Childhood Magic

Have you a memory from childhood that seems magical even now?I still remember the small trap door at the top of the stairs of Aunt Millie and Uncle Lloyde's house. The door swung open much like a window.All the cousins would line up. One brave soul would peak in, see darkness and monsters and dare the next one in line. We would run down the steep stairs as fast as our chubby, toddler legs would carry us nearly sailing down on our behinds, laughing the laugh of relief that the goblins hadn't decide to gobble us up this time.
I had the opportunity of showing this to my own children and it still looked scary some 30 years later! Such is the stuff of memory.
Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist

Kidskastleplans

I want to let everyone know that my Dad age 84 has his web site up. It is devoted to selling inexpensive plans for children's playhouses. The man has over 50 years of experience as an Architect and decided to share his ideas so families might have fun building a " kids kastle." His website is:
                               http://www.kidskastleplans@att.net

        Please share with all your friends. Purrs, Tankene and Terry(MaaMaa)

Raccoon & Lady Skunk involved in serious fight!

                          from Wikipedia

                               
                                                 Greetings Dear Furfriends.

       Sangha Forest Cats

Are you all ready for

                                             another Tails of Tankene ?
        Late Spring evening and the air was thick with Jasmine and Honeysuckle scents. Some might even say it was a slightly salubrious Saturday night at Sparklewood. Night birds were twittering, perched on the branches of  towering Redwoods swaying gently in the breeze. Trickster, a boldly marked, masked bandit slithered down the Redwood's trunk. Bits of Redwood  bark scraped off Bandit's claws and he reached the bottom and leaped onto the cement.  Big Black Jack and daring Miz' Diamond, after completing the evening meal, had graciously left some savory morsels in their red dinner dish.Yum yum yum-so tender and so tasty that a certain lady Skunk was daintily nibbling, her luxurious tail curling over her body. From the shadows, the masked bandollero pounced onto the skunk and snarled a scary and challenging sound. There was more snarling, some swearing and a lot of rolling and rolling. Flying fur filled the air.
 Guess who won this fight?
       Purrs, Tankene

Growing Up Ceremony

MaaMaa was all aflutter this morning , flying around Sparklewood singing with glee. Blake had passed his kindergarten finals and would " grow up" at a special ceremony of singing and dancing today!
       Blakes' Mom had a tea party afterwords for the family. Everyone brought gifts but Blake's favorites  were  the balloons for making water balloons. He and " Nona" made them together and Blake and his friend; Gage, snuck out and threw them at Great Grandpa's Subaru. Naughty Blake.
 Purrs, Tankene

Cherry Blossoms, Bird Calls and God

       Cherry blossoms fall silently like snowflakes then swirl when the breeze kicks up. I sit in warm sun and and smell bee honey. Rhododendrons spring open with pink and purple treasures. Distant birds sing haunting tunes, praising  Nature's pearls. Just reach up and grasp the sky! You may actually feel a wee  puff of  heaven. God's love drifts  down on all of creation today. Blessings, Love and Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist

Bunny Ears and Cotton tails

I was looking outside this morning and I saw the biggest Raven. Squawking boldly, the birds blackness was shiny like a Knight's silvery armor. In the distance, were Bunny ears, cottonly tails hurrying into the blackberries; a tunnel of thorns protecting the soft furriness and keeping bunnies safe. Coyote slunk to the side of the road and  disappeared like a whisp of wood smoke. Did he truly exist? Five deer browsed on the succulent greens of Springtime munching to fill their bellies for the upcoming fawns. Blessings, Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist.

Special Blog Award

Thank you to my dear friend  Sunshine at  http://terragarden..blogspot.com/ for giving me a  Beautiful Blogger  Award.

       I have selected 7 deserving bloggers  to pass on this lovely award.

    samandy007.blogspot.com 

   adventureswithpemberley.blogspot.com

   housepanthers.blogspot.com

   countrywingsinphoenix.blogspot.com     wethreegingercats.blogspot.com,

   catwithagarden.blogspot.com 

   tobersadventures.blogspot.com Each award winner post the Beautiful Blogger Award on your blog, select 7 deserving bloggers and list them on your blog, and share 7 things about yourself.

