oh dear!

Kittens and a blog date....

This week i have been frantically cleaning and tidying... i had some very important guests arriving on Wednesday. Alice joked that they would not notice what a clean house i had and that there is now no 'stuff ' under the dresser and cupboards. I don't think they have noticed but i am so pleased i took the time to de - clutter and get straight before the arrival of these two lively 5 month old boys.



The kitten we were going to have did not happen... the family wanted to keep all 3 of the litter in the end. We had been visiting for 8 weeks and i was so worried that the girls would be upset that i telephoned the cat protection lady who i met when we looked after Fizz. She had five feral kittens... still tiny and only five weeks old. They were coming on well but she advised that it may not be the best option for us as they were so nervous.

On Saturday just as i was leaving to meet Diana, the CP lady called and said that they has two 5 month old black cats who had been found in a dustbin... and were we interested in adopting two. They were so friendly when we met them that we said yes please and then collected them yesterday. I even got carried away and made them a bed ... and then thought it's a bit tiny so made them both one.


...still a bit tiny as i made it before i got the cats. They do love them though and have been snuggled up in them today. This is Paws in his or 'scratchy' Paws as we have nicknamed him as he likes to scratch the furniture. I am so chuffed they like their beds as i half suspected them to take no interest at all.

The check fabric was given to me last week by a family friend and the wadding and fleecy lamb fabric was left over from folkydokee, so they cost me next to nothing to make. We never did know what to use the lamb fabric for but bought it on a whim (Alice's whim ... a long standing joke between us) as ex mill stock. We had loads of it... now most of it has been donated to our local schools, but luckily i had a bit left over to use.



They kittens are very cute and so affectionate and the girls love them. They just want to play with them all the time and don't want to go to bed. As the boys are so close it is fun to watch them play fighting and chasing their tales... hours of fun. They are also very hungry.
This is Magic who seems to be the greediest.



As well as the excitement of new kittens, i had the excitement of finally meeting Diana from Pebbledash. I set off on Saturday for Shere with a map. Even though it is fairly close to me i have never been. I didn't actually look at the map as i prefer to work it out , thinking i have a good sense of direction but actually i now finally admit that i haven't. Yes i got lost. I was very nervous, half expecting a 6 foot builder called Ray, although i had spoken to her the previous night and she did not sound like a bloke. phew! Finally i met Diana outside the Lucky Duck tearoom. She looked lovely and all smiley and i instantly felt at ease. We sat outside as it was a beautiful day and we ordered a large pot of tea and started chatting...
It is strange knowing someone but not knowing them if you know what i mean. I love Diana's blog and photos and her gentleness and kindness... i was so wanting us to get on and we did. I really hope we can meet up again soon. She gave me 3 pieces of stamped sea glass .. one for me and the other two for the girls and some of her beautiful printed cards... thank you again Diana.... we love them.



The afternoon was great but we didn't see much of the village which has been used in many films including The Holiday because it is so picturesque, as we just sat and talked. I think Diana took some photos of the ducks whilst waiting for me but i only took a photo of the sky as we were saying goodbye. Thank you again Diana... it was so good to meet you and please lets do it again. And to everyone else a big sky kiss from me to say thank you. I am so pleased i started to blog as i am richer for all your friendships.

fancy that we have a cat!

Yes our black feline friend came back again last night...

She turned up at the back door just before 11pm. I rang our Cats protection lady who said to keep her in and she would come this morning with a scanner?! to check and she if she is microchipped. She cannot be here until 10 though so we are having to keep her in. At the moment she is curled up asleep on the sofa, although earlier she wanted to go out. Roll on 10 oclock as i am slightly concerned as a good friend is coming down to stay with us this weekend who is allergic to cats, so i will need to hoover and air the house before she gets here.

The girls are enjoying this whole experience and it really has made us realise that we would love to give a home to our friends kittens when they are old enough to leave their mother. R really loves cats and they always purr the loudest for him. Our recent concern has been that he seems to have developed an allergy in recent years although our feline guest has not affected him as yet.

Cute as this cat is i am certain that she has a home somewhere. She is very glossy and looks well cared for. Cats are fickle and there is a lovely story of a cat who has 6 homes on one street in a row of terraces where the neighbours don't speak to each other and each family thinks that the cat is theirs. It is called 'six dinner Sid' and is written by Inga Moore and i have found a lovely review of it here. The thing is .... the cat in our house looks a bit like six dinner Sid... i wonder?!!!

g x

Summer fun

Despite the weather being pretty crappy we do have some summer fun to report.
Our little camping trip went well and most importantly the tent went up on a sunny day and thankfully was packed up on a dry day too. So no tedious airing it in the back garden when we got home!



We stayed on the east coast of the Isle of Wight this year and explored from there. We didn't plan each day rigidly but rather let them unfold gently. This worked so well and kept everyone happy. The girls were a delight and we all enjoyed this holiday and easily adopted a much slower pace.

The first day was a scorching beach day, with deckchairs, picnic, warm sand, swimming and ice cream.

We also made it to the garlic farm this year and the lavender farm.



Elephant garlic flowers.


lavender farm

A fantastic time was shared with friends here at a fabulous Medieval day. There were demonstrations and activities for the whole family. We all had a go at archery, watched some Medieval dancing and talked to the costumed exhibiters about Medieval life from herbs and food to dress and latrine pits. The company who run these events have a website which has some great links on and this event is planned at the end of August too. Looks great!? I was particularly drawn to these as you would imagine...

Medieval poppet dolls made from wool and linen and stuffed with moss.

Many hours also were spent looking out to see and waiting to catch the waves as they crashed over the rocks. So exhilerating!

waiting to get wet!

and finally here is a photo of a friendly tiny rabbit who with it's friend were seen nibbling leaves just 50 yards from our tent. The girls were over the moon to see wild bunnies so close.



They are so desperate for a pet and now that i am going to be at home more we are looking...
there is a possibility of a friends kittens (they are sooo sweet!) but we think R is allergic to cats. We have arranged to borrow one when they are a bit bigger (only 4 weeks old now) to check. Although we may not need to as black cat appeared on our doorstep last week wanting to get in... it has been back a few times and when i got home at 12.30 the other evening there was a loud miowing ... we are so soft that we let her come in. She (we think it's a girl ) had a look around, brushed up against our legs in that affectionate moggy kind of way and went upstairs and curled up on the end of the girls bed and settled down. It was like she had always done that. We both think that she is here for a reason.. maybe she is a magic cat says my eldest, come to test daddy's allergy. I have always loved black cats.

We made her a bed and let her sleep downstairs. She went off a little reluctantly in the day and appeared back last night and appeared hungry. We fed her outside the back door and then another black cat appeared! almost identical. Our feeling is that some folks may be on holiday and that she is being fed but wants some petting (although she did seem hungry). She is very friendly. She has no collar but i understand that cats can be microchipped nowadays. I have a contact of a local cat protection lady and i hope to talk to her today. I would be gratefully if anyone has any advice on this and on cat allergies too. I will let you know what happens.

Nearly the weekend. Hope yours are good.

Will be back soon with book news... very exciting as it is nearly September!
ginny x