Maria and I can’t help but laugh when people call us cruel for letting Zip live outside in his heated cat house in the barn. The great urban-rural schism tearing the country is evident in the animal world. I love watching Zip in the snow and wind; he hops all over the farm, batting snowballs up and demanding that I come out and stroke his neck.

People with pets in cities can’t imagine their furbabies sleeping out in a barn on cold nights (or that it’s suitable for working horses to work or ponies to give rides to children); people who live in the country can’t fathom bringing a barn cat – our rat and mice killers – into the house at night, the rats will live forever in the barn that way.

Unfortunately, in America, we no longer talk to other people face to face; we do it on social media and Facebook. We all know what a mess that is.

Nobody can ever admit to learning anything from the other side. (Zip picture above from Maria)

This cat is happy where he is and roams freely and enthusiastically through the farm. The barn is his castle; he is at home there. He’s like having a hyperactive teenage boy in the house; he wants to see and know about everything. The only thing that spooked him so far was Harold Sneel’s giant and roaring trucks.

He jumped into my car yesterday and tracks me wherever  I go. I’m having a bromance with a young cat, caught here, trying to swipe at the camera. I am always holding up to his face.

Zip is my farm companion; he follows me everywhere, and I have to say I like that very much. We talk to each other all the time. Life is fascinating; you may see everything if you live long enough.