Patchouli adores summer. For us, summer mornings mean a ritual: I spend thirty minutes outside every day pulling weeds. Yes, I set a timer. I like to work in half-hour increments and take short walks between sessions. That’s my little schedule quirk, but back to Patchouli.
I’ve mentioned before that she is very skittish. She’s wary of other cats, whether they present a real threat or not, so she usually avoids spending long stretches outdoors. Still, when I’m out with her in the early morning, she tends to relax a little. Not completely, but enough to enjoy the fresh air.
Sometimes she even plays in the grass. On this particular morning, the neighbor’s cats were outside in their yard, so Patchouli stayed low on the driveway, watching them closely. From her posture, I suspect she was sticking her tongue out at them — or at least making a face that looked like it.
At one point, one of the neighbor cats wandered onto our driveway. That immediately put Patchouli on high alert. She freezes, watches every move, and keeps her muscles ready to bolt. Those moments of tension are draining for her. After our outdoor sessions she typically runs inside and sleeps for about four hours — clearly exhausted from staying vigilant.
Below is one of her artsy photos from that morning. Even when she’s tense, there’s a graceful, feline elegance about her that shows through in pictures. The way she holds herself—chin slightly tucked, ears tuned to every sound—makes for a compelling portrait.
Summer mornings have become a shared routine for the two of us. I maintain the garden in short bursts, and she patrols the driveway, ever watchful. The brief window when she lets her guard down is rewarding; it’s a quiet, gentle time when she seems content simply to be near me. Watching her observe the world from that safe spot reminds me how different each pet’s temperament can be, and how small comforts—shade, a familiar human nearby, or a favorite route across the yard—can make all the difference.
Patchouli’s careful vigilance is part of her charm. She’s not an outdoor adventurer who will chase everything that moves; she’s cautious, selective, and very much tuned into her surroundings. That selective curiosity keeps her safe and gives her personality: a cat who knows what she likes and defends her boundaries with quiet intensity.
After a morning like this one, she goes back inside to nap and recover from the excitement. Those long sleeps are when she seems to recharge, and I can get back to my gardening routine, refreshed by the peace of the house and the thought of another calm morning to share with her.
Evenings in summer have their own gentle rhythms too, but there’s something special about the cool, still moments at dawn. For Patchouli, these are the times when she balances caution with curiosity, and for me, they’re the moments when I appreciate her company the most.