A cat's point of view...

They say white cats are deaf....

(and we tried to make contact - this one really is!)

Is that why they have to climb up on roofs and sit on chimneys???

Have a great time everyone!

Over The Top

Thank you so much LORI for passing this lovely award on to me! ♥

Accepting this award comes with a challenge.

The challenge is to answer the below questions using one word only.

...this is hard!

...but I‘ll try!

***

1. Where is your cell phone? CLOSE

2. Your hair? GREY

3. Your mother? CREATIVE

4. Your father? GENTLE

5. Your favorite food? MISCELLANEOUS

6. Your dream last night? NICE

7. Your favorite drink? MILK

8. Your dream/goal? ITHAKA

9. What room are you in? UNIVERSE

10. Your hobby? BEING

11. Your fear? LONELINESS

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? HOME

13. Where were you last night? HOME

14. Something that you aren't? BORING

15. Muffins? SELFMADE

16. Wish list item? ELECTRICTOOTHBRUSH

17. Where did you grow up? FARM

18. Last thing you did? NOTHING

19. What are you wearing? PJs

20. Your TV? PHILLIPS

21. Your pets? FRIENDS

22. Friends? SOME

23. Your life? BLESSED

24. Your mood? SOBER

25. Missing someone? NO

26. Vehicle? 4WD

27. Something you're not wearing? DRESS

28. Your favorite store? ELECTRONICs

29. Your favorite color? BARN-RED

30. When was the last time you laughed? TODAY

31. Last time you cried? TODAY

32. Your best friend? HASI

33. One place that I go to over and over? LOVE

34. One person who emails me regularly? WHATISREGULARLY?

35. Favorite place to eat? SOFA

WELL, I have to admit that I had to cheat just a little bit...

hope that‘s okay. ;-)

Also I'm to pass this award/challenge along to six others...

please, if you like, take the award/challenge...

(Boy, will they be happy about this - or not...?!)

SNIFLES AND SMILES - Janine, it's good to have you back! :)

JENNIFER Photography - Jen, I love your photos and creativity! :)

LIFE AT STAR'S REST - Love your place and pics! :)

MUSINGS FROM THE DEEP - A blog about dedication, passion, honesty and more :)

RED AND THE PEANUT - All about birds and life, a pleasure to follow this blog! :)

MANCOSMULEMJ - Now that you have 20 followers it is time for you to receive (and hopefully accept) your first award! ;-) xxx

Well, that's it, i did it.

Thanks again LORI!

***

Elements

Well, yesterday's PIZZA turned out to be a hamburger with fries...

I would have preferred the Pizza, but our Pizzeria is closed till the 25th...

OH! That is TOMORROW!!! :)))))))

We started a fire last night.

The fireplace works great and Cleo and (especially) Mika enjoy the warmth coming out.

Mika also loves to watch the flames when they "play" and "dance" with each other.

The fire has been and still is one of natures greatest inventions.

It kept us warm for thousands of years and helps us to prepare food.

When at work in nature, it can be a danger to humans and animals, but it also helps nature to renew growth and life. It feeds the earth.

It is a blessing and can be a curse for so many.

The element fire is associated with many things.

Wit the color red for example.

And with summer.

With confidence, enthusiasm and motivation.

As well as anger and war.

The element fire brings action, passion and energy.

The fire signs in astrology are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

In TMC fire is also associated with the Heart and it's partnered organ the Small Intestine.

Feng Shui uses the fire element (colors Red, strong Yellow, Orange, Purple and Pink)

to bring elements into our living environment that we might miss or need in order to live a happier and healthier life.

You'll even find the fire element (along with the other 4 elements Wood, Earth, Metal and Water) in dieting and cook books, as well as in many different therapies and massage styles.

If you had a wild horse to tame, or an somewhat aggressive dog to train, or a rebellious child to raise...

would you give them RED things (halters, collars, blankets...... and cloth) to wear?

Think about that for a moment...!

If I would have to train a horse with a very strong "personality" or a stallion, I would be really careful not to wear anything red on me...

;-)

What do you think?

All of that is interesting stuff, let me tell you that!!!

:)

For me as a person, I never liked the color red when I grew up.

I never liked to wear red cloth because I was too afraid to "stand out".

Today I have no problems anymore wearing red sometimes.

Sometimes I even need the color red.

