animal day journal #10 — the cat magic circle

The March mornings have grown warm enough for the cats to sit out, but still cool enough to be the perfect Magic Circle weather. If you’re the parent of small children, your children probably participate in Magic Circles. The children gather around in a small circle with their teacher, and they would listen to stories read by the teacher, or they would just talk and interact. It was a way to build community within the class, along with outside play. Our children, who are now grown and out in the world, participated in Magic Circles from the time they were in kindergarten up through elementary school. It stopped when they graduated on to middle school. If the Magic Circles were especially notable, then we’d get an exciting version of what happened from their young point of view.

With the six cats and Annie, my wife and I imagine they all get together in their own Magic Circle to discuss pet issues and living with humans in the big house. We make up all sorts of little stories about what they discuss, with Annie as the lead of the Magic Circle. That’s what I immediately thought of when I looked outside to our lanai this morning and saw four of the six cats equally spread out on the cushioned seats. They are, from front to back, Nicholas, Danï, Joan, and Beau. All I had with me at the time was my iPhone, and I didn’t want to waste time running back for one of my cameras, so I grabbed the shot with the iPhone camera. This underscores the old saying that the best camera is the one you have with you at the moment you need it.

last caturday of 2024

So Friday night these two decided to play on top of the kitchen table. Then I show up with camera in hand and all of a sudden Nicholas gets very apprehensive. Joan just took it all in stride.  Joan rolled over on her left side and gave out a really wide yawn. Nicholas still wasn’t quite sure what was going to happen, thus the apprehensive crouch on the table. You’d think after nearly four years he’d be a bit more relaxed around me, but apparently I’m still intimidating to him. Not so much to the rest, especially Luke and Beau.

Regardless, they’re all cute little characters, and I’m glad they live at my house.

I’ve been dabbling with the Olympus Pen F with the M.Zuiko 1.8/17mm. It’s quite the compact package and reminds me yet again why I got into the Four Thirds system to begin with.