Breaking with the pattern

Good morning all, isn't it just typical that the moment I mention how every Monday has been wet and cold, today we woke up to a cloudless sky and bright winter sunshine haha.
As today is a Public Holiday in South Africa we are having a slow start and not planning much.  I want to make some marmalade as my precious Hubby bought me a large bag of lemons and also re-pot a plant which I've been meaning to do for absolutely ages.  

Last week was quite busy with one thing and another.  The most important event was Princess's 16 th Birthday.  I cant believe at how fast time has flown especially since we moved down here.  It was a day that she has looked forward to since she turned 15 and ended up just passing in a blur of busyness for her, she had two exams, hockey and then netball which only put them home well after 8pm.  Shame I think it was a bit of an anti-climax but she certainly got to make up for it on Friday.  School was finished for the term and Princess a celebratory lunch with some of her friends at a Mexican restaurant and then in the evening Poppet had organised a lovely dinner for her with their close friends and the BIG surprise was when BigBear and BabyBear arrived.  For me it was a bittersweet week, on the one hand being so proud of the elegant, confident young woman she has become and on the other just a deep sadness that we could not be there to celebrate with her.  The only downside to our retirement is in missing the family.  We had a little excitement of our own when on Monday evening we were in the lounge and heard this really odd sound, almost like a plop and then a sizzle.  After looking all around we looked up and lo and behold one of the three hanging lights had burnt out.  Not a problem you think - on the contrary, these lights hang down but are still about 3.5m high, added to which the actual globe is enormous, bigger than an iPad  (see pic below) and expensive LOL.  The only way to reach it was to put the big ladder on top of the dining room table and with me holding the ladder Hubby gingerly climbed up to get our problematic bulb and then again to replace it. So precarious did it look that Jelly Bean was watching from BEHIND her bedroom door, I'm not sure what she thought would happen hehe.
We made a trip into Hermanus which as always was extremely busy as we tend to 'store' errands and then when going into town it is with a long list and usually a lot of different stops, last week was no exception, we were here, there and EVERYwhere.  We also combined our trip with a short visit to our BB friends who now live on the other side of Kleinmond, a busy day indeed.
Unfortunately one of the backlashes for me after a day like that is a physical crash.  My ever patient Hubby had to go into Somerset West the following day to collect parts he had made for the clock he is restoring which he combined with grocery shopping, finding a new bulb. and a visit to his friend for coffee.  During the week I managed to get quite a few Afgan squares finished and also got myself a Tunisian crochet hook which gives. me a whole new range of stitches I can add, very interesting to do I must say.
One of the current challenges we have is that Jasper has been 'over grooming' and his glorious long coat is now short, I've read that is normally stress related and he has always been what we call a scaredy cat, he will jump at the slightest noise.  Now I have to figure out a way to get him calmer and started by giving him Calm Eeze which definitely relaxes him a little, that ran out last night and this morning I gave him some rescue drops.  I think the only way to physically stop him is to put a cone over his head but am quite sure it will only exacerbate his stress.  Last night when I came through to fetch him for bed he rolled over onto his back and I picked him up, holding him like a baby and then for absolutely no reason he bit my hand and would not let go.  Needless to say he slept in the lounge and I went to doctor a very deep, blue bite.  Joy of joys.

Well folks that's me for today,  I won't rest until the marmalade and pot plant have been done, so it's time to get going.  I wish you all a fabulous week, for those here in SA enjoy your day off and hopefully the short week will go quickly.  With love and wishes from us here in BB ciao ciao, please stay safe out there,  especially  those of you on the roads today.

Light bulb gymnastics, not for the faint hearted

Gales, rain and Afghans

Greeting folks on this lovely Monday morning, I hope everyone had a good weekend and is ready for the week ahead.  We had a super quiet weekend, mostly dictated by the weather lol. Last week was really cold and we had a fair amount of rain.   Friday blew a very brisk gale and was really cold, Saturday was lovely and sunny but not hot and then yesterday we woke up to a gale force HOT berg wind, which called for short sleeves and definitely keeping all the windows closed.  Crazy weather for sure, today is cold and windy.

