“The RoseBouquet”

Last week the snows of winter disappeared at a good pace. There are still dirty clumps and patches of snow and ice here and there, but we have lost most of it in Saskatoon. That’s good! I’m eager for spring.

Snowflake showed some interest in going outside too, but of course, I don’t want to lose her, so I made her wait until the end of last week when I finished a little halter for her out of some pretty mauve polyester scraps that impossible to tear with your bear hands. I finally found a buckle in a button box that I could sew in at the top to hook in the leash. That was Thursday night.

Snowflake allowed me to put it on as she reclined on my lap. She had no problem with wearing it for a while. I wanted her to get used it as I’d read on the internet.

Friday afternoon when I got back from an a morning at the office, I put on the harness again, and tried to go out the back door into the porch. Whoa! My cat had a panic attack and scrambled out of my arms to race to the other end of the house. She seems to have forgotten that she used to live in a barn on a farm and come and go as she pleased outside.

Saturday I tried several more times, but all she would do is sniff and prowl into back porch with the stomach walls trembling. It was like she was dying to explore, but fears slowed her down. When I tried to open the outer door for her, she fled inside again.

Sunday and yesterday were much colder, and blustery with winds and a light snowfall, so I haven’t pushed it.

In my heart I know that once she gets used to being outside, she’ll be constantly begging to go out. My problem will be to bring her in!

Fortunately, Brandi, the little 7 or 8 year old girl next door has met Snowflake now, and I think will be happy to play with Snowflake for hours on end this summer. Things should work out just fine!