Taking Stock June 2022

Hello friends 🙂

It’s been a while since I did a “Taking Stock” post (respectfully borrowed from Pip Lincolne’s blog Meet Me at Mike‘s) and now is as good a time as any.

Getting: A haircut. As per my routine, I let it grow throughout the warmer months, so it is easier to pull back into a pony tail. Then, come Winter, I chop it all off into a short bob. Just got it cut this past weekend. About 4 inches were chopped off. No one at work noticed. Either that means they literally didn’t notice, or it looks bad and they don’t want to say anything

Making: Library displays. I get to do that now, at my new job. Happy days!

Liking: Our new Prime Minister. So far. It’s early days 🙂

Loving: My cats, Atticus and Harper. They are so affectionate and sweet and mischievous and funny. They make me laugh and they bring me joy and love. I am officially the Crazy Old Cat Lady now. Atticus recently had a bit of a health wobble, but I think he’s ok now. Crazy Old Cat Lady had a minor nervous breakdown, however…. On another note, I can recommend getting your pet an anti-anxiety bed. My two love theirs and I really do feel it has lowered any anxiety they feel (they’re both very timid, nervous cats) and given them a warm, comfortable place to chill out. The beds are available everywhere – shop around to get a decent price. Mine were under $20 each. I found some similar ones here, if you’re interested.

Cooking: Crackers. Five-seeded ones to be exact. I’ve been using this recipe.

Sipping: At the moment I am drinking Fennel Tea. It’s supposed to help tummy problems. The jury is still out on that one but I am giving it a go….

Reading: Lots of books! I have been reading so much more, now I have a regular lunch break. At the moment, I am nearing the end of “Mercy Street” by Tess Evans. It’s delightful.

Thinking: Way too much. Overthinking should be an Olympic sport.

Remembering: My Uncle who passed away from dementia last month. His funeral was a celebration of his life and how loved he was. Tears were shed, but there was a lot of laughter too. No one can wish for anything more in life than having friends and family who loved them right up to the end.

Looking: For an Estate Sale. I never see these advertised here in Perth. They must exist, dammit! I shall look harder…

Listening: To lots of podcasts when I walk. I still like Desert Island Discs and Walking the Dog with Emily Dean, but I also tune into a few others. Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain keeps me amused and Take 5 offers some interesting insights into people’s musical choices and inspirations. I am open to any recommendations!

Wishing: For peace in the Ukraine.

Enjoying: Wordle. Yep, I hopped on that bandwagon without a second thought.

Appreciating: My new job. I always wanted to work in a school library and now here I am. It’s not perfect, and I am still getting my head around things, but it is a million times better than where I was. Less stress and chaos. More creativity and calm. I am so grateful.

Wanting: The Winter to be over. It just officially started today (*cries*)

Eating: Too much. I recently had an amazing Okonomiyaki at Taylor’s in the Valley. SO GOOD. You should go there.

Finishing: Some craft projects, but not many, if I am honest. Life has been busy.

Buying: A fortnightly cup of coffee. I avoid coffee as it is not good for my kidneys but allow myself one good cup every fortnight now. It is bliss.

Watching: Lots of Jane Austen (or any kind of period drama) movies. They’re very relaxing and calming. On the other hand, I also find myself watching true crime stories on Youtube. Nothing too horrible. I enjoy the courtroom stuff, the interrogations and how the police solve the crime. I love a good, dumb criminal who gets their comeuppance.

Hoping: I will get my house sorted out. I’m in such a mess. I may just move.

Wearing: Anything baggy. Middle-aged spread is a thing. It’s less of a spread and more of a downward, melting spiral of hell. Also, leggings. In public. I am trying to be less self-conscious and wear things that everybody else wears without giving a s@*t what anyone else thinks. But I wear a really baggy, long t-shirt. I don’t want to frighten people.

Walking: Not nearly enough. But when I do, I enjoy a stroll around the local reserve (in leggings!) where I can watch the antics of happy dogs playing and running about. It makes me happy 🙂

Following: The Johnny Depp / Amber Heard trial. I know, I know, it’s dreadful but I am fascinated by courtroom stuff, regardless of the people involved. I have to say I found much of it (and the subsequent media / social media storm) quite sickening. I am neither Team Depp nor Heard, but I am quite horrified by the public’s reaction to Amber. Did we not just go through the whole #METOO thing? People are so judgemental of a situation that they know nothing about. I don’t think either party is completely innocent in this case – I think it was toxic all round – but booing someone outside a courtroom who has, at this stage, NOT been found guilty and is possibly the victim of domestic abuse is a bit s@*tty. It sends a bad message to anyone who has been abused. We don’t KNOW, we weren’t THERE. Regardless of the outcome, there are no real winners here. We have a very long way to go in terms of gender equality and bias. And the end of the day, I have one thing to say : DON’T DO DRUGS, KIDS! THEY MAKES PEOPLE DO DUMB THINGS!!!

