Back to work

Well, as always, getting back to work means a lot less adventures and creating at home. I get really tired, so just have to do what I can. I rode Mrs Zanny yesterday out along the road. We went for quite an adventure, past the first spooky hayshed, past the big rows of plastic wrapped bales, past another spooky hayshed, along past some interesting properties, and past a wool shed. The road verges are very wide, and safe for trotting in most places. Zanny likes to go FAST when she trots. She'd be amazing in a trotting race. I have to try to keep her pace under control in case she stumbles. It is fun to race along though!

We are trying to get the front garden under control. Johnny pruned a big rose bush today, and did a great job. I'm hoping he'll help me with some more (hint hint). His dad was brilliant at pruning roses, and I think it might be hereditary.

I'm having fortnightly 'cello lessons this term. I'm starting this week, but I have a sore little finger on my left hand, which is important for playing. I'm hoping it will be OK, but it didn't take kindly to gardening today.

There's been a little bit of sewing this week. Pop over to my sewing blog to check up on what I have been working on. 

This and That

We've had plenty of very dreary days over the last two weeks. I managed a bit of a garden tidy up, Zanny got her shoe put back on (yes - I found it!), we've been out and about a little bit. Last night I went to the movie Jersey Boys, which is about Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, so had lots of great music and I really enjoyed the story. The Crafty Neighbour wanted to see it, so I went with her, and was so glad I did. 

The garden is looking really damp and the grass has mud tracks every where. It showered on and off today, yet again. I do have some lovely hyacinths opening up. These three are supposed to be the same, but one is lagging so far behind that I'm wondering if it is a different variety. 

 These big plump ones look so promising.

 I planted several rows of garlic. This was some from a big daddy bulb given to me by Fisherman Jim (my Garlic God brother).

 I also did some work on one of my quilts.

 I have been a bit sidetracked by clothes sewing, so this has been lurking in the wings waiting for a day in the spotlight. I adore the fabrics.

 Mr Mouse approves too. What a scruffy man he is, and his head looks enormous here! He isn't weird looking like this in real life.

 Here's my latest clothing project, after a night out. You can read more about it on Poppy Sews.

I'm trying to decide whether this gets another outing tonight. We are going out for dinner (Indian - yummmm!) with Johnny's colleagues. Plenty of room around the tummy for expansion.

It has been a bit dull around here. Never mind. I guess when your biggest disappointment is that you have finished watching all of your Downton Abbey  DVDs, things could be a lot worse.

The Lost Shoe

The weather has been cold and windy around here. Not good for riding. Today I headed out and was pleased to discover the sun was shining out at the farm, so things were looking great for a lovely ride. That was until I brought Zanny in and realised she had lost a shoe somewhere in her enormous paddock. So I settled for a grooming session, then had a hunt for the shoe. Zanny's paddock not only has some pine trees at one end for shelter, but a large pond in it. There was no sign of the lost shoe. I could possibly ride her gently with a missing shoe, on soft ground, but her hooves tend to crack easily, and her shoes protect them from crumbling. I might just have to wait until the farrier visits the farm, which hopefully will be soon. What a bummer for the holidays. Zanny just looked at me knowingly, like she'd done it on purpose, and knew exactly where the shoe was hiding. 

Fergus has been a busy boy playing, sleeping and eating. He loves his cat tunnel. 

Look at those enormous blue eyes! They don't look real because they are so brilliant, gleaming like jewels. 

Mr Mouse has gone for a nap somewhere. I'm sure he'll appear when the fire is lit, and will take over Miss Dog's bed, stretching out so she has no room. They all love basking by the fire.

I'm going to make a big pot of minestrone soup for tea, and I couldn't be more pleased.

Pretty things for a grey day

What a dreary grey day today. It was drizzling for most of the day, but luckily yesterday was just cold and grey, so I was able to have a lovely ride on Mrs Zanny. We went on a wee adventure, exploring down a road we have only been on twice, when we did the big block a while ago. Zanny and I are getting on beautifully, and she was so well behaved. I'm much more confident, and we did quite a lot of trotting on the drier, smoother areas. The roads around the farm have very wide grass verges in most places, so it is a perfect area for hacking. Zanny is fantastic with traffic, ignoring everything we have ever come across, so I am very lucky. Actually, I lie, she did jump out of her skin when a cyclist suddenly appeared on the spooky hayshed corner. We don't come across many cyclists because some of the roads are shingle, and lycra clad cyclists seem to avoid those with their skinny wee tires. 

Zanny is getting quite excited because it is her 20th birthday soon. She wants a lovely new halter. I think I might see if I can surprise her with a brown leather one. I have a special sheepskin raiser pad for under her saddle ordered, but that might take a while. I use Em's one usually, but as other horsies use it we need our own. Emily said Zanny looks like a hairy pony at the moment. I'd have to agree! 

No use hoping for a ride today, so Johnny and I went out to do a few jobs. I joined the library! Yay! The Lincoln Library is now in a beautiful new building, and I have been looking forward to becoming a regular library user again. We were members of the Christchurch libraries, but when we moved out of the city we were no longer allowed to stroll on in and leave with armfuls of books. Today I felt that joy again, as I staggered back to the car with my load. I had to tell myself that we'd be back again soon, so I could leave some books behind for another day. 

I had a little poke around the house to take photos of a few pretty things since action has been slim on the ground. In fact this afternoon I had a nap on the couch, which I haven't done in ages. I found some little birdies (thanks Meg, Ryan and Henry for the gift). 

 Look - a summery magazine to make me look forward to warmer weather. I need lots of sundresses.

 Oh, Fergus, you are so pretty too!

Afternoon nap time.

