Amidala's latest sport

Our dear cat, Amidala, has conquered new hunting grounds this Christmas.

Her favourite targets are the red Christmas tree bulbs.
She knows she not allowed to kill indoors, but the call of the wild is just too strong.

Here she has managed to pull one bulb down while I was adjusting the camera. She rapidly pretended to have struck gold in the flower pot as she detected the camera lens.

The target is about to become the fourth victim this Christmas. The others were crushed against the wall. My greatest fear is that she'll be hurt by the glass shards.

Amidala cannot resist the sound of a cracking catch. She's pullling the bulbs up against the wall till there's nothing left, but an empty shell.

Gunnar had to carry the reckless warrior away to protect her from getting hurt. Amidala sure is not amused.

Garden fall, the last rose of Norway

Last Tuesday Gunnar, Amidala and I had probably the last great garden day of this year. We worked until the dark fell on and we couldn't see what we were doing. The next day more rain and chill made us stay indoors, but the joy of yesterday still lingered on. So did the hideous pains in my right wrist.

I love roses, but the love is mostly unilateral. Even so, I keep planting new ones. Red ones only, and late this fall some slow growers finally rewarded my efforts.
Hidden among a big hydrangea shrub a tiny red little fellow
assured me that my love was not in vain.

Amidala thrives when we are working outdoors. She especially finds joy in the tranquillity in the afternoons, and chase the odd mouse now and then. She also invites her friends to come over for a "happy meal", but when her folks are outdoors, she's busy guarding her territory.
The leaves of the blood beech in late afternoon sun. They are a sight for soar eyes. They just grow without any cravings at all, and know how to die in beauty.

Amidala most is taking part in the procedure of planting spring bulbs. That is; I am planting, and she's digging them up to control if the work is properly done.
She's such a lovely, Godgiven creature. I dedicate this Dylan song to her.

Do you love me,
Or are you just extending good will?
Do you need me me half as bad as you say,
Or are you just feeling guilt?
I've been burned before and I know the score
So you won't hear me complain.
will I be able to count on you,
Or is your love in vain?

Are you so fast that you cannot see
That I must have solitude?
When I am in the darkness,
Why do you intrude?
Do you know my world,
Do you know my kind,
Or must I explain?
Will you let me be myself,
Or is your love in vain?

Well, I've been to the mountain,
And I've been in the wind,
I've been in and out of happiness,
I have dined with kings,
I've been offered wings
And I've never been too impressed.

Alright,
I'll take a chance,
I will fall in love with you.
If I am a fool,
You can have the night,
You can have the morning too.

Can you cook and sew,
Make flowers grow?
Do you understand my pain?
Are you willing to risk it all,
or is your love in vain?

Can you cook and sew,
Make flowers grow?
Do you understand my pain?
Are you willing to risk it all,
or is your love in vain?

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Our life with Amidala

When our last cat, Marcello, disappeared in 2006 and we all were totally heartbroken, I said, "never again". I cannot bear more lost love now.

Four years later I said," if God wants us to have a cat, He'll have to send us one."
The next morning Amidala stood on our doorstep, hungry and with icicles hanging from her fur. She was so polite and thankful for some food and being let into the outer entrée. She kept purring and stroking up to us, and had us captured from that very first meeting. Gunnar opened the garage and found some rags she could hide under. The next day and the following day she'd wait outside our for food. We tried to find her previous owners through the local radio, paper and even hung posters of the cat on the local grocery stores.
Nobody wanted her. The cat stayed and we let her into our home and our hearts. Serina named her Amidala after the Queen from Star Wars.
She was fully house trained from the first day, and she adopted us as her chosen family moment.

I guess when God sends a cat, he does it properly.

Here's Amidala sitting on Serina's balcony. She keeps staring at us who are dining in the kitchen, no mewing, just this hypnotic look. "Let me in!"
After giving birth to five wonderful kittens in February and getting spaded in April, she has regained both weight and her thick fur.

If you wonder why my northern window is looking spotted, you now partly see the reason why. Our feline is using it as a ladder. The other reason being the salty rain pouring down horizontally at times.

The first time she did this trick my jaw fell down to my breast. This cannot be true. It was. The thickest queen in the neighbourhood is entering her home through a narrow window opening under the kitchen roof.

Will she manage to drag her fat behind with her? I'm using the camera as fast as I can, but Amidala is faster.

Finally inside with out touching one of the twenty boxes on the top of cupboards. "It's all mine", she thinks, from her majestic position.

Storming under the kitchen counter, for some comfort and praise for father Gunnar. It evidently was a greater challenge than we thought. "Home, free."

Triumphantly leaving her comfort cave heading versus me. She got some story to tell, and I'd better listen. "I want food and I want it now."
Amidala is neither a pet or a mean of escapism. She's a fully member of our family. Adding life to our lives.

