Sammy In Spring.

The vernal prelude has temporarily been interrupted and once again cold air - the icy breath of the Winter Lady - has swept through the country, reminding us that she is still in reign.
Nevertheless, I have thoroughly enjoyed a few days out in the warm sunshine. And may I say, I was not the only one, as seen on the clip below.

Dedicated to all Sammy (aka Batcat) fans.
Enjoy.

"By Any Other Name..."

"... would smell as sweet".
This Shakespearean quote seems somehow so very appropriate to initiate this post with. And as you read along further, it will become soon clear why.

It has been a while ago since Batcat was featured in my writing. And many of you, curiously enough, have recently inquired about his well being.
Thus I decided to dedicate yet another post to my faithful traveler through life and my partner in crime, my furry friend - having been my devoted companion for the last eight years.

In that time span, he has been called many names and each name made him into a certain personality, yet in my eyes he has always been the same jovial feline, brightening my days and making me smile.

Batcats real name is actually Samson.
I named him that way when I collected him as a tiny, six weeks old kitten from a farm, some hundred miles north of where I lived. He screamed his lungs out the whole drive back home (and still detests being in a car). I contemplated many different names, wanting to keep the letter S, as apparently cats names should be starting with one. I have no idea where I have heard that or if it is even true. Still, when the name Samson entered my mind, I knew right away that it was the one, thus it was chosen - but come to think of it - never used.

My first serious boyfriend, with whom I acquired the cat named him Daloon. As in Da - Loon. Or The Loon. Perhaps because his eyes as a kitten were at all times huge like saucers and he was always looking for trouble, defying anything that came in his way. Never giving up or giving in, already as a kitten proving he was a REAL cat. A fighter.
He refused to be confided in a cardboard box and already as a tiny little thing was roaming our apartment. When we tried to prevent him from entering an open staircase by blocking it with cardboard as well - afraid he might fall through the stairs and be injured - he found a way of climbing the narrow space between the stairs and the wall by pushing himself upwards on his little paws - an incredible accomplishment and sign of resilience and determination.

When the Irishman came into my life, he very quickly established that Daloon was no Loon, but a Superhero. To him he looked like a feline Batman and thus he named him Batcat. This was when I started my blog and thus to everyone here my cat was known by this name.

The name Batact has however been abandoned for quiet a while now and another name has gained hold. My new family call him today Sammy, a name instigated by the man I love and inspired by the original name; Samson.

Well, no matter the name, my devoted cat is my everything.
My baby and the one living, comforting soul that has been waiting for me in the dark house when I returned from work for all those years living on my own. The one who made my old house feel alive, when it was so quiet, deserted and still. That one living being that always stuck by my side when everyone else left me. The one into whose fur I cried bitter tears when I was feeling the loneliest I have have ever been...
And the one who I hugged when I was the happiest I have ever been as well.

These days, I am not the only one whose life has changed dramatically. Even Sammy has undergone changes of major proportions.
He has been uprooted, relocated and furthermore been introduced to the outside.
Being an inside cat his whole life, the outside to him is as overwhelming as it would be for the common man to fly into space.

Today Sammy is however a content cat. Just like me, being almost middle aged, he is starting all over again. And just like me, he has finally come home - and in his case in more than just the abstract sense - I recently realized he was born on a farm only a stone throw away from where we live today.
How funny is that.

(All images in this post are of Sammy exploring and enjoying the surroundings of his new home, summer 2011) 

Poems, Pendants And Praise...

When I started to publicly express my thoughts online a few years back, I did not really know what to expect. The world of blogging was a completely unknown territory, and even though I enjoyed the idea of exploration, I also felt apprehensive and insecure.

What surprised me the most was the collective feeling of friendship, kindness, mutual respect and courteous conduct, that rules the blogging community. The genuine love and affection that all of you at all times express while you visit me - whether in your comments, your emails or just in the interest you take in reading what I have to say, sharing my pain and happiness.

I am way overdue acknowledging three ladies who have express their appreciation of my writing and our friendship.

