ALMOST WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH DANTE: I LOVE MY BLANKIE!

"Fanks yoo, Peggy, fur mai bootiful birfdai blankie", says Dante.  "It wuz sumfing I weelly KNEADED!"

You can get one of Peggy's kitty blankies, too, just go here:  http://peggyskittyblankies.blogspot.com/.

DANTE: FROM THE BEGINNING (A PETROSPECTIVE)

Today is Dante's ninth birthday!  The time sure has gone fast. 

In celebration of his life, here are some pictures starting from the very beginning back in 2002.

Here's Dante and his littermates having lunch on his Mommy, Eleanor (Lacocoon Eleanor Rigby).

Dante's one of the red ones, of course.

In this shot you'll find Dante at the top of the heap -- with his mouth open!

One of baby Dante's first solo photoshoots!

Dante at the Lacocoon Cattery waiting for his new Mommy and Daddy to come and pick him up.

Dante in his new furever home -- just chillaxin'!

Around six months old, his tail was bigger than the rest of him!

Dante's formal portrait at one year old.  He finally grew into that tail!

A fully mature Dante in fine coat!

Here's Dante in SPRING, ready to spring into action!

Dante in SUMMER -- even outshines the flowers!

Dante in FALL, just fiddling around!

Dante's a true lion in WINTER!

Kung Fu Dante at the ready!

Bad Boy Dante's looking good!

Supermancat Dante's ready to save the world!

Dante and his cousin the lion have lots in common, not least of which is that abundant mane!

Then there's those magnificent 'tocks, although they're hard to see beneath all that floof!

And here's Dante today -- just as handsome after all these years!  Something tells me the best is yet to come.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

 MY DARLING DANTE!!!

Now, Dante, Dylan and Domino are all heading over to Gracie's Mad Hatter Party, because it's Gracie's birthday, too!  Why don't you join us all there for one big celebration?

THURSDAY IN THE GARDEN WITH DANTE: RED ON WHITE!

It snowed again since last week, enough to serve as an icy backyard litterbox for our Secretary of Fertilization of the Society of Feline Gardeners (aka Dante). 

And as there is nothing else to be done in the garden, in these winter months, Dante once again does what he does best.  At least he's picturesque while he's doing it!

One thing I've noticed is that Dante's red fur looks even redder these days against the white of the snow. 

Dante surveys the vast snowscape that is his litterbox garden.

Off he goes into the wild, white yonder!

A gust of wind whips his tail fiercely about, but Dante 'stands fast'!

(Stands fast = A quickie)

And then he settles down to business.  (Please don't be dismayed by any bits of brown you may notice -- they are just leaves left from autumn.)

Even while attending to the call of nature, Dante poses masterfully for the camera.

He is a PURRfect representative of his breed.  There's nothing quite like the sight of a Maine Coon in his natural habitat.

And no job is complete without the cover-up!

Even if you make a bigger mess in the PURRocess!

Red on white -- what a sight!

After a job well done, Dante takes off at high speed.  Here I've caught him just springing into action!

"O if only I cud weelly SPRING into ackshun", he says.  "But dat is still moar dan two monfs away!"

So, there's nothing to be done but wait, and plan for the day when the garden will be more than just a litterbox once more.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH DANTE: WHY?

THURSDAY IN THE GARDEN WITH DANTE: SNOW BUSINESS!

According to Dante, there's "no business like 'snow' business", like no business he knows! And if Dante has his druthers, he would rather do his business outdoors in the fresh air (where no air fresheners are required).

The snow makes for a PURRfect potty. As you have seen in numerous pictures, Dante's butt is among the furriest, so the cold doesn't present any problem for his tushie.

Point made!

Also, if you recall, Dante is Secretary of Fertilization for the Society of Feline Gardeners. So, even though he has nothing to fertilize at this time of year, he likes to keep in practice and hone his technique.

It's a long trek out to the OUThouse!

The snow is nice and deep here. It's a good place to dig the potty.

 

"Ah!  Weleef at last!"

"Oops!  Pawdon!"

"Da cover-up is a verreh impawtant step! If yoo doan do it, yoo cud STEP in it!

 

And after completing all of his business, step-by-step, Dante rushes off back to the warmth of the house.

One thing about snow, though -- you can never count on it. It's not very dependable. It likes to sneak up on you when you least expect it, and then it just vanishes into thin air (from whence it came).

This is 24 hours later, after some rain ...

 

"Ware did all the snow go?"

"Dere's not even enuff to scwape into a liddle pile to poo in!"

 

"Oh well -- litterbox heer I come!"

And such are the vagaries of Snow Business! One day you're at the top, and the next you're down.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH DANTE: SWEATER BOY!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM DANTE!

It's 2011, and so far Dante's really digging it!!!

(You'll want to biggify this one!)

Dante speaks for his brother, sister, mommy and daddy as he wishes all of his furiends in the Cat Blogosphere, and beyond, a very healthy, happy and prosPURRous New Year.

Mommy sends her aPAWlogies because she's been busy making lots of LOLs today for the LOLSpot, and doesn't have time to visit efurryone.  She has to spend time with her family (that includes me), too!  She thinks you should do the same.

Love,

Dante

(with lots of Maine Coon hugs and kisses)