Homebird

Hello. What a change in the weather again, no two days the same. Damp and drizzly and overcast. I did the Jade dog walk this morning, and was glad to get back into my comfortable house. After lunch I finished off the six bags I started the other day. The fabric is not bright and jazzy, but when I saw it at the Scrapstore I thought that will do nicely for bags. 

I was thinking the other day that I haven't been out in the evening for ages, except for the WI talk I did the other night. Can't remember the last time I got my glad rags on and painted the town red. I think town centres are to be avoided at night, they seem to be geared up for boozy youngsters partying. I am too old for that sort of thing. My social life is virtually nil.

I shall be going out next Saturday night however, been invited to a birthday party at a pub in the next village. My good friend Helen is celebrating her 50th, it will make a nice change. I won't be stopping long though, about an hour will be fine. There is a band and as you know I can't cope with noise, I also won't drink, have to drive home. 

Nope, not much socializing happening here at the moment. My nights are spent in my comfortable living room, on my super comfortable second hand sofa, the whole suite cost me all of £50 from my friend who emigrated. A brilliant buy. Reading a book, listening to the radio, or watching something on yooootoooob, just me and my kitties. Trouble is, I put my feet up, and it doesn't take long for me to drop off to sleep. Reading always makes me drowsy. 

Bugsy has a choice of dinner as usual. Now what shall I eat first, Felix or Gourmet Gold. A quick lick of both and he goes for the milk. It's a good job he has, I've ground the tablet to a powder and mixed it in. I started by giving him the tablet whole but it was so stressful for both of us, it's easier to dissolve it in a drink. You should have seen him earlier on today, he scoffed every bit of his food. I reckon I will come downstairs in the morning and most of this will be gone. Only two more tablets left for tomorrow, then we'll see how he goes on after his medication has finished.

Right, time for relaxing on the sofa. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon
Toodle pip.

Bills Bills Bills

Hello. And the bills are piling in this month. Vet, car MOT, petrol, and Tesco food, all on the credit card. Been on the phone today paying for car insurance. Meters have been read and the gas and electric bill have arrived. The water bill came last week and that has been paid. Next month will be the car road tax. A lot to go out all around the same time. Never mind, there is money in the bank to pay for it all.

Big hike in the gas bill for the last three months. Piddling small amount for the previous quarter, and £99 for this quarter. I've been treating us to some heat, although I have known previous winters far colder than this one. My excuse for spending a bit more? Bugsy needs to be warm. The electricity bill is slightly higher due to longer dark nights, need the lights on more. My supplier also sent out an annual summary which is quite useful. Based on the actual annual cost last year, the estimated costs for 2017 are £197 for gas, and £179 for electric. If I was on a monthly direct debit, which I'm not, it would be £31.50 a month. I can live with that.

I went to Crafty Club this morning, it was a good turn out, a new lady joined. I took Bugsy to see Marian the vet this afternoon. It's a drop in centre so no appointment required. I was a bit concerned that he had stopped eating again. She found a sore spot in his mouth so he has had an antibiotic shot, and something to stimulate his appetite. I have some tablets to give him over the next three days. Hope fully there will be some improvement soon.

Jade dog walk when I came back from the vet. No sign of the regular walker yet, we don't know when he is coming back off his holidays.

Got to cut this short, need to go upstairs and spend some time with Heidi. She seems to be forever in the spare room, can't get her to come down and stay with us in the living room. She is a little bit subdued, I don't think she is feeling too good. I've had a word with Marian and we both think I should up her medication dose slightly, and go back to the original dose of one tablet per night. Her gums are not as pink as they should be, she is becoming a little bit anaemic again.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

A learning curve.

Hello. I'm going out later so I'm whizzing this quickie off a bit sharpish. I have a new picture project on the go, fancied doing a bit of painting, abstract style. Here is a little piece of it, it's not very big, 11.5 inches by 10 inches. I'm not much good at painting pictures but this is the cheats way of doing it, ha ha. 