I need some "fire" in order to accomplish something...

I'm digressing somewhat...

FIRE

FIRE

FIRE

I guess the reason why I am bringing this up today

is

because

Winter is near.

Winter is cold and often dark.

Fire is light and warm.

Fire is SUMMER and we have to bring some "summer" into Winter as often as we can.

So start up your fireplace OR wear a red sweater!

It will help you keep warm outside and inside!

:)

Have a great weekend everyone!

:)))

Fun in the yard

Yes, it's been a nice week.

We had good and bad weather...

Well, is there good and bad weather??

No, there is only weather we like and weather we don't like.

:)

We took Mika out again for a walk on the leash.

He's accepting it very well and was playing with Cleo, the leaves on the ground and climbing on the cherry tree...

He is my number one "model" right now.

His eyes are so fascinating and he seems to love to pose for me! :)

Cleo loves to play with her little soccer ball...

FLYING over the lawn..!

Our plan for the weekend was to go away, stay overnight in a nice hotel and get spoiled.

BUT

the hotel screwed up and our reservation (we had booked a room where we could bring our cat and dog...).

Today we found out that no room is available where pets are allowed...

Bah! Grrrr!

Well, we will make the best out of it and enjoy the weekend anyways. We'll make a nice day trip or two...

But first we'll start the weekend with a nice PIZZA, I only have to order and pick it up.

:)

October days & Quality moments

It's cold outside, 5 °C (41°F).

The sun is shining today and those huge birch trees out in the yard are just golden.

An typical october day!

The grass has stopped growing, which makes Hasi happy. She's the master lawn mower operator and is thankful for winter break.

Hasi's still in bed, sleeping in on this wonderful saturday morning, together with Cleo.

Cleo has been at the animals hospital to remove dental calculus.

She's been sedated and is still not fully recoverd from that. She's not as relaxed as usual and has to go out a few times during the night.

Which means less sleep for us.

Mika on the other hand is as frisky as always and expects us to get up early because he wants to play. He's used to hear the alarm going off at 6:30... and when that doesn't happen on a saturday or sunday, he just don't care.

He starts playing under the bed, making sure at least one of us is getting up.

He is joining me now on the sofa and watching my fingers tapping on the keyboard...

The noise that my fingers make on the keyboard seem to sound funny to him.

It's funny with animals.

I got an e-mail from a friend this week with funny animal photos and a nice little story regarding a dog and a 6 year old boy which was a nice reminder of

Quality Moments

Here's the text...:

A Dog's Purpose? (From a 6-year-old)

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said,' People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?''
The Six-year-old continued,

' Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''


Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

****

We all live quite busy lives.

We are busy with work, with hobbies and socializing with others.

We are often busy with spiritual things and too often with ourselves.

We are often busy thinking of the things we don't have, of past events and chances that we might have missed, we think of the things we want (to happen or to get) and wonder how our future will be.

In the middle of all that thinking we forget to think of the now.

We forget to look at what we have now, of what we are doing right now.

I thought of that when I was driving home from school the other day.

I think most people are not really busy with driving when they are out on the road.

They are either busy with where they are coming from or with where they are going to.

They don't sit IN the car, they are not even aware of it.

They just drive that car in "automatic mode", as I would call it.

We use cell phones in the car, we eat and drink in the car, we dream "away" in the car... just to name a few things we do in the car instead of actually "driving it".

BOOOOOM!

That's what we might hear some day when we "wake up" from that "dreaming away modus", and if we are lucky, we get another chance to remember what is really important and how to recognize it.

Recognize them.

Those Quality Moments.

I've been always fortunate to have animals in my life.

Growing up on a farm teaches you to be "there". It teaches you to care about another entities life and needs. (If you open your eyes to it)

Even now, our whole life resolves around animals.

Its mostly them who "give" those Quality Moments,

who ask for them, maybe with only a look,

or a noise that they make,

a call that they send out.

They help us to find those moments, they help to create them, they help to stop that

"business"

in our heads.

They give that gift, and it's up to us to take it.

It's up to us to JUST sit back for a moment and remember

how to breath,

how to smile!

How to open our eyes and see what is right in front of us.

How to not think of time, past or future.

It's not just pets who help us find those Quality Moments.

It's also wild animals (that might cross right in front of your car, and you'll have to step on the breaks hard in order to safe their lives...)

