DANTE: HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO MY PAW!

Today it is Father's Day and Dante is celebrating his beloved "Dada" (as he calls him).  He is also combining this with the Illumination Award, because he is letting you into the PURRivate world between him and his Dad -- where few have gone before.

ILLUMINATING FACT #1:  DANTE IS A DADDY'S BOY!

I must say, this is quite appropriate because Dante's Dada is a shining light in his life.  He's there for Dante through winter, spring, summer and fall.  Witness ...

"Dada sits outside wif me in wintah.  He keeps a watchful eye on me", says Dante.

 "Dada makes sure I am dressed nice an' warm for walks in da snow.!

ILLUMINATING FACT #2:  DAD HOLDS DANTE UNDER HIS ARM BECAUSE HE'S TOO BIG TO CARRY ANY OTHER WAY.

  "Dada is holdin' me up for da camerah.  No mattah wot, I feels verreh secure in his hands."

ILLUMINATING FACT #3:  DADDY HAS TO FETCH DANTE WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO  INSIDE.  DANTE LOVES TO BE OUTSIDE SO MUCH,  HE TENDS TO RESIST.

And speaking of resistance ...

"Bein' wif Dada is a verreh movin' exPURRience!"

"Dada an' me has sunshine on our sholdahs.  If dis isn't illuminatin', I doan know wot is!"

"I helps Dada by snoopervisin' him.  It's MY garden aftah all -- even in da Fall." 

"Dada takes me to da vet.  I mus' admit I'm a liddle nervous, but Dada makes me feel safe no mattah where I am."

"Here's Dada lifting me up on da examinin' table.  He reassures me dat efurryfin will be fine.  An' it was!"

ILLUMINATING FACT#4:  DANTE LIKES TO GO SHOPPING AT THE PETSMART WITH HIS DAD.   

"Dada takes efurry opPURRtunity to gives me a scwatch.  It's always a liddle ruff -- jus' da way I likes it!"

"Here's Dada helpin' me open a package from wun of my friends.  He always helps me do wot I cant do fur myself."

"I jus' loves Crismouse mornin' wif my Dada.  I gets lotsa hugs an' cuddles -- as well as new toys an' treats!"

"My Dada is a kooky kinda guy!  He even walks in da rain wif a kittycat umbrella!  He knows dat cats cum frum a long line a Kings."

ILLUMINATING FACT #5:  DANTE HAS TRAINED HIS DAD TO DO HIS BIDDING.  

It started with Dante leading his Dad to his food dish where he would beg for more.  If there was some left in the dish, Dad would just say "Lotsa food, Dante", and when Dante would take a bite, Daddy would praise him.  "That's a good boy, Dante -- good boy!". 

So, now it has become a ritual.  If there is no food left, of course Daddy must fill up the bowl again, but if not, Daddy must stay and watch him eat!  Either way, Dante has his full attention.

If Dante wants out, he will howl until his Daddy comes to let him out.  Dante can be quite demanding and has trained Daddy to respond quickly.

So, Happy Father's Day to one great cat daddy.  Dante and Dada are quite the pair -- practically insePURRable!

As for the Illuminating Blog Award, I bequeath it to anyone who hasn't already received it.  Just snag it, and tell us five illuminating facts about yourselves.  May the sun shine on you in PURR-PET-uity!

THURSDAY IN THE GARDEN WITH DANTE: WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT?

Dante is waiting in his chair on the front porch for you to arrive so he can begin today's tour.

"Welcome!  Today I am gonna shows yoo fings dat are noo in my garden.  An' along da way, we'll check on sum old fafurites, too."

"Furst of all, dere's sumfin noo rite here on the front porch!  Excuse me wiles I sniffs it out."

"It is a waterin' can dat's supposta look like me, I fink.  But da legs is fah too skinneh.  It wuz a gift frum my Auntie Susan who lives across da street.  I luvs mai Auntie Susan!"

"Wot duz yoo fink?  Is dere any resemblance?"

"An' I'm off!  If yoo wonts ta see da rest den follow me."

"Dis is my fafurite tree.  It needs a talkin' to efurry now an' den.  Say hello, efurryone!"

"An' I likes ta give it a pat on the back fur bein' dere wenefur I needs sumwun ta lean on."  

"OK.  Let's keep movin'. Dere's no time ta waste.  Keep up wif me, willya?"

"Our next stop is the wiegelas.  Dey is bustin' out all ofur!  Well done, buddies!" 

"Now dis is sumfin verreh noo -- in fact I had ta look it up on da innernets ta find out all about it!  In our pot wif da pink geraniums, we has little visitors.  APURRopriately enuff, dey is CATerpillars!  Wot else wood yoo expect in a Cat Garden?  Anyway, heer is sum information about dem.  Dey shur are cool liddle suckahs!"

