Trish Paton
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trishpaton.bsky.social
Trish Paton
@trishpaton.bsky.social
2.3K followers 860 following 7.2K posts
Saskatchewan, farm/town split. Photography, books, frustrating machinery, single malts, craft beer, watercolour & sketching. Profession: research & evaluation. Boards: Canadian Evaluation Society, Saskatchewan & Canadian Physicians for Aid & Relief
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trishpaton.bsky.social
I have hundreds of photos of cats, and like ten roumds. Ossie shows a proper roumd and his severely short-circuiting version. (Mostly these cats are lines, occasionally loafs. Roumd just not their thing?)
#cat #CatsOfBluesky #ProofOfCat #cats
A dark tabby cat curled into a fairly good circle. A decent roumd, the feet are a bit sticking-out to be ideal. The same tabby cat, only he’s turned upside-down, on his back, and somehow still mostly circular except his legs are all stretched out in one direction. His head is also upside down, and his mouth is open. He looks like he short-circuited, and it looks just as weird as this attempt to describe sounds.
November 21, 2025 at 6:20 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
Well, the official close of winter prep season is here; I put the big tractor in the shed.
A big white tractor (Case 1070) with a red loader bucket on the front. It’s backed into a metal-lined Quonset shop. There’s lots of farm junk along the sides, but in the middle lots of room for the smaller equipment. Including this year’s new snow blower (and tractor).
November 15, 2025 at 4:35 PM
trishpaton.bsky.social
Well, I got YellowBoy in bunkhouse - food is an excellent motivator. He had a few bites and then decided to explore, so when there was enough space between him & the door I got him.

Good omen I hope: he didn’t go ballistic. Wanted out, but seems ok in 🤞🏻 🤞🏻 🤞🏻 hope it sticks!

#cat #stray #ProofOfCat
A yellow cat with a white bib, rough looking ears, and very plump cheeks. He’s sitting on an upper level indoors, after he’s had the door closed on him and then his initial escape attempt blocked by two more cat cages. He and the two girlcats get along outside, so hoping the same inside. Dogs outside and winter weather *should* help him settle into indoors - warm, regular meals, nothing chasing him. All the fingers crossed!
November 13, 2025 at 3:31 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
It’s a habit to clean out pockets when I come in from the shop. I’m turning into my father, apparently; when the pile includes a few random nails and about a dollar in coins, I’ll be doing it right.
Close up photo of a flat head screwdriver, a door strike plate & 2 screw, and a long bolt.
November 7, 2025 at 12:14 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
Mumcat dashed into the house at high speed just after 8 pm. Turned out she brought a vole with her. She was unimpressed when I tossed it back outside (it was dead already) with zero appreciation for her skills. Churru offered, but I don’t think I’m forgiven. #cat #CatsOfBluesky #ProofOfCat
A small striped brown tabby cat, with only one eye, curled up on a blue-green cushion. One eye is slitted and looking at the photographer in disgust.
November 6, 2025 at 2:47 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
Three tabby boyz to wish Sierra a happy birthday!
A tabby cat on a green towel. He is almost asleep. (Tippy/Tipperary) A tabby cat laying on a chair. His head rests one one front paw, the other paw hangs down over the front of the chair. (Ossie/Ocelot) A tabby cat’s head is visible on top of a green blanket. His eyes are closed. (Little Gray/Grayling)
November 5, 2025 at 6:53 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
More additions to the jar of Keys That Open Nothing.

Yes, I have a jar with exactly that label on it. Someday I’ll be brave enough to actually toss the keys that collect there. None of them are *interesting* keys, just mysterious.

