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.”
Dear Ceciliag, Thank-you for the this post. We too have a missing barn cat this past week. His name was Boo and he was the sweetest cat I ever knew. I’m glad I had the time to get to know him. Faith.
Well maybe Mary’s Cat and Boo had a date! c
I remember when Mary’s cat came into the picture and am glad we could enjoy her for a year. Love that cat!
morning Chris.. You are one of those who has read every page of the Kitchens Garden, there are quite a few in that not so exclusive club and we will all miss the wee fella.. c
Inevitably a hole appears that cannot be filled by any other little living being. I hope he returns, fat and happy. Otherwise, please (!) make sure he has not suffered. (Prayers are answered retroactively!)
I hope so.. i really do.. c
I have to agree with another commenter, your attitude is the right one. Sometimes things happen and you have no control over that. I am hoping he will come back. Definitely keep the faith
I hope he comes back. Unfortunately in this life we can’t hold onto things. Wise words, thanks Celi. xx
No we have to let things just be sometimes.. c
😦
Aw, it’s heartbreaking when they leave. I hope he’s safe wherever he finds himself. 🙂
Oh, honey. I hope he comes home. I agree with you that every moment is a gift, and especially so if we treat it as such, but the end leaves an ache that eases too slowly. Thank you for sharing his moments with you with us.
I’m very sad to learn that Mary’s Cat has gone missing. He is such a beautiful cat too. I have to tell you that September 1st, I had to put my cat down. She had been ailing for more than a year and the final signs that she had given up were–she hid for the first time and then refused Gerber’s chicken baby food for the first time. You are the first person I have told. Because of the holiday, I won’t be able to bring her to the cemetery where all of our beloved pets are buried until tomorrow or Wednesday.
NOT knowing is the worst feeling. At least, I have that comfort. Cecilia, you have a good deal of wisdom. I’ve learned so much from you!
Oh that is so sad for you, having to put an animal down is such a strong step yet such a miserable one. Tough, Tough. I hope that when she is buried in with the others you will start to feel better. Take care honey… c
I am so sorry about his disappearance. One never knows with cats; they hold secrets and mysteries inside. It is, for, part of their everlasting appeal. I have been grateful for all the many cats in my life and miss having one now!
Cats live unto themselves but if Mary’s Cat can come home, I believe he will. I had a couple of instances where mine went missing, and I found them a few days later injured, holed up in “safe places” not too far from the back door. Their concept of what needs to be done is different to ours. Might be worth poking around to have a look for him, just in case.
Dear Celi, You wrote so beautifully about letting go. I hope those words which came from within comfort you. Cats wind themselves round our hearts, and we’re so grateful to them for loving us!
But I do believe that wherever your cat is, she still loves you. I don’t think love stops.
I wrote my first blog Goodbye Cat about the parting.and I still feel she’s around…even though I’ll never again feel those little needles in her paws kneading my thighs before she makes herself comfortable! Love to you both from NZ
Thank you Valerie, it is lovely how our love of the cats and dogs who share our lives is a universal thing. c
Oh, Mary’s Cat was one of my favorites, Celi. I was glad to hear his story on thekitchensgarden, loved photos of him. I will be waiting to see if there are any future spottings.
none tonight on the last walk, but we will see.. c
Thank you for being honest and sharing this news. Any member of the farmy, no matter how big or small, recent or not, is surely to be missed–by all of us. Hopefully it is a temporary disappearance.
Oh C! You just have such a way with words. I hope Mary’s Cat makes a triumphant return. If not, I believe you said it best. Love your honesty. Truly.