1. This was Shirley. She lived in a tree in our back yard for 5 years that we know of. No telling how long she'd been there when we got to know her. She was a regular at our bird feeders and when we were a little slow in putting the food out she would get up on the window ledge at the bay window in the dining room and "bark" at us to hurry up and get it goin'. One day she just wasn't there any more.
We still miss her.
2. This was Slick. He live under the deck out back and in the shrubs around it. I'd sit out and enjoy a couple of cold ones and a good cigar and Slick would come by and we'd talk about women and beer and guns and fishin'. He never said much but he was a good listener.
I was privy to his wisdom for 3 summers in a row.
I'm down to just cats these days. Inside and out. 'Bout all I got time for now.