Summer princess in the snow

My cat Natsuki ( = Summer princess in Japanese ) , is going through her first winter together with me.
While she loves going outside in summer ,

I wasn't sure how she would react to sub-zero temperatures, but I shouldn't have worried.
She often goes outside during the night ( with temperatures below -5°C ) to hunt,

even though in this picture she seems to have found the perfect spot away from the cold,
on top of the central heating.

It's hard getting good pictures at night, because she runs around a lot and I can't see her in the dark ^^.

So I have taken a few last Sunday when the sun was shining ( even though it was still below 0°C ! )
( just click on any picture to open a large size slideshow)

 Stalking though the snow ( my very own snow leopard ).

 and hunting for things under the snow.

 

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Till soon !

Ohmygod, it's hello kitty !

It had to happen sometime.
I found this advertisement on my way to work.

( click on the picture for a larger view)
IS THERE NO STOPPING THIS KAWAII ONSLAUGHT ?
I'm constantly exposed to it on my friend Kirin's blog so I'm not totally shell shocked , but still. I have to drive past this every day to work !
I can't even blame the Japanese for this , because it's a Korean brand.

What does the advert say ? Well for those of you who aren't fluent in Dutch ( that's 99.5 % of the planet ) it says in the balloon "(It's) Time to change your mobile phone"
and the horn blowing mouse announces 20 Euros per old mobile phone handed in.
The fine print explains you get 20 Euros for up to 3 phones in working order in vouchers.

Thankfully, I have a real cat at home to remind me cats aren't always white with a pink ribbon around one ear.
Meet my very real cat Kedam, everybody , lurking in the grass for passing prey she can kill

( click on the picture for a larger view of my backyard predator )
and sitting on her favorite cushion in HER house

( click on the picture for a larger view and check out the spooky green reflection in the eyes)
I'm only allowed to live here provided I open doors for Her Highness, fill the water dish and fill up the food container. I'm on constant probation : one too many mistakes and I'm sooo fired!

Snowy fields

Global warming or not, this winter we've had more snow than usual.
My pampas grass seems to be holding up nicely.

Is that a black panther sneaking up on me ?


Ah no it's my cat , Kedam, plowing through the snow.

With the sun out, I pack up the camera and go for a walk .
A short five minute walk takes me to the open fields behind the village where I live.


Cows graze here in summer, now it's all snow up to the horizon.

The rivers are frozen over ,

with a few places where the flowing water has cut through the ice.

The do it yourself snow-mobile.


As the sun starts to set , temperatures drop : time to head back home.

The setting sun colours everything in shades of bronze and russet.

( As always , click on the pictures for a larger view )

Country road, take me home.

The sun has almost set and I'm almost home.

Bright new morning

Last saturday morning started out really bright and sunny ( even though it's October already, which is usually a rainy , windy period in Belgium).
I just got myself a digital camera and now I'm learning how to use it (so many settings !) because on saturday afternoon I'll be visiting the FACTS 2008 convention , which only comes around once a year.
So no travelogue right now , I'll continue it later on.

These are the very first few pics with my new camera.
This is Tek the neighbour's cat sitting in the back of my garden. He's been courting my cat for years without any success, but not for lack of trying ;)
He hasn't given up yet.


I made this bowl of Miso soup with tofu, Marufuji Udon , wakame and spring onions. It's so easy to make and so tasty !

Honestly, doesn't this picture make you hungry ?

Watch for my next post when I get my pictures from the FACTS convention sorted out.