Friday, December 25, 2009

Mainly Basking

is what we're doing this Christmas. We are frightfully comfy and toasty in front of a roaring fire. And we are loving it. A lot.

Outside it may be cold,
bitterly cold, but Tara doesn't mind one bit. She loves snow and she is not the only Kooiker doggie that loves it.
After the first snowfall about a week ago, Tara and I went for a nice long walk with Tara's breeder Margo and 4 of her doggywogs. It was great fun, the sun was out and had melted the snow away in places but it kept us nice and warm.
Dogs love playing in the snow and they were not the only ones.
But after that long walk and all that playing Tara was pretty tired and soon she was asleep on the footstool, close up and personal with her feline friend Vita.
While Tara and Vita slept, I put on the Christmas decorations outside,
and in.
Then it started to snow again, this time rather a lot.
The garden looked great in her pretty, sparkling white dress.
And it kept on snowing, day after day. Some of it melted away during the day, but every night a new layer was added. Was it finally going to happen, would we have a White Christmas this year?
With our heads filled with dreams of a White Christmas, Tara and I met up with quite a few snowmen like this jolly chap,
and these two grinning geezers. Don't you think that the one on the right bears a striking resemblance to Chris Beardshaw?
While the snow kept falling,
the cats kept basking in front of the fire.
Tara is good at basking too, here she and Vita are both on my lap in front of the fire. Utter Bliss.

The postman rings a lot around Christmas time and we've had quite a few parcels delivered to our door. One of them contained a Christmas stocking stuffed with catnip.
Willow loved the sock very much.
Merlin too, but, and this was a bit unexpected,
so did Tara. Here she tries to steal the sock from Merlin,
Who's a naughty doggie then?
And while the snow kept falling, yours truly was quaffing mulled wine in vast quantities
all the while happily munching delicious Christmas cookies.
And today, while the rains keeps falling (that's right, it started to rain yesterday evening at 10 and it hasn't stopped since so we are having another wet Christmas over here)
we keep basking. How many cats are there in the pic, you think? Yeah, trick question because you are thinking 7 but actually the whole indoor Bliss Team is there. From left to right: Kadootje, on her right Merlin, behind Kadootje is Pippa and next to her Willow. The red and white Maine Coon is Dolly and behind her on the cushion in front of the woodstove are Vita (left) and Surprise but .......
hiding behind Vita is Russian Blue Delia.

From the Bliss Team, Tara and me, a Blissful Christmas to you all. And whether you are up to your ears in snow, rain or sunshine; keep basking!

copyright 2009 Y.E.W. Heuzen

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a lovely warm and cheery post!
Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. Flighty xx

Arabella Sock said...

Oh - that is so lovely it bought tears to my eyes and I have only had a glass of mulled wine as yet.

Lovely doggles and so good to see all the cats together in the warmth.

Merry Christmas to all of them. I hope Jeeves is all warm and happy too. And you as well, of course!

Gail said...

Merry Christmas to you and the Bliss Team! What beauties they all are~~(and, so are the outdoor Team members~~ Macavity and Jeeves!) gail

healingmagichands said...

Wow you have a whole crew of wonderful basking cats! I love Vita and would like to have a calico cat for my next companion. Not until Smokey is done, though. He likes being an only cat and I'm not inflicting a kitten on him during his last days, which are becoming difficult enough. Oh well, he is still his own demanding Self, so I guess he'll be around a while more.

Merry Christmas. Your place looks beautiful.

Kylee Baumle said...

Merry Christmas, Yolanda Elizabet and the Bliss team! You are having much the same kind of Christmas we are. Snow last night, but rain today and now the snow is gone.

All the kitties want in, but we can't allow it, due to the spraying issue that several of them have. But Baby and Simon are being extra snuggly. Why, I had my bangs thoroughly cleaned by Simon a couple of nights ago. First time he's done that! He must have cleaned them for 15 minutes without stopping! I think of it as an act of affection. :-)

I also wish a very good and happy new year to you, too!

Robin's Nesting Place said...

