I am never sure how to tell you sad news. But I promised I would. Tell you. 
There are three promises I make for the The Kitchen’s Garden Weblog.
1. (Unless I tell you) All the shots you see are from the last 24 hours so you will see what I have seen each day.
2. (Unless I tell you) All the shots will be from my own eight acres. 
3. Although this is a slow-moving soapless soap opera, it is the truth and I will not hide any uncomfortable part of the truth from you. I will try to be gentle but you are here for the good and the sad. 
Mary’s Cat has gone AWOL. He has disappeared. He was in the barn for his milk and breakfast five mornings ago twining himself through Daisy’s legs as I milked her. Chasing Kupa just to be naughty. Mary’s Cat and Kupa waited together for their morning milk.
We have not seen him since. The above shot was taken last week.
I know many of you have followed the progress of this wee moggy, who appeared on the bottom step leading to the verandah in the first few days of the Kitchens Garden pages. So as I promised, I must tell you that he is nowhere to be found. But don’t be sad. Do not be sad.
I have always thought that the length of a relationship and it’s ending should not determine how we remember it. Sometimes we meet someone and love them for the shortest time. Sometimes we have a friend or companion who is with us for years and years. Sometimes we love someone without the promise of ever meeting them. Sometimes we have a little ball of fluff run about our feet and lay about in the gardens for only a year while the others last twenty. This is just as great a love. One year is as good as twenty, if we are wide awake. We cannot judge a whole relationship by its ending. So I am determined not to be sad.
Our lives are built on memories. Every moment is instantly a memory. It is how we stack that memory that counts. No, that is the wrong word. OK. The folder we store that memory in, is as important as the memory. The label we put on that folder determines its recollection. I prefer to store my life with this little cat in a positive folder. Not a sad folder. He was a good cat and a great mouser. He hated to be inside the house. He would only sit on John’s knee. He chased the peacocks. And slept laid along fence rails. We loved him and now he is gone but I can still love the memory of him. I will not focus on his loss. Short does not mean less.
He might come back you know. It has only been five breakfasts, including this morning. He could very well be on an extended walkabout. He has been known to wander. But he is usually always home for breakfast.
There now. I promised I would tell you the good and the bad. I could not hide our missing crew member. And now we must get on with the day. All of us.
Have a good day.
celi
PS. I know many of you were interested in the little bag Viv made for me. She has posted a tutorial showing us how to make the French Baggie . It is very handy and already covered in hay and dust of the day. So pop over if you want to make one too. She makes it look so simple.
On this day a year ago I posted how to make meringues . My mother always made meringues on our birthdays.
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
100 responses to “Our smallest crew member is M.I.A.”
Good morning, c. I swear that sometimes these “life lessons” are a genuine pain. Happily, we bounce back. Maybe Mary’s cat will come bouncing back, too. Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps that’s not what’s important in the end. Perhaps that life lesson is what’s important. Take care. xx
Morning Misky, welcome back and as usual you have said it just right. Life lessons are a genuine pain but important to note! c
I hate to hear that Mary’s Cat has gone missing, but I hope that someday soon he will come sauntering back while you are milking Daisy, either none the worse for wear or the proud bearer of battle scars that clearly show that while he may have been a little messed up, the creature on the other side of the fight came out much worse!
Nancy
http://www.workingmomadventures.com
Morning Nancy.. we will have to wait and see.. or not see as the case may be too.. c
You never know about the comings and goings of a cat. Regardless, your philosophy of not judging relationships by length is very, very wise. Happy day Celia!
Morning Bella.. c
Oh Celi, that’s a shame. Maybe Mary’s cat is a little like our British cat Theo. He was abandoned at a pub and over two years made his way to our home where he’s stopped. Maybe Mary’s cat has found a different home where people will love it as much as you did, as much as we love Theo. You’re in my heart and thoughts. 🙂
He may very well have done just that Veronica, it is a good thought .. c
There was a study recently, wherein they mounted cameras on cats. One cat was found to have a second home to which he’d visit daily: two breakfasts, two windows of sun, two sets of knees on which to sit. Perhaps Mary’s Cat is at his second home, taking a break from the occasional smell of skunk.
