Goofy Shape Shifting

The shops are closed. You just KNOW there is one left in the house. You go (sorry, run) upstairs and find that it has morphed into this!!!!!.   Arghhhhhhhhhhhh!  No!



Ho Hum....a certain little person accidently knocked it into her bath. They never dry the same, do they?

Thank God for baby wipes:o))  And poly roll:o))

Son no 2 rang today for a natter with old Mother here:O))  He's liking his new job (landscape gardening...he would hate a pen pushing job).  Turns out that he'll be maintaining school grounds, as part of his job.   This includes the one that failed him.  Told him NOT to call anyone sir while on that campus!!!  Actually, I'd be far more tempted with the sign language, but he's not that type of chap:o))    Anyway, he goes on to tell me that he went to a football match last night with best mate.  Beforehand, he put a quid on an accumulator.  He says he had no idea what to really do, he just picked teams.   Turns out if his mate's team hadn't have had a goal disallowed (he says it was def a goal) then he would have won £3000!!!     

On the kitten front. We have discovered that one (Ruby) has a bit of a deformed jaw. Her "bite" is abnormal. Her bottom teeth don't quite fit into her top teeth when she closes her mouth...bottom fangs skeew-iffy. When you look up at her little face she is quite, err, goofy:O) Maybe this is why she is the last one to have taken to eating kitten food, so we are hand feeding her with it until she gets the hang of it. She's very sweet and has taken a bit of a shine to me. She's definitely mine..Another Olive in that respect:o)) Climbs up trouser leg and nestles in my shoulder/neck. She has Olive's habit of licking my chin! Maybe I unknowingly dribble and no-one has been kind enough to tell me!! LOL


They're all black. Ruby has pale lips, Roxy has a birthmark on her hooter, Charlie has an angular face and white flecks on his back plus he is heavier than the others, Cupcake is a fluffball. They're whizzing around upstairs as I type. Little galloping footsteps, from one end of the room to the other. Weeeeeeee! Wish I could record it and put it on here. Makes you smile:O)

Kittens are also carrying on the family tradition.....and PARTYING at night! Bleary eyed moi has to keep guard and calm them down before kind until now neighbour says something!!! Soooo, tonight, they are being played with, fed and watered and then are being bedded down in Syd's old penthouse suite:O) Why didn't I think of this before......SLAPS FOREHEAD!!! Routine...that's what these kids need!!! LOL

Junior has been taking it easy today.  Tracy Beakering a la dvd's.

Meanwhile, to make you titter, do look at this blog. Hilarious!!

The Poor Daffy Ducks

Ah, the allotment.

Been up there this afternoon. It's so peaceful:o) Anyway, we managed to dig a couple of very mini plots over (one for us and one for Junior). We have what seems the equivalent of a football pitch left to dig but it all adds to the fun. Been told by one of the old grumpys that "A woman'll never do all that!!". Hmmmmm...we'll see matey boy!! We'll have to go back tomorrow and tweedle out any roots and then cover up with a light inhibiting cover until we're ready to plant. We've got 30 cabbage, caulifower, calebrese and sprout plantlings waiting for their new homes:O) So Junior and I will be passing wind for England come the end of the year:O) This week we have to suss out what else we want to plant and plan:o) Good little project for Junior. Going to show the grumpy old men on that site "Anything you can do, we can do better!!" We plan to construct a scarecrow, make bunting to keep the birds off and paint any shed we might end up with BRIGHT BLOODY PINK!!

We got snowed off, can you believe it? Went up at 3pm and got home for 8pm. Shall have to look on freecycle to see if any unwanted sheds and green houses are going. Apart from the storing factor they are pretty handy for teamaking. Get camping stove in, plus a few picnic chairs and you're sorted. Anyway, yesterday, Son no 1 said that he and his brother will tidy up the plot, put a fence up, built a compost bin......for my birthday. Son no 2 had no idea about this but now it's too late. LOL. I have been instructed tonight, via telephone, to collect all the pallets I can in preparation.

One of the plotholders keeps hens, ducks, geese, etc. The rats have been sorted, apparently. There's a fishing lake not far from here and the fishermen stamp on any duck eggs in the nests they find around there to keep the duck population down on their precious lake. Anyway, animal loving plot holder across from me went down and rescued all the eggs she could find, took them home and a few weeks later...voila....incy little ducklings. They are, however, wild birds so keep escaping out of the pen (they can fly as she won't clip their wings 'cos she thinks it's cruel). So, most evenings Mr & Mrs Daffy Duck go walkabout around the plots. This is all sweet.....until they take a shine to your plot and newly planted seedlings. You get the picture? Anyway, this evening they did just that and annoyed another allotmenteer who resorted to chucking stones at the loved-up pair. They are looking for a safe nesting spot apparently...bless.

