My Life's Winding Roads: Cat condo renovation complete.

My Life's Winding Roads: Cat condo renovation complete.: It's a new day a new week and bright greetings from our gorgeous part of the world, beautiful mild Bettys Bay and if my previously brok...

Cat condo renovation complete.

It's a new day a new week and bright greetings from our gorgeous part of the world, beautiful mild Bettys Bay and if my previously broken ankle is correct we will be having some rain this week 😁. Eeeek its has been a busy few day, last week had all the makings of being quiet but sometimes those 'makings' are just a disguise hehehe. It began with the really bad fire which started above the University on Sunday evening and caused much concern and anxiety as neighbourhoods were evacuated and the fire fighters worked tirelessly to bring it under control, it took three days which is absolutely amazing given the terrain and the South Easter which picked up. I am convinced that the Cape has the best firefighters in the country. The rest of my week involved a visit to the doctor as I was still feeling a bit grim even after blood tests there was still nothing to show what it was, then whilst eating a really healthy sour dough salad sandwich with Hubby, I realized that somehow I had lost half a tooth and yet felt nothing, tasted nothing and wasn't aware of swallowing it 🤷🏻‍♀️🙃. So back on the phone and I made an appointment for Friday with the dentist, we have a wonderful dentist for which I always thank God. In between all this I managed to re-knit the covering for the cat condo having undone all the crocheted T-yarn because it didn't look right. I found some very soft, thick pure cotton which I had left over from making throws years ago, and knitted that to fit - guess what ? there was just enough to complete the project with about 6cms left over 😁😁. Hubby fashioned and added an old salad bowl to the stand as a 'hammock' and yesterday I covered that ......... voila cat condo finished, now just to add some toys - pics below. Hubby managed to put in three of the four sliding windows on the deck, the fourth will go in this week whoop, whoop, it is really starting to look and feel like it's being enclosed now and I am even more excited and yes impatient to see it finished, thank you Babes for your hard work, you are so very talented 😍 During the week BigBear called and asked whether one of us could house sit their two cats and I said I would do it with Jelly Bean, it was just for Friday night. So Friday first thing was off to the dentist and in twenty minutes I was out and as good as new. Then home and Jelly Bean and I left around lunch time, needing to make two stops in Somerset West and not wanting to get caught in the worst of the traffic - haha, the traffic was one continuous flow outbound from CT from the city right past Somerset West, we were so happy to be going in the opposite direction. Eventually we got ourselves settled and even managed to do Gandalf's insulin injections without incident 👏🏻👏🏻. They have such a lovely home, very unconventional, but that is exactly them and the two of us had some good girl time together. Saturday morning we sorted the house out and left for home making a few stops in SW to do our monthly grocery shop ......... such fun !!!! We got home at lunch time and I think Hubby dearest was very happy to see us, Charlie nearly went ballistic when he saw me in the car and has shadowed me ever since. I will admit that after all that I was exhausted and did nothing for the rest of the day even going to bed early (I only had about four hours sleep the night before). Yesterday we had Poppet, Princess and Princess' boyfriend C over for lunch, it was really a lovely visit with a 'fair' chicken curry, Poppet brought cake AND pudding so that was the highlight of the meal. Later the two young ones walked up to see the penguins and dassies they also stopped and had some coffee at the little restaurant there, so it was a nice outing for them as well. We are having to put our heads together as Princess has an art project coming up which requires some unusual components i.e. A corset and a mannequin bust/model. Much research going on between us. Happily the moment hammock was installed Zeepha was up there and in it, she had already claimed the top platform/penthouse as her space, that alone made it all worthwhile, just to see her enjoying it. Jasper is still somewhat suspicious of this new addition hahaha. To go back a bit, on Saturday night we had some 'excitement' - Jelly Bean was putting dishes away and noticed something black on the bottom of the dishwasher soap bottle. I said I would investigate and OH MY WORD, everything I picked up and took out was covered in a thick, grungy, black 'something' so I continued emptying the cupboard under the sink, wiping and washing as I went. Eventually right at the back of the cupboard and halfway across it stopped 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ Turns out the tin of Jeyes Fluid had rusted at the bottom and had been merrily seeping out for who knows how long, how to go through a roll of kitchen paper in one sitting. UGHH what a business as the only thing which cut through the gunk was Clean Green, my favourite go to for all cleaning. At least my sink cupboard is all clean, tidy and neat now 😂😂😂. I have one obligatory trip to Hermanus this week and I hope I will be able to keep it to that alone, maybe one of these days I will be able to get back to the unit outside which is still waiting to be stripped. As technically in South Africa this is a long weekend with tomorrow being a holiday, I wish you all a wonderfull week, if you are going to be traveling please be carful and alert and to all of my readers please stay safe and healthy. Ciao ciao.

