The barn is changing from a nursery to a schoolroom. The curriculum so far 
includes Sneaking Around Craftily, Introduction to Sparrows and Pouncing From 
Quite a High Place Indeed.
   The little guys have discovered that you can have great fun jumpimg on 
your brother from a hay bale. They are still small enough that they flatten 
like a pancake on impact. No damage though.
    I seem to be becoming very popular with the kitties. Every day now when I 
sweep out, I get an instant audience. Little bits of dirt tend to fly across 
the floor and they are just the thing to practice one's pouncing on. I tried 
walking the barn from one end to the other with a piece of binder twine 
trailing on the floor and by the time I got to the other end there were four 
cats attached to it. 
    And they would NOT let go, either!
 
      We have an advanced student in the barn. Lynn, our little black and 
white, has taken up hydraulics as a hobby. He is always there when I empty 
the water buckets out back on the concrete. For some reason he always stands 
downhill and gets caught in the flood, but he doesn't run away. He doesn't 
seem to mind that his paws get wet so long as he can get a close look at the 
flowing water.
     He usually finishing his day's studies with a careful examination of 
filling water buckets. I turn on a hose and usually go do something else 
while the bucket fills. When I return to turn off the water, there is Lynn, 
stretched to the limit, with his front paws on the edge of the bucket and his 
nose just peeking over, staring in rapt concentration at the swirling water 
and bubbles. He has also made a pretty thorough examination of the system of 
small drainage ditches I dug out back. Though he is brave about water, he is 
not keen on mud... especially when he slips into a foot-deep patch. When this 
happens I get treated to the sight of a cat that is pointed forward and 
moving forward, but with all paws revving to the max in reverse four wheel 
drive. Maybe you have to see it... :)
--- Maximus 3.01
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