Growing!

I planted the Amaryllis on the 17th January expecting it to flower in March, it has exceeded my expectations and flowered now. I am going to have at least five big blooms on it!



Around the garden we have clumps of lovely snowdrops



I also have some lovely yellow crocus, but I didn't manage an 'infocus' photograph!
The Hellabores are coming through too...



and wherever I am in the garden Sassy comes too!



she is half burmese puss cat and great company!

Nearly Finished

We are busily finishing all the fattening food, not that there is alot left, but Tango and Sassy appreciated the cream we gave them.




I have blitzed the house as hubby decided to pop into work and T is out with friends in Swindon, so it felt like a Monday to me. Tomorrow the decorations will come down and it will all be over for another year.

I shall leave you with a most magnificent sunset, I got yesterday. As much as I love the frost, I've missed the sun!

Things

My Cats rely very much on what I give them although Tango does supplement his diet with the odd rat or two!
During the winter they spend alot of time indoors, in fact, apart from Tango the majority of their time is spent sleeping and eating! Because of this I have to change there food so they are now on this......



I usually buy 15Kg bags but for some unknown reason the Pet shop couldn't get hold of them so I have 2 5kg instead!

Sassy is looking very beautiful in this pic...



but viewed from the rear , we can see she is abit rotund!



and when in the sleeping position



we see a few more lumps and bumps!

Tango on the other hand is a lean, fighting machine that talks alot!



You can see in this pic as he walks towards me he is talking. But there is not a mean streak in him. When ever he enters a room no matter what time of the day or night he announces his arrival!!!
He loves to snuggle me especially after he has eaten Ratty and breathe rat breath all over me, which I'm sure if you where a lady cat is quite a pleasant aroma but for me it is revolting!!



I think if we hadn't had him neutered he would be a bit of Casanova!

Jake on the other hand, is just Jake!



When they where handing out brains he was definitely at the end of the line. He lives on his nerves! But is popping outside more but also returns at great speed! we have to leave the curtains by the cat flap open so he can't ambush Sassy. I have moved the Feliway to the landing and recently we have had no major spats!

Plus today we have lived in our house for exactly 20 years!

This is what it looked like when we bought it

Front:-



Back


and the Rateable Value was £76!!!!!!!

We moved from here



this had a rateable value of £307!

Power Struggle!

Jake has been throwing his weight around again, by picking on Sassy, but sadly Tango was involved and fortunately for us did not retaliate, he did the next best thing



and is now sleeping in Jake's favourite spot!! lol!! Jake is wandering round like a lost soul, keeps popping in and out the cat flap as he has nowhere else to sleep! If he carries on at this rate he is going to wear the battery out!

But look where he is down the garden, I have marked the pics and he's just below the mark,



you can just spot his back legs in this pic.



Off to the greenhouse here! He has never been this far from the house before!!

Sassy is ensconced as usual on our bed!



Meanwhile there is the most beautiful aroma of Christmas Cake around, it has been in the oven since yesterday, as the warming oven had cooled so much overnight I moved it up to the main oven which is also still quite cool.

Right it has stopped pouring with rain so I'm off out into the garden for awhile, whilst the sunshines!!

Cat Bully!

My friend came round with her daughter the other day and Sassy stayed around, which is most unusual. She usually scarpers but I think she is feeling very picked on by Jake!



He is being a proverbial bully especially towards Sassy. I can't seem to break it and to be honest am not sure how too either. I have Feliway plugged in and a spray to use around the place. But he lies in wait for her either just inside the catflap, or third step from the top of the stairs.

He always catches her in the evening when I am sat downstairs and so far has not done this when I'm around. If he does I walk up to him quickly, don't shout, don't do anything else, just make my presence felt. If I have the water spray to hand he gets a quick squirt!

If anyone know of a way to deal with this please let me know!