DANTE ON ICE

Dante was outside earlier this week.  The temperatures had been milder and some of the snow had melted during the day, though each night it would ice over again.

These pictures were taken in the late afternoon when the sun was getting low in the sky.

 Dante chooses a bare patch on the steps to stop and survey his territory.

He is checking out the snowbank to determine if it's suitable for digging.

But the ice is rock hard and will not move despite his best efforts.

So Dante, being the litterate cat that he is, ...

 ... resigns himself to using the indoor litter box.

His plans of using the great outdoors have been put on ice for now.

KING DANTE TURNS 12!

Today is Dante's twelfth birthday!  It seems like just yesterday that he was a tiny kitten (well, maybe not so tiny, but a kitten nonetheless).

Dante is wearing his Birthday Crown, complete with golden candles.  His hat and royal robes are trimmed in ermine -- befitting the King that he is.  He's holding his scepter upside down after spearing a nice fish for his birthday dinner.  He has birthday balloons, presents and lots of folks who wish him a happy birthday, yet there's still something missing.

After all, what does efurry King want ...

 

... and pine for ...

... and dream about ...

... but his Queen!

Sascha has arrived wearing her royal garb, and bringing birthday gifts, balloons -- and most of all her LOVE!

Knowing Dante's penchant for fish, she baked this special cake for him.  So now they can have a birthday dinner made with the fresh fish that he caught this morning, and a fish cake for dessert.  How marvelous is that?

But Sascha had one more surprise for Dante.  In the envelope there were tickets to the "Snow Ball" for that very evening!

So off they went to dance the night away on the newfallen snow.  How romantic!  They REALLY had a ball.

And later that night ...

... when they were finally back home, Dante disrobed and did his own dance just for Sascha.  I'll leave it up to your imagination what happened after that.

It's a birthday TAIL fit for a King, that's fur sure!

DANTE: MORE THAN JUST BACKGROUND!

Every once in a while there comes a more than magnificent photo of Dante.  He is a Magnificent Maine Coon, after all, and most of his pictures reflect his HAIRitage.

Here is just the latest one that is currently adorning my computer screen.

(Biggify for best view)

There's something about his straightforward look in this shot than really draws you in.  (Actually, I think it's feline contempt for me and my camera, but it's kind of compelling anyway.)  There's real intelligence behind those eyes.  

Yes, Dante will surely never be JUST background.  He is a commanding PURResence, wherever he may be.

Enjoy!

DANTE WORKS UP A SWEAT!

Dante's out on the front bench keeping as warm as possible in his stylish sweater.

People think Maine Coons don't mind cold weather and that their abundant fur will keep them insulated from harsh conditions.  This PURRticular Maine Coon, however, is a bit of a pussy.

 "I doan like ta get da shiFURS", says Dante.

 "Besides, is good fur me ta work up a sweat in my stripey sweatah."

 So, off he goes for a walk into the wild white yonder that is our front yard.  Do you think that sweater needs to be a little longer PURRhaps?  Oh well, at least it's worth 'tocking' about.

 It isn't long before Dante is totally bushed.  Then suddenly, he twigs to something!

And so, even though it's still January, he Marched back to the front porch to find some real shelter.

"Let's face it", says Dante, "Mebbe I'm a Maine Coon, but I like my creechur comfurts!"

(Note:  If you take a close look, Dante has been framed by a multitude of faces.)

And when he wants back inside, all Dante does is give me that aDOORable look of his, so I'll open it up.  Who could resist?  Certainly not I.

Now who's the pussy?

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: DANTE IS NO MERE CAT!

 (Biggify for best view)

DANTE ANEW

Since it's a new year and I got a new camera for Christmas, here are the first new shots of Dante for 2014. The weather has been exceedingly cold so far, so we haven't gone outside for any photoshoots except this one from a couple of days ago.

 It always amazes me how much redder Dante looks against the snow!

 PURRhaps it's the stark contrast between orange and white because even in summer, against the green of the grass, his fur doesn't appear as vivid.

 When the winter sun shines on Dante even for a few moments, his fur appears to glow.

 And then when the sun retreats, the colour seems even deeper -- something like Dante, himself, in that pile of snow.

 It may look like Dante is off somewhere in a field of snow, but actually he is just a couple of steps away from our front steps.

 He is preparing a rePAWSitory for his dePAWsit.

 And here he is MAKING the dePAWsit!  (No surprise really, I'm just addicted to exclamation points.)

 Once finished with his snow business, Dante must clean off his toes ...

 ... and his nose ...

 ... as well as most efurrything in-between.

 You will notice the still-wet tendrils of fur in his luxurious ruff.  His saliva causes them to curl.

"Is imPAWtant to be clean an' tidy even when yoor RUFFin' it!", says he.

"OK, now fur sum repose."

"Yes", I say.  "I can't get enough of your poses.  You're just a regular POSE-ter boy for 2014!"

A DANTE AND SASCHA NEW YEAR EXPLOSION!

Dante and Sascha are doing New Year's up in style.  They look efurry inch like royalty in their posh attire.

(Biggify for maximum effect)

Dante is very striking (something like the clock which is hitting midnight) in his top hat with silver and gold band and Sascha is sparkling in her tiara and diamond choker.  "If sumfin's gonna choke me, I'm happeh dat it's diamonds!", says Sascha.

Dante has a big surprise for Sascha, but first he needs a bit of the bubbly.  So he pours them both a glass.

Dante downs his quickly in order to work up the courage to BEAR IT ALL!

And then, in a 'flash' or two, or three, it was over ...

... and the New Year had arrived!

Once they were home, Dante and Sascha snuggled down under the covers where their own fireworks were just waiting to go off!