The lovely Mimi whose giveaway I won - what feels like ages ago - and the book that was the prize has since become my most prized possession. The poems expressed within are as gentle as they are profound.
My absolutely first and oldest friend here, dearest Holly, a beautiful woman inside out, who send me a precious necklace with a plethora of symbolic pendants -  just like that, for no reason at all. Words fail me... so rarely do I get a gift out of the blue...
And last but not least -  the gorgeous Adrielle, a poet with a sensitive mind and soul, who honored me with a blog award - thank you so much.

I dedicate this post to all of you reading this, who have become my very dear friends and I would like to express my gratitude with help of Batcat below. He is my bellowed companion and best friend and a true symbol of unconditional love and devotion.

Batcat And The Pea.

It has been a while since I dedicated a post to Batcat, the King of my white house. For those of you who are not yet acquainted with my sophisticated roommate, always dressed in an evening suit, I can easily summarize what he is all about in one sentence, as the Irishman did once; Batcat adds ambiance to my home.

Yes indeed, like a proper cat, he relaxes all day long, sleeping the hours away. Except for the occasional awakening to have a snack or two combined with tranquil contemplations, most likely pondering important issues that I would not understand, while gazing out of the windows. Watching birds and potential intruders and ultimately being the overall master of his domain.
The expression on his face at all times makes me aware of the fact that he is indeed so very superior to me in every way.

The only time I can make him move, while watching the black slits in his green eye expand to the size of round saucers even in pure daylight, is in the mornings, when I throw frozen peas on the floor. Yes you heard (read) right. Batcat locates his hunting instinct each morning as I prepare my lunch, which consist of frozen peas. Usually, I throw a few of them on the floor, upon which Batcat takes off like loon hunting the rolling green beads all over the house, as they spread in all the directions, confusing him greatly. He is hilarious to watch and I tried to capture the spectacle on film, but it is not that easy to throw peas and operate a camera at the same time.
Needles to say, as you can all imagine, the floor of my house comes weekend is full of dried peas.

I managed to take one good picture of a very satisfied cat guarding a pea after hunting it down successfully. Now I wonder if this love for peas makes him of a royal descend. Maybe I will try to put one under his blanket in the evening and see if he complains the next day over an aching back.

Looking For Spring...

Usually in my weekend posts I share with you some pristine pictures of the nature that surrounds me. Or of the stunning views out of my windows, capturing the beauty in plants, trees or the sky.
However, this would mean sharing yet a few winter pictures and I assume everyone is about to be fed up with that.

As I dislike to keep my posts completely picture-less, I did upload a picture as seen here above. It depicts a view I show rarely, although it deserves to be seen. Taken out of my kitchen windows, one can glimpse the sea in the distance. A view obstructed by birch trees in the summer, but absolutely magnificent in winter.

As for the rest of today's post instead of a collage, I decided to share with you my first small cinematographic attempt. It is not that good; still, I hope it will make you smile.

I think that the star of my film needs no introduction and the clip itself explains the sentiment.
All that remains for me to do now is to wish you all a lovely weekend - from all of us here in the white house on a hill.

Things That Make me Happy.

My blog friends are very kind to me and I simply keep getting these awards. This despite the fact that I am guilty of two major offenses:
1) I never pass them on myself
2) I take forever to acknowledge the award givers

Still, better late than never, it is time to thank those of you who gave me these beautiful tokens.

The first one, called Inspiring Blog Award is from Radka, an artist who writes a lovely blog about her little boy. It carries the name of her son, Matýsek. She is my only Czech reader and I appreciate her kind visits and this lovely attention.

Then there is my most avid and devoted reader sprinkles. I have gotten three awards from her recently. Well, one of them is actually meant for Batcat. Yes indeed, Batcat starts to be a popular blogger in his own right. Thank you so much dear sprinkles!

Sprinkles awards came with a tag, to list ten things that make me happy. What a delightful tag this indeed is. An optimist and a very happy person by nature, I have no problem with naming ten things that bring smile to my face.
However, in order not to make this post extremely long, I decided to list only five and return with five more at another occasion.

Views Out Of My Windows.
They are endlessly enticing. In any season, at any time of the day - stunningly beautiful, pristine and tranquil. Images of nature, of the fascinating yearly cycle in the life of the trees and plants. The breathtaking sunsets, as the sun moves on its journey across the sky, painting the blue canvas in every imaginable colour. In snow, in bloom, after a summer rain, when the foliage is on fire in autumn - gazing out of my windows is a feast for my mind and soul.
Always.