Irrespective of what happens, always believe he is in that home when not by your side.
That is brilliant. Those cats! Here is us thinking they care!.. c
i hope that the cat is safe somewhere…………..
so do we.. c
C, I cannot lie, I am very sad. I am ever hopeful though that Mary’s cat will be back home – SOON! I am a terrible worrier and I am super sensitive about animals and as you know, my 3 fur babies are my children.
Thank you for being so honest with us.
🙂 Mandy xo
Maybe she will come home.. no more worrying, nothing we can do now.. take care mandy honey.. c
beautiful words, from a beautiful soul. ❤
darling girl.. c
There is a life lesson about people coming into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. I can easily compare that to animals I’ve had as well. There is no need to be sad but glad for the time and memories together. I was going to post about this but I’ll share it now….With this new move I made and feeling lonely here, I spotted a stray dog and, of course, fed him. He hid from me and ate when I was not around (tho peeking from my window). I fed him for 2 more days, then on the 3rd day woke to find 7 stray dogs in my backyard! I became pretty busy feeding them all, no longer worrying about my sadness and loneliness! Soon they all disappeared as I’m sure the neighbors and new construction folks were not liking this at all! But that short time had changed me and I know they came into my life for a very good reason….and I for them too!
Do you wonder sometimes whether they were dog angels. i know that that sounds kind of silly but it sounds to me like they came to you for a reason, to help you over a lonely bump. what a wonderful story .. thank you for telling us.. c
I do so believe that 🙂
Bc I wasn’t around when you first started the blog, I’ve just recently read your older posts when the kitty first came, as you post *this time a yr ago* pieces, and the little one is a darling! I love your positive view on this, but it is still hard none the less. I hope it is one of those rare outdoor pet moments where they come back after a short trip away flirting with other cats near by. *hugs* and thanks for posting the bag pattern, I absolutely loved it when I saw it! Unfortunately I only knit, not crocheting yet… yet! So I am going to save this for when I am starting to do crocheting too!
Crochet is so much easier than knitting i think maybe you could try..or you could knit one! and thank you for the kind words mary’s cat..
Your writing is lovely! And so wise. It’s very hard to lose animals, very hard. It doesn’t matter their size, I’ve cried my eyes out for cows, pigs, chickens, not to mention cats and dogs. Like you, I finally come through by remembering their gift to me of their self, pure love…no one can ask for more.
Like everyone else I am crossing fingers your wee cat will come back home. Safe
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
I am sad. I am pathetic, I read your post .. closed it and had some business to attend to and then came back to see if there was a PS that Mary’s Cat had come home 😦 I need closure to move on, so I too am hoping he will stroll in soon. Hugs . Laura
No laura sweetheart there is no news, no-one has seen him.. we will keep looking though.. c
Celi, I’m so sad about Mary’s Cat. I once had a much loved cat that just disappeared. There was a wooded area behind our house, and I called and searched, but we never found him. He was getting old, though, and old, ailing cats will sometimes do that–just go away and find a place to be alone and leave us. Mary’s Cat isn’t old, so I’m hopeful he’ll show up one day. I’ve had that happen, too–a cat that disappeared for a couple of days and came limping home, battered, but alive. Or maybe he’s wandered off, lost his way, and found someone to feed him. So I’ll raise a cup (of tea!) this morning to Mary’s Cat, wherever he is. And to you, for your wisdom.
Thank you gerry, i raise my cup with you. to us all.. c
Celi, you are too young to be so wise, so insightful, and so eloquent in sharing your personal thoughts. Yours is a rare and precious commodity. One that I and all who comment on your blog so appreciate. Virginia
Thank you Virginia, not so young at the end of the day though.. c
You never really know how long a pet is going to be in your life. You’re right, though, to cherish the memories rather than mourn the loss. Besides, after a year, maybe it was time for Mary’s cat to move on. Having learned your NZ accent, maybe he’s off to learn another.
Exactly, maybe he is a gypsy cat.. moving on.. c