That depends on whose shoes / shoe box they want, PG. My shoes tend to live in their boxes, because although I have a number of pairs, there are only one or two that I usually wear out of doors.
My OH, on the other foot, buys lots of pairs of shoes, which get left wherever he took them off – and for a while, the empty box will still be available, in another room. So both can offer a a handy place to relax! He’s very heavy on shoes – he does a lot of walking, both for leisure and as part of the job. (Quite a bit of wheelchair pushing, for one thing.)
My visitors . . . Well, I’ve given up trying to count them! There are some who only turn up now and again, while others are regulars, there on the doorstep every day at lunch and tea time. Some won’t come until the others have all been and gone – I do try to make sure these shyer guests will get something just for them.
There are three gingers – Gin(ger), Dexter and a hugely podgy one who looks as though a spin class or several would do him more good than an evening meal. But he’s very friendly and talkative.
A number of black cats. One big, older male, a younger one with a flea allergy at the tail end – very shy, but both are friendly to me – plus our regular visitor, sleekly beautiful, slightly bossy but stays most nights with us. Not always Tuesdays, for some reason. Two others, but not regulars. It can be quite difficult to tell which is which, in the dark!
Tabbies . . . one I call Minnie Munch. She’d been coming for over a year, swearing like several troopers at every other cat and even at me – until a few months ago, when she came and rubbed up against my legs and my hands before she ate. She’s an every day visitor now, still kitten-sized, but I know she’s all grown up now. I’m very fond of her. And there’s also a very beautiful tabby with a white chin and shirt front, hugely affectionate, but only comes a few times a year, so may visit with her human’s family, I suspect.
Black and white – again, several, not always easy to identify in the dusk. Very similar, longish hair, black on top and white tummy and paws. One is easy to spot – his white feet each have one or two black toes, so yes – I call him Piano Feet! He was munching at the front door when I started typing this note.
I try not to give them names, but one or two seem to tell me what they want to be called. Oh, I nearly forgot Domino – very rarely appears when I’m visible, but I know s/he does have the odd nibble sometimes.
Then there are the hedgehogs . . . !
What’s “relaxation”, anyway?
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