Have been meaning to get this snap for a week or more, just at the crucial moment Mayze leaps out of bed and spoils it. She sleeps on the bed with me every night. At around 4 or 5 or 6am I feel her little face burrowing down under the bedclothes next to my shoulder. I spread my arm out and she snuggles next to me, purring away with contentment as I stroke her. Then it's back to sleep for both of us for another hour.

Ooops, I disturbed her, she jumped out. What a cutie.

Must dash, got two parcels to post before the Post Office closes at 11.30. Then it's lunch, then off to Hull on the bus. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Puddy tats

Hello. I'm cheating today, Janet one of our cat rescuers has sent me details of our cats, so I'm doing a bit of copying and pasting. I know you like puddy tat stories. 

EVIE

The tabby fluffy cat who was pulled from the fishing lake at, aged about eight weeks.  She was either very frightened or semi feral and wouldn't come out of her igloo. She is now very playful and let's you touch her nose although we haven't been able to stroke her yet and it will be a little while before she is ready for re-homing. She’s about fourteen weeks old now. Will be spayed when old enough.

COSMO AND MOON

Came from a flat eviction with another cat called Percy who we had neutered and has now been re-homed.  Very timid when they came into rescue but are now happy, affectionate and very playful.  Cosmo had to be neutered but Moon had already been done. They are about two years old and are to be homed together as they are very loving towards each other.

CARA

Cara’s family were moving to accommodation where they were not allowed to take Cara.  A lady they knew had promised to adopt her but backed out on the day the family were moving.  She came into rescue that evening very frightened and hid for a week in the igloo.  The last few days she has gained more confidence and is becoming very affectionate. She even allowed us to take the collar off her today.

Thank you for that Janet. Our rehoming policy is that we don't let them go to homes near a busy road, or homes with small children. That may seem harsh but we get lots of requests to take in cats from families where the children have lost interest, or a baby is on the way and the cat no longer fits in. What we are looking for are forever homes, preferably in the countryside with space around them, where the new owner genuinely wants a companion for life. Each applicant is assessed on their individual circumstances, and new homes are checked.

Bugsy update. He has been eating, sometimes a lot, sometimes very little. He is still a bit picky with his food. Yesterday I warmed some cooked chicken for him but he wasn't interested. I left it out on his tray and he tucked into it overnight. I change his hot water bottles three times a day, he likes that and is now snoozing on them. Two normal poo's in 24 hours. Just a case of watching him.

Right, I'm going to get on with stuff, so I'll say tatty byes for now. We'll catch up soon. Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip

Roller Coaster.

Hello. It's a good job I haven't had any children, my emotions are all over the place with a poorly cat, imagine what I would be like looking after a human. Bugsy is my baby, I've had him for almost 20 years, there will come a time when he won't be here any more and I have to get used to that.

He hasn't eaten very much for about a week, in fact Janet has had more luck in getting him to eat, than I have. I have offered him all kinds of tasty pussy cat food, fishy and meaty, with gravy and jelly, as well as an assortment of tinned fish, and sliced meat. He has turned his nose up at everything.  Janet texted me while I was away saying he had eaten.

Last night he looked as if he was fading away, and I wondered if he would still be breathing in the morning. I had almost rung the vet a couple of times yesterday but then thought, give it another hour or two, see what happens. So at 11.30pm I went to bed and he was fast asleep on his heated bed.

This morning I crept down in the dark and used a torch to check on him. A sigh of relief, he was still breathing. I let him sleep on and had my coffee in the kitchen. No food had been touched overnight, but in his litter box was a poo. Amazing, he is still able to do a poo, even if he hasn't eaten very much.

The vet suggested we could do blood tests, it might give us some more information of what might be wrong. I had decided because of his age that I didn't want to put him under any stress, so I said no.

