Mr Kitty and The Old Boys

Recently someone inquired how is our Mr Kitty doing so I felt I have to oblige the audience with a few words and photos of our latest acquisition. Latest because he is the last to join the two boxer dogs team we had already.  

He is just over a year now. We brought him in after my daughter's persistent mental warfare for months (which apparently worked we are really dog people here, or that's what we kept saying to ourselves?!) It was for her birthday and he was so tiny, just 4 weeks old and didn't know a thing (genie mac, he was so cute). 

I have to admit that he brought absolute havoc in the house. 

• He climbed and jumped everywhere (that was a shock compared to The Old Boy who was a lively puppy but never did anything so outrageous except once when he was really young and untrained and he reached on top of the stove and pushed a pot of soup on the floor. We found him hiding in the opposite side of the room behind the potted palm. he never did anything like that ever again ) 
• He had a lot to say and all the time, apparently this type of cats are called vocal. From all the cats in the world we managed to pick the most vocal kitten ever (compared to the Old Boys who never ever bark or utter a sound, except when playing, because we thought them not to do it. Fat chance trying to teach a cat not to meow)  
• Last Christmas, he totally wrecked our Christmas tree because he was constantly climbing on it and hiding among the branches. At the end it just broke in two (at least it was after Christmas) The Old Boy never did that, except on his very first Christmas when he gently pushed the tree over to get to all the chocolate decorations, which he unwrapped and ate happily during the night. Well, we never bought any more eatable decorations since then. 
• every time I was washing the dishes Mr. Kitty would climb on my shoulders, digging his lovely
  
  sharp claws from my ankles to my neck and then would watch fascinated until I finish (I can not describe all the scars we got from those so tiny but so piercing and sharp little tools of death)
• he loved to sit on top of the table while we eat and watch with the occasional "meow" (at least the Old Boys sit under the table while we eat, ha-ha) now that he is older he knows he is not allowed on the table and he only sits on the chairs and looks from there. Imagine a pair of piercing eyes staring at you over the edge with a bunch of twitching whiskers  
• by the way, we though Mr Kitty was a girl at first, until about 6 months later when we discovered that certain male attributes are growing, so from Kitty turned into Mr Kitty 
• The Old Boy kept following him everywhere like a shadow. It took him months to find out what the hell was that... 
  

Hanging around with our well trained and behaved dogs was definitely positive influence to Mr. Kitty

• he learned his name and when I call him he responds with a meow and comes, even if not right away. Sometimes he is too far, or too busy I presume, if he is out in the neighborhood, but as long as he can hear me he is home in the next 5-10 minutes.   
• he loves a good treat as much as anyone and at home we have our routines and the tree of them line up together, they all sit like good boys, we wouldn't have it any other way. So cute, two huge boxers and a tiny cat on the side 
• he also likes his walks and quite often he comes with me and the Old Boys for a short walk to the Waterfall. Imagine the look on peoples' faces when they meet us in the neighborhood ;) We are already known to everyone in the village because rain or shine we walk our dogs every single day. Now people say stuff like "You walk your cat too?!????!!!!??!!!"

So more or less this is what I can think of our Mr Kitty right now. This very moment he is rolled up in a ball in the middle of the sofa and he is not going anywhere - there is a wicked storm outside so he is taking it easy today until it is over. If push comes to shove he will share the sofa with me and the Old Boys while we watch some TV. 

Imagine that, a perfect evening....

Mr Kitty having fun

 

My daughter just said a few days ago, that if she knew having a cat is so much fun she would have asked for one a long time ago.

I tend to agree..even though I always considered myself strictly a dog person.... 

Last of the summer

I was walking today in the countryside with the dogs and noticed an alarming occurrence - the end of the summer is approaching. Slowly, slowly it is creeping up on us, and before we know it, autumn will be here. 

This fact always makes me sad because I love the freedom of summer - holidays, beach, water, walks in the forest. Early mornings with crisp air and sun up high in the sky from almost 4 o'clock in the morning, sunsets so late you don't have to wait for them at all... You know...there are so many fabulous and gorgeous things about summer that we all love...

I am not saying that I don't like autumn, on the contrary, actually I really love the season when the colours of the trees change. It is one of my favourite moments as a photographer.