Cat condo newly renovated - last two pics in the process of deconstruction and before reno.

My Life's Winding Roads: Praying for Cape Town

My Life's Winding Roads: Praying for Cape Town: Good morning everyone, can you believe we are halfway through April already? Where does the time go? Weather wise we are in that period o...

Praying for Cape Town

Good morning everyone, can you believe we are halfway through April already? Where does the time go?

Weather wise we are in that period of time in the Cape where we have some absolutely perfect days, yesterday was one of those, no wind and just everything calm and still until sadly a fire started on Devils Peak in Cape Town and has wrought so much destruction to historical buildings and monuments, including the University of Cape Town. Overnight the wind has escalated which is causing even more problems as the fire spreads towards the city and in some places precautionary evacuations are taking place. Please join with us in prayer that the hundreds of firefighters can get this fire under control quickly and with no loss of life. Last week we had some very strong winds reaching a peak on Thursday / Friday. On Friday Jelly Bean and I discovered that our rain gauge has disappeared, probably blown into distant gardens, we found a cardboard box as well as part of the insulated piping from the solar panels lying behind the house. After these kinds of winds it is interesting to see whose items have relocated in the Village, in the past we've had people requesting owners to collect - a plastic pool, a JoJo water tank, a plastic shell pool, roof sheeting to name just a few, hehe.

 After all the busyness of last week this week was the exact opposite. Once I had collected Jelly Bean on Monday we never left the house until yesterday 😁. As always I had things needing to be done in the house, Hubby was full time getting clocks and watches cleared as well as completing an order for Embroidery Stands. Health wise it was a difficult week - on top of the 'normal' fibro things I had 3 or 4 strange bites, we have no clue what bit me, as well as some kind of bladder infection. Because of this I was relatively quiet until Thursday when I managed to steal my Hubby's time and strength to strip down the cat stand. My hands have been itching to get hold of it and once he had stripped the base off I was able to recover the platforms with faux fur, it is jolly hard work wielding one of those big furniture staple guns hehehe. On Saturday he recovered the base with new carpeting and we put base and stand back together. That's where my wheels fell off ........ the covering I had worked on for the upright pillars just doesn't look right, I think it is too dark 🤔 . I am going to look and live with it for a few days before making a decision ho hum and here I was wanting to put pics up on today's post. 

 Yesterday we drove through to the girls and had a magnificent braai and time together, so much catching up and eating, I am full for the week hehe. On the drive in as soon as we came over the hill in Rooi Els we could see that there was obviously a big fire on Devils Peak, see pic. Looking out into the Bay it was like a painting, the water was as still as glass and yet again I find myself frustrated at the way a photo cannot do justice to all the colours and nuances of this incredible ocean. We have seen more marine life this year than in the last four years collectively. Now that we know what to look for - we saw pods of Dolohin feeding in both small and big groups, I am convinced that I saw a shark just swimming along, no doubt looking for lunch. Even on the way home we saw a huge pod but due to the fact that half of the Western Cape was out there were no spaces left in the safe pull over areas. I stand corrected but I think there are something like 34 paved, pull over parking areas between Gordon's Bay and Rooi Els. 

 The family are all busy as usual and in general doing well, there have been and still are so many challenges in the work place since CoVid started and it has affected them all in varying degrees. All I can do as a mom is to be 'here', to listen and to pray. I so wish I could just click my fingers and cause miracles to happen as I am sure every other mother wishes. As for my plans for this week, apart from looking at the cat stand and making the right decision LOL I have thus far made no plans. I am seriously praying for a quiet week, where I can perhaps bake a cake, potter around the house and kitchen and do some reading, I have a really good book 😉. Folks that is my news in a nutshell for this week, I wish you all a really good week. May all your dealings be prosperous, may favour go before you and please stay safe and well. Ciao Ciao .

 Pics I took yesterday coming over Rooi Els looking across the Bay to Cape Town, the fire can be seen over the mountain.

My Life's Winding Roads: How do i do it ?

My Life's Winding Roads: How do i do it ?: Happy Monday and good morning everyone, I hope this finds you all well.  From my side all are well and hopefully ready to tackle the rest o...

How do i do it ?

