March 4, 2008 – Rain, sleet. Ice storm coming. The farm has worked its way on Minnie, the formerly feral barn cat. She came to me as a kitten, and more than a year of my and Annie’s ministrations has changed her. She is rarely seen, but affectionate and comfortable when she is. She hangs around the dogs a bit, and always comes to curl around my legs or shoes and purr. She loves to be held and scratched. She goes off on mysterious benders all the time, disappearing for days, but always comes back and can usually be found hanging out in the barn with Winston and the chickens. I haven’t seen a mouse in awhile. And she has even made her peace with the imperious Mother, Queen of the Barn. When I go out in the morning, Minnie’s head is usually peering at me through a window or this chicken door.