 Where's Mouse? Not exactly handy for a photo. He has a lovely spot up on top of my shelves of pretty things. Even better, it is a kitten free zone. For now.

 Fergus has taken to destroying rolls of toilet paper, so we bought him his own toy, which he can kick and shred as much as be likes. He rather likes his new bunny, but fell asleep hugging it today. Something tells me the toilet rolls are still not safe.

 I love all of the pretty things in my chintz collection. I think it is time I found some more treasures. This wee delphinium cup is all alone, with no matching friends. The shape is so sweet, and I love the pattern.

 The Crafty friend bought me the "Keep Calm and Quilt On" fabric sticker.

 This was another market find, for only $15.

 Johnny rescued my wee embroidered pincushion from Fergus the Fiend last night. Hours of stitching slobbered on and munched by our wicked kitty. Luckily it didn't get the same treatment he gives to toilet rolls. Maul your bunny, Mr Kitten!!!!

 Hopefully the photos are going to work properly - I had a bit of trouble with Blogger today. Grrr. Pop over to the sewing blog for some more action.

What's on your "Bucket List"?

I was with a close family member when she died. I literally felt the life leave her body. As awful as it was to lose someone special, as a result of the experience, I'm not afraid of death. It was a transition to peace for the dear person who died. After that I lost other close family members- unexpectedly, suddenly, not so suddenly, after a long illness, and one very peacefully, so I know life is precious, and to be celebrated each day. I don't consider any discussion around this to be morbid, but to be a reminder that we must do those little things we long to do when possible, and not put them off. 

A good old "Bucket List", which I'd never heard of until I saw the movie of the same name, is a kind of fun way of thinking about special things we'd like to do in our lives. Take a look at my Bucket List Birman, just scooped up for a big under my chin cuddle, which he loves:

I could have left Mr Mouse as an only child, my best furry friend. I could have headed to the SPCA and rescued another kitten (yes -I did feel somewhat guilty about not doing that). But I had to listen to the wee message tucked away from childhood that told me I wanted a cat just like one I saw as a little girl. A Birman with points like a Siamese, fluffy fur and perfect white slippers.

 My Bucket List Birman has brought so much joy to our little family. He is delicious.

Now I'm thinking about what could be my next goal, but right now I'm pretty happy with a soft cuddle from my dear, perfect furry friend. Oh, and his wee white slippers are not quite so pristine after a good prowl in the garden!

Winter Day

Brr - the wind was so cold today, even though the sun was shining. We had things to do around home, and popped out to do a bit of shopping. Yay, our brother-in-law Ryan arrived this afternoon for a wee visit. We're making homemade pizzas for tea.

This morning before the wind really came up I opened up the back door to let the herd out to play. My pots of bulbs are making me very happy. The hyacinths especially.

 Mouse surveyed his domain.

 Miss Dog supervised every move the cats made.

 Ahhh, time for some cat yoga.

 So much to sniff and snuffle. Mr Mouse has huge fluffy britches on.

 Everything is new and exciting for Fergus.

 The damp lawn was very interesting. I wonder if Fergus will have a tail to rival Mouse's enormous plume one day?

 After a whole lot of hard work exploring and playing the boys settled down for a snuggle up on Johnny's beanbag. The beanbag lives in my sewing room because Mouse often insists on sitting as close to me as possible when I'm sewing, and I find it easier to nestle him down next to me in the beanbag than moving him off my chair constantly.

There has been plenty of sewing over at the sewing blog, so pop over for a look. Oh, and if you are tired of cats, you are reading the wrong blog. 

I'm back in action

Oh dear, we had a blogging hiccup last weekend when Blogger was too slow to work with, so I'm hoping we are back to the usual speed. I wasn't feeling the best the week before last, so was pretty unmotivated anyway. The last week has been better, with brighter days and more fun times.

Today dawned frosty and clear, with the hideous stench of cat poo from the pussycat ablutions facility in the ensuite bathroom. Oh dear, someone had an upset tummy, but at least he chose to use his litter tray. Both boys got outside for a while today because I thoroughly aired the house out. I had to block some gaps in the perimeter of the garden to prevent Fergus from escaping. What a naughty boy he is! Mouse keeps an eye on him, but he can't stop him getting into mischief.

The day was just lovely, so I was pleased to head out to spend time with Zanny and her friends. It was quiet out at the farm, so we were on our own for a ride. We headed out along the road and around the triangle block. The ground is pretty squishy, so we only had one trot and the rest of our ride was very leisurely, with Zanny choosing her own path most of the way. We did meet up with a huge hedge trimmer tractor hiding noisily on the other side of one of the big pine shelter belt hedges. I'm glad it didn't scare her. Mind you, she was heading towards home, and doesn't usually let things bother her as much on the way home as she does when we're heading away.

I had a surprising experience with the wee pony who shares her paddock with the girls. He was in with Dolly and Thistle, but today I found he was in with Zanny and Tara. Poor wee man. The girls are really mean to him, and I have had to work hard to gain his trust. He has been on the farm a while and I'm not sure of his future as he is really spooky, headshy and scared of people. He's about 12.2 hands high, I'd say, and still young. I think he was backed and turned out again. Today I said hello to him as always and his cover was badly ripped with a big piece of lining dangling right down over his hind legs. Zanny! Naughty girl! I spent some time sorting out the cover as best I could, tying up the lining, watching out in case he kicked out suddenly. But he just stood there. He let me lean my arms on his back. He stood totally still while I fussed over him, and ended up snuggled up with my arms around his furry neck, cuddling him for ages. What a treat! He was so relaxed and I was really surprised. I do get teased a bit about being a "horse whisperer" out on the farm, and maybe there's something in it. Horses are the most divine, beautiful creatures.

There has been some serious sewing over at the sewing blog. Plenty of problems too.