This afternoon I moved all the bowls of food away, and brought some fresh Felix in, mashed up in a bowl. He looked interested and went straight to it, and started eating. Amazing, he almost finished it. He seemed to perk up a bit after that, so I rang the vet and said I would go for the blood tests and made an appointment for Thursday morning.

So from thinking he was at deaths door and wouldn't last much longer, I now think he might have a chance. He did eat a little bit more later on, and I am hoping he will have a little bit over night. I am now hopeful that he will still be breathing in the morning.

My goodness anyone who has been on the verge of losing a pet will understand what I am talking about. The questions that go through your head. Is it time? How will I know when it's time? Should I call the vet now or wait a bit? Are they suffering and in pain? Will it be tomorrow or a few more days? You cry, then you stop crying. You talk to them then you cry some more. You watch them, are they still breathing? You think about them lying still and lifeless when they have gone.

I had all this with Rocky and Lilly and Freddie, it doesn't get any easier. Pets are family members, your heart is broken when you lose them.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip.

Making a bespoke notebook cover

Hello. Bugsy cat is looking like one happy and contented cat tonight. He's just eaten one and a half sardines. The vet said to give him smelly food to tempt him so I called in at the shop after I had finished making Santa's Grotto at the Village Hall. We decided to keep the Grotto simple this year, so I covered the two walls in the corner of the entrance hall with white paper and hung tinsel and coloured balls on it. 

I've started a little project to use up some small pieces of cotton fabric. I'm making a cover for a notebook. The red fabric is a piece of bed sheet. Lay the book on the top to mark out the size of the fabric. 

Now I'm covering it with patchwork.  I started it off at Crafty Club on Monday,  hand sewing up to now, but I've started to sew the strips on with the machine. When it is covered I shall add lots of hand stitching over the top of it.

I made extra steamed vegetables last night, and incorporated them into my lunch today. Started off with mushrooms in a pan, almost two weeks out of date, add a chopped onion, a handful of spinach, and some baked beans. Then add the steamed veg.  It was bloomin lovely, filled me up a treat. 

That's another month gone by. If the Walking Group members send in their mileage, I will update the page. I only did two miles today, pacing myself for the final month. I will be doing extra in December, so no need to stick rigidly to my routine.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

On yer bike

Howdy. The fabric below is from two single beds, washed and ironed. The two larger pieces are from the top, and the smaller pieces are from the sides. Sadly the smaller pieces haven't come out as clean as they should be so won't be suitable for sewing, they will be best used for cleaning cloths. I will find a use for the bigger pieces, maybe they will be turned into cushion covers. 

Did you know that one of our readers is an amazing cyclist, she has been all over Europe on her bike. Brenda writes a blog about her cycling trips, and her fabulous quilting. She set herself a goal of 4000 miles for 2016, and she has cracked it. While we have been walking, Brenda has been cycling, in all weathers, such is her dedication. Well done Brenda. You can read all about her adventures here.

Today I thought about a cycling challenge for myself, perhaps I ought to get on my bike. So here I am having a practice ride. Pump up the tyres, put the front mudguard back on as it fell off ages ago, yellow vest, and elastic bands around my ankles to keep my jog bottoms from getting stuck in the chain. I called in at Paul's house to ask him the best place to buy a helmet, he laughed and said I look like a bin man. Cheek, just because he has got all the right gear.  I stopped by the library van and I got Stan to take my photo. Do I really look like a bin man?

I've been on bikehike.co.uk and worked out a ten mile route. I might do a test ride tomorrow if the weather is dry and not frosty,  to see how long it takes me. If I am going to do this daily, I don't want it to take up more than an hour. Blimey, I'm going to have to pedal pretty fast to do it.

Ginger Bugsy has been to the vet today, he has been off his food for a couple of days. It seems his kidneys are in decline, as he has been drinking a lot. He's had an antibiotic injection to give him a bit of a boost, hope this will stimulate him to eat. It must have had some effect because he was yelling for food when we got back. Lucky that I called in at the small Tesco and picked up a pack of sliced chicken for him, along with some yellow stickers for me. Broccoli, potato salad, and radishes. Bugsy is now snoozing peacefully in front of me.