Happy Monday and good morning everyone, I hope this finds you all well.  From my side all are well and hopefully ready to tackle the rest of this month. Our weather is still mercifully mild with generally cooler evenings and the odd day or so which is noticeably cooler. Well, last week kind of passed rather fast which I had expected. Jelly Bean and I had a long awaited 'girls day' planned for Tuesday which was to incorporate some shopping on the other side of the Bay and then into Cape Town itself for a stop at the book store, guess who that was for ??? 👀 In a fleeting moment of madness two weeks ago I saw an 'ad' for a lady who does nails in Somerset West and decided that I deserved and felt like a little bit of pampering. After communicating with her regarding the products she uses and the method which were all the same as I use I booked the appointment for Tuesday morning and from there we were going to head off across town. Hmmmmm why do I do these things ??? As we pulled up Jelly Bean asked how long it should take and we both realized that I could have dropped her off at Poppet's house as she was working from home, one quick call and Poppet agreed to come and fetch JB, we were really close, so ...... after dodging two VERY busy and noisy dogs we entered the home salon and as I got talking so my doubts started mounting. This lady does use the same product as I do, but that is where any similarity ends. She did not know how to do the method I use, did not know how to do a French manicure which was the reason for my visit as I can't do it either. After some odd instructions regarding removing my jewellary and insisting that I had gel polish on - I did not and don't use gel, because I just peel it off, I mostly convinced her that it is acrylic with no gel whatsoever. So she starts buffing/filing and right away I knew I was in trouble. All this while the dogs are barking and the one kept dropping its soggy doggy toy in Jelly Bean's Lap who had decided to stand rather than sit because of the drooling, whilst waiting for Poppet. By the second finger the technician had filed the skin from both finger tips, I messaged JB behind me and said "regretting life decisions" she replied saying "can't you do something simple? By now we were on finger number 4 and all were raw so I asked how long just an overlay would take and was told two to two and half hours, I instantly added on an extra hour. We wouldn't even get to Cape Town much less anything else. Normally the Sharon of old would have just sat there, gone home and redone everything. I just could not do that and I pulled my hands away and said that I really felt uncomfortable with her level of experience and my fingers were raw. I was really nice and she immediately asked if it was because of the dogs, I said no but, they did need dealing with and tried to explain without hurting her self esteem that the picture she had posted was the reason I'd made the booking and I felt that she could not follow through and was not experienced enough. Oh my word did I feel terrible, but this time Poppet had arrived and was so confused to see both of us walking out together past the mounds of dog poop etc. I really tried to explain that home salon or not a certain degree of professionalism is required (her bed was not made and kitchen dirty, it is a bachelor flat) and that she should perhaps do a course or two or even watch some online videos. Her reply was that I was being very nice in the way I had worded it and thank you. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I organized payment via EFT and felt bad all day but truly I could not just sit there and not do something. I then followed the girls back to Poppet's home, although I could not understand why she was going the long way around until I realized that I was meekly following the wrong car 🤦🏻‍♀️😢 seriously 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ What can I say? We enjoyed a quick cup of coffee and were off to CT. In the midst of all this Hubby had called to say a watch face he was fitting had broken and I offered to get a new one in town, again I misunderstood thinking that he said the shop closed at 13.00, and nearly broke the speed limit getting there in time, I was there at 12.45 then saw they closed at 13.30. Not to be deterred we just reversed our planned order of doing things and went to the book shop, and while JB shopped and browsed I sat quietly and tried to collect myself with a cup of coffee and a salad. We did a little shopping before heading off to Wynberg with a brief detour to show JB two houses we had lived in before she was born. Then ......... oh my goodness we got to the Fabric Shop - absolute paradise. I have never been in such a well organized, well marked and easy to navigate fabric store. I immediately found the faux fur which I was looking for as I am remodeling the cat condo. I could have stayed there for hours but we still had one more stop to make and it was getting late. Last stop done which was to buy foundation and we were off homeward bound, in peak hour traffic YIKES, 14 km ph, no thanks not any more. We eventually got home close to 18.30, exhausted and happy. Wednesday dawned and I had to go into Kleinmond to the Clinic Sister for a cortisone injection in my hip before coming home and ........ you guessed it, doing my nails, such fun - NOTTT. As I was getting ready to go I took my new bottle of foundation and with a degree of excitement at the thought that it might make me look 20 years younger just because it was new, I even had a new makeup sponge, I gave it a good shake and the bottle flew out of my hand and landed on the floor with a crack, splitting in half and oozing out its contents - I nearly wept, honestly! After a good 40 minutes of salvaging as much as I could, using every thinkable utensil from the kitchen, a 👍🏻for the dough cutter, I managed to get the remains into another bottle. One thing I can say is this - the foundation I wear is water proof 🤣🤣🤣. That left cleaning the floor and the kitchen counter where I had worked, oh my. I am happy to say on Thursday I RESTED whoop whoop, and then Friday Hubby dearest and I took Jelly Bean through to the girls house as she house sat for them, I will go and collect her in a little while. We did some 'essentials' shopping before coming home to have a very lazy weekend. I have a funny story from that shopping trip as well but will save it for another week. My mission this week is to completely refurbish the cats condo 🤞🏻🤞🏻 Folks I have spent a lot of time describing a day in my life and hopefully had you smiling and maybe even a chuckle here and there, it's my pleasure #takesabow 😉😁. Due to my long story I am going to bid you all goodbye for this week. I wish a week of love, laughter and good things ahead for each of you, stay safe and stay well, Ciao Ciao 