The end of summer means the cold is coming, the rains soon after, then the days are getting shorter and darker... The leaves will fall out and the then the greys and browns and all the other dark shades will be ruling in nature until the spring arrives again next year with fluffy blossoms and new wonderful light and all will be reborn again....

For now everything is still green, although the dark verdant colours of the full summer are gone and the grasses and leaves are tinting in hues of golden brown and orange, subtle in its change, no one can see them but me and still, I know it is there and it makes me edgy although I try to ignore it.

ok, I will stop, the last of the summer is still here, no need to go crazy...yet

 

Thanks for being here with me

THE SUNSHINE AWARD

Hi Everyone

I was just handed the SUNSHINE AWARD by the lovely Miss Annie . 

It is given to bloggers who inspire creativity and positivism. 

I have to admit that I am really pleased 

if my work has that effect on people. 

This is exactly what I WANT and HOPE to achieve by my images. 

I  want to share the beauty I see with all of you 

and I wish to make you feel good about the world we live in 

I wish to inspire you to grab a pencil and draw, 

or get the camera and take a photo

JUST CREATE SOMETHING 

IT IS THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD!!

The rules are to provide 11 facts about yourself, answer the 11 questions set for you, provide 11 questions yourself and tag 11 lovely bloggers to do it too. 

Copy and past the questions I have provided below and I look forward to reading your responses! 

11 FACTs ABOUT ME

1. I am madly in love with photography and never go anywhere without my camera. This is my RULE NUMBER 1 
2. My second passion is being outdoors, walking, hiking, mountain climbing etc... anything related to all that is my cup of tea. With my camera in hand obviously.
3. I am mad about water too. If I see a puddle, lake, mountain stream, ocean, sea, glacier lake, I am in it. Swimming is the only sport I ever did seriously in my life. 
4. I love to read. I am mad about books and I think that the smell of a brand new book is intoxicating. I am very open minded I read a lot of different genres - Sci-Fi and fantasy among my favourite though. I am a girl with a lot of imagination.  
5. I always listen to music - especially when I am working - I need to have the music going on strong!! The same as with books, I am open to many different styles that can surprise you, some can be a bit incompatible. 
6. I don't drive, I cycle or walk.
7. I don't like hot weather.
8. I love drizzling rain and fog.(!!I know?!)
9. I adore chocolate but I have't had any for ages...:-(
10. I want to go to Alaska and Iceland and take photos there until I drop!! 
11. I love trees, I eat healthy, I exercise every day, I love coffee and I haven't smoked for 12 years but I still enjoy a good glass of wine!!! 

Well, this is me. More or less. 

Here are Annie's questions: 

1. Why did you start blogging? - I thought it would be fun, and it is. I love doing it
2. Where is your happy place? - Walking the ridges of Connemara
3. Facebook or Twitter and why? - Facebook, never really tried twitter seriously
4. If you could go any place in the world, where would you go and why? - Alaska, I am in love with the landscapes and the pine trees
5. What is the best piece of advice you have been given? Use margarine to grease the baking tins not oil
6. Where is the next place you want to visit? Home - I was born in Bulgaria but have lived abroad for the last 20 years
7. Where was your last vacation? I went Home instead, at the time I hadn't been there for 7 years
8. Who would you most like to have dinner with, dead or alive? Terry Pratchett 
9. Cats, dogs or guinea pigs? Boxers, I have 2 and I am totally in love with them 
10. What are you having for dinner tonight? sun-dried tomato pasta with fresh basil and feta cheese 
11. Best beauty or fashion tip?  Colour co-ordinate your clothes 

My questions for the next winners are:

1. What is your favourite thing to do, the one that brings you peace and happiness?
2. What is your preferred form of art?  
3. What was the last great book you read?
4. Do you like to cook and what is your best dish?
5. Are you a water person? Do you like to swim?
6. Are you an early riser or a night awl?
7. What do you prefer coffee or tea?
8. If you had the time would you go hiking and hitch-hiking around the world?
9. Do you like going to the Cinema and which is you favourite movie at the moment
10. Are you on a diet?
11. Would you say you have a healthy life style? 

and now here are the blogs I nominate for THE SUNSHINE AWARD

1. A Patchy Place
2. Oh Joy! Photography
3. Claire Renaud, Artist
4. Saida Cane Photography
5. Claudine de Fay - artist
6. Maya Wandowska Photography
7. Daily Inspiration
8. Rebecca Prough Art
9. Taralezh
10. The Hearabouts
11. Carol in Cairns

Well done guys, you deserve it!!