We had a very quiet week in terms of going out but as always, there is a never ending list of things to be done around the house.  I have spent quite a lot of time doing embroidery and have picked up an Afghan throw that I am crocheting.  I started 2 years ago by knitting it and then last year took all the squares apart and re-started in crochet.  Now I am whizzing along but need to lay them all out and see how many I am going to need to do in total.  When I asked my Hubby last night to try and work out how many he came back with 600 squares, that was enough to almost cause me to give up altogether haha. it has evolved somewhat and I am quite happy with it so far, as long as it does not take 600 squares.

We have indulged in watching a lot of the Cricket World Cup which has been good fun, not that South Africa has won anything as yet.  Miss Muffet and her family are all at the match today between South Africa and the West Indies, hopefully it won't be rained out.  Ever since we moved down to BB watching sport has been almost impossible (we don't have DSTV) but my clever Hubby has found channels where we can watch and have a really good picture as well.  He is currently busy with an extremely old clock that came in for repairs and this morning had another one dropped off because it stopped ticking.  Family wise this week is a very important one for Princess as she celebrates her 16th birthday, it feels like yesterday when I held her in my arms just moments after she was born, I can't believe how fast the time has gone and just wish we were there to celebrate with her.  That is the only downside to having retired down to the coast.  Zeepha is doing so well and is still just as lovable as she was after her surgery, on Saturday Hubby and I played doctor and removed her stitches without any problems, so that is now well and truly behind us now thank the Lord.

Folks as I said it has been quiet but this week is already filling up rapidly.  I am going to sign off for now and wish you, one and all, a wonderful week.  Stay safe and warm out there and take time to tell your loved ones how important they are ciao ciao for now.

Our beautiful mountain which is recovering from the fires, with waterfalls flowing after the rains last week.

Zeepha's nine lives, orca whales - interesting life

Good morning all, I am beginning to think I should write my Blog every day because, for the last few weeks every Monday has been cold lol.  Once we have got the house cleaned and sorted I am asking my ever patient Hubby to light a big fire for us.

Given the busy start to last week it turned into a very peaceful, uneventful week.  Zeepha went in on Tuesday morning for her surgery, accompanied by much prayer, and we decided to stay in town and get a plethora of tasks and errands done to keep ourselves busy.  Eventually, after a couple of calls from me, the Doctor called me back to say that she was fine but, in typical Zeepha style it had been anything but smooth sailing #facepalm.  She had used gas as the Anaesthetic which worked well, the problem however was when they opened her up.  All her reproductive organs were completely filled with pus, and subsequently all removed.  According to the Vet this is a very rare condition in cats (of course it is) called Pyometra,  which very rarely happens when a heat does not result in a pregnancy and there is an overload of Progesterone = Pyometra.  According to our somewhat shocked Vet even a day later and she would not have survived, it was purely God's timing to have had her done last Tuesday.  She had shown absolutely no sign of being ill, except for a slight discharge a few days before the procedure.  However, I am wondering if  her behaviour for the last six weeks or so was related to this, I mentioned last week that she wanted nothing to do with myself or Jelly Bean and would literally walk over me to get to Hubby.  From the minute we picked her up from the vet she has hardly left my side and is super loving, walking over Hubby to get to me - yaaaay hehehe.  I feel like I have my cat back which is awesome.  She is far more active and one would never know she'd had major surgery, although I did have to destroy an old jersey to make her a jacket to stop her from pulling out the her stitches.  I can honestly say I am SO happy this is now behind us and I can just enjoy her now.

The rest of the week was fairly tame in comparison, I find myself in a very painful flare, probably due to stress, who knows!  Anyway, it resulted in me doing a lot of mending and reading.  The family are all well - Princess still writing exams, Miss Muffet and her family were out camping for the week in the UK and from the pictures it looks like they had a wonderful time.  Big Guy flew down to Cape Town yesterday morning as he was hosted by Red Bull for the Formula 1 event they had here.  Sadly his schedule was so tight that we never got to see him, he's already in the air on the way home, but BigBear managed to find him and spent a little time together which was wonderful.