 Stopped to drink coffee and enjoy the view on friday, Clarence Drive 

My Life's Winding Roads: A very relaxing week 😁

My Life's Winding Roads: A very relaxing week 😁: Good morning folks on this wonderful Easter Monday, I trust you have all had a good weekend and were able to take the opportunity to relax...

A very relaxing week 😁

Good morning folks on this wonderful Easter Monday, I trust you have all had a good weekend and were able to take the opportunity to relax and refuel. Yesterday aside the weather has been mild with some really cool days and even rain, whilst he nights have become much cooler and it is actually a pleasure to go to bed and snuggle down. Well ......... last week took a radical turn from what we planned, in my last Blog I mentioned that Jelly Bean and Princess were going to house and kitty sit for the Bears. 🤣🤣 That didn't happen because at the last minute Jelly Bean was not well and Princess was flying up, country half way though the week. On Monday I eventually took myself off to Physio because my one hip has been sore for weeks, apparently I have injured the Bursa 🤷🏻‍♀️. After the Physio I said that I would go and my very dear Hubby made the decision that he would going go and house sit. It was quite weird knowing he was just on the other side of 'town' and not coming home but, in the long run it worked very well and gave him a much needed, forced, overdue break from the day to day routine. Because Gandalf, their eldest kitty is newly diagnosed as diabetic he needs to have insulin injections twice daily as well as someone there to top up his water supply as he still drinks a lot of water. A very good friend of the Bears kindly went around before and after work to help Hubby with the injecting and it really did need two people. I cannot ever imagine Jasper letting us near him with an injection, we can't even get Flea solution on him without trapping him and then that ends in one of us bleeding. So Hubby dearest was away from Tuesday through to Friday, and their friend took over for the weekend. Jelly Bean and I held down the fort here with our own menagerie. Most of you will be glad to know that I took the opportunity to take a break as well and, apart from one day of cooking and baking the two of us relaxed and read a lot. I also handed over clocks that were ready for collection and a lady came to collect a carpet that we had sold her. This proved to provide the required entertainment for the week - it was raining and quite cool when she arrived and after a somewhat lengthy discussion as to whether the carpet would fit into her vehicle, I made the decision and said it would definitely fit. By this time I was quite wet and my hair quickly starting to curl, we maneuvered the rolled up 3m carpet in through the back hatch and I eased it up against the windscreen. As I walked onto the deck to replace the black plastic bags and masking tape that she was convinced we would need this lady came running up with a fizzing can of cold drink. It had been in a holder on the dashboard and when I walked away, she pushed the carpet towards the door. It squished the can which then split, sending fizzy drink sizzling out. She only wanted me to tape the tin to save the cold drink which I did and we then had to mop up all the spilt drink. By the time she left I was pretty much soaked and my straight hair was back to its normal BB curls. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😂😂🤣. What would a week be without some humor ? Suffice to say we were all very happy when Hubster pulled in on Friday afternoon and things were more back to normal. On Saturday Poppet drove through and we went to lunch in Kleinmond, not actually thinking about exactly how busy it was going to be ....... my goodness, but so good to see everyone out and supporting local businesses. Charlie came with and was so well behaved, he always manages to cause somewhat of a stir and has people putting on soft doggy voices. The restaurant owner even brought him a double bowl of water and doggy kibble hehe. The Bears arrived back home yesterday after what I hope was a wonderful weekend in Natal, Princess is still away and the rest of us are enjoying the extra day of weekend. Well folks as I said, it was a quiet week with lots of resting, reading and tea 😁. I have a few things on the cards for this week, but will share all that with you next week. I wish each and everyone of you a wonderful week, it is a short one so I pray it goes smoothly and without any hitches. Please stay safe and well wherever you are Ciao Ciao. Beautiful view of the ocean.