DANTE THROUGH THE SHRUBBERY

These are pictures of Dante taken through holes in various plants and shrubs.  He was taken totally unawares at first.

Very lion-like is he here! 

And then he starts to clue in, as the little ladybug catches his eye. 

 Through the vines he looks simply divine!

 But when he peers through the clover, 

the game's finally over!

Well, at least if there's ever a medical emergency, we can hook him up to the IVY!

DANTE IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS!

Dante just adores nature, and nowhere is nature more all-PURRvasive than in the woods behind our house.

There he can commune with all sorts of wildlife -- the birds, the butterflies and the odd hedgehog. (He likes the 'odd' ones better because of their offbeat sense of humour.)

Maine Coons love to play with water -- especially running water.  Our woods culminate in a ravine with many small natural waterfalls babbling softly -- just idyllic for our Dante!

Not only are the woods popular with Dante, but Dante has made quite the splash in the woods!

It's a very symbiotic relationship.

Or, in Dante's case, quite SIMBAotic!

In a clearing in the woods, there is a small meadow replete with wildflowers and insects, of which the butterflies are once again most apparent.  It's the best place by far to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Imagine a world where butter flies -- life just doesn't get any better!

DANTE AS GARDEN ART

Dante loves the garden, and especially the pink weigela bush.

 As he lies there he becomes a living, breathing part of it all.

 Dante is the ultimate garden art!

"Art thou satisfied now, Mama?"

"Prrrrrrrrrrr!"

DANTE: LILAC A RUG!

Here's Dante lying on the garden path surrounded by lilac.

Who would have thought that lilac would have complemented him so much?

Lilacs never lie.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH DANTE: CATS ON A WIRE!!!

DANTE INTENSE

When Dante sees something that catches his interest, he is very intent.

 When he focuses, his sightline is lazer-sharp.

And he holds that intensity until the object of his focus is gone.

"I still sees yoo!!!"

DANTE: WATERCOLOUR MEMORIES

The bushes along my neighbour's walkway provided a stunning foreground for Dante in these two watercolour PURRtraits.

It's amazing all of the different colours on the leaves of this one plant, which were really only detectable once I applied the watercolour filter.

Very memorable, indeed!

DANTE IN 'BEYOND BELEAF'!

Dante has sussed out a mystery in the garden!

 "Sshhhh!"

 "Dere's sumfin verreh mysterious undah dat leaf!"

 "I jus' hasta make shur nobuddy else is lookin'", whispurrs Dante.

"Doan move a mussel.  I'm goin' in!" 

 "C'm heer, c'm heer  ... an' I'll tell yoo all about it.  I still doan noe wot it wuz ...

... but it shur wuz DEE-LISHUS!!!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH DANTE: SIMPLY TREE-MENDOUS!

DANTE GOOFS OFF!

Here's Dante relaxing on the back patio just after it has been whippurr-snipped.

 Dante has put his whippurr-snippurr away and decides to take a break.

Even though he made quite a mess with green bits strewn about ... 

 ... he's definitely in no hurry to clean it up.

"My goal in life ...

 ... is ta becum a troo GOLDBRICKER!" says he whilst lion around on the bricks.

"After all, dat's ware the real payoff is, n'est-ce-PAW?"

DANTE HAS THE POWER OF THE FLOWER!

Even though Dante was born long after the days of Flower Power, he is a true believer nonetheless.

He draws strength from the life force of flowers ... 

... and a sense of wonder from their scents of spirit! 

 "Yes, wen I inhales their PURRfumes, dey makes me wondah where I am", says he.

 "An' den dey spirits me away!"

 Flower Power is very powerful indeed -- especially for those of the feline PURRsuasion.

'Power to da PAWpulation!" chants Dante.

And free yourself with the power of flowers!!!