Every week on Saturdays, I will share a photo of my late cat named Gem.
Gem was into exploring the inside of the house. She figured out how to open the cupboards in the kitchen by pulling on the handles with both of her paws. She would explore the inside of the cupboards. Inside one cupboard that was stuffed full of bags and located right next to the oven which would have created radiant heat, she made a nest that she would sleep in. She also figured out how to open closet doors and would clumsily search around the inside of the closets making a lot of racket in the process.
One day Gem decided that she would explore the inside of the fireplace. That day she got as dirty as she ever did in her life. For this week’s photo (below), keep in mind that she was a completely black cat. In the photo, you can see light-colored patches of soot/ash on the side and top of her head as well as a thin glaze of soot/ash on her back.