Hunting season has begun, and MC is a guide. The hunter he had this past week got an elk, and when that happens, they take the elk to his house, skin it, and remove the lower legs before taking it to the processors to have the meat done up.

The legs are of no value to these hunters, so I asked the hunter if I could have one of the legs. I gave it to Charlie, who immediately thought he had died and gone to heaven. I took pictures…

I know it’s fairly shocking to see Charlie trotting around with a severed elk leg in his mouth, especially after yesterday’s pic of him dozing on embroidered pillows, but it’s the nature of Nature, and it’s part of who he is.

The cat, the coyote, and I go on long walkabouts in the canyon below the cabin. I’ve never gone on walks with the cat; and it’s fun to watch him do his thing – sharpening his claws on the brush, racing after some invisible thing to attack, all sleekness and grace.

The cat stops at intervals to check in on Charlie who is a total klutz and still falls down if he turns around too fast. Charlie follows the cat with devotion, and the cat seems to understand his role as mentor/babysitter. Eli comes to me when I meow, so now Charlie responds to a meow too.