A parcel arrived today, one of our lovely readers sent me a box with all kinds of crafting type goodies in it. I had fun sorting through everything, Christmas come early. Thank you lovely reader, you are so kind. The thermals will come in very handy, will be able to wear them under my cycling clobber.

Thank you for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Kitty capers

Hello. So who is going shopping and who isn't? Black, green, yellow, blue, whatever colour it is today won't tempt me to hit the shops. Mind you, I have to confess to spending a little bit in the village shop as I was passing on my walk. The new Stitch Magazine is in, and as it is only £5 every two months, I allow myself that treat. I also wanted a small bottle of milk. But that's it, no more. 

From what I read in the newspapers there hasn't been long queues of people waiting for shops to open, maybe people have got wise to the big con trick, imported from across the pond. Mind you, I always say, if you have enough money and you want to spend it, go ahead, but don't go into debt by borrowing money, it's a slippery slope. I know what I can and can't afford. Watch all the panic posts coming into the MSE forum in the new year. OMG, the credit card bills have come in, I didn't realize I spent so much. No one says you have to join in with Christmas, it is not the law. I refuse to torture myself mooching around shops in a state of befuddlement, wondering what to get for auntie what's her name. I shall be putting some money into envelopes for the children in the family, and that will be it. 

This cat is not my cat, he is called Mickey and he lives a few doors down. That table is a sun trap and he is often found there in the mornings. I think he has the hots for Mayze, or is it Heidi, or maybe he is on the scrounge for any spare food which happens to get thrown out. He is a naughty boy, I have caught him coming through the cat flap, a few times. He can be a bit aggressive as well, hissing when I go to stroke him, so then I shoo him off.   

After breakfast I open the door to let my cats out, if they want to go out. It all depends on the weather. I think they sense when it is dull and miserable, so they stay in bed. This morning it was sunny, so Mayze was keen to go out. She stares at Mickey. I've never seen any fisticuffs but that look says, 'what are you doing here, get off my patch'. I think she is playing hard to get.

Heidi has found herself a new bed. In the evening as I am getting ready for bed, I drape my dressing gown over the banister. It must have fallen off because this is what I found this morning. Why is it that the cats always like to lie on my clothes. I hadn't the heart to move her. I will leave it there until she finds somewhere else to kip. I have three dressing gowns anyway. 

I have just had a super lunch, mushrooms, spinach, eggs, potato salad, and houmous, most of it was yellow sticker food I bought over a week ago. It is still fine to eat. I have some cauliflower, carrots, and broccoli left, which will see me through the weekend.

Hey, the sun is out, I will go into the garden for an hour or two and do some tidying. Nothing growing at the moment, just some dead stuff to collect and put in the bin.

Thanks for popping in. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Let's have a catch up.

Hello, I've been AWOL, apologies for my absence. Apart from not having much to say, I've been helping my friend Helen deliver her parish newsletters, and done some Bailey dog walks for Joyce, as she has needed to rest her leg. So all good stuff, lots of walking. 

I didn't see the super moon the other night, but last night there was very little cloud and it lit the back garden up nicely.

This morning it was at the front of the house at 7am, still visible, with a whisp of cloud floating by.

Hey, look what I found. Someone very kindly has bagged up all their spare apples and hung them on the railing for anyone to take. Thank you, I'll have one of those.

 Tonight I've made a big pan of broth and vegetables.

Soaked the Scotch Broth Mix overnight, and added carrots, potatoes, parsnips, an onion, the last bit of broccoli, and two apples. I used half the packet, which was as you can see 50p, it makes four large portions, or five not so large. This will put hairs on my chest, it's lovely, and very cheap. I will eat some more tomorrow, and freeze some.