There was a ripple of drama in our quiet Village on Wednesday as two male Orca whales  named Port and Starboard, made an appearance in one of our little bays where they proceeded to feast themselves on a shark. With all the excitement no one thought or was able to take a photograph which is quite sad, we have known they are here as a number of Sevengill Sharks were found on the beach with their livers eaten.  I am glad I do not enter the water haha.

Well friends and family that's  all for this week, time to get the fire started and the week on the go.  I  wish you and yours a blessed week, remember when things look hopeless is when God steps in, if you will trust Him, the darkest hour is always before the dawn.  Ciao ciao for now and stay safe.

Zeepha proudly showing off her jersey the day of her surgery.

Fun and games

Greetings all from a wet and cool Betty's Bay, every drop of rain is precious because we have not had nearly enough. After all of the rain last Monday it was very mild and dry, some days not even needing a jersey, yesterday was unbelievable as we had a HOT South Easter blowing and it was like standing in front of a roasting oven, most unpleasant to say the least, thank the Lord our house is cool inside.  Today it is grey, cold(ish) and some rain every now and then.

Well, it was a busy week to be sure, after Zeepha's little visit for X-rays the Vet came back with a clear report, and after a lot of discussion we are taking her in tomorrow morning and they will attempt to spay her again, this time using gas or a much lighter Anaesthetic, I would really appreciate your prayers for her tomorrow morning and for wisdom for the Doctors.  She is being a real little madam at the moment and I am pretty much getting the cold shoulder, unless I have food in hand, needless to say my dear Hubby doesn't help in always being so welcoming when she is around, grrrr, it is common knowledge he steals ALL my cats and then feigns innocence.

After Doctor check ups required by all three of us and a series of trips into Kleinmond it turned into one of those weeks where it felt like all we did was run around.  One exciting thing though, when Jelly Bean and I went into the Doctor I needed to stop at KAWS which is our local Animal Welfare.  They have a fabulous little second hand shop with some amazingly good bargains and sell little doggie jackets for R5 which is for nothing, in the shops they are a minimum of R160.  Anyway Max kept walking right out of his old one and we stopped to get him a new one, while we were chatting to the staff I suddenly remembered Jelly Bean saying that she would love to volunteer there and asked how to go about it.  Long story short we are both going to volunteer at least once a week to go in and play with the cats and kittens, many people volunteer to take the dogs for walks etc, but no one plays with the cats.  We are both very excited about this and are putting together a small assortment of toys we will take back and forth with us.

On Friday evening we had our friends around for a delicious curry and some really good, long overdue catch up time.  We looked after their puppy last year when they were overseas and so he is very comfortable here, but what happened as they left had us all holding our sides with laughter.  We had brought his towel inside so he could lie in the lounge and when it came time to go we all moved towards the door but for some reason Buddy would not move past the sofa ????  We tried everything - calling, opening the door, cajoling, but there was no way he was walking past that chair.  He would take a half a step then dance backwards (to visualise he is a fairly big/medium sized Alsatian cross rescue, with long legs).  By this time all our attention was focused on him, when his dad tried getting stern and calling him he then began THE most hysterical movement to the door.  All four legs were bent out at the 'elbows', he was trying to walk on his tiptoes which made him look like someone had pushed him down a wet, slippery incline towards a huge pool of water.  It was two inches forward then brake, one inch forward then brake.  If we had taken a video it would have gone viral, I have never seen anything so funny in my life.  Needless to say it took quite awhile to get him out and once he reached the door mat he practically flew out the door.

My clever Hubby has at long last got the 'problem' clock working and it has been on test throughout the weekend, gee whizz this once gave him headaches, even to the point of constructing parts for it.  Well done my love !  I tried my hand at making some marmalad and oh my word, I will never again by it in a shop, so am feeling very chuffed with myself.  The family are all well, Princess has started writing mid year exams, the curriculum they set is ridiculous.  She has 16 exams in 16 days with not one block day, talking to Poppet yesterday she agreed that it is by far, more intense nowadays than it was when she was at school.  Good luck Princess and all the other children who are writing, take a deep breath, study hard and then do your very best.

Folks, that is all my news for this week, I will be glad when tomorrow is behind us and after that am looking forward to a hopefully quiet, peaceful week.  Don't forget in all the busyness to take a few minutes every day to stop and just breathe in and 'smell the roses'.  Stay safe out there,  Ciao Ciao til next week.

