The battle of the snowflakes is on again. [View all]

Every year, when the snow starts, Ember the cat wages a valiant battle against all flakes that dare to touch or come close to the living room window, her favorite perch for looking outdoors.

Is it the feline instinct to chase anything that moves? Or is it hostility toward those white swirls that block her clear view of the outside world? Maybe it's both. Whatever the reason, she races from one end of the windowsill to the other, paws swatting frantically at every passing flake.

After a few weeks, she no longer rises to the challenge. She gets accustomed to (or resigned to) the fact that snow is here to stay for a few months. But until then, she is addicted to the battle, ignoring my attempts to distract her.