Uh-oh!

 Yes, you're not seeing things; this is the newest addition to the veranda. The little guy in the garden with Missy, was found with his sister on the side of the busy road running through the valley. Their mother had been killed by a car. Colette fetched both kittens from a kind-hearted human who was keeping them at another small shopping complex. The little female only stayed with us for a day when a couple from Cape Town saw her and offered her a home. The little boy kitty (no name yet) is still with us.

 Missy, who took about three days to get over her operation, is finally returning to normal. She first hissed at this little boy, but now seems to have accepted him

 We gauged his age to be about three weeks when he arrived here. He's been with us two weeks on Friday. He still quivers and wobbles when he walks along the floor

 Charmaine picks him up for me to get a better photo. But he has other ideas!

Already so confident and demanding attention from his human slaves! 

Later the kitten was returned to the bathroom where he sleeps during the day (he spends the nights with his older kitty friends in the shop) and Missy and Lips cuddled up on a chair in Colette's African hides and leather shop. 

 Missy and Lips curl up with Leo the Lion

It's difficult to see where one cat begins and the other ends!  

 

African Harrier-Hawk

Earlier this week I popped into the local saw mills for shavings which I use as cats' litter. As I left the premises, a movement on my right caught my eye. A large bird foraging in the grass; an African Harrier Hawk.   I stopped, picked up my camera from the seat next to me and snapped away.

 African Harrier-Hawk

 

The African Harrier-Hawk is the largest hawk in the region. It has a small head with a yellow face and long thin yellow legs. For me this was the  first time I've seen this bird on the ground. Normally it sits on a high branch of a tree or large shrub . This bird robs bird nests, eating the eggs and baby birds if it gets a chance. 

I'm linking to Wild Bird Wednesday here

HAPPY WEDNESDAY TO YOU ALL! 

 

 

A birthday party

Yesterday morning I sent a birthday message to my Parkrun nemesis motivator inspiration, Marelize who has a coffee and gift shop in the Valley. A few hours later I received a Whatsapp from another friend, Ann Gray inviting me to join her at Marelize' shop at 3pm for coffee and Marelize' famous honey-baked cheese cake. 

I closed up shop at about 2h50 as the veranda had become very quiet. I'd also done excellent sales yesterday and felt I could take a break! 

It was a very small and intimate little group of friends. 

 Jo (moi), Ann, Lily, Marelize (birthday girl) and Doreen 

Ironically we were all wearing shades of blue! 

I'm linking to Our World Tuesday here

Hedges kitties and shop kitty

Hi Bozo and Mum's blog readers; this is Ambrose with an update on the Hedges kitties. Mum has been running late and I'm only getting to post today. But we kitties all well.

 Unca Shadow and me, Ambrose!

 Aunty Chappie dipping her head as Mum takes the photo

 Dad Ginger trying to get Aunty Chappie to play ! 

At the shop where Mum goes every day, the little kitty there has had an operation. She's sunning herself on another lady's car. 

 Shop Kitty on the car roof

She looks quite cute ! 

For more pet posts, please click here

Happy splashy critter

Walking along the farm roads, Skabenga and I always turn where the dam has overflowed onto the road. Of course, I wait at the edge of the muddy ridges while the crazy dog gleefully plodges and splashes in the puddles. 

 Happiness is...

 ...a muddy dog!

I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen here

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL! 

Veranda Kitties' surgery

I haven't posted about Missy and the other shop kitty, Lips in a while. But this week, the two little girls visited the vet in the nearby town of Winterton. It was time for them to be sterilized. 

They both sleep in Colette's African leather and hide shop. It was Colette's day off on  Monday so I helped Miriam to remove the food and water before  she closed up at 4pm. Tuesday morning at 7.30 Colette put the two cats into a cage (they were not impressed!) and drove them to town.

Charmaine and I waited with bated breath at 1.30 when Colette was due to return with the now patients...

Oh dear, when she opened the cage two very woozy kitties emerged. In fact only Lips emerged while Missy had to be helped out. She cried piteously when I lifted her out and placed her on a leather-covered pouf. Colette had settled Lips (who hadn't reacted so badly to the anesthetic) onto a futon which was lined with Colette's dad's sheepskin-lined jacket.

We settled them in for the night and this morning only Lips came to the door; a little wobbly but alert and ready for the chopped raw chicken livers. We searched for and found Missy behind a hide on a soft cushion. She wasn't interested in any food. Instead, when Colette opened the shop door, she limped our onto the veranda. I took her to her favorite spot on the steps in the sun. But she was having none of that either. She gingerly slid down the rock into the garden and settled in a spot of her choice. Of the two, Missy took the operation the worst.