I do have at least one interesting key. I’ll have to post it.
A selection of small padlock or file cabinet type keys. As far as I have been able to tell, none of these open anything of that nature that I can find, in town or at the farm.
November 5, 2025 at 3:19 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
Pancakes for supper has been accomplished! Everyone is stuffed. Plain and blueberry.
Close photo of a dark griddle. Some pancakes have been flipped and you can see the golden brown tops, several others are still batter-side-up. A grey spatula is on the right side of the photo, hovering over a flipped pancake and aiming for an unflipped one. A similar photo with 4 blueberry blown cakes and no spatulas. You know they’re blueberry because the unflipped units have berries scattered into their batter.
November 3, 2025 at 1:47 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
Like…a golden oldie here.
A meme classic - Science can tell you how to clone a tyrannosaurus rex. Humanities can tell you why this might be a bad idea Poster is yellow, celebrating scientist & cracking egg at the top, then the science statement. A red T-Rex in silhouette and a scientist running away in the middle, with the humanities sentence at the bottom.
November 1, 2025 at 6:24 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
TreasureTreasureTreasure! I found treasure cleaning up *yet another* corner. The smell when you open the tin is unmistakably crayons, and crayons are pristine!
#art #crayola #crayons #ArtSupplies
Photo shows a square tin box holding a new box of 64 Crayola wax crayons (with the built in sharpener!). A small insert reads “Limited Edition Tin including 64 Crayola crayons”. The box is painted dark green, and decorated with images - the lid has a Norman Rockwell-style image of two young children with a grandmother type woman. A banner overtop says “1991 Crayola” (with “trade mark” in smaller letters).
October 31, 2025 at 12:27 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
Here is the Yellow Boy I hope to trap, get some vet care, and do some civilizing work with over winter. I think he’s a long term stray, because he looks in the deck door with the Saddest Cat Eyes ever seen. He deserves a warming door retirement if I can give it to him.
An orange tabby tomcat with white mittens. He *wants* to be inside where it’s warm and he will be if I can catch him (to facilitate removal of the Trouble Puffs).
October 30, 2025 at 6:09 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
So I plan to catch this man in the next 2 weeks, before bro, fam & dogs move here. I don’t think he’s feral, just long term stray. Building trust with copious treats, no more hisses & swats. Tonight he booped my finger! 💜 I just hope the trapping doesn’t break all trust, wish me luck! #cat
A somewhat scruffy and slightly tatty orange tabby cat, hunched down just a little. He has 4 white mittens.
October 29, 2025 at 3:46 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
Found this tonight cleaning out a drawer. Talk about a throwback (is #tbt #ThrowBackThursday a thing any more? Am I old?)

I was never that keen a skier; I could really afford it and it was way too cold for my liking. But it was a gang of us who went from U Calgary.
An old id card/lanyard, from the men’s Molson World Downhill March 1983, with my photo, privileges, and dates - I was a course steward. Good lord that’s so long ago.
October 24, 2025 at 5:38 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
Oh. Well. Yard #moose are back! Neighbours said they saw 4 or 5 heading into our back trees, and there’s been a mama with twins here and an occasional bull. So far I’ve only seen this fella, and I won’t go looking except “safety check”.
#mammals #farm #photography #YardMoose #saskatchewan
Part of a small red shed on the left side of the photo. On the right side is a large, dark brown, male moose. He’s taking a slight pause from chomping on the willows around the old dugout. He has respectable antlers, though not as giant as older males sport. Frankly, any antlers on a moose are respectable and really just take the “don’t fuck with them” meter from 10/10 to 12/10.
October 19, 2025 at 9:38 PM
trishpaton.bsky.social
Yuck. I don’t mind winter arriving, but mid-November, not before Thanksgiving. And not with a howling nor’wester, either!

