I have a built-in, brick planter in my front hallway. For several years I have used it as a sort of bench...I should admit that Hobbes has used it as a bed...because when Hobbes was a kitten he thought it made a great litterbox if there was any dirt in it. This week it has begun getting cooler at night and might even go as low as 48 F this weekend so I suspected that my outside herb garden would probably die soon. So while I could still get them, I bought some herbs to plant in the inside planter box. I cleaned out all the old dirt, put in new and planted sage, basil, thyme, and oregano. Hobbes had checked out the herbs while they were still in their flat and decided they didn't deserve his attention. Lacey had watched the proceedings but wasn't interested in the plants. Selena was asleep in the dining room but woke up when I went to the kitchen to clean my water mister and get water for the now planted herbs. A few minutes later I went back to the hallway to water my new herb garden and found Selena on the planter tasting the sage. She has decided that I planted these herbs just for her. I can't get her to leave! She keeps coming back to taste a few more leaves. As soon as I determined that none of these herbs were toxic to cats I went in and talked to her as she munched her way down the planter box, tasting each plant. She seems to prefer the taste of the sage but also likes the smell of the basil. I've frequently told her that I believed she was my familiar, I think maybe she's a healer as well.

Copyright © Julie Cook
September 27, 2003