Cat mother hugs kitten while they sleep.

Cute mother and kitten hugging Youtube clip. When I try sleeping on my back I get nightmares too – how about you?

Uninvited visitor.

Our dog is a very good little dog. He does not stand at the gate and bark aimlessly like most of our neighbours’ dogs. Last weekend I heard a few strange little barks from him and then I could hear him running around. The sounds were different than usual and I decided to investigate.

I was extremely surprise to see another dog in the backyard with him. Luckily there was a lot of tail wagging and sniffing going on and no fighting.

When we adopted our stray dog he was scared of people and we got the impression that someone had maltreated him. So we never got him a mate thinking that he would be too aggressive.

The puzzle was; how did another dog get into our yard? I went to the back door and the dog saw me and ran. By the time I was outside he had vanished.

About 20 minutes later the strange dog was back. I was determined to find out how this dog was able to enter our yard. I went to a window where I can see the gate and was just in time to see the fox terrier come and hook his forearms over the crossbars and push up with his hind legs, hook his forearms on a higher cross bar, push himself up with his hind legs until he reached the top of our very high gate and then he positioned himself on top of the gate and leaped and landed awkwardly.

I was very annoyed. I don’t want strange dogs in our yard and perhaps teaching our good dog to do naughty things. What if the dog broke a leg when landing from his leap from the gate?

We tied a piece of metal grid to the gate and the dog was not able to hook his arms through anymore. If I had not seen it with my own eyes I would not have believed that a little dog can climb that high.

We asked the neighbours and no one could tell us who the owners of the fox terrier were.

Calliandra (powderpuff)

Calliandra common names powderpuff and fairy duster.

The pink shuttlecocks of the Calliandra.

Door knocker / toilet seat hat for sale.

Click on picture for full story.

The much-mocked hat worn by Princess Beatrice to Britain's royal wedding last month -- widely described as looking like a "toilet seat" -- is up for sale on eBay where bids have reached 18,400 pounds ($29,940).

Flowers in winter.





White single Camellia.

The huge trees have lost their leaves but the beautiful cream blooms of the Camellia enjoy the early morning sunshine.

Pink double Camellia.

The first lovely bloom on this young Camellia bush. I have waited 3 years for it to flower.



It is winter time and there are still some lovely flowers in the garden. A bee enjoys the flowers on the rosemary bush.

When is a woman too old for a man?

I have something on my mind ... and if you are a man reading this please leave a comment too. I have been wandering a lot lately about what a man looks for in a woman. Maybe I am unfair in my conclusions but let me explain:

◊    AC has just turned 50 and he tells me that he misses his wife, who passed away about 5 years ago, and he is ready to marry again. I find this amusing because when they told her she had cancer AC went on an extended business trip (in my opinion pleasure trip) and left his wife to deal with it on her own.

AC adds that his prospective wife must be young and willing to travel. I’m a realist so this seems so stupid to me. A young wife would want a career, home and family where a wife closer to AC’s age would be interested in travelling and pilgrimages.

AC is a rabbi and has never held a job where he actually earned any money so I think he should be looking for a wife who is willing to travel, pay all expenses, be creative in the bedroom yet be a proper preacher’s wife in public.

◊    RB is 35 and he has been married for about 10 years to a woman who is 5 years older than him and he has started an affair with a woman who works at the same company he does. RB says he feels his wife is too old for him. RB’s wife has noticed that there is a problem in their relationship but although she has asked RB and his family if they know what is the cause of the change in his attitude no one seems to have the guts to tell her the truth, it is easier for RB just to continue cheating on her.

◊    AG who is 90 tells me: he misses sex and he wants a woman but he is too set in his ways to ever get married again. AG thinks women are germ spreaders and money grabbers.

So now I am wondering does it mean that once you turn 35 no man will ever be interested in you again. Are you classified as an old hag?

The Weekend.

After I had my car serviced in March the mechanic suggested I take it in to have the exhaust checked.  I postponed it because there were so many holidays with Easter etc.

Last weekend the weather was cold and windy and I stayed in. On Monday morning I felt guilty – I should have done more with my weekend.

Well yesterday I left early and made sure I was first on their ramp to be helped. The guy just bumped the exhaust a few times with the palm of his hand and told me everything was fine. He did not look like he was in the mood to do any work so that was a wasted effort.

The weather was warm and it was early so what does a girl do? Shopping of course!