Bright and cheery bottle of homemad Marmalade.

Wind, rain, highs, lows and flats

Good morning everyone, a little later than usual, but then it's been a super busy start to the week. Yesterday the wind built up steadily to quite 'strong' gale which happily brought the rain with it.  We have had the most amazing rain overnight and all the waterfalls are flowing strongly.  This morning saw us up bright and early in order to get Zeepha to the Vet in Gordon's Bay so that she could have her X-ray.  They initially wanted me to leave her there until  4pm which I simply refused to do.  She was such an angel going in, even in the midst of the heaviest rain we've driven in since we moved down,  she just snuggled into my jacket and didn't make a peep.  My biggest prayer was that they would not need to sedate her and because she stayed in my jacket she was very calm, it literally took 3 minutes, no sedation and it would appear no hernia, now the next thing is for them to figure out how to spay/neuter her.

Last week with Jelly Bean being in Sea Point with BigBear where she had an absolute ball, we had a very quiet week, the house felt really empty haha.  Hubby and I made a trip into Kleinmond on Wednesday and took some time to go and have a delicious cup of tea and then we browsed through some of the shops down toward the Harbour, something we never do.  I find it is so easy to get into a rut of rushing into the Village, doing what needs to be done and getting out.  It was really nice to slowly look and browse without all the tourists.  After more hours than I can even count, it would appear the my clever Hubby's perseverance with the stubborn clock has paid off and it should be working from today, gosh I cannot believe his patience.  On Friday with another early start we prepared to set off for Cape Town to purchase some clock spares and collect our gorgeous daughter.  Hmmpphh. We got all settled and ready to leave and the car wouldn't start ....... slightly frustrated we decide it's not a problem we will use my car, so transfer everything to the other vehicle, go back inside the house for the keys and off we set, turn the key and ....... nothing.  My car battery is flat, not longer was the annoyance just an irritation, the dogs were looking at us like we were crazy.  Back into the house to get Jelly Bean's car keys, transfer everything all over again, turn the key and can you believe it.......flat as a pancake.  What the heck are the chances of all vehicles having flat batteries at the same time seriously ??????  To top things off the battery charger was at someone's house to charge their vehicle.  By this time I was breathing flames internally,  eventually my clever Man went and got the caravan battery and we managed to jump start his car with that.  We lost about 15 minutes and my positive slant on the entire episode is that God delayed us for a valid reason, we may never know why.  Out trip then progressed without any further incidents and we managed to do everything on the list and still get home just after 2 pm.   On top of all the fun and games I unknowingly had run out of antihistamines and also changed my make up brand, Friday chose to be the day that the itchiness made a violent appearance leaving me unsure as to the cause.  By the time we got as far as Rooi Els most of my make up was off from watering eyes and I spent the rest of the day scratching, a bit like a flea ridden monkey, the joys of Fibromyalgia. Now that I am back on the antihistamine it is way better. I belong to two Facebook Fibro support groups and asked a question with regard to the itching on the South African Group and was absolutely blown away by the support and suggestions for all the ladies, it is wonderful being able to have that kind of support and knowing you are not alone or the only one with all these weird symptoms

Folks that was the highs, lows and itches of last week, the wind is picking up again and we are about
to light a gorgeous fire and have another cup of tea, yes I am addicted to my tea LOL.  For those of you who have children or grandchildren about to start writing exams I pray for peace over their minds and spirits and for all of you faithful readers I pray you have a wonderful week, please stay warm and as always stay safe.

The clouds heavy with rain and a gray moody ocean on the way home this morning.

A strange week for sure.

Good morning folks from a blustery, chilly BB,  as I type today's Blog my dearest Hubby and I are sitting here alone because Jelly Bean has gone to visit BigBear for the week, she is the quietest person I know and yet the house feels quiet and empty hehe.

