Perhaps we tame one another

“In those days, I didn't understand anything. I should have judged her according to her actions, not her words. She perfumed my planet and lit up my life. I should never have run away! I ought to have realized the tenderness underlying her silly pretensions. Flowers are so contadictory! But I was too young to know how to love her.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

  I  have been thinking my kitten is actually the fox from the Little Prince.
He adores me, and I hope that he feels this way in a year. I adore him, and I hope I always remember his kittenhood. A hawk threatens him outside flying closer each day-we can't go outside-he swooped and landed on the wall day before yesterday. His intention is to prey on this kitten. Luca found a feather from this red hawk too-third wing feather in-I found this incredible resource to identify feathers. Kitten smelled the feather-I was trying to explain to him why I can't just let him out as I was....we were going out all day together into the yard... and smelling the feather he went crazy-(twice) and stopped begging to be outside. He ran around screaming like I was hitting him with a bat.
Strange.
Awful actually the feather is now in a plastic bag and put away.
He's a wonderful buddy-my kitten- and as I take care of Mom with pneumonia (that just won't go) his company is so warm, so affirming. I think he's a bit sick today-maybe even feverish-I'm not sure. Yeah he is definitely hot tonight. He's sick. Maybe from leaping in my bath Friday. If I'm doing it he thinks he should and  he ended up swimming in my tub-no clawing, no scratching at all-not a bit- but I hauled my naked tush out of that tub 5 seconds after I got in (kitten pushed my door open-he's smart), wrapped him up. Unlike other cats I've had this one lets me bathe him in the sink, and isn't very afraid of water. When I hose outside he gets in the water. No I'm not trying to get him wet. I'm a bit worried that water got in his ears-he was drenched in my tub and swimming! So maybe he needs to see his vet.

None of that is something you are wanting to read. My daughter painted him above touching off this post so I could share Sylvia's work-exactly as I think of him. We have had NO interaction for me to tell her I see him as a character in the Little Prince but clearly she intuited it. This is my kitten. Tamed.
He has a wildness he is giving up- out of his love.

Which brings me to love.
I have been thinking a great deal about it this summer.
Certain things are true for me. The way love occupies me-I love you.
It just is.
So....my kitten is reminding me of one of the better parts of myself.

I was supposed to go on a trip this weekend, but Mom's condition just...I can't. But at the same time I'm not sure what to do with myself in the evening as I try to settle kitten, or stop from staring at the ceiling. Or worry over if we are doing things right with Mom's treatment.
I have a peach tree-so I've been making a jam called Raspberry/Peach Blush. Made 18 half-pints. Then tonight I canned 8 pints of Peach Preserves. I think they are a bit thin-but it tastes wonderful. I'd like to can blackberries and I found a blueberry recipe  to try. Tomorrow and this week I'll just have a go at a few things. We have an apple tree coming in so Apple Butter and Apple Jam are also on my to do list. I grow Lavender, oregano, mint, this- that, so they might find a way into these summer pleasures.
I would like to can some pickle. We'll see-even if I quit now I have made some delicious peach preserves. My kitten keeping me company all through it.
Incapable of the cruelty that is rejection.