#saskatchewan #farm #snow
A farmyard, grass partly covered with snow. Everything is dull and grey. More grass covered with snow. Also a large tractor sitting outside in this mess (and probably thinking uncharitable thoughts about me and I can’t blame them) A truck covered with snow, with a sad face drawn on the snow covered windshield. Yes, I *am* grumpy about the snow, why do you ask?
October 13, 2025 at 3:47 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
Every 3-5 years we get an eagle here for a day or two, look like 2025 is Eagle Year! I was heading for a sunset pic when I looked way up (it’s a big tree for here) and size is unmistakable. Backlighting means I can only be sure it wasn’t mature baldy. Happy day!
#birds #eagle #saskatchewan
Upper branches of a very large poplar tree, silhouetted against a light orange and blue sky (sun is starting to set). Perched on an upper branch is an EXTREMELY LARGE BIRD also in silhouette. It’s obviously an eagle, but the lighting means I can’t reliably tell if it’s speckled (immature bald eagle) or solid (mature or immature golden eagle). But definitely an eagle! It did take off and circle a bit, I couldn’t see any obvious white, but not a clear enough view (tho personally I lean golden)
October 7, 2025 at 5:29 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
I was at the Art Now (multiple SK galleries) show and the attached SK Craft Council retail - if you’re in Regina go tomorrow (Sunday) it’s fantastic! And I indulged myself with a few seasonal mugs (made by a Regina librarian!!) Going back tomorrow b/c the brother has a birthday next week
A hand thrown mug, cream coloured outside with Baba Yaga’s house walking along. Also small groups of skulls on sticks. Inside of mug is blue with green/grey undertones. Opposite side of cream mug, with Baba Yaga in her cauldron, with her pestle & broom, flying through the air. There are more skulls on sticks just around the curve of the cup. A thinner, porcelain-like mug, cream coloured and covered with dancing black skeletons. A thicker, chunkier mug. Base colour is cream. Top 2/3 of mug has overlapping blue & cream bulls-eyes embossed. Lower third has raised skulls of various sizes and orientations. The bottom of the cup also has a spiderweb painted on (no pic)
October 5, 2025 at 1:50 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
Really good analogy I saw earlier today…
Image of a Q & A Anyone: “why are there suddenly so many ADHA diagnoses?” Dr. Jen: same reason there are suddenly more stars after we built telescopes.” (Dr. Jen Wolkin @drjenwolkin)
October 4, 2025 at 8:40 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
I do t know if you’ve seen this, or if it’s at all helpful, but it’s such a good analogy…
Image of a Q & A Anyone: “why are there suddenly so many ADHA diagnoses?” Dr. Jen: same reason there are suddenly more stars after we built telescopes.” (Dr. Jen Wolkin @drjenwolkin)
October 4, 2025 at 8:37 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
Okay, does anyone have any tricks for getting a leaking AA battery out of a flashlight casing? It’s a suprabeam, metal & well made, not loose. I’ll try cleaning up corrosion with vinegar - but it’s a snug fit. Can’t see if it’s just at the top or all the way down.
View of battery that has leaked into a flashlight casing View of battery that has leaked into flashlight casing
September 24, 2025 at 5:17 PM
trishpaton.bsky.social
Well. Finally confirmed. I’ve suspected a raccoon raiding my corn the last two Septembers, and tonight the little beastie was on the bottom steps of the north deck. Even left prints for the forensic team. (Corn is so far okay except for the early Sept frost but I’m now resigned to 2025’s losses.)
A wooden step at night, lit up and showing some wet splotches on the left side but centre stage is a Very Clearly Raccoon wet paw print. Dammit.
September 16, 2025 at 3:45 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
A late but happy #caturday from Tippy, who is annoyed I moved and is going to be MUCH more annoyed when I get up and his lap vanishes.
The face of a brownish-grey tabby cat with very respectable whiskers & eyebrows. His expression is one of mild disappointment.
September 14, 2025 at 4:14 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
A week that included doing Adult Stuff. Had to replace a furnace and well before -40s show up seemed a good time. It was a noisy first couple of hours, as apparently the old furnace was kinda glued in there.

I just wish Adult Stuff was less expensive. Geez.
A photo of a fancy shiny new furnace on a somewhat beat up concrete floor. It’s a Continental, made by parent company Napoleon (Canadian made). Has a fancy flame design on the bottom left. The upper blue panel has a window where you can watch the burner when you’re heating.
September 14, 2025 at 2:26 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
Another one for #invertifest we have a major crop of dill in the garden and an equally major crop of ladybugs. Dill can often have big aphid issues, they love the seed heads at this stage. We emphatically do NOT have an aphid problem here.
A close up view of a dill seed head, with a reddish-orange ladybug centre stage. The dill seeds are still green and plump.
September 9, 2025 at 3:59 AM
trishpaton.bsky.social
I was doing a bunch of bits & pieces around the yard today. Thought I’d finish by mowing a couple of small spots. When I drove up to the mower, I discovered it was already in use by this little fledgling barn swallow. So I guess I can mow tomorrow!
#birds #BarnSwallow #fledgling #saskatchewan #farm
A close view of a fledgling barn swallow sitting on a tractor seat. The swallow has the classic orangey breast & throat, with dark wings and head. Fledgling giveaway is the wider, yellow-edged beak. They are also sitting with legs somewhat widely splayed, and resting more on their butt. The overall impression is tired at this whole learning-to-fly business, and annoyed at being interrupted.
September 2, 2025 at 2:16 AM