It's late January and still winter but the planet is coming back from its 23.5-degree wobble from the winter solstice and it's not dark on Long Island at 4:30 p.m. now.

After the getaway at Aqueduct I laid out warm water, kibble, platters of wet cat food, and cans of tuna & chicken in warm water in the Great Dane feed bowl. Mr. Orange does NOT like to be petted but I was able to grab him by the scruff to get a look at his eyes. The right eye that was leaking several days ago looked to be normal and he did not hiss or snarl or blow out some claws for me. He just doesn't want to be handled by a human but he knows that his bed and food come from me. I like him.

Up top in this photo are Catty Patty, Mr. Orange, Nasty Mom and Tuxedo. From the left and clockwise at the cans of chicken and sardines are Bosco, Ginger, Bristol and Garfield. Ginger has backed off from the feed bowl only because she is working with a huge sardine she has snagged.