Ming Ling has always been a 'wanderer' As a matter of fact, that's how she came to live at my place. Found wandering in the woods far from any houses she was taken by a very kind hunter to a local animal shelter. They spent months trying to find her owners and by the time the shelter owner called and asked me if I'd take her she had been living there for almost six months.

Although I am definitely more a 'dog person' I decided to go have a look. I really felt for this little free-spirited wanderer who had been living in a smallish crate all by herself for so long....so I said yes. It was only then that Jim told me "....oh, and btw, she does NOT like dogs....or people...really" lol

That was six years ago and while 'Ming the Wanderer' eventually came to grudgingly tolerate the dogs she became quite friendly w/ me....and happily wandered the garden beds and the Apple Orchard. I noticed over the past couple of months though that she did less wandering and spent more time sitting on the warm rocks in the sun. This past Friday she came in and curled up in her favorite box by the wood stove and I had an awful feeling that her wanderlust had somehow finally been satisfied. Ming passed away on Monday and while I am really going to miss her free-spirited way I like to think of her wandering now in a bigger...more beautiful place....free to explore wherever she likes.