 "Geometridae is the official name of the family of caterpillars that look like twigs or sticks. The color and markings on these caterpillars allow them to blend in with trees such that people and predators mistake them for part of the branches. The Geometridae includes more than 300 species of moth caterpillars." 

"Stick caterpillars are brown or brownish-red with occasional darker markings on them. They are thin and long, similar to how sticks and twigs look. Additionally, these caterpillars have warts and other types of knots on them to enhance their stick-like appearance."

"The caterpillars in the family grouping Geometridae have two pairs of prolegs and no legs on the abdomen. As such, in order for the caterpillars to move forward they have to loop themselves up and then straighten out again, which is how they got the nickname "loopers."

"We efun saw a green baby CATerpillar!  It is so neat how dey hangs onto da plant leaf by jus' a coupla back legs.  Dey kin extend demselves straight out like a twig an' dey sway in da breeze.  Awesum!"

 "An' heer's sumfin OLD in da garden (oldah dan me, anyway)!  It's my sistah, Domino.  Efurryone say hello to Domino!"

"An' dis is de end of da tour.  We has come arownd full circle an' we're back at da front porch.  I fink we saw sum pretty interestin' fings along da way.  Fank yoo fur joinin' me an' have a good day  You've URNed it!"

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH DANTE: HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, KID!

 (Biggify for full effect)

THURSDAY IN THE GARDEN WITH DANTE: FAIRY, FAIRY NICE!

Last week Dante promised to show you more of the cats in his Cat Garden.  He's here today to fulfill that promise, but you may get more than even Dante expected.

It's Thursday, and Dante is out in the Cat Garden again checking the progress since last week.  He's in for a big surprise!

 He was just about to check on the pink geraniums in the big pot at the end of the bench, when ... THUNK!

A fairy landed right beside him!

"Dere's sumfin quite neFAIRYous about dis", says Dante, unsure of what sort of creature had invaded his space.

"Smells kinda fishy ta me!", he says as he examines the fairy more closely.

"So I had tuna fur lunch -- big deal!", retorts the winged one.

Dante, not satisfied merely to intimidate the creature, gets a little too up close and PURRsonal.

"I didn't know yoo wuz sucha PURRvert", says the fairy.  "I'm outta heer -- and kwick!", she exclaims as she takes flight for parts unknown.

"Cat dam it!  I fink I mighta discovered a noo speeSHEs, but my proof just went POOF!"   Chin up, Dante -- at least the geraniums are thriving.

Dante decides to begin his weekly tour on the bench where it all began today.  There are some pretty impatience in a pot that he placed here to catch the rain.

Even though it's a Cat Garden, there is the odd birdie here and there (emphasis on ODD)!

Immediately across from the cat bench is the one for humans (though cats pretty well sit wherever they want, of course).  Here you can see a tiny platform with little garden statues of Dylan, Domino and Dante (in that order).  Right beside it is a planter with impatience and petunias.  And in this forest of flowers ...

... there's a strange purple pussycat who lives amongst the blooms. 

Right around the corner, on the front steps are two smiling kitties in celadon green.  There is a larger celadon cat sleeping on the other side of the urn.

Here are the Oriental kitties.  They are in their synchronized martial arts stance.

And here is the little sleeping cat.  It looks very peaceful, I think. 

On the opposite side of the front steps is another urn with a little stone kitty standing guard.

And all along the garage wall are kitty dolls and statues as far as the eye can see (in one glance, anyway).

Dante is standing directly opposite the front steps.  You can get a good view of the entrance walkway and its plethora of cats.  Of course, we have the treasured cat birdbath front and center, too.

Once again, these are the Martha Washington geraniums.  They hardly look like geraniums at all -- more like some sort of hybrid rose!  They are such a gorgeous colour.

Now here we are looking back toward the sitting area.  Dante's tied up at the moment.  It's clear he has other things on his mind.  I had to remind him not to forget ...

 ... the "Stone Kitties", both mother and baby cat.  "Dey got dere eyes closed, so why dont I?", Dante asks.

That's a very good point you make, Dante.  You've had a long, hard day and you deserve a good nap.   Do you think maybe he's dreaming of fairies?

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY WITH DANTE: EYE, EYE CAPTAIN!

DANTE'S AVATAR GIFS IT UP!

I was more or less dared by Oui Oui of "Twinkletoe Tails", who taught me how to make Avatars and GIFs to do both at the same time -- and this is what happened!

Shocking isn't it?