Well, quite a busy week last week with various things that needed doing and a couple of trips into Kleinmond for one thing or another, it's strange how some weeks are just like that.  On the flip side to that I spent most of my time lying on the sofa trying to get my back out of spasm, mostly it was just too sore to sit for any length of time, happily it is now measurably better -  great fun!  Weather wise it a week of total contrasts, we went from absolutely enormous, rough seas to one day where the ocean was so still it looked like a painting.  The temperatures  also swung between making a fire every night to almost summery days.   On Wednesday, Voting Day it was absolutely freezing, windy and wet.  We got all ready and got ourselves up to the Hall to be surprised at the length of the queue, given that it was raining and I could not stand for long we beetles off back home and went up later in the afternoon where we were in and out in 20 minutes.  I found that it was a really strange week,  it seemed very long and completely disjointed.

Today we are back to normal with my precious Hubby still busy with the two clocks, both of which need parts, which of course are not available anywhere here or overseas, never without a plan he has painstakingly rebuilt the one part and will test it out today before moving onto the other, so watch this space. Yesterday we went through to Sea Point  to have a special Mothers Day Lunch with our Bears.  It was fantastic seeing BabyBear again, we haven't seen her since New Years Day with all all her travelling back and forth and it was just awesome being together and having a delicious meal and some really good catch up.  Thanks for the spoils guys and a special afternoon.  I was also thoroughly blessed with calls and messages from the rest of the family so I am feeling thoroughly loved and blessed.  Love you all family, each one of you is incredibly special and unique and I am blessed and honoured to be your Mom.

Folks that's about it for this week, the wind is howling and it is an overcast day so I foresee some good reading time in my immediate future.  I wish you all a wonderful week and in closing I would just like to leave you with this encouragement.  Irrespective of what life throws at you ( and it loves to throw curves and rocks) , even though you may be feeling like you have reached the bottom of the barrel or feeling that you are an island amongst humanity,  there is and always will be an upswing in your circumstances.  Never loose the will to fight for what you deserve because you alone hold the ability to follow your heart, to make decisions that will change your circumstances.  No one has ever said that it will be easy but I can assure you that it will be worth it - the biggest step is making the decision in your heart and mind, then following through with it.  You deserve the absolute very best that God has for you.  Ciao ciao and please  stay safe.

Two pics of the ocean from last week.  Both taken from our deck.

Life is never dull.

Good morning folks, another short week for those of us in South Africa as Wednesday is Voting day.
Saturday brought very high winds which buffeted the house through the night and gradually waned as the day wore on, leaving in its wake enormous waves and a tumultuous ocean, today the waves are even bigger which is fascinating to watch.

Well it might not have been a busy week, but it sure was an interesting one.  On Monday Jelly Bean noticed that little Zeepha was behaving oddly and we soon realised that she is back in heat, the SECOND time in three weeks.  Poor old Jasper he is so irritated and once again Jelly Bean and I were as important as chopped kale, eventually I resorted to giving her some Calm Eaze to try and calm her down at least a little, I really hope this is it for awhile so that we can try and get her X-rayed and then hopefully find a way to sterilise her.

Generally it was a quiet week spent getting things done around the house with all the usual things like baking RUSKS etc.  I am still doing my own nails and am delighted that I have got to a point where I am 100% happy with the outcome and consider them as good as if they were done at a salon, and this week I get to practice by doing Jelly Bean's so here's holding thumbs hehe.

On Friday I went for a Body Stress Release treatment that had been gifted to me by a precious friend, as it turns out it was not the best thing for me to do.  Within an hour of leaving my back went into a huge spasm which literally knocked me off my feet, I have spent the entire weekend lying down and trying to work through the pain and the inevitable Fibro Flare that came with it.  Needless to say I have done a LOT of reading haha.  Today I find I can sit for a little, hence a short Blog, before I finish off things needing attention in the house and find myself a new book.  As they say "this too shall pass".  My wonderful Hubby and daughter have been fantastic with all their help.  Hubby even managed to get out yesterday for a well deserved and long overdue game of golf with some friends.
The rest of the family are all well, some recovering from flu but in general all are well, happy and busy.

Folks that's it for this week, I wish you all a wonderful week, please take care out there and stay safe. I would just like to say that I appreciate each and every one who reads this Blog and for all your encouragement, love and support.  Ciao Ciao for now

Zeepha cuddled as close as she can to Jasper