My House And My Garden.
I love my house. I have dedicated numerous posts to my home, as the place where we lay our hat is one of the most important places in our life. I am happy being home, in fact so happy that I need not to leave it for days. Either being inside, or being outside on my two terraces, while hours pass away as I plant flowers or tend to bushes and herbs, feeling the soil between my fingers and the sun on my face. Gardening is very therapeutic and brings an infinite tranquility to me whole being.

The Sea.
The unforgettable moments in my memories includes time spend at the sea. Views of the ocean, sound of the waves. My favorite is the summer sea, when I can stretch out on the warm sand, feeling its soft and warm texture, while the soothing sound of the moving water plays a calming harmony in the background. Gazing at the endless body of water fills me with unrestricted freedom and happiness.

Batcat.
My devoted friend and companion. As cute, funny and hilarious, as he is calm, independent and elegant. A perfect pet, adding ambiance to my home, making it feel full of life at all times. Gifting me with unconditional love and relaxing me with his presence and his ways. Inspiring me and astounding me and making me smile on daily bases.

My Man.
Love needs no words and description and so I leave you only with the notion, that the feeling of loving someone and the feeling of being loved back is one of the greatest sources of happiness in my life.
It is that which makes it worth living.

Heart On Fire.

It is cold, it is snowing and more snow is on the way. So, I can either decide to be really upset about that or choose to ignore the weather all together.

I am opting for the later, going into a weekend of hibernation with Batcat - this includes good books, relaxing music, feel good movies, comfort food and of course - cosy fire.

The below is what my Saturday fire looks like. Perhaps even if you can not feel the real heat, you can get a virtual joy from it. After I filmed the clip, I noticed that one of the logs looks a lot like a heart - how very appropriate for the occasion.

And to those of you who actually do decide to watch the below, look for Batcat appearance about seven seconds into the clip - at least in sound, showing his approval of the fire.
We are wishing everyone a lovely weekend and a happy Valentines Day tomorrow.

"Golden Nerves".

Those two words make up an expression in my language, meaning something similar to "Nerves of Steel". Basically, this is used to describe someone who can stay calm even during the most trying situations. It can also be used as an exclamation, when things get tough, meaning one would love to have "Golden Nerves" in that moment.

However, it can also apply as a description of someone who knows how to relax.
Like Batcat. The way he can shut out the world is amazing. And highly contagious. The below is taken this weekend as he managed to escape into the dreamworld for hours, while lying in front of the fire.

My Red Sofa.

Not long ago my friend Stevie wrote an entertaining post listing ten things she really wants, but will most likely never buy. Among these was a new sofa.
I did buy a sofa for myself and additionally, it was a red sofa and so Stevie, this one is for you, as you requested pictures.

My red sofa was purchased by me, almost exactly six years ago, when I moved into my white house on a hill in December 2003. Being the largest place I have ever lived in, I needed furniture to fill out the endless space of several floors. Not keen on using all my savings, I decided to furnish my entire home with the decor available at IKEA. Literally everything in my house has been purchase there, including an old living room furniture set that my parents bought there about 25 years ago, when they moved to Sweden and which I inherited.

So, when it came to deciding on which sofa to get, I was first looking at a sofa of a nondescript colour. Wanting to keep it as neutral as possible, I thought of going in the direction of beige, purchasing a sofa and a chair. I brought good friends - a husband and a wife - with me to the store for help and encouragement. We walked around for a while when the husband pointed at a large red corner sofa on a display and said, "Why don't you get that one?". My first thought was "NO WAY!", but almost instantly I was intrigued. Suddenly the thought was appealing in more ways that one. I love colours endlessly and the fact that the sofa was L shaped would solve the issue with filling out a space and yet getting enough seating room.
And so I bought my red sofa. It was one of the best purchases I ever made. Its colour is so very fitting the holiday season, but it makes the house warm and inviting year around. It is the most comfortable sofa I have ever owned and as seen on the pictures here, it is loved not just be me and my guests, but also Batcat, who loves to lounge on it any chance he gets.

