Dragon's nest.

Up the hill in the sunshine, cold in the wind on a bright day in May, Elmo went walking, and climbing, for, in a tangle of twigs in a wind blown tree he found a nest.

On reflection though, careful consideration of the size of the nest, Elmo decided that it probably belonged to a dragon not a bird. And it wasn't that Elmo was afraid, because Elmo's don't get scared, he said. It was more that dragons are sacred to cats. So he paid short homage to the twig pile, and descended once more to the green, that set off his beautiful fire coloured coat. ( Fire, he said, to honour the dragon flames for it would seem, according to Elmo, that ginger cats are sacred to dragons too)

So, after a short but perfect balancing act it was time to take Her back to Her studio. She is painting cats.

Prayers in the wind of the world.

Prayer flags in the wind carry prayers around the world for many more days like this, as they unravel in the breeze. Yesterday Kath came and gave Maurice two injections and today his breathing was better and mischief reigned in his bones as he raced birds up the tree and soaked the sunshine deep into ginger fur.

Lessons from cats who are good at climbing trees

Concerned for the children, climbing in the tree to build their nest of twigs, we thought it best to give them a climbing lesson......

....or two.

A walk in the evening on a cold Wednesday

Nothing is too steep for the power of ginger, and Elmo always loves to show off his climbing skills.

At the top in the blink of an eye and today the sky is a heavy ceiling of cloud.

In the west the sun is setting. The landscape is a lean winter landscape of russets. Plump pheasants nestle in the bones of bracken.

To the north the lighthouse pulses out its beacon from Strumble Head. At Pen Beri the peregrine sits with feathers fluffed against the cold, swift death waiting and watching on a stone ledge above the sea.

And on the way home we play cat bat in the evening light.

King of the Tree

Evening tree climbing. Dusk light falling. Air traced by tracks of bat wing flitter.

One by one the stars blink through the fading daylight. Orange cats glow bright in the setting sun, fireglow against violet sky.

Only a cat can climb so high and together they test the thinnest of branches then fight to be King of the Tree.

Climbing lessons with Elmo no 2

If you cannot find a rock for climbing a tree will do. Always be encouraging to others.
"Come on Maurice, just reach a little higher and pull with those claws. You can do it!"

"If he gives me any more advice I will pull his fur out, the cheeky sprat", said Maurice through gritted whiskers.

The best kinds of trees are the ones with the wind twisted branches. Climb as high as you can before the thin branches begin to bend beneath your weight. And never ever admit to being stuck.

"Hey, Maurice, look at me! Does my bum look big in this?"

Climbing lessons for cats by Elmo

First find a rock in a high, wild place.

Try not to get stuck, but if you do..

..twist and turn a little and then...

...trust to the great god Bastet that a wild honeysuckle will hold you up...

...until you reach a place of safety.

From there, act casual. Cats do not get stuck whilst climbing.