Odessa has decided she can now trust the house not to let her go or
swallow her up, and has worked up the nerve to start exploring. And boy,
can she explore! Whoever posted that the one thing a black cat does best
is not be seen was so right! We'd try to get her up to eat and hunt
everywhere, scratching our heads and wondering why we hear her little
bell, why did she sound like she was under the floor or in the walls? We
found her hiding place, among the beams in the basement, and they are
just low enough that we can reach up and take her down.

She will sometimes make us play Chase The Kitty and we run all over the
basement until she picks a spot that looks hidden, yet she is in plain
sight. Then she'll allow us to pick her up and carry her upstairs. This
one thing is disturbing; what if our little Tsarina expects to be
carried to her food all the time, the spoiled brat?

Odessa's becoming more talkative and more adventurous, now coming up
voluntarily from the basement to explore. She was in the can when I came
out of the shower this morning, and came into the bedroom several times
during the night. She still draws back if we try to pet her with a hand
coming straight on, and seems to prefer being approached from the side,
and will dart if there is movement, especially if one of us is standing.
Still, I'm glad she's coming out of her shell, even if she does make us
carry her to dinner.

Blessed be,
Baha