So, back is aching. Junior has had her Radox soak and is tucking into pasta with tomato and onion sauce. Now 'tis my turn and then to bed:o) Am knackered..but, sshhhhh, don't tell The Grumpys!!!

The Boys are Back in Town

The boys have been up for the weekend. Son no 1 to show off his pride and joy...new car..and Son no 2 to spend some mum & son time. Pregnant girlfriend remained at home so son and I could have a talk about life, the universe and how the hell he'll manage fatherhood. Anyway, he's sorted when it comes to the baby..he's taking that seriously and is committed but I wonder how he and other half will cope with the other bits like needing their space and all that.... with the happy couple being so young and argumentative? Anyway, he's had a taste of interrupted nights sleep whilst here. Not courtesy of any babies but of the cat which was his when he lived at home. Poor old Muppet got him back and puked up at 3am one morning:O) Right at the side of his bed!! lol!!

Anyway, the visit coincided with Gran's birthday. She's still ill so couldn't be taken out anywhere, so we descended on her with birthday cards, pressies, grub and a cake and hopefully managed to cheer her up. Took lots of piccies and generally had a lovely family afternoon.

Son no 1 brought Junior a Winnie the Pooh artists set and she is now giving that the Picasso touch! lol. Then we're off up the allotment to see what else has been nicked, put some scraps in the compost bin and maybe dig a bit. It's been snowing on and off here, which is really strange for April, but it's really quite cold. If the cold remains then I can just see us donning gardening balaclavas. If I find a pattern I might try knit one..in pink. Would be different:o) Then, it's back home to survey the chaos left by the dynamic duo. I reckon the best wedding present anyone could buy those two would be a dishwasher each:O)

Kittens are on to toe biting now. I reckon curtain climbing will be on the agenda in the next few days, going by their current antics. I left a ball of wool on the landing sideboard last night and woke up this morning to find that it had been well and truly played with. I actually suspect it is the work of one of the old ladies, probably Spooky.

Tomorrow have to go and sort out some aspects of officialdom as I am looking down the barrel of a shotgun, financially speaking. Keeps me awake at night this side effect of home edding...poverty. Sodding red tape!!

Right, off to cultivate the dandelions:O))

Cats and Rats

So, the kittens know how to make me feel guilty, then!! They are taking lessons from the Great One!

After stating categorically to Junior that we are not keeping them all, she reasons that no-one will love them as much and look after them as well as we do. Hmmm, that could quite possibly be true.. They are just plain, black cats and not the stereo typical pretty things. Anyway... I wakes up this morning to find Ruby kitten (normally a shy, retiring type) cuddled up to my side, Cupcake on my front and Charlie and Roxy curled up by my feet! I move..and they awaken....four pairs of big, blue eyes are watching me:O)

Five weeks old..they come when called, wash themselves and can climb onto the windowsill (to sunbathe) and so could, quite possibly, parachute down onto the porch roof if we have the windows open.... Eeeek. So windows are kept firmly shut.

Ah, those big, blue, innocent eyes:o) Must stop being so soft, stop being so soft.....mutter mutter.

Been crafting today..."recycling and refashioning":O) Later on we're off up to the allotment to plan what and where we're going to have stuff. Junior will do a plan. Been offered a swap, apparently. Must be a peace offering because of all the on-site politics we've had to endure. A plot that has been recently dug and therefore is not presently looking like an overgrown meadow, as ours is at the mo. Away from the rat population, too. Amazing how fat rats get on poultry feed! Eeeeew! They come out onto the veg plots, too. So, the council are coming in with poison to try and control the numbers. They're all over the place. Not nice for ones health.

Junior is endeavouring to update her blog every day now. Remains to be seen if she feels motivated enough to do it.

Birthday and Illness

Everyone in our family seems to be ill.  Well, nearly all those on my time line!! 

 Junior has been down with a cold lurgy, now Mother has it (along with half the population of the sheltered housing complex)..with a really bugsome cough.  You know....the "cough and your pelvic floor goes awol" type?  Doctor has prescribed lots of anti-bios for every orifice going it seems, asthma inhalers, the lot.  Her chest hurts with all the coughing and that worries me, given that she has the old ticker problem.  So, lots of walking up and down hill billy land by me to make sure she's ok.