Shroom time!!

The other day I went to my usual photo walk with a project in mind - to catch the last remnants of summer. I looked everywhere, believe me, but all I found was a butter cup with half eaten petals. 

The green, I discovered, is not very green any more and doesn't remind me of summer either. So, I definitely have to put the thoughts of summer behind me and as much as I don't want to welcome the rain, the cold and the constant cloud cover, they are here to stay. But there is something else that I found instead of my summer reminders - I found mushrooms!  

Shrooms everywhere in every shape and size!  They sprouted overnight and literally took over the world!! It's shroom time everyone get ready, but please don't go picking and eating if you don't know what you are doing!!!!! It's far too dangerous than you think!

Enjoy my Shroom gallery, I certainly enjoyed taking those images:

click on the images to see them as a slideshow

  

I found this gathering on the side of the road right in my neighborhood. They grew overnight for my own personal delight when I passed with the camera in the morning it was a wonderful moment but a dreadful delay for the dogs!! They had to wait patiently until I finished shooting happily.   

  

In case you are wondering, I always shoot in RAW and the images are taken with 50mm lens 1.8 aperture, my camera is Canon 400D. I am in love with this lens and I am exploiting it to its full potential  she is performing miracles for me I dare say!!

Thank you for stopping by! Please don't hesitate to tell me what you think!    

Autumn Celebration

It is the first of October and I have to admit that this year Autumn strolled in without hesitation and it is definitely here to stay. 

Up until a few days ago, the trees were still more dark green than brown, the grass was less rusty than it is suddenly today and certainly, there weren't as many leaves dancing in the wind either.


Since my Sunday walk, when I officially went into Autumn mode, all the signs are boldly present. The dark luscious green of the trees is suddenly enriched with reddish and brown tones. The birches are slowly adorning their golden attire and the rushes in the bogs are becoming all rusty with a touch of crimson where the sun rays touch them.
It is an amazing scene that can drive anyone crazy with all that stunning beauty. Nature is perfect and we need to protect it and keep it clean!

There is nothing more annoying for me than finding everyday litter by the side of the roads. How come, some people can not wait to trow their garbage in the bin like everyone else?Why do they have to toss it out of their car window?! The answer evades me completely but their actions, sadly, I witness on daily basis.

Let us live this conversation for another day because this topic has been on the tip of my lips for a while now and continue the celebration of Autumn' arrival. Enjoy nature's palette of colours, so fascinating and so gorgeous.

My hiding place

It is amazing how the weather can be just fine and almost sunny one moment and then suddenly, it's windy, drizzling and without a promise for a blue sky anytime soon. 
I am observing this very transformation right now. I am sitting with the laptop in my favourite place - the green house. I love to be outside and when I am inside I like to feel as if I am outside. I know it sounds crazy, but I simply love any kind of vegetation and I just love to be able to see the green leaves outside my window moving to the rhythm of the wind. 
This my secret place here, where I hide among my foliage plants. I have a thing about green and leaves. I have an avocado tree here which, I planted right after we arrived in Ireland 8 years ago. It is taller than me now. Keeping it company are a couple of foliage begonias (I love the wrinkled multicolored leaves)a bunch of cacti (another weakness of mine)a few geraniums, and of course the other giant palm tree. When I start watering all the plants around the house it takes me about half an hour. But I love every second of it. 
So this is my hiding place where I go looking for peace and quiet, where I think the best and where I find my inspiration and ideas. Submerged in a sea of green inside and outside. 
Simply perfect. 

A splash of Pink

Since the weather is pretty bad right now - rain, wind, clouds and all that - I crave for colour and light. 

It always happens to me if I am stuck inside and the only colours are dark grey, dark brown and more dark of everything. And since I prefer to take photos outdoors with natural light inside I feel a bit restrained and imprisoned.

So I search for colour to lift my spirits up and I always find something in my database. I am still organizing all the images I have taken over the years and today I chose the wild rose. There is plenty of those in the area where I live and they make gorgeous photography subjects!!

I hope you will agree. So, here is a splash of colour from me, hiding from the wind and the rain today, searching for enlightenment, light and beautiful colours. 

Thank you for the visit

IF YOU HAVEN'T HAVE ENOUGH FLOWERS HAVE A LOOK AT THIS  FLOWER DREAM