I had a phone call from a local WI group, asking me to do a frugal money saving talk. I've booked them in for January. I haven't done one for ages, it will make a nice change.

Pussy cat rescue news. Someone contacted us about a stray kitten seen wandering at a caravan park. Sue and Janet went to have a look for it, and found it in a pond. The poor little might was half dead. The man who owned the place waded in and got it out. They had it checked at the vet. Luckily we had a spare pen for it, and now it is being looked after and making progress.

There are some new exhibitions starting soon at the Arts Centre, one of them sounds really good. It's called Radical Craft, Alternative ways of making. There is a tour with the Curator on Saturday, I'll go along to that. Someone has blogged about it here.

Has anyone found the videos by Graeme Stevenson on yoootooob?  He is an artist who travels around chatting to other artists about their work. Claire Bremner produces some stunning work, and demonstrates her techniques as she talks and paints. Have a look if you are an artist, or if you aren't. She makes it look so easy.



Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip.

Me, the artist :o)

Hello, a quickie tonight, I am falling asleep. I went to the Art Gallery with a couple of friends to the preview of the Open Exhibition. My one picture which was accepted. Sadly I did not win a prize. 

It was great chatting to some of the other artists. I met two people who did not have any pictures accepted, so I suppose I was lucky to get one in. I saw a few people I know, Michael Scrimshaw was there, he is the chappie with the dreadlocks who I go to see at the Ropewalk Open studios every September. The exhibition is on until February.

Heidi had her checkup this morning, the vet was pleased with her blood results. I suggested that we reduce her medication slightly, and Marion said that would be a good idea. So instead of having a full tablet every day, she will have one every alternate day, and half a tablet on the other days. I will monitor her behaviour to make sure she does not become tired.

It's bed time so I'll say goodnight. We'll catch up soon. Have a nice weekend.
Toodle pip.

Happy with my bills

Hello me hearties. I haven't got any fresh veg left because I want to eat out of the cupboard and freezer for a few more days. I have plenty in the freezer to keep me going, seems daft to leave it in there forever and a day, it's got to be eaten sometime, might as well be now. 

Frozen chips indeed. Yes I bought a bag of these as something different, can't remember when I last bought them, that long ago I have forgotten. Yes, a bag of potatoes would have been cheaper, but I don't make real chips in a pan at home, I don't have a chip pan, and I'm certainly not doing them in a frying pan on the hob with all that oil spitting all over the place. These oven chips are cooked under the grill, turn once. Half a tin of spag hoops, and two scrambled eggs, my dinner tonight. I just fancied this and it was very nice. 

I am sorting out my spare room, aka the fabric store, plus all manner of stuff I collect because it might come in useful. It's going really well. The ladies at crafty club took some of my excess off me this morning, things I knew I was unlikely to get round to using. I've found some bits for the charity shop as well.

Three bills dropped through my door last week which will be paid tomorrow. I'm not too bothered by regular bills because I know more or less how much money they want from me. I email my gas and electricity readings in monthly, and they use these to calculate an amount. I last emailed on 25th September and the bills were dated 5th October, so there is a bit of a gap there. I see they have estimated what I have used during that gap, and they are pretty close so I am happy to pay them.

I get both gas and electricity from SSE, they are the suppliers, but my account is with Ebico, a not for profit organisation. I have no penalties for paying quarterly, and I have no standing charges. Everyone pays the same price per kwh. So, my gas bill is for £4.04, and my electricity bill is for £36.75. My electricity bill is always more than gas, probably because I have this computer on a lot. It rises slightly in the winter due to lights going on earlier.

My gas bill is obviously low in the summer months because I don't have any heating on. It will go up a bit in the winter. I think it is so low because I have been having a lot of meals which require little or no cooking. A lot of salads, and one pan meals, the shorter the cooking time the cheaper the meals are. Even a pan of veg stew made with fresh veg only takes about ten minutes on the hob, and if I use a big pan to make four portions, three of those will get heated in the microwave.

