On a gloomy day last March, I purchased four African Violets in shades of blue, purple and pink:
Wanting to brighten up my kitchen, I even planted them in colorful pots:
I set them where they got the morning sun, on the kitchen counter in front of the window:
That seemed to be the perfect spot for them. They began to thrive there by the window.
He's a rather lazy and fat cat, but we love him anyway:
Well, Smokie seemed to have a fondness for these plants. He wanted to spend as much time with them as possible. It was then that we discovered that Smokie really loved his greens. He just could not resist a good green leaf:
It just so happens that my family shares our home with a kitty named Smokie:
He's a rather lazy and fat cat, but we love him anyway:Well, Smokie seemed to have a fondness for these plants. He wanted to spend as much time with them as possible. It was then that we discovered that Smokie really loved his greens. He just could not resist a good green leaf:
(Too bad he didn't like vegetables. I would've been happy to share some lettuce with him!)
Anyway, every day I would wake up and go down to the kitchen, finding the same horrific sight on the windowsill:
Day...
after day...
after day. 
And, day after day after day, I would seek new ways to discourage Smokie from getting up on the counter... 
and eating my African Violets!
after day. And, day after day after day, I would seek new ways to discourage Smokie from getting up on the counter... and eating my African Violets!
It was a battle, but after months of trying, one of us gave up. Do you know which one?
No, it wasn't Smokie. He is still with us, but he's not eating African Violets anymore. They seemed to have disappeared.
Perhaps one day, when Smokie is in that great big cat-box in the sky, I will be able to form a relationship with some new African Violets.
But until then, I've resigned myself to the fact that my kitchen counter will remain pretty bare!
--Today I am thankful for...my cat, Smokie:)