 Although Lips has been out into the garden, she has retired to her "safe" spot. On a box under a sofa in Colette's shop

 Here she peeps at Mama Jo taking photos (as always!)

 The shaved tummy shows where Lips had her op

 Madam Missy in her garden soaking up an important vitamin for convalescents

 The saved area on Missy's tummy showing her operation site

 She's having no truck with humans whom she trusted and yet they sent her off to be hurt. Poor kitty!

I love the way she has her paw hooked around the small shrub 

We hope and pray the two little girls will feel better by tomorrow. More later this week...

 

Royal Wedding

Last Saturday I was invited to view the Royal Wedding at a hotel in the valley with a group of friends. Many hotels and resorts in the area advertised their events and I 'm sure each one was greatly supported. 

My friend, Cindy Muirhead was due to pick my up from my house at 9.30. I had already decided on my wedding outfit and after sorting the pets (what else?) and cleaning my cottage, I spent a good half hour getting ready. 

Friend Charmaine,  21`who works next door to me on the veranda of our shops, nagged me to send her photos of my "look". 

  Waiting for my lift to arrive

Me and Cindy arrived early and had front row seats in the private lounge

The receptionist, Jacques and I seemed to be the only guests who dressed for the occasion

I really loved attending the wedding !

Throughout the morning we were served with Shirley Temple (non-alcoholic) cocktails, cucumber sandwiches, cream scones and tea and coffee.

Later on we enjoyed a selection of savory snacks. 

At lunch time (shortly before Meghan was due to arrive at the church) we had curry and rice, chicken a la king and spaghetti sauce. This was followed by the most delicious petite fours, chocolate cakes, meringues and South African melktart!

As you can imagine, a great time was had by all!

 I'm linking to Our World Tuesday here

Kitties sleeping and outdoors

Hi Bozo and Mum's blog readers; this is Ambrose with a post about us kitties sleeping (as usual!) and also sunning ourselves in the garden.

 Dad Ginger and I, Ambrose snuggled together with Unca Shadow sleeping on Mum's bolster

 Unca Shadow and I, Ambrose, later snuggling on the bolster

 Later, Unca Shadow and I soak up the afternoon sun

 Doggie Skabenga, snuffling some bone treats left on the newly mowed lawn

For more cute pet posts, please click here 

 

Doggie Critter with Mum

The weather has suddenly turned cold which caused me to buy a dressing gown. This is the first time I have worn a dressing gown in more than 30 years. But so be it. With long winter pants underneath and my fluffy sheepskin slippers, I am now warm when I get up and work around the house before going off to the shop. (By then, of course,  I've changed into my outdoor clothes!)

My new winter dressing gown, with my track pants just peeping over the stripey bedssocks and sheepskin slippers 

I'm joining Saturday Critters with Eileen here

Note: as this post is aired, I'll be on my way to a wedding: THE wedding of the year! Many hotels and resorts are offering viewing the royal wedding at their venues with cocktails,  cake and tea and lunch included. A group of friends have invited me to join them at a hotel in the valley. 

 HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL!

 

Black-headed Heron

The black-headed heron (Ardea melanocephala) is a wading bird of the heron family , common throughout much of  sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It is mainly resident, but some west African birds move further north in the rainy season.

This species usually breeds in trees, reed beds or cliffs. It builds a bulky stick nest, and lays 2–4 eggs. 

It often feeds in shallow water, spearing fish or frogs with its long, sharp bill. It will also hunt well away from water, taking large insects, small mammals and birds. It will wait motionless for its prey, or slowly stalk its victim. (This is where I photographed this heron above) 

The black-headed heron is a large bird, standing 85 cm tall, and it has a 150 cm wingspan. It has a powerful dusky bill.

The flight is slow, with the neck retracted. This is characteristic of herons and distinguishes them from  storks and cranes, and  spoonbills which extend their necks. The white underwing coverts are striking in flight.

The call is a loud croaking.

I'm linking to Wild Bird Wednesday here

HAPPY WEDNESDAY TO YOU ALL!  

My world

I've had a wonderful first two weeks of business in May, Praise God! But earlier this week the veranda was quiet and Colette (whom I've posted about) who has a hammock hanging outside her African artifacts, hides and gift shop, showed me how to hang upside down on it. 

I often swing (sitting and holding on firmly) on this hammock but this position was a first for me! 

I'm linking to Our World Tuesday here