TUXY TUESDAY: DOMINO ON BALANCE

Domino thought she would just try going out on the back deck today.  The only place of refuge was the deck bench nearest the patio door, and it was rather wet.

It wasn't long before she wanted back inside, but in the meantime I managed to get some good pictures of her doing a balancing act on the arm of the bench.

On balance, Domino's outing wasn't the best, but at least she got a bit of fresh air.  She wants Milo to come and take her away from all this.  She thinks it's time for a vacation somewhere warm.  Milo, are you up for it?

MANCAT MONDAY: DANTE AND DYLAN SNOWBOUND

Here are some more pictures from January 2009.  It's still too cold for us to go outside to have a fresh photoshoot, so I'm using my abundant archives to fit the bill.

As long as it's sunny and reasonably warm, my mancats don't mind the snow at all.  Dante likes to dig in it and do his business; Dylan just wants to traverse it to get to where he wants to go.

Mancats have to keep an eye on the neighbourhood and can't let snowbanks get in the way of snoopervising.

No problem -- it's only paw deep!

 Dylan looks like he's in the vast Arctic tundra, but it's only our driveway!

Dante has found an island in the white seas all around him.

Dylan's testing the firmness of the mounded snow before walking on it.

Dante butt deep in a snowbank, doing what he does best!

Who knew it could be so picturesque?

Determined Dylan -- always on the go!

Digging Dante -- this time just digging for fun!  Dig?

Dante and Dylan may be snowbound, but they don't let it stop them from doing what mancats must.  They just do their best with what they've got!

3-Ds: EVERY YEAR'S A LEAP YEAR!

This is one of my favourite winter pictures, ever!  This was taken in January 2009.  Dante and Dylan were on the back deck on a sunny day.  I caught Dylan just as he was beginning to leap.

I used this photo for many purposes -- it made a great LOL-Cat, and it also appeared on "Cute with Chris".

It's truly a moment "frozen in time"!

Have a great Caturday efurryone!

THE 3D-S ON A SUNNY WINTER'S DAY!

These are some more rare pictures of the 3-Ds taken all together from two years ago.  The sun was shining and it was relatively warm, unlike now, so they all took the opportunity to get some fresh air, and didn't beg to get back inside right away.

All of the pictures are taken in the front porch area, because the snowbanks were fairly high, which precluded climbing.  The snow actually acts as a kitty corral in the winter time.  No kitty likes to wander too far from the front door when there's an abundance of cold, white stuff on the ground.

Here they are scoping out the winter scenery (and the front door, in Domino's case -- she just wants to make sure it's still there).

And here's the lovely Domino enjoying a bit of sunshine on a warm winter's day.

Time to switch up positions -- all except Dante who seems content to stay put on the bench.

Domino appears to be the center of attention, here!

Dylan is poised to leap after giving Dante a good view of his back end!  Dylan is our expert jumper -- he can jump far and high.

Looks like there may be some consensus about going back inside, though Dante's still quite happy to keep his station on the bench.  Might as well enjoy the sunshine while he may.  Come on, tough it out, guys!

Here Dante is getting a little whiff of "eau de Domino"!  He tends to like to stick his nose up her butt -- what can I say?  Part of being a mancat, I guess.

I think this is the best picture of the entire series, because all three make a good composition, and there's a hint of movement and something that piques their interest, from the expressions on their faces.

Though this one has just slightly shifted positions from the last -- it doesn't have the same pizzazz.

Ah, now here's another good one!  There's definitely some activity going on.  Domino looks like she's been startled by some noise, while Dylan is busily investigating the snowbank -- perhaps looking to make a deposit?  Dante looks as calm and cool as ever -- quite immutable and serene.

And finally, they're off, so we'll say so long.  Dante and Dylan have gone exploring between the houses (don't worry it's all fenced in).  And Domino has simply disappeared!

We hope you have enjoyed this nostalgic look back at the 3-Ds of Winter 2008.

TUXY TUESDAY: QUEEN DOMINO

Of course, being Tuxy Tuesday, my little Domino is the prime focus of today's post, although her brother Dylan also makes an appearance.

Dylan isn't the only one who does daily rounds of the home turf.  Domino has her own routine.  She does some scentmarking, but isn't as diligent about it as her brother.  Domino's more interested in maintaining her dominance over others.

Here she is beginning her stroll.  Due to the amount of snow she doesn't do her complete rounds like she would in the summertime.

She, too, stops to sniff the bushes, but doesn't bother to leave her own scent upon them.

Domino settles down on the bench in her prescribed spot.  When I'm on the bench she likes to sit right there beside me.

Uh-oh, along comes Dylan!  Domino knows that this is potential trouble-in-the-offing.

Domino decides to get down and let her troublesome little brother pass.

Here's Dylan pretending to be very nonchalant.  Domino has let down her guard, you'll notice.

And the ultimate encounter -- it was inevitable!  Little Domino enforces her purrsonal space.  And Dylan better respect it.  Domino may be small, but she is mighty indeed.

The moment has passed.  Dylan has been warned, and he backs off acknowledging Domino's place in the feline hierarchy of the 3-Ds.  Domino's the Queen!

MANCAT MONDAY: THE SCENTSUAL NATURE OF DYLAN

Dylan has been braving the outdoors whenever the temperature allows.  He's got all of his standard spots to scentmark, you know.  This is something every mancat, who goes outside, must do.  Those scentmarks must be refreshed on an ongoing basis.  This is the cornerstone of territorial domination.

Speaking of cornerstones, this corner of the garage is one of the prime locations for scentmarking in the 3-D Dominion.

The bushes are for good for sniffing.

But, they too, need to be freshened up with "eau de Dylan".

You can see the look of concentration on Dylan's face.  He's on a mission!

The cat bench is another "high" priority.  You can also check out the entire neighbourhood from this venue.

Again, the bushes here must be sniffed and reinforced with Dylan's mancatly fragrance.

Aha!  Something's afoot, he thinks!

Oh, it's just some neighbour bean shovelling their driveway.

Dylan ends his most rescent rounds by marking the opposite corner of the house from the garage.  The entire front of the property has now been properly reinforced for at least the next 24 hours.  But, there's always tomorrow.  A mancat's work is never done.  Mancats don't just work on Monday -- they're on alert 24/7!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE 3-Ds!

Well, it's 2010 -- a new year and a new decade!  And the 3-Ds are starting it off with a bang!  Romance is in the air and all signs point to lots more of the same for the foreseeable future.

Dante, Dylan and Domino have all found their soul-mates; Dante mostly recently.  They want me to post these portraits of them with their sweethearts because they want the whole blogosphere, nay the whole world, to see how much they are in love!

Of course, here is Dante with his brand new ladylove, Miss Camille Suzanne of "Our Family Cat-a-blog".

Domino has been dating Milo for some months now, and they've been back and forth across the Atlantic too many times to count.  Milo of course can be found at "The Cat's Meow" blog.  He lives in Sidmouth, Devon, UK.

And last but not least, is Dylan with his fiance Kikyo who lives in Maryland.  They have had the longest relationship of any of the 3-Ds, and have been engaged for about a year now.  They decided to have a long engagement because Kikyo is still quite young.

So from each of the 3-Ds and their sweethearts, have a very Happy New Year, filled with love and laughter, good health and good fortune.  May each day be better than the last!