AMIDALA, THE QUEEN OF CATS

Our Queen Amidala isn't happy at all. She has given birth to five beautiful kittens this spring. After 8 weeks of struggling to become a good mother, her kittens were given to three good homes.
As a "reward", Amidala was castrated, and totally confused when the tomcats began pieing and mewing again. She fought them all back from her territory with great skill and courage.
She and Serina bonded easily when the latter came home for a short vacation . Then it was crying time again, Serina packed all night while the rain was pouring down.
At 6 in the morning we were exhausted and decided to get some sleep, while Amidala went out to do whatever cats do at that time of day. It was still damp and wet all over the terrace and garden. Can't you hear her complaining ; "I am not amused."

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T.S. Elliot Cats

One of our five black and gray kittens given away last Thursday.

The Song of the Jellicles

Jellicle Cats come out to-night
Jellicle Cats come one come all:
The Jellicle Moon is shining bright -
Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball.

Jellicle Cats are black and white,
Jellicle Cats are rather small;
Jellicle Cats are merry and bright,
And pleasant to hear when they caterwaul.
Jellicle Cats have cheerful faces,
Jellicle Cats have bright black eyes;
They like to practise their airs and graces
And wait for the Jellicle Moon to rise.

Jellicle Cats develop slowly,
Jellicle Cats are not too big;
Jellicle Cats are roly-poly,
They know how to dance a gavotte and a jig.
Until the Jellicle Moon appears
They make their toilette and take their repose:
Jellicle Cats wash behind their ears,
Jellicle dry between their toes.

Jellicle Cats are white and black,
Jellicle Cats are of moderate size;
Jellicle Cats jump like a jumping-jack,
Jellicle Cats have moonlit eyes.
They're quitet enough in the morning hours,
They're quitet enough in the afternoon,
Reserving their terpsichorean powers
To dance by the light of the Jellicle Moon.

Jellicle Cats are black and white,
Jellicle Cats (as I said) are small;
If it happends to be a stormy night
They will practise a caper or two in the hall.
If it happens the sun is shining bright
You would say they had nothing to do at all:
They are resting and saving themselves to be right
For the Jellicle Moon and the Jellicle Ball.

T. S. Elliot

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Hectic April Life

All these days coming and going. Little did I realize they were life itself.
I didn't get to see excepts from the English Royal Wedding till 12 hours after it was all over.
My mother, being an if not royalist, so at least Dianalist, gave me a thorough summary at about 8 this afternoon.
She also told me she had been finishing the fertilizing in her garden, so I had hurry out, trying not to fall to far behind. She is my rolemodel and inspirer.

This morning I had my weekly appointment with the physiotherapist. She is a genius and I always return renewed home from an hour of exercises.
Meanwhile Gunnar had to bring our precious cat, Amidala, (named by Serina) to the vet. Being busy mothering 5 kittens, she still managed to get a new vower , ran off a couple of times and had to be spayed in a hurry.
She's been doing fine afterwards. Eating penicillin and even doing a few walks in the garden with her abdomen all bandaged.
She is some queen to us.

In three days we have given away all the kittens, now eight weeks, to three wonderful families. I prayed for this from the day they were born. We have gotten used to meeting with six cats each morning, and it's been a busy time, especially for Gunnar. He has managed to get them house trained and eating food and behaving like..well kittens all day long.
They were used to sleeping close to each other, and we therefore were extremely happy that two of the families chose to take to kittens each. They were all experienced "cat people". The fifth came to a country home with a horse, a dog and yet another cat. I thank He who cares for the sparrows that He helped the kitten's leaving go so smoothly.
Besides we have delivered rather complicated tax returns and hope for some "pay back" in June.
Did I tell I had an appointment with the family doc and got more antibiotics?

Tomorrow is an early rise. We've got a flee-market to catch.
Have a blessed week end and entrance to the wonderful month of May.

Happy Easter

What have we been doing lately? Not much. Weeding straw, moss and- weeds. As you will see, Mrs. Mac; there's enough moss left to feed a heard of rein deer.
This beautiful card came all the way from India, inspiring me to make this post. I haven't sent one single greeting card this year either.
Thank you so very much both for the card, and for taking the trouble posting it, dear Amrita.
I know these things are much more troublesome for you to get done, than it would have been to me. Even so you took time to do it.
I am very grateful.

The five kittens are taking much of our time. Gunnar spent a day teaching them to use the cat toilet. He has patience and will to make it work.

Now Ms Kitty has taken over the job.

Last year I used totally wrong words my Easter decorations. I've later learned that the proper words are twigs and rooster.
Whatever has happened to the English language since I went to school?


The Easter parade on our kitchen table.

Me taking a swing in the garden. More moss and snow drops.
Picture by Serina.

Shy crocus.

The most beautiful book in my collection. A cookbook from 1938
which I bought last week.

A congregation on the island, Karmøy, is selling books to raise money to build a new church after the old burned down.

We have been buying for a good cause.

And for our own pleasure.
Happy Easter to all of you.

MS KITTY, MOM OF FIVE

Finally they're here; the five newborn wonders of Ms Kitty. She's such a confident and proud Mom. Her little ones are weening, but their Mom is purring the moment we enter the downstairs bathroom; for the time being the nursery.
Some smell, I have to admit that, but we are doing or best venting without getting draft in the kitties' room.
I am totally amazed by the wonder of God and nature, and am so hoping for the best for these little fur balls. Photo Gunnar.