ARE YOU AWAKE NOW??!!

Children also have that gift to give, those Quality Moments.

They might smile at you or do something funny or stupid to get your attention... just to remind you of that Quality Moment that you can enjoy with them only if you pay attention to the NOW.

You can find those Quality Moments with your partner, your family, with a friend and even with only yourself.

You just have to find that "button" within yourself to turn off that "automatic business modus" in your head, take a deep breath and enjoy.

Have a great October Saturday everyone!!!!

:)))

Cold colder coldest...

It's getting cold, we had a couple of night frosts and some cold wind.

The sun is trying, but the clouds are many.

We had some sunny days, it's just wise to dress in layers and put something warm on your head as well.

Back in Austria they have already had snow showers, that after summer temperatures only a week ago.

When it is sunny and warmer in our backyard, we do a little leash training with Mika.

He slowly gets the hang of it, only putting the little harness on him is a hassle. You need at least 4 hands to do it....

Cleo seems to be proud of the little pupil! :)

She is very much involved in the teachings, she takes the lead and Mika follows.

Now it's time for morning school again, swedish lessons.

School is just about 10-15 minutes from here and I will be back home around lunch time.

That's how nature looks around here right now, many beautiful colors everywhere, the farmers are trying to get the last potatoes out of the ground.

The sun makes everything look golden and shining.

A pleasure for the senses!

Have a great day everyone!!!

:))

Learning by doing ..... or falling...?

Mika...

A milisplitsecond before he lost grip of the back of the chair...

(PS: he's fine and will probably try again.... ;-))

*

Going strong! ♥

There is no one that knows me better then her.

She knows me better then I know myself.

WE are a team for 12 years now, unbelievable how time is flying.

And yet it seems like yesterday that we met.

It's unbelievable where we got to go together, where we have been already!

The paths we have been wandering together so far

were full of rocks, mighty and small, they came in all colors and shapes.

But we always found that soft, green path around them to walk on.

Our path was also full of surprises around every corner, full of joyful moments, tears and laughter, all shared and valued greatly.

We've been walking together, walking away from each other and walking towards each other, always staying within the boundaries of the same universe.

We share feelings and thoughts, we share dreams and reality.

We share responsibility and carelessness.

Each one of us walks free and yet we walk as a unity.

We set each other free, every day a little more,

and yet we come together closer and closer.

Universe has known us as soul-mates 4ever.

Thats just the way it is,

and always has been,

and always will be.

:))

12 years and going on strong!

♥

All photos by Manfred :)

*

Time is kind!

Mika is growing so much.

He's becoming a "teenager" now and asks to be shown more discipline ;-)

He is interested in our plates with people food on them and wants to explore higher grounds (Tables, windowsills, book shelves...)

His paw is healing so fine. :))

I took this picture with my new iPhone! :))

Time is kind.

We feel better already.

Our batteries seem to be recharging well.

Weather is kind to, it's quite warm and sunny.

Gotta go back to my study material...

Ha det bra!

:))

Batteries empty

We are tired.

It has been a long, nice summer.

It feels like we haven't done much, but 2 moves in one year and one in the planning next spring are a lot to deal with.

We really need to re-charge our batteries!!!

Luckily our animals are all doing fine, Cleo is enjoying sunny afternoons and the walks and Mika's paw is healing nicely.

He's not longer wearing a bandage.

We need to watch over him a couple more days so he wan't chew on it too much.

But he'll be fine I'm sure.

He needs to re-learn how to use his second paw, it's still a bit stiff. But he's young and in a couple of days he will be back to business as usual.

:))

We are dieting a bit.

We try to eat healthier and reduce sugary stuff as much as possible.

Not easy when almost every product you buy in the supermarket, from bread to soft drinks and so on, have lots of sugar in them.

We are saying NO to deserts and chocolate, but that is "easy" (just kidding).

Saying NO to the "hidden" sugars and their substitutes is not so easy... simply because you don't have much choice it seems.

We "civilized" people are so spoiled with food. And we are blind. And we don't even know anymore how a simple potato or a piece of cauliflower tastes without salt.

Or how yogurt tastes without sugar and fruits (meaning artificial flavors and artificial colors).

Now they are selling Water in I don't know how many different tastes!

