Tiddles The Church Cat

tiddles the church cat

I'm happy to announce that this month I was finally able to buy Pirlouit a proper packsaddle! Doesn't he look very professional? And handsome. He receives a lot of compliments every time a visitor sees him all dressed up.

If he looks a bit wary in this photo it's because it was the first time I added the baskets, and as he'd never seen such large baskets before he wasn't sure they weren't about to eat him. His nervousness only took the form of twitchy ears though, there was no drama. (And he can be very melodramatic, so really he's been very stoical and self-possessed in the process of getting used to the packsaddle.)

He can also sulk for days if I make him do something he doesn't like (e.g. hoof care, which he seems to interpret as pointless torture), so I find it gratifying that every time we've used the packsaddle so far, he didn't try to avoid me the next day but came to greet me—he makes it very obvious when he is offended by an activity, and I'm glad that he seems to enjoy being asked to help carry things :).

When I bought the packsaddle I was a bit concerned about the girth being too small, because Pirou refused to let me measure his circumference beforehand (and I was pretty sure having to resort to some sort of girth extender would embarrass him) (but he does have a very round belly...)

But no; I was able to fasten all the straps—though I spared him the crupper strap at first.

I had to have two tall trees felled in the pasture (because of a project I will talk about in another post), and I also cut a couple of storm-damaged trees in my woods, so I spent a lot of time this year cutting & splitting logs. I now have several stacks quite far from my house, in places that can't be reached with a wheelbarrow, and my donkey's help is very appreciated to carry everything to the woodshed. Plus, the people who visit me are usually more into doing stuff with the llamas, so this allows me to give attention to Pirlouit too, while doing something useful.

Aren't you proud to be now in my Top 3 Most Useful Animals, Pirou?

... wait he's still grumbling about that one comment.

"I know your school didn't teach you how to write fanfic-" I know this is something said in response to Americans whining about their education system in response to racism, but my school English class actually did have us write an epilogue to a book we were reading as an assignment, so in a way my school did teach me how to write fanfic. I have no point to make with this point and I don't care to i just wanted to share a tidbit about my life

I want to write it down. For myself at least. Why I love Steve Rogers. Because (I've seen many people comparing him to Superman and NO) he knows how it is to hurt badly. He knows how it is to be overpowered. He knows how it is to not be able to bring change, no matter how hard you try. And he still tries. Over and over again. Does not take a step back and admit that it's too hard, too painful, too much, too pointless. "I can do this all day."

Because he does what is right. What he believes in.

And he does not give away this "I know, what is right and what is wrong" to anybody. No organization, no parliament or voting can change his decision. He trust his own mind and eyes more than what 10, 100, 1000 or 10000000000000000000 people say. No gaslighting works. He knows what is truth and what is not. Even if I would not agree to him, I would admire his unwayvering conviction. If a person is asshole, let's say racist, but also brave and ready to get beaten pulp for his or her beliefs, I respect it. Bravery part.

But with Steve Rogers I agree. Totally. He fights for what is good and I see it as good too. He is a warrior. He was a warrior long time before the army or serum. Serum just made his body as strong as his will already was. And I like to see someone like him - someone like me - to win. Goodness to win.

And he inpires me to trust myself. To believe in myself, to believe in my truths. Even when the whole world says I'm wrong, if I believe it's the truth, I should keep fighting and stand like tree. YOU move!