Peace & Tranquility

Isn't this view gorgeous, so peaceful



I love the sun and the fog



I love living where I live too, so tranquil



Two kitties in harmony






Please excuse the state of the floor, in the thaw kitties have muddy paws and refuse to wipe there feet!!!!!!! and I hadn't washed it last night but I will do this morning!!

Whats Been Going On!

Where has the time gone too since I last blogged?? We have been chicken and kitten sitting. Each morning and evening we would go round and play with the kittens for at least an hour, more often longer.
Ripple the stripy kitten was first at everything, barging, pushing, didn't like Ruffle getting any attention!!





Ruffle on the other hand is very withdrawn and quiet, we had to work hard to get her to play.



Yes that is Ruffle disappearing under the units!



Whilst are neighbours where away we had some exceptionally low temperatures and snow! This is looking down my patio!



A couple of mornings it was so cold I had to take the whole of the water container from the chickens run inside to defrost in hot water as it was solid! On the morning of the snow they didn't even want to come out of the run lol!



On the first day of the snow Ripple came out with me but made certain she stepped on the non snowy bits, it was funny to watch





When ever I am out in the garden I was either chatting to the chickens or to Ripple so guess who came to join us



this is not his first meeting with Ripple, she is very forward and demanded a kiss lol!



I have been very pleased with myself over Christmas and New Year, I only gained 4lbs. So with an amazing amount of motivation I have set myself a target to get into the next stones by the 11th February! To help this along we have been walking! On Monday we went round the village but I forgot to take my camera. So today I remembered.

This is just down the road from me





but further round I found these





aren't they soooooo cute. I hope you can feed donkeys carrots because when I go on Friday I may have a few in my pocket!!!!

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!!

In the Kitchen.......... again!!

I picked up a bag of pickling onions from Asda the other day so as I had got up so early and had nothing else to do, I peeled them and had them in vinegar before breakfast, but not before my cup of tea!



Here is one with the spiced vinegar and one with it still to be added!

Then after breakfast, still having loads of the day ahead, I decided to make another Christmas Cake. Well it was a matter of having too really as there is now only one left from the two I made before!




I forgot to take one of it in the cake tin. But its in the bottom oven where it will stay for probably over 24 hours!

Meanwhile my friend Tango was observing from the other side of the kitchen.



I don't approve of them being on the work surfaces, but hubby lays an old towel out for them here in the winter as it is warmed from below by the freezer. You can tell how cold it is as to whether they use it or not. This is not where any food preperation occurs!