It takes forever to find a bottle NORMAL, still water in the shelves!!!

And even then, all the different bottles, the different brands... none tastes the same.

I don't even know anymore how NORMAL water tastes.

Is it supposed to "taste" like something or not.

Some brands taste strange to me, "Evian" is the most neutral to me.

Vegetables.

Do you buy them fresh (asparagus from chile can't be fresh really!) or in cans..?

Or frozen...?

Fruits.

Is it good for you to eat all kinds of fruits all year around or is it even necessary?

Do you buy organic or not?

Can you even trust that organic is "clean"?

Milk.

I love milk. Always did.

Did you know that Milk is not good for grown ups???!!!

It's not!

It inflates your belly and your airways get all phlegmy.

We drink lactose free milk now. And we eat lactose free yogurt.

We are lucky that sweden's supermarkets offer lots of lactose free products.

And they taste very good!

Really.

Well, I could go on like that forever...

Fast Food...

It's so easy and ....fast.

Often cheap too.

It takes time to prepare a proper, healthy meal, doesn't it.

Fast Food tastes "good". And it always tastes the same.

We are so well trained, we eat what they sell.

Training starts so early, it starts with baby food.

Hipp & Co are doing their best to make sure we love spagetti, pizza, lasagne and meatballs.

MacDonalds & Co is also making sure that we feel like we are in Disney Land every time we visit their restaurants.

You see, life around her in the civilized world is full of temptation.

Sometimes I really wish we wouldn't be so (sorry, have to speak for myself here) fixated on food.

What is food really for?

It has to feed you, right?!

It has to give you nutrition and help to keep you alive.

It should taste okay to, right?!

Suddenly I get the image of a pizza in my head, a pizza I ate weeks ago.

We picked it up in our local pizza butik, means pizza "store".

The ham on that pizza was as pink as baby cloth!!!

Yak!

I really need to change my "relationship" with food.

I really do!

I need lots of "brain food" lately.

Nuts and stuff, you know...

Learning a new language is fun.

Every day I get more confident to use some words or short sentences in daily life.

:))

Hope to get a hang on all that grammar stuff soon.

Swedish grammar seems to be quite complicated...

But I was able to learn german, english and dutch grammar, and swedish is not too different to the german. So...

Gotta go and study some vocabulary...

Ha det bra! (Means someting like "Bye, have a good time" or "Take care"...)

God natt! (Means "Good night"! )

:))

Update on Mika

Mika is doing fantastic!

We change his bandage every day and his paw looks good. No infection so far.

He's going back to the clinic on Wednesday to pull the stitches.

The vet told us to keep him in the cage for 10 days... impossible.

The first couple of days we took him out every hour and played with him. We didn't allow him to jump and run.

But the last few days he's out most of the time, sleeping on the sofa and playing with us, eating and enjoying his freedom. We put pillows around the sofa so he can get on and off easy.

He's in his cage only during the night or when both of us are out of the house.

Otherwise he's galopping through the house and is happy and growing.

Yesterday we drove up north to visit our friends (the ones that own Midas now) and spend the afternoon and evening with them (with Kaiserschmarren!!!).

Mika went with us and had the best time with our friends son Niklas, playing and sleeping in the bedsitter (Jugendzimmer).

We were really proud of him, he did well in the car (in his cage), no complaining at all.

What a fantastic little man!

What a joy!

The weather is not so nice right now.

It is very stormy outside and rain-showers are coming down hard.

But I am not complaining, we had an absolute fantastic and long summer. :)

It's Autumn all around.

Spring and Autumn are my favorite seasons.

The colors are so charming now and it is a joy to see how nature prepares for a long nap.

We took Cleo for a walk through one of the nature reserves around the two lakes close by.

I think it was begin of the week.

We climbed over rocks and tree stumps and sat down on a bench on top of the hill to enjoy the wonderful view over the lakes and woods.

I love living here in Sweden, there is so much to explore for us, not just around here.

We are thinking of making a tour through entire Sweden next year (possibly by motorhome).

All the way up north, deeper and deeper into nature and (human)solitariness.

We'll see if that plan will become reality.

I am going to school again.

Swedish lessons every day now.

Every morning from 8:15 to 12.55.

Then home to study...

...and play with Mika.

:))

Time to get the pj's on....

Have a wonderful week everyone!!!!!!!!!

*