Looks like the lone doggy is getting along beautifully with the kitties! Merry Christmas to you and the Bliss team!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

It rained off and on here today too. We did a lot of basking in the warmth of our loved ones. Merry Christmas to you and yours Yolanda. Your kitties are so pretty and that Tara is a doll too.

Chookie said...

We also had rain on Christmas Day and more today, but probably welcomed it a lot more than you did! Hoping your Christmas has been filled with peace and joy!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Merry Christmas and a VERY Happy New Year Yolanda !
I love seeing all of your Bliss Team and how they love to bask in front of the fire .. Emma and Sophie are like glue to our fireplace too : )
Seeing your garden in the snow was so pretty .. we had amazing snow and cold, a winter or two while in Schinveld/Brunssum .. it was almost like a Canadian winter while there ? LOL
Seeing how comfortable everyone is has made me sleepy ? LOL
Joy

Andrea said...

I am little late, Yolanda, but it looks as though you were prepared for a nice Christmas with the Bliss Team. Best wishes, Andrea

Mr. McGregor's Daughter said...

Merry Christmas to the whole Bliss team! The shot of Tara & Vita snoozing together is too cute. Stay warm & cozy.

Katarina said...

We're basking too! -And for once we've had a white christmas!
Tara is so pretty - one of my pupils actually got a Kooiker last summer, even though I believe they're still quite unusaul here in Sweden.
Hugs!

Matron said...

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas! Sitting in front of a fire on a comfy cushion looks like heaven for cats, then for Tara rollicking about in the snow with her cousins and brothers and sisters looks like heaven for her too! XXX Matron

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

Blissful Ones, I wish I could send you some of our white Christmas. Sorry yours was rainy, but it sounds warm and festive at your house. Merry Christmas. That cookie is beautiful BTW.~~Dee

Unknown said...

The cats look so incredibly smug and cozy in front of the woodstove, Yolanda. I'm sorry that the snow has gone already. Here too it is raining. Such weird weather. I hope you had a lovely Christmas day and are relaxing for a couple of days.

sophie munns said...

Season's greetings Yolanda!
It looks just fabulous by your fire, with mulled wine, cookies, companions and time to relax!
Oh what a shame to have the snow become rain! We are feeling extra joyful about the fact its rained for days here as it was so gloomy to see endlessly bright skies and brown lawns. Now the grass it laughing its way back to life and the garden looks lush and happy also.I've got thongs on my feet getting about in the puddlles and its as humid as....
Xmas here has been quiet and I've read a couple of book and now I'm starting painting again for a show soon up the coast!
wishing you ha wonderful 2010 Yolanda!
S

Anonymous said...
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Corner Gardener Sue said...

I enjoyed reading about you and your bliss team enjoying the Christmas season. We have lots of snow where I live in the middle of the U.S. Oh, and your garden does look pretty in snow.

Margo said...

Die Tara, proberen het speeltje van de poes te pikken :-)

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

Gluehwein rules!!!! And I unexpectedly found Hagel in a friend's brother's cupboard! Also, James and Fiona have written to Santa, requesting a fireplace. Happy new year!

HappyMouffetard said...

A belated Merry christmas to all at Bliss. A wonderful, warm and welcoming post. Happy New year to you and yours.

Dawn said...

What a festive treat it is to visit your blog today, Yolanda. A belated Merry Christmas to you and your Bliss Team who look very snug indeed. I love the video you included, btw. I will add it to my favorites on YouTube. Thanks for introducing me to the music. :-) Happy 2010! May the New Year bring you, your family & friends every happiness.

em said...

how beautiful! my favorite photo is of the snowy trellises. but now i look again and love the birdbath one, which looks like a winter fairyland! it's so cute the way tara takes to the cats. does she think she is one, or just identify with the other dogs? it all sure looks comfy cozy... i wonder how those cookies taste now? probably delicious!

Helen said...

Wauw, wat een prachtige foto's van al die sneeuw en Tara in de sneeuw
Ze ziet er super lief uit.

Leuk te zien, dat Tara zo goed met de katten overweg kan en andersom natuurlijk ook

Gr Helen