  7 things about Tankene Ice Mist:   1. I am  descended from Viking cats,  2. Nickname: "Weggie", 3. Double-coated to stay warm during Norwegian winters, 4. Intelligent, playful and very loyal friend, 5. Pure white with a tiny lightening mark on the top of my head - MaaMaa says that is is why I sometimes time travel, 6. Norwegian mythology refers to two Norwegian Forest Cats that pulled Freya's sled; one pure white and one black, 7. Daddy's name is Mainelines  Shalu of Sangha who won Supreme Grand in his show career-- and My Mama's name is Sweeson's Amaryllis of Sangha.

ePurrs, Tankene Ice Mist

Why does Easter fall on different dates every year?

Furfriends, It is Lent now and MaaMaa is busy trying to clean out the cobwebs to prepare for Easter-- so here's a tidbit for you'all to chew on.

"Everyone knows the date for Easter is different every year. If you've ever wondered how it is determined, here is the answer. Use it to stump your friends! Easter Sunday is the first Sunday following the first full moon that follows the spring equinox. Spring begins on March 20/21.Check your calendar for the next full moon after that date. Easter is the next Sunday. So, this year, the first full moon occurs on March 29th (Monday), and thus the next Sunday, April 4, is Easter Sunday. That rule applies every year." This is from Father Anthony and  I thought it was worth noting-just in case you wondered!How do you spend the weeks leading up to Easter at  your house? Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist

MaaMaa's Dream Vacation

Hi Furfriends, have you ever wished to travel to an exotic country but lacked the resources? Last weekend MaaMaa & Popa imagined themseves in Italy for their 30th wedding anniversary. There were maps of Italy, Italian food, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra for music  and lots of candles.They called it their "'evening in the Piazza Ala Cinzano " Where would you go on an imaginary vacation? Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist

Spirits in the Ceiling

Hi Furfriends-I have dicovered that there are some spirits in MaaMaa's ceiling. I listen and my ears pick up a sound undetected by human ears. I pray it is not the annual termite infestation or worse some type of rodents. Do you think it could possibly be our angel Sly kitty whispering to me? I will keep investigating and let you know. This is a picture of me listening-----Purrs, Tankene

New 2010 Annual Flowers

However unusual, I share MaaMaa's love of gardening. I curl up in her lap and read the gardening magazines with her. MaaMaa showed me a new Dahlia called " Windmill" and it reminded me of a red and white pinwheel. Next was "Pretty Much Picasso Supertunia" with shocking violet face and charteuse; an attention grabber but still a Petunia. We loved the " Twinny Peach" Antirrhinum majus with dreamy petals.This dwarf snapdragon's pastel hues shine with peaches, yellows and melons reminding me of sunshine. New this year these annual flowers reveal such creative artistry. Have you ever blessed Jesus for the colors of nature? Purrs. Tankene Ice Mist

Blue Moon

Hey Furfriends, January is finally folding into February.Before I let go of the month, I want to remind all my furfriends to gaze at the moon this evening. You will see a Blue Moon. Is the moon really blue? All I can say is it is the 2nd full moon of the dark month of January and will light up the sky, looking as large as a frisbee.I will be in my kidskastle standing on the upper deck to get the best view. So enjoy and talk to you in February.By the way that is a picture of grandson Blake acting silly as always!Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist

January Blessing- Squirrels

Hi Furfriends, I wanted to report the exciting news that the squirrels are so clever they have squiggled through the very tiny opening in the birdhouse outside. How do I know this? I saw two eyes peering at me from inside the birdhouse. I think the squirrels are pushing the birdseed to the rear of the bird house hoping the Blue Jays and Finches don't see or smell it. How clever are the bushy-tailed scampering squirrels of Sparklewood! It is truly amazing to observe God's handiwork. Nature Blessings! What's new with you? Purrs, Tankene Ice Mist

New Year's Feather Jump

Happy New Year to all my furfriends. MaaMaa was on a long,Winter's vacation and stayed home and played with me every day. My favorite new game is " Feather Jump" with a Raven feather. ( pix by Daniel Cardiff) Here's how we play. MaaMaa places the feather on the edge of the towel cupboard, just barely seeable from my angle four feet down on the floor. She says "jump" and I jump up and knock the feather down. We must have played this game at least ten times a morning. My special feather is a large, black Raven's feather MaaMaa found while hiking. Did you know that the Raven is one of the smartest of birds? What games did you play over the holidays? Purrs, Tankene