Batcat And His "Sleeping Bag".

Batcat is a cat of a very reserved nature. Perhaps it comes from the fact that he is an indoor cat. He just doesn't take well to strangers. He likes people, but any contact has to be done on his terms only. Anyone who just approaches him thinking to become his best friend has to think again. Batcat of course also chooses the objects of his affection carefully. Some visitors will be ignored and he will greet them with his absence. Some intrigues him and he will curiously wonder around, investigating the events as they unfold.

Batcat has always liked the Irishman, from the very beginning. He behaves very much the same when he is around as when I am alone with him in the house. Maybe it is because he instinctively knows that the Irishman understands cats, having been around them his whole life.
Recently, he even gave Batcat has most beloved (and best ever!) gift. A paper bag. Now, why have I never thought of that before? I have bought numerous fancy baskets and soft blankets in the pet stores, fun "cat" toys as well, all to be completely ignored and ending up discarded or given away to friends. Who knew that a simple paper bag would turn out to be the best place to sleep and play with? These days, Batcat has abandoned all the warm spots on sofas as chairs and happily rests in his new "sleeping bag". That is, when he is not investigating (relentlessly!) all its "bouncing back" corners, as seen in the short clip below.

Do Not Disturb, Please.

I write a lot about my cat, the Batcat. I guess I devote a lot of my posts to him, because he is a great pet and at all times an excellent companion.

I work long hours and even though I would love to have a dog, it would be just too cruel to leave him alone for over ten hours each day. Batcat on the other hand doesn't mind at all, in fact I think he quiet enjoys being in charge of his kingdom while I am gone. Being an inside cat, he is extremely calm and loves to sleep and to relax. And that is fine with me, as I love those activities very much as well.
And then, he is also extremely cute.

Abut five months ago Batcat developed a new habit. Every morning he would come up to my bedroom, jump on the bed and demand attention. I used to be one of those people who would objected strongly to this previously. I found having animals in bed or even on bed unhygienic and strange. Hmm, but little did I know I was slowly changing my principles in this respect.

It is impossible to throw ones pet that purrs loudly and plays cute, off the bed. IMPOSSIBLE. When he presses his little furry head against my hand and relaxes completely, it makes me relax too. I actually sleep better, something I would never expect.

Well, these days Batcat actually sleeps on the bed each night. As on a cue, as soon as the lights are out, I can hear his soft pads on the stairs. Then he meows loudly once and jumps up on the cover, making himself comfortable on the lower right side, purring loudly. I find myself drifting to sleep easily too, while listening to his rhythmic expression of satisfaction.

And every morning he appears so relaxed, playing cute, refusing to get up again, as seen on the clip below.

Relaxing Autumn Saturday.

Autumn has arrived and there is no way back. It has been a very rainy, windy and cold first week of September. Although the 1st of this month has been written into history as the warmest September day ever, the first week of this month must certainly has a record of its own, but a less flattering one.

In some way, Saturdays like these are also very cosy. Sitting in front of the fire, with a hot cup of coffee, while looking through my old photographs, holds a certain magic, I admit.
Batcat of course enjoys these quiet afternoons. He certainly knows how to relax and it is always highly contagious. As soon as I light the fire, he makes himself comfortable in front of the fireplace, falling asleep on the sheep skin. That is of course after he has hunted enough raindrops on the window pane and observed the world outside for a while. A very exhausting task, if you are a cat.

We are wishing everyone a very relaxing Saturday afternoon.

Late August Saturday.

The weather has turned very unstable, making it feel more like April than August. It rains heavily one minute, while the sun shines the next, making the air hot and cold, in a fast, alternate manner.
This is the first Saturday for a while that I am spending entirely inside. I am back to my "Lazy Saturday Afternoon" with a good cup of coffee, Batcat relaxing languidly at my feet and a couple of good magazines, which I have not had time to read yet. As I am reading, once in while I lean back to watch the rain pounding at the window pane, followed by the sun shining through the drops.

I love reading magazines and still today have two subscriptions; one is a fashion magazine and one is an interior decoration/culinary magazine. Both excellent and very inspiring. A perfect company for a rainy day.

Jackmanii' Flowers.

