape or perhaps waiting for a chip mum to show itself.

One by one, Zip goes up to the fence and introduces himself to one of the sheep. They are curious about him, and he is about them.

I sat out for an hour, resting in the back, surprised to see Zip lying beside me.

He loves to stare out over the landscape visible from our yard. He is a star member of the Peaceable Kingdom.

Our UPS route driver Bernie is a cat person with a great heart. He loved Minnie and Flo and often visited them when he came to drop something off. He made a nice first connection with Zip who was cautious. Bernie will prevail, he always does.