Kitten Update

I've just come back from the vet - it's nothing serious.

The vet thinks that the infection is a result of a bite - from Dulcie. Possibly she went to pick up the kitten and didn't get the right spot. That sounds plausible as she accidentally bit me when eating some chicken from my hand. That became infected and was all swollen and full of pus.

The vet took him into the adjoining room and cleaned out the infected area. I was practically in tears as I could hear the little thing crying. He had an injection in his tummy and I have to take him back for the next 3 or 4 days for more injections until it's cleared.

So we were all stressed out - but hopefully he's on the road to recovery! Unlike my wallet!

Meet the Babies

Dulcie's kittens are three weeks old this week and the change is in them is incredible.
They've gone from being happy squashed in this little bed with Mum, to trying to get out whenever possible.


Much to Dulcie's dismay I removed them from the bed (which was in a HUGE box) and put them in the box itself. The kittens loved it. Arthur was rather bemused by it all.


I do relent and put the bed back in for the evening as I would hate to think that the kittens are cold! But the fun they have learning to walk and then trying to chase each other is such entertainment.

Although sometimes it is just a little too much .................


I am off to the vet this evening as the tabby has an infection on her tummy. I have bathed it for a few days and although the swelling has gone down, it hasn't gone completely and there is still a small amount of pus. (Hope you're not eating your supper when you're reading this)!

I am hoping that it is something simple and inexpensive. I found out after Dulcie had given birth to the kittens that she was infested with fleas - that she kindly passed on to Arthur too. They have both been de-flead and I don't think the kittens have caught them. But there's a possibility that it was a flea bite that got infected. So Dulcie and the four kittens have to be put into a pet carrier and taken to the vets.

Fingers crossed it's something that's easily cleared up.

Special Delivery

The kittens have arrived! They arrived either Tuesday night or during the early hours of Wednesday morning. There are four in all and I was really surprised at how big they are and they have so much fur. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but Dulcie is such a good mother.


There is an all black one, a black one with white socks and white gloves and whiskers that remind me of Dame Edna Everage's glasses, a pale grey tabby and a tabby. I knew before hand that the kittens would not be Siamese, which meant it was fun to see their colours when they arrived.

She has made her nest in the bottom of Keanan's wardrobe and they are all quite happy in there.


Their eyes are just beginning to open and from day one you could work out which one was the most adventurous/bossy! That honour goes to the black and white kitten.

Now we just need to look after them for the next 8 weeks or so and in the meantime start looking for homes for them all. Enjoying them whilst we can.

A bun in the oven

Not me - but the newest addition to your family. You may remember poor Bertie was knocked over and killed. Well after that I decided there would be no more outdoor cats for us and started doing some research about cats on the Internet.

After reading about them, I fell in love with Siamese cats and set my heart on one. But for me there is the moral dilemma about buying a cat from a breeder. Which set me off to look for adult cats that needed re-homing. As you can imagine there aren't that many plus the fact that we have Arthur the dog narrows that down even more.

So when I spotted an advert for an adult Siamese that was looking for a new home due to a house move, I was interested. When I called to chat about her and her owner informed that she thought the cat was pregnant, maybe I should have decided against going to see her. But I did.

Which is how we have ended up giving a new home to Dulcie (nee Suki) and two year old Siamese who is due to give birth in a few weeks to kittens which will be half Siamese, half moggie. The decision was made prior to rehoming her that we would not be keeping the kittens, but will find them good homes.

So here she is, Dulcie girl. A little timid, but settling in and enjoying non-stop kisses and attention. Not to mention cooked chicken!

Blooming Marvellous

It was busy at the car boot sale this weekend - lots of buyers and plenty of sellers too. And I managed to find something that I have been after for a while. Not actively looking at the car boot sale, but longingly looking on line and in some mail order catalogues. And I was lucky enough to see one this weekend.

A silk orchid - one that actually looks real rather than "artificial". I looked at it, walked away as it had white flowers. Had a little think, walked back, bartered a little and then popped it in my trolley to take home.


It was one of those purchases where you just know that you are going to kick yourself and regret it if you don't buy it. So I did and boy, I am glad I did.

I was also lucky enough to spot some vintage haberdashery and various bits and bobs that I can use to make corsages etc with. On their own stalls they didn't seem to add up to much, but placed together they become more useful and beautiful.

It went from the beautiful to practical: two large new and unused spools of thread. Just £1 each. Which is less than half the price I have paid in the past.


All in all, a rather good boot sale.

Half Baked Idea?

There is a good reason why I haven't blogged (again) for a while. I have discovered knitting. Not the capelet that I had every intention of making, but cupcakes.

Much to Stephen's amusement I have been sat in front of the television, knitting needles in hand and with my knitting bag with assorted yarns next to me.


Admittedly the first few weren't that great but I have been practicing and have now got them down to a fine art. But the look on Stephen's face when the cupcake was sewn together and sprinkles and a cherry added, was incredulous.


But you know what, I think this is just a man thing. He just doesn't get it - neither do the boys. This is the disadvantage of living in a male only household.


But am I going to let this deter me - no. So to add to Stephen's general view that I have lost the plat, I made cupcake boxes to pop them into. After all the devil is in the detail. And if you are a practical kind of person they would also be ideal as pincushions.


So now all I need to do is to prove Stephen wrong. That people will like my cupcakes. And I do hope that they do. I have knitted up a batch and until they are sold, I have no reason to knit anymore. And heaven forbid I have to sit in front of the TV without knitting anything!

Tempted - they're here! Please, please give me a reason to start knitting again!

Birthday Gifts

Yesterday was my Mother's birthday and as we usually do, we all went over after school for supper and to give presents.

I don't know whether anyone else has parents like mine, but they are very difficult to buy for. They have everything they need, and if they needed anything they would go out and buy it for themselves. Which makes it not so good for buying gifts for them.

My Mother had admired my doorstop - which was made to stop the 1960s fully glazed doors from smashing into the wall everytime Arthur crashes through them. And I was lucky enough to buy a bundle off upholstery and curtain fabric a few weeks ago. A quick rifle through the bundle and I found the perfect fabric.


It is a very heavy weight chenille and I did wonder whether my sewing machine would be able to cope with four layers of it - but it did. Filled with several kilograms of sand - very heavy.


I was brave enough to go to the boot sale this weekend and whilst pickings were very slim, I did manage to find this pedestal (?) which I thought would be perfect for display. It is not finished yet, as I undercoated and then just about managed to scrape enough paint from the bottom of the Farrow & Ball tin to paint it. A little distressing is on the cards and then I think it will be finished.

The other present was made during my pottery and ceramics class - which I just love. It was made using a mould and terracotta clay. My mother loves her garden and I thought this would look charming propped up against a wall or peeping out from some flowers.



Thankfully she loved them all!