I was up very early this morning, or rather up late last night. Lying in my bed at 3AM, I watched the sky turn rosy red in the far east, as the sun was rising. The somewhat clear skies turned cloudy as I was falling asleep a few hours later and although I woke up to the sound of light rain in the late morning, the day did offer some sunshine in the afternoon.

In some way I like those rainy Sunday mornings. There is no rush to go outside, nor feeling guilty to be missing out on the sunshine. Instead it gives me time to sleep in and bake some fresh bread, prepare coffee from freshly ground beans and curl up in front of the television, watching my favorite movies. Today I watched - again - my favorite tragic story of all times, "Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet". I have dedicated a post to this movie in the past and those who have followed me for a while know two things about me; I am a hopeless romantic and I love this movie. The copy I saw today was a birthday gift from the Irishman, as strangely enough, I never owned the movie until now.
Did I tell you that he just "gets me"?

This week the rain that has been absent for such a long time was welcomed by the nature. No matter how I miss the heat, I have to conclude that the Scandinavian weather is perfect for agriculture.
Likewise, the rain had brought my Jackmanii clematis into bloom! Yes, the first few flowers can now be clearly observed. A reward for me and all of you that have been patient enough to follow this crazy update of mine.

Batcat is oblivious to all these changes in weather and nature and continues to love to relax. He has adopted a new habit in the past two months and that is to jump up on my bed at exactly 4AM each morning sniffing my face and purring loudly, demanding attention.
I can set my watch according to this new routine of his.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful and easy Sunday.

I Am Batcat!

This is what Batcat looks like when his afternoon nap is brutally interrupted by someone (his staff). I managed to capture him in the middle of a yawn, which on the picture looks like a threatening roar.

I am not sure exactly on which day he was born, but it was in May 2003, which makes him six years old this month. Those years went by in a flash; actually, that year was a very significant one in my life and brought on many changes of a personal nature, among other things this was the year I found and bought my house.

Batcat was born on a small farm in the northern part of the Jutland peninsula. I have posted a few pictures from his childhood previously. The farm was owned by one of our student’s family and when the farm cat produced a litter of four kittens, our female student did her best to persuade me to get one.
Relentlessly she kept sending me the cutest pictures of all the kittens until my heart gave in and I decided to get a cat. Not just to me, but even to a colleague of mine, who chose eventually to go for the only completely black kitten. (I seem to remember that the student never worked in science again after finishing her education, but became some sort of a sales person. Well, this did not surprise me a bit, actually.)

I knew I wanted a black and white cat and there were two tuxedo kittens in the litter. One was beautiful, his colouring close to perfect. For a while, I was pretty sure he would be the one. Until the day before we actually drove to get our kittens. Suddenly I knew I wanted that skinny little kitten with very long legs, that looked hilariously funny and that was nicked named “Harry Potter” by the student, as he had a funny white mark in his forehead.
Well, his name became Samson, as I have always liked cats’ names to contain an "s". He was called Samson or “Samso-loono” as he was a truly “loony” kitten, always full of life and energy.
However, since the handsome Irishman came into my life, Samson is not called Samson anymore. Almost immediately upon their first meeting, he stated that Samson looked like a feline Batman - "BatCat”. With his two pointy black ears, he looks like he is wearing a BatCat costume - a true cat superhero. So, from that moment on, he is only called Samson by the vet.

Batcat is my most beloved feline friend. Being an inside cat, he looks almost like a toy. His paws are snow-white and always clean, his pads are soft and smooth - his whiskers are long as they never get worn and his fur is always pristine, luscious and shiny.
As no other cats ever enter his territory, which is the house, he is very laid back and relaxed, as he has no need to feel anxious about protecting it at all times. This also means he stays away from hostile encounters with other cats and animals that can spread diseases. My large windows offer views of surrounding nature where he can watch birds and other animals through out the year, without hunting or killing them, as other cats do.

He is Batcat and he knows it.

Happy Birthday Batcat!

Nature In Bloom.

The unusually warm April has caused the nature to be about four weeks ahead of itself. Everything is in bloom - but in bloom in such a way I have never experienced before. All the flowers are large and in an unusual multitude. Everywhere I look, the tress, the bushes and the flowers are colourful, green and luscious.
Today is most likely the final day of the first truly warm and sunny period of this year. The relatively wind still and clear weather allowed me to spend a few serene hours outdoors.