I only heat a tank of water if I am going to have a bath, why do I need to have a tank permanently full of hot water? I can boil a kettle to wash a few pots in the sink or wash my hair.

The other bill I have received is for £28.10 payable to Severn Trent Water. This covers the period from April to October, and is for surface water drainage. I will get another bill shortly from Anglia Water, it will be around £37, that's for clean water into the house, and a small amount of that will be sent on to Severn Trent for removal of dirty water through the sewers. Being on a water meter works best for me because I am in control of how much I use.

All cats are in for the night, they don't seem to want to go out much these days. Mayze spends a lot of time on my bed, she loves snuggling under the top cover, I often find a bump in the bed when I get in. Heidi is due for a vet visit later this week, we are getting to the end of her tablets. Best let the vet check her over and get some more. Bugsy is still camped out on the living room table right next to me. Boy does he yowl when I don't serve up the right food. Today they got a treat, I buy bags of cheap frozen white fish and microwave it for them. They love it.

Right, I'm off now. It's not yet 7pm and dark already. I still have to go and do my walk. I could have a day or two off but I don't want to drop behind. The extra I did last week has boosted my total, I will finish October over the target. Hope you are all keeping it up, no slacking now the weather is getting cooler. A good fast walk will keep you warm.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Home comforts in cat heaven

Hello. My workspace is shrinking, this is the new en suite accommodation for my old boy Bugsy. The bedroom is situated next to the computer with hardly any room for my keyboard. He doesn't seem to want to go into the window sill any more, preferring the soft cushion topped with a towel. 

He can almost have breakfast in bed, the food tray is quite close. At the other end of the corridor is the latrine. Any soiled material has to be removed periodically to control stinky smells drifting in my direction. Wee's aren't so bad but poo's need to be disposed of immediately. 

I feel I am being pushed out, but if this keeps him happy then who am I to complain, I am only the servant, ha ha.

My lunch has filled my tum. Very tasty soup made with half a carrot, a chunk of butternut squash, one potato, pieces of broccoli, sprinkling of grated cheese, and spices. Bloomin lovely.

Tis very windy today, I went out with the shears and chopped off the tops of the grass sprouting out from between the paving slabs on the drive. The wind whisked up the cuttings and blew it all away across the road.

Have been for a coffee with my friend Irene this morning. She is preparing to move back home to Edinburgh, probably not until Christmas, but they have a lot of stuff to get rid of because they are downsizing. I told her that if she puts anything in a skip, I will come and take it out, ha ha.

Anyway, I'll sign off. I'm off to the Docs shortly, that ugly wart on my cheek has come back. I really don't want to be walking around with a scabby face. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

New arrangements for a doddery old cat

Hello. I didn't feel like going to Crafty Club this morning, didn't want to be quizzed about Rocky, so I decided to go late and slip in while they were nattering away to each other, and maybe they would carry on nattering. Didn't work. C said she was sorry to hear about Rocky, which set me off, then she said she had also lost her own dog a few days ago, so then I decided that we might as well get it all out in the open and talk about our losses. On top of that one lady came back after a long break, she has been nursing her sick husband who passed away a couple of months ago, so the mood was charged with emotion for a while, until normal conversations kicked in. Anyway, I am trying to move on, as everyone has to when faced with the loss of a beloved pet, or a beloved family member. 

This is the new arrangement in my living room now. Yes, the cat litter box has been installed on the table next to the food tray. I couldn't understand where the puddles were coming from on my desk and the table. The water level in the bowl was going down rather quickly, was Bugsy splashing as he drank or was he puking it back up again? He has decided that this window sill is his preferred place, for watching the world go by as well as sleeping there. I caught the little hooligan yesterday. He had a bite to eat, then immediately peed on the table, next to the tray. I grabbed him and put him in the litter box on the floor. the idle beggar couldn't be bothered to climb down and do it in the proper place. I think he may be losing his marbles. 