Then this morning I forced myself to sleep in a little. This habit I have of jumping up at 3am is not doing me any favours.  I got coffee in bed and by 8h30 I got up and saw it was great outside so that is where I went.

I was busy trimming a thorny bush when my dear neighbour from across the road opened his gate and pulled out his car.

Not wanting to seem rude I waved and said “Good morning T...” he reluctantly came over to speak to me. It annoyed me because firstly he could have just waved and left it there instead of making out as if I was forcing him to come over and talk to me and secondly because I can’t stand it when someone comes and gives me advice when I am busy, covered in mud and dead leaves.

T...  then said “I have been watching you, you have so much patience!” (What! #@!) I know he likes keeping tabs on me but saying that he has been watching me made my skin crawl. I feel permanently like I’m going through PMS, I want to kill everyone in sight and he thinks I have patience.

T...  left and I was thinking too much of him (I was standing on an overturned bucket and did not realise what I was doing) while trying to take a back step off the bucket and put my shoes on at the same time I slipped and fell into the muddy bedding. I got up with a not impressed look on my face. While removing the mud from between my toes I thanked my lucky stars that I did not break anything.

Well at least Monday morning I can say I did not spend the whole weekend blogging.

Blue Potato Bush

Lycianthes rantonnetii (Blue Potato Bush)

Family I don't talk about.

Cartoons.

Getting a few things done.

Anyone who has read my previous posts will know that I have been looking for a strong vacuum cleaner. I have vowed not to get another Electrolux.  So I came across the Nilfisk Aero Wap it was R1100.00 and I came home all eager to plug it in and give it a go. Then suddenly while I was unpacking it, the voice of reason crept up and tapped me on the shoulder and said “Psst what if you can’t get filter bags for it?”
 

In the two weeks that followed, I contacted two different electrical suppliers, both assured me that they had reps who supplied Nilfisk accessories and after several trips to show them the sample bag I still did not have the correct bag. I had bought the vacuum cleaner on the 11 April and I was getting panicky because the place I bought it from has a 7 day return cut off and it was already 26 April. I headed off to the place and was very adamant and a bit cocky. I made it clear that I could not keep a vacuum cleaner to which I could not find bags.

Luckily they did not object and gave me a full refund. I had been so concerned about what if I had already used the vacuum cleaner then perhaps I would not be able to return it. While I was waiting for my cash a mother and daughter arrived with an obviously used and stained carpet shampooer. I had to give a smile to myself and thanked my voice of reason for sparing me that embarrassment.

~~~~~~ *** ~~~~~~

My dear old mom used to be quite strong for a woman but you know age can be unkind. In the past 5 years we have noticed a change in her as she has weakened slightly in strength.  Last week I heard her close the door which is between the house and the garage and although I was on the other end of the house I could hear a few swear words coming from her. I rushed to her, quite concerned, when I enquired what had upset her she showed me the handle ...

It had snapped off and I thought it quite amusing that this little old lady still had the strength to be destructive.

I went to my local Mica hardware store and they only had the full lockset which costs and arm and a leg. I spoke to the manager who offered to get the handle set from one of the other branches. As I left the Mica I thought yeah, he will be like all the other yes men salesmen that have wasted my time lately when they promise to do something and then don’t.

I was pleasantly surprise when I returned as arranged and the handles were ready for me to collect. Wow! Someone who kept their word, I still can’t believe it. The handles were R50 and I headed home.

I have never attempted replacing a handle before and I am sure that there are many people out there who will think what the big deal is? I removed the old handles inserted the square rod that goes in and links the two handles and it was an easy job except I had not seen it done before so I had to just hope I was doing it right.

Tiled with memories.

About 15 years ago my mom went to an auction and she bought a job lot of odds and ends for about R5. If I remember correctly there was one small item in the box she wanted and the rest she wasn’t really interested in.

I spotted this tile and immediately felt it had good luck connected to it. I asked her if I could have it and ever since I have kept it on the wall in my bathroom and I don’t know if it brings good luck - I just like it a lot.

About 12 years ago when we suddenly had to move house we bought a house on the spur of the moment. While we were moving in we had this dreaded feeling of doubt, had we made the right choice?

After we had been in the house for about a week, I went to the tap which is situate in the backyard next to the servants room when I noticed this tile against the wall. It instantly made me feel that this was a sign that we were meant to be here.

Excuse the condition of the tile but it has been exposed to the elements for many years. The reason that this tile was so significant to me is that this exact design was in our bathroom when I was a child. I would love to know what the name of the design is. If anyone knows I would really like to know.