Noticing: Beautiful sunsets / sunrises lately. The sky can be so beautiful.

Saving: My cats’ whiskers. What for? I don’t know. But I can’t throw them out!

Feeling: Anxious. All the time. I recently tried a few sessions of hypnotherapy in the hope it would help me calm my farm. But I didn’t get any benefit from it at all. So I am back to the drawing board. I think Hypnotherapy is an excellent tool and would work really well for most people. I’m just not most people 😦

Hearing: Silence. After 18 months of listening to a VERY LOUD whirlybird (ventilation thingy) on our neighbour’s roof, there are signs that they may be having it replaced/repaired. I was literally in the process of putting a “Dear Neighbour” letter in their mailbox yesterday, when I looked up and saw that the top of the whirlybird was gone and replaced with a sheet of plastic. Which, hopefully (please God!), means they are doing something about it. It has seriously been driving me bonkers.

So I think that’s it. It does seem mental that it is June already. Why is time speeding up? Why am I nearing 50 and clueless as to what I’m supposed to be doing? Why are people so excited about the new Top Gun movie when I haven’t even seen the first one? (and don’t plan on doing so). Speaking of guns, when will appropriate gun laws finally be introduced in the U.S?

On that controversial note, I will bid you adieu. Have a glorious day wherever you are! 🙂

Cats (Not the Musical)

Hello everyone! Apologies for my absence from Blogging Land. I have all the usual excuses – laziness, too busy, no time, life got in the way etc – but I also have a REALLY GOOD EXCUSE too… I got kitties! Yay me! I had been procrastinating about it and kept finding reasons why I shouldn’t get furbabies right now, why I needed more time, why I needed to organise myself better, why I should wait… But, eventually, it became apparent that there would never be the RIGHT TIME and I was just putting it off due to anxiety and fear of making a mistake.

So, one day, I went along to the Cat Haven, with my Mum in tow, to have a look – just a look – at the cats and kittens available. Why did I think I might be able to go in and not leave with a furry friend that same day? Duh! There were so many lovely kitties needing a home – all ages, colours, shapes and sizes. I did have in mind that I wanted perhaps a ginger kitten and a black and white one, but what were my chances of finding a pair like that, that were the right age too? I definitely wanted two – so they would have company when I’m out – and had originally wanted them to be boys, but that had changed over the preceding days. I didn’t care what sex they were in the end. I just wanted a little furry friend to love.

My Mum actually spotted them first. A bright and bouncy 6 month old tabby kitten, leaping about, trying to get attention – smooching on the glass of his cubicle and generally being adorable. The sign on his door said “My name is Ryan – how can you resist my chubby little face?” And, indeed, we could not.

Hiding away in the back of his cubicle, was his little sister, Oakie. She was obviously terrified and just wanted to make everything go away. When I reached in to stroke her, she cowered but did not hiss or run away. I felt so sorry for her. What a frightening world for her. The only comfort she had was her big brother who, bless him, tried to protect her by putting his arm around her. They had to be homed together as a bonded pair. We were sold.

So, now two months later, I have a pair of gorgeous, crazy, entertaining and affectionate kittens. Introducing, Atticus and Harper! 🙂

Atticus (AKA “The Toad”)

Harper Louise (AKA “Poppy”)

Atticus is a big boofy boy. He is a bit of a bully to his delicate and timid sister. In the first few weeks, I was quite concerned about his behaviour because he just would not leave her alone – she was getting beaten up constantly. Play-fighting is absolutely normal, of course, but Harper is so much smaller and, especially in the early days, she was in poor condition and not feeling well, and couldn’t defend herself. She took a long time to get over her desexing operation, and spent most of her days curled up on my dining room chair, looking miserable. Her appetite was good, however, and she seemed to trust me so I took heart that she would eventually come out of her shell.

I have to supervise meal times, otherwise Atticus will eat all of his own food and then Harper’s as well. She eats about a third of what he consumes (or should I say inhales) and tends to dither about. I can’t leave the food out for her to graze on – it will be gone in two seconds flat if Atticus is anywhere near it. I swear I got jipped and actually adopted a dog – he eats like a dog, plays like a dog, carries things around like a dog. He even chews on my shoes! But, despite his naughtiness and never-ending energy, he is adorable. The sweetest, most loving little guy. He enjoys a cuddle (on his terms) and just likes to be wherever I am. He ruled the roost from day one.

Harper is a tiny little lady. She is about half her brother’s size and is delicate and slight. She has a permanently worried expression on her face but is a happy girl most of the time. Initially, she had a very rough, almost crinkly, coat, and her hair was falling out in clumps. But, as she settled and recovered from her surgery and early experiences, her coat improved and is now quite soft and smooth – a pale, pinky-silver tabby. Still very timid, she will hide from everyone except for me. I am hoping this will change, but it may just be how she is – there is no way of knowing what her previous experiences with humans has been. She too is very loving and enjoys being stroked and talked to. She will roll on her back and let you rub her tummy and she has a special little voice just for me that warms my heart. She and her brother talk constantly – chirrupping (as I call it) and calling for one another when it’s playtime. They also groom one another quite violently, which generally leads to fisticuffs but, as long as Harper is not getting hurt, I leave them to it. She initiates quite a lot of the fights now and gives as good as she gets. I do have to separate them from time time, though, when Atticus forgets himself. When I first got them, they were showing signs of perhaps behaving a bit incestuously, and I am pretty sure Harper may have been pregnant. It took a couple of weeks for things to settle down in that way. Hormones get in the way of everything!

Atticus is very handsome. I think he knows it too. His coat is like silk – thick and shiny and so, so soft. He is much darker than Harper, and I think he is going to be a big boy, if his enormous feet are anything to go by. He is growing at a rate of knots and I have to keep an eye on his food intake, because I think he could easily be a bit of a fatty 🙂

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I have had to have an unwanted trip to the vet with Harper. Poor girl got her ear torn by her boofhead brother, and so we had to go through the trauma of her needing medication on the wound twice a day. It healed quickly, thankfully, and didn’t need the full course of drops. She hated me doing anything to her and it made her take a few steps back in terms of her social development and feeling secure, so I was glad to be able to leave her be. She soon forgave me and didn’t hold a grudge.

Atticus likes to suck on his blankies. This is normally a sign of kittens being taken away from their mothers too soon. He will suck and knead for ages, any time of day. I have special blankies for this – he only likes the soft “minky”ones. Often, he will be having a suckle session while Harper gives him a good tongue-bath. I think it comforts them both and I’m always happy when they’re they not bashing each other up.

They have the run of my house, except for my bedrooms (gotta have a couple of rooms free from hair, y’know!?) but are not allowed outside. I am planning on reinforcing my outside patio and enclosing it, so they can also have that room to play and explore. I have a two-story house so they get lots of exercise running up and down the stairs and they like to sunbathe by the upstairs windows, where they can also spy on the whole neighbourhood.

I love them so much. I don’t know why it took me so long to make the decision to get cats. I have missed having a pet, and cats are the best option for me, given I work full time. They are pretty self-sufficient and, provided I give them lots of exercise and play times to prevent boredom, they are pretty well-behaved. I have covered all my couches to prevent little claws shredding them, and also have a variety of scratching posts and mats. They have a selection of toys and I make sure we play at least every afternoon until they are ready for a rest. This keeps them happy and stimulated, and less likely to get up to mischief. Before I brought them home, I removed all plants from the house that might be toxic and moved any remaining ones to higher spots that the cats can’t access. They have their own room – my laundry – and they go to bed every night in there. No fuss – I just call them and they happily trot in and settle in for the night. They have toys and an enormous cat tower in there, as well as their litter trays and food/water bowls. They also have blankets and little cat igloos. So they’re pretty well sorted. I have no room for anything, but they are fine 🙂

So, expect many a kitty-related post from me in the near future. They have pretty much taken over my life (and bank balance – when did cat food and kitty litter get so expensive!?). They make me laugh so much and it is so nice to have someone to come home to. They are ratbags sometimes, but full of love and affection too. Watching Harper slowly blossom has been so wonderful, and Atticus puts up with so much harrassment from me – it is so nice to have a cat that will let you cuddle and kiss them (albeit begrudgingly some days 🙂 ).

Thanks for dropping by. Happy New Year to you all. May it contain as many blessings as you can handle xxx

Feline Pretty

Hello hello!  A quickie post today…

One of my collaging efforts from the weekend, this pretty little kitty in her fabulous blue dress.  I must admit I have been hammering that brick stencil quite a lot lately – it just gets me out of a fix when I can’t decide on a suitable background.  It always works and always looks good.  I should have positioned “Maddie” a little better, because she looks like she’s floating in mid-air.  But then, in that lovely dress, who wouldn’t be?  I also love her ruby t-bar shoes.  She’s so caught up in how fetching she looks, she isn’t even bothered by that wee mousey by her feet.  I added the little heart brooch to give the outfit some more colour and detail – can’t have a girl looking unaccessorised! 🙂

Thanks for stopping by x