I am here to tell you, ole cowboys, especially Dennis Curry, have a whole lot of heart. A heart a large as it is, is also very fair. Dennis is not one to judge until someone has really been unfair and dealt out a large amount of hurt. Hmm, kind of like an old softie.
Dennis’ heart really came into play on this last Monday night. Dennis is always right on target to get the Waste Management bin out to Stauffer Ave. for the early morning Tuesday pick up. It was a bitter cold night with zero or less forecast for the early Tuesday morning. I had long settled into some crocheting until I heard Dennis call to me. Yeah, the cowboy is 78 and I don’t take much for granted when I am summoned. I got to the back entry and there stood Dennis with a cardboard box, much like a carton of car oil comes in. As I looked closer, there was a little face peering out. I could not believe it. There had been a little kitten left in the cardboard box by our garbage bin, tipped upside down so the wee one could not get out.
Heart strings have been tugged
between Dennis and Snuggles.
The look in Dennis’ eyes tugged at my heart. Oh yes, my kids, I do have one. There was no hesitation. The cat in the box was going into the garage porch. I went out just a few minutes later and there was the scene to behold: Dennis in his rocking chair watching the kitten as it checked out the digs. Year-old Butter Ball had no idea what had just infringed upon his domain. Five-year-old Honey Bunny had not as yet come home from her jaunt to the back yard and that would be a shocker for her.
After seeing how Dennis took to the kitten, it’s no wonder that this would very well be the third cat in the garage porch. Honey Bunny 
was brought to our patio by the stray alley cat, Sarah. By the way, granddaughter Megan named the stray cat Sarah as it would jump up on her lap. Who could turn away a beautiful gray kitten that the mom had no interest in to the point that it would hiss at it until it knew there was no love lost? Soon after, Sarah came no longer and might have become a fatality of some event.
Fast forward to last summer when alley cat named Sweetie Pie, again by Megan, brought four kittens to our patio. You might wonder what the draw was to our patio? Dennis had began putting out Meow Mix and fresh water for those that might need it. If the cats were down and out and had to survive on their 
own, they could at least have a full tummy and stay hydrated. Of the four kittens of Sweetie Pie, one yellow kitten survived and seemed to like the patio. One day the side door was left open and when we noted the kitten was not on the patio, it was found in the adjacent car garage sleeping on a rug. Butter Ball had found a home.
So, here we are with three cats that really, really like the garage porch. The newest addition had been someone’s pet as it was in no way afraid to be loved. Next week is Honey Bunny’s vet appointment and new addition, Snuggles, will also be going for a once over. We have no idea if it has had shots and as this little boy will not be propagating any kittens, there will be some snip, snip.
Dennis can be found spending a lot of time in his heated garage porch, complete with television and his favorite Teak rocking chair. At any given time there might be one of the three cats batting around ping pong balls, tennis balls or pieces of nylon rope that has been conveniently left to be tugged about. The cowboy with the heart as big as all outdoors is happy, content and enjoying the antics of Honey Bunny, Butter Ball and Snuggles.
Dennis is the best. His heart has encompassed my family to the inth degree. There is no division between the love of his children and grandchildren or mine. It makes life here on Stauffer Avenue just priceless.
An after thought of mine: please, please no more kittens left on the patio this coming year.
These Christmas items were a fun project. The best of all, all the components were in my sewing room just waiting to be tricked out. Thanks to Kevin and Kersten sharing their stash. The zipper pulls made for the perfect touch. The idea books for counted cross stitch are going to stay close at hand as there are some very doable items that have piqued my interest. For now, I think after this test of patience and endurance, the gnarled fingers will look forward to manning the crochet hook for a bit. There is more winter ahead and I have a better feeling about my time if I have something tangible to show for it . . . something I will always remember from my Grandmother Laura Wendlandt and from Carrie and Kevin’s Grandmother Esther Schafer. No matter when you stopped in for a visit, those two were always in the thick of threads and yarns and just as happy and content as could be.
