Cats on the porch.... hail on the roof.

Woke up this morning and not only was Gatsby sound asleep on the porch, but so was the orange cat. Each one had spent the night in a chair, one on each side of the back door. Sometimes those two cats look so comfortable with one another that I can forget the days when Gatsby chases the orange cat out into the yard. And of course I can almost forget that we don't want this orange cat in the first place.  But he still seems to want us. On his own terms, of course, which doesn't set right with me.

We've had a weekend of ridiculous weather.... lots of rain, which we always need, plus plenty of blue sky turning to dark rain clouds and then back to blue after a ton of rain fell from the sky and into the pond. (The pond looks beautiful, by the way.)  We also had hail this afternoon... marble-sized ice rounds that bounced off the roof of the gazebo and rat-a-tat-tatted against the tin roof of the barn. Scared the living daylights out of Gatsby and Mickey, both of whom went running for cover. I have no idea where the orange cat went to hide because I make it a point to never look for him. (Nor does he care... he prefers his independence.)

We had a new handyman working here all day yesterday and half of today. The 'old' handyman will be moving out of the barn apartment at the end of this month. That man never did get himself a car, and you can't live this far out of town and not have your own vehicle to get you from here to there... so back he's moving, into town where he can walk everywhere. Fine. It was nice while it lasted.

So the new handyman can do plumbing, electrical work, welding, landscaping... a more varied handyman resume than the first guy. This new man, however, has a house in town, so he's not in need of an apartment over our barn. I suggested to my husband to ask him if he may have a friend who's looking for a place to live out in the country and who may do some work around here in exchange for the rent money. Doesn't hurt to ask... and being that this 'new' guy is very nice, very reliable, goes to church and is close to his family... he may know someone else with the same sort of mind-set.

About an hour ago, the sky was black and we had thunder and lightning with bouncing hail and pouring rain. As I type, the sky is blue, the barn swallows are singing, the sun has dried up all the rain puddles, and there are three ducks out in the pond.  Don't like the Texas weather? Then just wait a few minutes and it will change....