The clip of Batcat below is dedicated to anyone who finds it difficult to relax on this Saturday.
Warning - it is highly contagious.:)

The Alpha Cat.

Besides Charlie, that comes for his daily visits with Batcat (one of which was captured here), there is another cat in the neighborhood. His name is Tiger. He is the Alpha Cat and the oldest cat around, even cooler than Charlie.
This weekend, both Charlie and Tiger were hanging around my terrace. At one point Tiger was making sure Charlie understood who is in charge. Just a friendly quarrel to keep things in perspective. Batcat, safe and warm in his kingdom, scrutinized the whole incident with amusement.
Cats are always a joy to observe.

(Note: The video is not the best quality and the microphone is overly sensitive; the noise in the background is NOT a plane landing in the vicinity but cars on a nearby road; interestingly enough in reality one can barely notice them.)

"Flight" Of The Intruder.

This past weekend, Charlie came by again for his daily visit. He is the coolest cat ever. He likes to sit in front of the window, looking in, waiting for Batcat.
Batcat on the other hand cannot keep his cool for very long. Remember that he is hot. And remember his wild eyes when you are watching the clip below.;))

Batcat Tag.

Even though this blog is mine, it seems that Batcat is starting his own fan base. Recently he has been tagged by Inul. Imagine that! Hmm, I think I am jealous.

Anyway, the tag means answering a few questions and posting his favourite picture.
I have consulted him and these are the replies from the number one house cat himself.;)

1) Do you think you are hot?
Of course I am hot!
But then again, I can also feel cold.
I love when the no. 2 of my staff lights the fire in the fireplace.
Then I get hot.
Very hot.

2) Upload a favourite picture of you.


3) Why do you like that picture?
Cause I am cute. Don't you think I am cute?
Can you see my wild eyes?
I still have eyes like that at times.
And I am also very young on that picture. That was when I was roaming the barn with my siblings. Long before I relocated to the white house on the hill, a.k.a My Kingdom.

4) When was the last time you ate pizza?
Is this some sort of a joke???
I do NOT eat pizza.
I eat only meals that consist of dry pellets. A particularly luxurious, classy brand.
I eat better than my staff. Yummy!
Sometimes though they share their meals with me.
The only food that I might accept, is a piece of well cooked chicken.

5) The last song you listen too?
The staff keeps listening to a German radio station at all times.
The last one that was on was this one.
It sounds like irritating noise to me; however the no. 2 of my staff seems to like it a great deal.
She does try to sing along and dances to it at times too.
People are truly weird creatures.

6) What are you doing now besides this?
Trying to sleep.
Do you mind?

7) What name would you prefer besides this?
Number One.

8) Who is no.1?
Aren't you paying attention? I AM of course!


9) No.3 is having relationship with?
With no.2.

10) Say something about no.5.
His name is Charlie.
He seems to like to stare at me.
I think he envies me My Kingdom.
But man he ain't getting in here!

11) How about no.4?
His name is Tiger.
He sometimes fights Charlie.
I am so happy I am the only ruler of My Kingdom.

12) Who is no.2?
The Female of my staff.

Tag 5 people:
People? I do not deal with people. Perhaps only two; my staff.
But any pet reading this can consider themselves tagged, should they wish of course.
(Sundance, Jewel, Eddie, Bubbles ..anyone?)

Cat And Mouse.

When I moved into my house about six years ago, the friends that helped me move bought me a door mat as a fun "house warming" present. As I did not have any at that time, they considered it to be just a small present, actually more for fun than anything else. They saw it and thought it would fit in as a temporary one. It is fitting my house perfectly color wise, as it has a little red mouse on it (and my door is red on the inside) and a grey cat and background (and the door is grey on the outside).
The funny thing is that I have now had this mat since then and I am not thinking of replacing it either. I love it. And so does Batcat.
I have heating in the floor in the hallway and the pipes must be running just under the door. Therefore this doormat is a very warm place in the wintertime. If there is no fire in the fireplace, this is his preferred place to lie on. As he did today.;)