Aren't these flowers wonderful? The daughter of my elderly neighbour, who visits every day, bought them for me on hearing about Rocky. People are so kind.

Here's a little tip which will help your aching back, not that I have an aching back, mind you. I got rid of my plastic washing basket years ago. It was cumbersome, annoying to get out from under the stairs on wash day, and all that bending down to fill it out of the machine, then take it to the garden, more bending to hang the washing out.

I have a tall folding bar stool which fits in a space next to the kitchen worktop in the corner. When the washing is done I pull it out of the machine, shake the creases out and lay it flat on the chair. I don't like peg bags so I have my pegs in a basket, this I clip onto the back of the stool with a bulldog clip. Everything is at a comfortable working height so no bending down. I carry the whole lot outside and set it down on the grass to hang the washing. When it's dry, do the same procedure in reverse. Easy peasy, keeps my back straight.

Hey, look. New shoots are appearing on the lilac tree stumps. That's a good sign.

Look what has happened while I have been sitting here. Bugsy relieving himself. I suppose I had better scoop out the soiled litter now.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soo.
Toodle pip

Coffee cat

Hello. This morning didn't get off to a very good start. I had to make a second mug of coffee because I didn't get to drink all of the first one. I was sitting at the dining room table with my drink,  as I always do, when out of nowhere came Mayze cat, taking a flying leap onto the table. It's a good job I had the mug in my hand or it would have gone all over the place. Her back leg went straight into it splashing coffee onto the table and up the wall as she jumped onto the window sill. After my initial annoyance I had to laugh as she tucked her coffee leg underneath her and lay down, looking all innocent. 

I've made twelve shopping bags to be sold for our cat rescue on our stall at the Epworth Show on Bank Holiday Monday. Me and Janet will be doing it as I have a big car to transport four tables and all the stuff we have for sale. I have booked extra space this time so we won't have to squash into the line with the other stallholders in the shopping tent. On the opposite side are individual booths of twelve feet square, so we will be able to set up our little shop in one of those.

Talking of cats, Sue has taken in three last week, it's lucky that we had a pen for them. They came from a flat where someone was evicted and they moved into a place where they cannot have pets. These cats are quite nervous and shy because they haven't been outside before. Two of them need neutering which will be done quite soon when they get settled into the pen.

Just a quick one tonight, I'm going to switch off and read a book. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip.

Not yet.

Hello. Thank you all for your comments yesterday, it's comforting to know that there are so many kind hearted people who understand. When Rocky has a sad day it makes me sad too. I think, is it too much for him, is now the time? He can still walk about, we go into the garden, but don't go any further. He does his toilet, everything is working ok. 

Rocky has had a good day today so I'm feeling a bit better. He was up early wanting to go outside. I have moved his food and water into the living room so he doesn't have to go to the kitchen for it. The hard lino floor in there is too slippery for him, he walks much easier on the carpet. Today he was keen to eat. I think it was the heat over the last few days that he was struggling with. I have given him a hair cut, and I put a fan heater set to cold near him to help cool him down. It hasn't been so hot today so I think he is back to normal now.

It looks a bit messy in here. Bugsy's litter box is in the corner, there are newspapers around Bugsy's bed because he has been known to be sick sometimes. This morning he scoffed his food down far too quick and it was lucky I was sitting here, because immediately the wretching started  I jumped up and held him still over a few sheets of newspapers while it all came up. After that he went back to bed for a couple of hours before he asked for more food. Bugsy tends to eat more during the night so I always put some in his bowl before I go to bed. 

A redundant Pyrex casserole dish is re purposed for a dogs water bowl. Old curtain on the floor to catch the splashes and dribbles.

I've kept myself busy working on the picture, and now it is finished. I'm very pleased with it. I had a frame in mind but now I find that the glass has a long scratch in the middle, so it's either get a new piece of glass, or look for another frame at the car boot sale on Sunday. Probably more cost effective to get a cheap frame and buy it for the glass.

