Sunday, September 15, 2013
Pine Buff, Arkansas

I had explored this road before, but Something said “turn right now” as we came astride it in November of 2011.  Having previously enjoyed visual largess from “Something," I paid attention, pulled the blinker lever down, and made the turn.

On my previous forays onto this road, I visited during full foliage and later in the day.  This time, aside from a difference in light and season, I found a big ol’ cat, who posed long enough for some decent shots.  You have to understand, Dempsey men like cats.  My father liked cats.  I like cats.  My sons like (and liked) cats.  My grandson likes cats.  My brothers like cats.  My nephew likes cats.  That said, this large and impressive furball was a welcome target.  We found some other interesting images on the trip, but none as intriguing at the fat feline.

Thanks,

Joe Dempsey

Shelter for a Fine Fat Cat

County Road 22 leaves Arkansas Highway 9 south of Mountain View right before the highway crosses Turkey Creek.  It is an inviting road.  A mile or so down the road you see this old building.  From the way it is built, it could have been a store.  I'm just not sure.  Today it provides shelter for a really fine looking fat cat.  I am sure of that.  It's a cathouse.

Originally published on Sunday, December 4, 2011

Some things deserve a second look.  Stone County Road 22, snaking alongside Turkey Creek off Arkansas Highway 9 south of Mountain View, is one of those.  My most recent visit a week ago was on a late-fall morning when most of the leaves had fallen from the trees.  My previous visits have been in warm weather in afternoon light with a forest full of green leaves.  I'm glad I took a second look.

Otherwise, I would not have spied a big ol' kitty who takes residence under the house — and maybe in it, too, for all I know.  The old house has some interesting windows, which I have shot before, but not with light like Mother Nature provided on this visit.  I was concentrating on the windows when my new, improved, peripheral vision eyes caught some movement: the cat. And what a cat she is.

The Cat's Larder?

Across the road from the cathouse is this barn, which may be the rodent-rich smorgasbord responsible for her girth.

I say she because she shows some evidence of Calico mixed in with her Siamese, tabby, and rag-doll mixed-bag genetic code.  All Calico cats are girls.  She came out and took a seat to watch what I was doing, but never left the security of her weed patch.  I was shooting from the truck and after I stepped out to get a better angle, she scurried under the house.  I repaired back to the truck, drove a bit, turned it around, and returned to the scene.  Lo and behold she had returned to her observation post.  I fired away and made another move to see if I could get closer.  I could, but not much, before she turned tail for a sprint under the house.

Sometimes giving things a second look is a good thing.  In words of the immortal Fats Waller, "One never know do one?"