I have two important jobs this week while my mother is on vacation. The first is to keep the garden watered. I think I’m doing okay since this beautiful hibiscus bloomed overnight!

The second job is to take care of Boris, the polydactyl wonder:

Can you see his giant mitts?

Boris is just about 99% an outdoor cat. He comes in between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. for food and cuddles, then goes back outside. I was surprised to find him on the porch at 9 this morning when I went to the garage to check up on Bitha and Nee, and even more surprised that he was still there at noon. It is pretty damp out today, so maybe the porch was the one dry lounging spot he could find. Boris is incredibly affectionate and will seek cuddles from anyone; he was just as happy to see me the first night I was in charge as he would have been to see my mother. Boris kept my dad company when he was dying and spent hours and hours in dad’s room providing much needed comfort. So I have a soft spot for this lovely and gentle cat.