We're supposed to be getting some thunderstorms, so I don't know whether to water the flowers or not in case it chucks it down during the night. The ground was slightly damp this morning so there was a sprinkling last night. I've had a man round to clean the gutters out. There wasn't much debris, but a down pipe was blocked. Should be alright now.

Bugsy is next to me scoffing like there is no tomorrow, I gave him a small portion so it should be alright. Lucky so far, nothing coming up. He's looking for more, but he isn't getting any. He's now washing his face. The sun is going down so I'm off out.

Thanks for popping in. Have a nice weekend. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip

Fussy eaters

Hi. S'funny that cats can be so fussy about what they eat, but when it comes to curiosity, they will also consider my food. Ok, Mayze, you can have a piece of pizza. 

She licked the topping and left the crust, which was then thrown out for the birds.

Catch up soon. Toodle pip

The kids speak

Hello, Mayze here, we are taking over here today, the boss is having a day off. I do love the way she leave stuff lying around all over the place, plenty of places to make a bed. A new project is started and stuff from the previous project is not put away. Look what I found here, a plastic carrier bag full of mesh fruit bags. it's lovely and snug and comfy in here, I think I will curl up and go to sleep. 

Hi, my name is Heidi, and I have a little blood problem so I am on constant medication. I must say though that the boss makes sure I get the check ups I need at the vet, and vet Marian is ever so kind. We went last week because I hadn't got any tablets left. They took some blood again and tested it, and Marian said I should stay on the same dose of half a tablet every night. I have got used to the routine now, the boss wraps me in a towel and pops the tiny tablet in my mouth. I take a big swallow and it's gone, then I get a treat of my favourite food. I am playing  a little game here, Rocky has a few treats on this saucer and I am watching over them for him.

Hi, I am Bugsy, the second boss in this household because I have been here the longest. I might be an old man of 20, but I know how to keep the young ladies in their place. I'm sitting here waiting for the slave boss to come and fill my bowl. Excuse me, I'm hungry, you are not paying attention, have you not noticed that my bowl is empty.

Hello, I'm Rocky. I just want a comfortable peaceful life and most of the time it is nice and quiet here, except when the boss puts the radio on and dances and sings to the Sounds of the Sixties. Gawd, it's a hell of a racket. Probably a blessing that I am going a bit deaf. I like my soft bed where I can rest my tired old bones, and when it's sunny I can amble around the garden. I don't like to go too far from home these days because I feel safe here.   

Thank you guys and gals, saved me a job for today, I'll be back tomorrow.
Toodle pip.

Not many flowers out yet? Cheat.

Hello. A murky start this morning but this afternoon it's roasting in the garden. I have to keep popping indoors to cool down. It's still hot now at gone six o clock. The kids are no use at all when it comes to gardening. They usually follow me around to keep me company, but today there was hardly any life in them. Heidi chose to doze under the bushes. 

Bugsy took refuge under the pallet table to get out of the full sun.

And Mayze was flat out on her back in the nest she made in the long grass. Her head was hidden.

I have been tidying up the raised beds. I have to admit to buying a few more plants. I bought some Fuchsias from Aldi,  and a few from a stall in the market. The colour you see though is cheats flowers, they are plastic, and they were free, ha ha. The sunflower is real. 

 The seeds and bulbs I planted are beginning to show.

In all this greenery I am not sure which are from seeds, and which are weeds. This is what you get when you scatter seeds will nilly. I've pulled up a few potato plants out of here.

Too darn hot. Still got my long baggy shorts as you can see. They are wearing well. 

Sorry, no picture of Rocky, he is sprawled out on his bed indoors, too hot for him outside. I'm going to have to wait an hour or so before I go for a walk, wait till it cools down.

Tatty byes for now. Have a good weekend. We'll catch up soon.
Toodle pip