Different day; same domicile

Good evening dear Blogger friends. 

 The days of winter are mild, cold and short. But the cats are in one place and one place only! 

On my bed! 

The three Hedges cats in the best place in winter! 

And an update on Papa: he has taken to my brother as if he has been there all his life

AND...

an update on my first Parkrun walk in three years: 

I MADE it. 

5km in 54 minutes. 

All the local runners and (fast) walkers, came past calling out how nice it was to see me on the track again. I walked with my friend, Jenny Hall and, of course, we solved the world's problems on the way. Ant Muirhead, my 82 year-old walking partner from before Covid,  was just behind us and gave me a congratulatory hug at the finish! Next week I will volunteer again, although I will try to walk at least once a month this year. 

HAPPY SUNDAY TO YOU ALL! 

Leggy critters, birds and a farm scene

 Good morning dear Bloggers. 

This week I rescued several spiders from my bathroom at home and one from the bathroom at my office. When I gently pick up the arachnid, using a facial tissue, and transport it to the safety of the garden, my thoughts always go to Sandra who does not like spiders! 

One of the visiting spiders in my space this week

Yesterday I drove out to the Valley to deliver Avon to several customers. Once again the view was stunningly beautiful - all golds, reds and russets. I stopped several times to take photos. Unfortunately I didn't have my Canon in the car. My smartphone takes photos, but as a scenic capturer, it leaves much to be desired. 

A peaceful farm scene

Leaving a resort, I stopped at a to photograph an ibis sitting on a log and a pair of Egyptian geese on the dam.

Interesting focal point of young "Dev's" signature! 

As I walked to my car in the shopping center car park, 

I stopped to photograph a wildflower on the verge

I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen here

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL! 

Tongue lolling pooch

Good morning dear Blogger friends. Last week as Skabby and I walked home after our walk, I noticed how interesting my dog's expression was. He was pleasantly tire and happy having had the first walk in ages again. I snapped his shadow with tongue lolling...

HAPPY WEDNESDAY TO YOU ALL

Butter wouldn't melt in my mouth

 Missy, my smallest and youngest kitty and the cat whom we rescued while I worked at the art shop years ago, is the most feisty, vocal and demanding of my three cats. She jumps onto my shoulder while I sleep and nudges my face with her nose until I let her under the covers. She cuddles up, purring and kneading and then for no reason, will slip out, off the bed and onto the floor. 

She is also very picky when it comes to WHAT I offer for breakfast and WHERE it is served. Last week I posted her eating breakfast in bed, which is her favorite place.

Early in the morning (I am awake at 4.30am), as soon as she has had breakfast, she dashed out of the door, onto the veranda and sprints across the lawn. We think she spends most of the day under the shrubs birdwatching (well, Mum is a birdwatcher!) and will come in at about 4.30pm. 

She eats a few kibbles and has a drink of water and then hops onto my bed to sleep for an hour or two. At 7pm, she stands at the door and meows until I let her out. I used to worry about her going out at night, but I cannot do anything much about it. She always returns around 8.30 9pm and meows at the door to be let in. 

Yesterday afternoon, I caught her in repose as it were, and quickly snapped the occasion!

The picture of innocence

HAPPY MONDAY TO YOU ALL! 

While, back at the ranch...

 ...the three cats do what cats do best: SLEEP!

Dear Blogger friends. I have neglected posts about my kitties. It's a year this week that my dear Ambrose, kitty journalist, went across the Rainbow Bridge. He used to nudge me to allow him to post - I kid you not! 

My dear Ambrose would climb on my keyboard...

...and annex my office chair, to remind me that it was his turn to do the kitty post 

The weather is cooler and I have to fight for a corner to sleep on my single bed. The three cats, two already quite rotund and very heavy, take up their positions and that is where the stay. All night! 

Clockwise from the left: Chappie, Mama and Missy (here in front) 

Missy also insists on breakfast in bed! Brat! 

HAVE A WONDERFUL SUNDAY

Sunny day; will walkies

 Good morning dear Blogger friends. At last we had a third sunny day which dried up the muddy farm roads. 

At midday, I leashed up a very, VERY excited pooch and we set out for a walk. 

As we headed up the road on the way to the dam, I took in the calm and bucolic scene of the cows grazing in the top paddock. While focusing on the animals, I ensured there was plenty of sky as it was a deep blue. When Europeans visit South Africa, they always remark about how "high" the sky is. A very quaint way of describing our big sky all year around. 

I could "hear" the creamy milk being created by these placid animals 

Such a happy doggy running along the road

Every so often Skabby stops and "points" at something, reminding me that he has retriever in him 

I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen here

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL! 

 

Papa goes walkabout

 Dear Blogger friends, the Hedges kitties are doing what they do best in cold weather: hogging Mum's narrow bed and sleeping all day and night. I will be posting several dozens of post of their winter pastime. Lucky kitties. 

Meanwhile, Papa who has his forever home with my brother Philip,  not far from where I live, had settled in well. 

However, on Thursday Philip woke to find Papa had gone out in the night and still wasn't home. Oh dear. I panicked thinking he may be making for the Central Berg.

Mid-afternoon, my brother sent me a WhatsApp: Papa had just walked in, pulled his favorite cushion from the chair and settled on it.

Papa telling Unca Booch that he just took the air; what's all the fuss about? 

Papa repeated this on Thursday night and while Philip was letting me know at mid-morning on Friday, Papa walked in and curled himself around Philip's ankle. 

Friday night he slept all night in the linen cupboard - a favorite spot of his. This cat knows how to make himself at home:) And spent all day sleeping. 

I have not heard from Philip about last night, but it rained all day on Saturday and last night, so perhaps the cat will decide to stay warm and dry from now on.

HAVE A WONDERFUL SUNDAY 

Snow on the Central Drakensberg

 Good morning dearest Bloggers. I cannot imagine that people in Europe or North America are excited by snow. But we here in sunny South Africa and after a HORRIFICALLY hot and rainy summer, are thrilled to see white capped mountains earlier this week. 

Recently we have had heavy rains here in the mountains. These eased up  by  Monday this week. However, huge weather arrived on the Eastern Seaboard of South Africa, Kwa-Zulu Natal's North and South Coast and Durban in between. 

There have been devastating floods, large losses of life and peoples' homes and possessions swept away in the torrents. 

Here in the Central Drakensberg, at last the farm roads have hardened and Skabby and I were able to go out for a walk. The first in almost four weeks.

Snow images on Champagne Castle and Cathkin Peaks, taken from the farm 20km away

The dairy herd walking to the green pastures where they will graze for the day

Skabby pointed out the newest calf on the yard

Mama calling pitifully to her calf as she goes to graze in the top paddock with the herd 

A very happy dog out for the first time in ages! 

I'm linking to Saturday Critters with Eileen, here

HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU ALL!