Also, big bro is down, too.  Pneumonia, it seems.  This is what comes of driving a community bus over hill and desolate dale with no bus heater and often no pay at the end of the week, therefore, no heat in house!!!  'Tis a shambles.  The company's contract runs out at the end of this month and, because of their diabolical record, the honest drivers are out without jobs.   Grrrrr!   Don't know how that company gets away with it.  Or the council!!!  A really nice person nearing retirement shouldn't have to put up with all this tosh!!!!!!     So, shall have to oik him down from Yorkshire land and ply him with tlc and soup:O))

Only thing to celebrate, it seems, is big sis's birthday.  It's today.

 Happy Birthday Sis.....Not long for the bus pass now:O))) LOL!

Back to tlc soup recipes:O)))

Charlie kitten

Cupcake kitten:O))


Although kittens are verily cute....they are a pain up the arse at 3am when all they want to do is chase and play.....LOUDLY. Soo, plan for this evening was to knacker the little tinkers out so they will sleep to at least.....5am.... We shall see....or hear!!! They are nearly weaned...well,...they eat Whiskas kitten food. They still like feline milk, though. Anyway, 2 weeks to go before they can be rehomed. You have NO IDEA of the amount of jip I am getting off Junior..re keeping them ALL!!!! She will pay for their upkeep, with all 5 quid of her pocket money!! Don't think so, matey!!! Although, they ARE quite cute:)))

Invisible Veg

I had a feeling this would happen (hoped the end result would be bigger but hey, who am I to complain).

I won on the Euro Millions!   Thank you:O)) 

Going to cash in the ticket this aft.  We'll be £7.10 richer:O))   Like they say, every little helps!

Gratuitous pic of Olive in her new favourite noseying/keeping an eye on Mum spot.  Fred n Wilma are now in a safer place (mog-free little bedroom...with panoramic views of the outside world and their own radio to keep up to date on things).  They're singing away at the moment, bless 'em. 

Junior has a bit of a cold and is producing copious amounts of mucous, which is getting her down a bit.  I'm doing my best to avoid any direct hits via sneezing, etc as I don't fancy getting this lurgy one bit.  So, today shall make lots of soup.  Still not got round to the Chocolate and Beetroot cake; I have all the ingredients but no mugs (sorry, testers) to try it out on.  Hmmm, might spring this on Son no 1 who is visiting next week.  He likes his chocolate:O)   Shall "forget" to tell him about the veg and vegan bit and see what he really thinks of it.    I used to do this all the time when he was younger..."hiding" veg in his meals, otherwise he wouldn't have eaten any fruit and veg at all.  Still do it now.   He does like them..he just won't admit it to me.  Battle of wills and all that.  Don't think I'll ever come clean about it, though.  Will spoil my fun.  lol.

Now you see it, now you don't:O)

We are posh!!  Woo hoo!

Brother in law brought us a computer cabinet, amongst other things when he visited yesterday.. so now all things computery can be shut away, out of sight, in a second.  So, living room does not always have to look like a school room/library/tip all the time:O)  Only downside is that the mac was previously on the table...and I was able to use it and sit against the radiator and keep back end and feet warm.  Now, if it gets nippy shall have to strap hot water bottle to my back, wear three pairs of socks, mother's Cossack hat and fingerless gloves:O)

Now you see it!

Now you don't!


Can't get away from the pet shop look, though as Fred n Wilma budgerigars have to live atop this unit, but they seem happy..away from most prying mogs.  Saying that...found Olive on top of their cage this morning.  She likes to lay on top and look in:O)    I could hear all was not well in the budgie safety department as some loud "complaining" was going on and so had to vacate my nice relaxing bath to go down and evict Olive from her cage-top perch!!   This was not a pretty sight and a good job the curtains were drawn!!   Lots of  **!!&$$$$$@@@@!!!  going on, too!!   So, don't know how I'm going to keep the little blighter away from the our feathery friends...I shall have to dream up some diversionary tactics....(hmmm..electric cat prodder comes to mind but think I might have to settle on a water pistol!!)

BIL took us out for a run around hill billy land.  Must say, again, that the countryside around here is really beautiful, as are all national parks, I suppose. Some lovely properties, too. Bet they cost a packet to buy.

Junior has just done a quiz on me and apparently, I'm a writer and she's an actress:O)  And, no. I'm not tempted to alter that to drama queen, 'cos she's not...normally:O) lol

I finished some up-market dishcloths which are about to be despatched to family members for "road testing".  Any criticism will be of the "no holds barred" type as I might add these to my little business empire..once it gets up and running:O)  Junior has got into the spirit of things, too and has asked if I'll teach her how to crochet, so she can make things herself.  Atta girl:O))  This might take a while, though, as she's getting a bit temperamental/frustrated 'cos she can't get it right first time and is a bit of a perfectionist.  Maybe I spoke too soon about the drama queen thing!

Posh dishcloths