Great sighs here ... I went out to the deck this morning, retrieved a chair and prepared to sit and cuddle Carl. I happened to glance around and there was a 'gift' <shudders> I called out to Carl, pointed to the mess and shook my finger at him, telling him No! Bad kitty! in no uncertain terms. I really think he understood me ... he hurried over to the stairs and sat with his head lowered. I went inside to get something to pick the mess up. I came back out, picked it up and pitched it out to the 'wild.' I then went back in and got a bucket of lemon ammonia and hot water with a stiff bristle push broom that we use to clean the deck. Carl came back to watch me and I talked to him the whole time I was cleaning the rug. He looked up at me and I swear he knew what I was saying. We shall see. Later on he came back and meowed at the door and I went out and held him for a bit, but quietly told him that I loved him but he couldn't bring animals onto our deck.

We'll see if talking to him and pointing to the mess he made on the deck got through to him. But DH didn't have to clean it up -- I did. Only fair... I'm the one that can't say no to the cat. <sigh>

Be safe, be well, and please be happy -- life is a balance at times. The Serenity Prayer comes to mind:

Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference...