Cat-astrophe

 I am sleeping more often in my basket, the evenings are not so warm and I am now inside more often, I can see the garden from here, still watching the little birds, so many of them all flock around the feeder in the tree. Apparently the big white thing behind will keep me warm, that's if they ever turn it on. 

She has popped this rug down for me to stretch out on, it's a perfect spot for me, she has also been closing the blinds in the evenings, it does make it feel warmer, but I don't like them. they move and I get caught in them. This is a quiet spot out of everyone's way, I do love my scratching tower. 

I am about to lose one of my nine lives if I keep sleeping on this net, it was lovely and tight and neat, but I love it here, it's warm and I'm nearer the little birds when they visit the feeder, I still can't catch them. This net here is to protect the brassica's below not for me, I'm chased off here a few times every day, some battles I can't win. She has added this horrible net to stop me.

They have started to leave their bedroom door open at night, they want me not to sleep outside the bedroom door as it's not safe, there is an igloo bed inside, I have not yet decided if I will use it. I do sneak in when they are asleep and I've learnt if I want to snuggle, she is much nicer than him. I am told no other cat has been allowed to sleep in bedroom, I'm special, which I already know.

I'm loving the dry weather, I was unhappy with all the rain, I really don't not like getting wet, I don't mind wet paws. My coat is thick and really soft which is brilliant at keeping me warm as it's now cooler, I'm still mainly outside I love the garden, I never leave, I have everything I need here. They again have started changing things, the seating set which I shelter under has been made much smaller and they don't take the covers off any more, some of the bigger pots have been moved and my den under the raspberries has gone, I liked to hide behind them. 

She came home smelling of my mum, which I loved, I gave her extra cuddles because she smelt so good, she is using a soft blanket on her lap I do like it, so I am popping on her lap more often, she does sit nice and still for me, but cheekily she tells me I'm not a kitten any more and I'm getting heavy, not fat, as they are tight with their treats for me. I had loads of cuddles with her daughter last weekend, she also smells of my mum. 

September round up

 Small craft spend this month on art books, other crafts are same as before what little I am doing I use what I already have, garden spend was mainly spring bulbs and a few winter bedding plants, I have loads of new bulbs for display around the patio, giving early colour. I did purchase another pair of jeans, these as so comfortable and a T shirt which was a great price from M&S outlet store.

5 Books read this month

This month has been expensive, hubby got a couple new pairs of shoes, and I got a couple bits of clothes. We have booked a couple nights out in the coming months, and taking Molly pottery painting, birthdays this month, it all adds up. Food shopping was expensive with all the cake ingredients, rich fruit cakes are not cheap to make. The prices in the supermarkets have soared again, we were looking at joints of meat, even brisket of beef was expensive, we both agreed we would soon need to have more meat free days per week, because we agreed it was wicked to pay the prices shown, mainly because the farmers are still struggling to make their farms pay any living wage. 

A good month in the kitchen, no food waste, all the party foods and birthday cake leftovers daughter took home with her, her three enjoyed having them. Normally at this time of year I'm stocking up the pantry, but not this year, I will maintain our usual levels, and maybe get just a few treats nearer the big day.

Nothing to say about my weight, I am steady at my new higher level, I have packed away all my smaller trousers, I am still pre diabetic (since 2019), and know loads of people who lose weight once they become diabetic, so I will hang on the them. 

Blooming marvellous

This is my big grey oblong tub, I put both Hosta's in here in the summer with the tiny Begonia plant and the Lobelias, now I have loads of Cyclamen in pots, with a couple Violas, full of colour. The Begonia blooms will last until the frost comes, I will leave it in here over winter, I'm not sure if it's a corm or bedding plant, either way I am hoping it comes back next year. 

This pot is again stunning, I also have a Hellebore in here, which blooms after these have hibernated, I do very little to this pot, just add feed a couple times a year. I added the Fuchsia this summer, the rest has been in here a few years.  

This pot of Begonias is back inside my greenhouse, I can see the flowers from inside the house, it will last for weeks yet, it's a stunning plant I have had for years. I adore Begonias, they are late summer flowering and the blooms last after loads of others have faded. 

Molly has enjoyed her first full week at school, she is eating well without any issues, she already knows she can't eat dairy, mummy talks to her every morning about her lunch menu, and like George she loves a jacket potato, which always is a great option for her. She is exhausted each day, so is sleeping much better, her teacher has noted Molly loves to be involved in everything and is making new friends.

Sadly Georges start has been mixed, we always knew a change of class, teacher and 1 to 1 would cause a wobble, they want him to become independent, but it all takes time, so far he had blocked the toilets with paper after being sent in on his own, and hides other bits in there. He is wearing his glasses all the time, which is great news, and he does like to sit and participate more in class. Daughter has popped into his bookbag a notebook, so they can record his day, good and bad, the teacher or 1 to 1 no longer speaks to her every day.

Will is loving his new school drop off rules, it's just a walk down the secure school path by himself, a good step in his growing up, daughter is happy, there are school people about to watch who is walking, it's not a public path. Hubby and I picked them all up on Friday afternoon, daughter was unwell, they came out happy, it's great to see these children all doing so well, I did teatime and bedtime, it was a pure joy, no tears. Daddy came back for a night, so daughter came to ours and chilled out, all her favourite meals and a lazy Sunday morning. 

Hubby checked under the kitchen floor a couple of times, first time the poison had all been taken, second time there was some left, hopefully they will stop coming back. The poison he uses is a slow acting type, rats are clever and if they know something is killing them they leave it alone, we have not heard any more scratching in the wall, there are no signs they can get into the house, we will never be rid of them, all we can do is keep them away from our property. 

What's new

We popped to town on Tuesday morning,  looking for a birthday gift for George, we hope we have found him the perfect gift. We also got some bits for Molly's Christmas gift as well, daughter ask me to make her a crafting box. Hubby was given a book voucher for his birthday, we both love this set of books, priced at £30.00, half price in Waterstones, hubby paid £5.00, bargain.

Tuesday afternoon we were outside in our garden, it was sunny and not too cold, I have moved a couple of tender pots into the greenhouse, I also removed the french marigolds from this blue pot, which now contains violas, which I grew into a bigger size before planting. I have started a few cuttings, it would be helpful to have a few extra plants for next spring.

I really enjoyed this book I got from our local Library, the first few chapters were challenging, but it was worth the wait, the story fine a bit way out but believable, I found myself reading longer just to have more of the story. I guessed who done it, about 3/4 of the way through, not how, the plot kept a bit of doubt in my mind so it held me. Book 68 read this year.

Hubby packed away our seating unit, it goes down to a neat size and will be left along the wall, the cushions have been stored in our attic. Thursday was so nice we sat outside for our afternoon coffee, using our two folding chairs, not as comfortable as our seating, much easier to pack away. We have no idea what the weather is going do day by day. Yep hubby is still wearing shorts.

 

This week has been lovely sunny dry days and not too cold, I have started to pack away my garden ornaments and bringing out pots with spring bulbs, I planted my broad beans, 20 beans, plus 8 in pots incase any don'tgrow. I have one job to sort my raspberry bed, hubby wants to sort the wire fence behind the garage, it looks as if foxes have been trying to get through, he will secure it, as we don't want any animals to be hurt, we just don't want then in our garden.

Wednesday I had my first day out with daughter, without Molly, we are planning to make Wednesdays our time together, we changed our plans and went to my favourite garden centre, looking at plants, daughter is having a long raised bed in her back garden, she needs hardy plants which thrive without too much input from her. We popped to a second garden centre for lunch, its very strange to eat my own meal, normally Molly is trying all my food.

Hubby wanted to sort our attic, its not huge, we live in a converted bungalow, so most of the original attic space is our bedroom, the door is in our wall, easy access. I finally threw out loads of empty boxes, I had kept them for my special ornaments in my cabinet, they will never be used so out they went. 

We have heard scratching in our party wall (the wall between us and next door), our home is semi detached, hubby wanted to check to see how they were getting in, he has sealed the spot on our side, he found rat droppings. The correct solution would be to speak to neighbour and have her attic and wall checked, we have not asked, we know her answer would be no. The party wall is the only wall without insulation, therefore the only space they can climb. We would like to check under our floorboards for activity, but our wooden block floor is impossible to lift and put back without damage, hubby did check in the kitchen, going under a cupboard, again droppings, so poison was laid, its a safe place to leave it, there are no access spots into the house from below. We are now just hoping we have sorted the issue without having to speak to the neighbour, she has ignored us for a few years, whilst sending all her fury to the neighbour on her other side, and we do want to avoid any problems.