the one with the insect body parts

Observations while doing the housework.....
 

Minnie likes to toss the kitty litter crystals around on the floor. Sometimes, if there aren’t enough scattered there already (like if I've just swept them up), she’ll put in her paw and bat some out. Good times.

The cats have found a new (and frankly, way more exciting) use for my yoga mat. They do the kitty version of Downward Facing Dog…this involves claws. And scratching.

Natch.

Am vacuuming lots of litter crystals and bits of mat foam.

Vacuuming sux.

An army of ants invades my kitchen every night- I think they must have a base nearby.

I’m finding wings and legs and other unidentifiable insect body parts lying around and one huge green fly (thank the Pope they didn't eat that) in its final death throws just got sucked up…I bet they can’t wait to sink their teeth into something meatier.

They love to do this.
Climb on (and under) the damp laundry on the clothes rack. Check those claws, baby!

I go to a speciality German supermarket just to buy my floor cleaner….Emsal Boden PHege. Besides the fact that it’s a darn sight better than any local product, I love the smell- all Alpiney and log cabins and Heidi.Which aren't exactly German, I know.

 

They climb everything! 

I spent over R300 on new picture books for school yesterday. I do this every year. It helps make going back to school a little less shitty. A leeetle bit.

School starts Monday. *sob*

Glen Hansard's 'Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy' from Once. Love that movie!

yoda interrupted

Yesterday someone said she looked like Yoda.

I think she might have overheard.

Never mind Minerva. You'll grow into those ears.

This is Max down below looking for trouble.

He spies Minnie (who, unlike her brother, is a cat who likes her space) and doesn't relent until she joins in with the game of Let's Grab The Parcel Tape And Chew It To Bits.

 

  

  

Do or do not... there is no try.

Typographic inspiration by AriMudz

Merry Merry!!

I'm chillin' with the kitties .....very merry after having climbed into a bottle of Amarula that was actually meant to be a gift for some person who will remain nameless! (Don't worry, they will be receiving a gift...just not that one)

Tomorrow I drive to the family in Cape Town. We'll be drinking champagne cocktails, doing a leg of lamb in the Weber (with a gammon in the oven) and will probably play a few rounds of Mario Kart.

Perfect.

Peace, happiness and lots of love everyone!

ETA- Whoops! Forgot to take this post off draft (blame it on the Amarula)...almost 24 hrs later and it's all over bar wading through the left overs and taking another peek at some truly excellent pressies.

The very yummy (almost surprisingly so) Pointsettia cocktail. Note the kitchen sink in the background with dishcloth and Sunlight liquid....we were so enthralled by our cocktail we forgot to stage it properly...

There. 

Impressed?

Try it sometime. The Triple Sec gives it the sweetness with a citrusy zing and the cranberry juice balances that with a touch of sour. And then you top it up with champagne. Yum.

Hope yours was a jolly merry Christmas.

 

all that i want

 So. A week of my holidays has passed and what have I done with my time?

I've read. Tons.

 

I've tried not to eat too much shit..and largely failed.

 

I've shopped.

And I made some bags.

 

  

  

It's been good. : )

 You see paw pads, I see chocolate coated raisins. 

And, lastly, two little bits of festive spirit.

The first is the most chilled out and gorgeous rendition of Silent Night I've ever heard. Mahalia Jackson remixed by King Kooba.

The Weepies' All That I Want...

..and what is it that makes you scream?

 

This morning I was inspired by Jocelyn's post to try and do some macro shots and thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and do some sewing at the same time. Hey, I've managed driving a car while shooting, this should have been a piece of cake. Should have been.

So while the kitties slept, I quickly packed out the gorgeous material I'd bought ages ago and set out the pattern pieces for some tote bags. I love the way these swatches look together. My swatch admiration did not last long.

What the hell was I thinking? I swear they have some kind of radar. This is the look I have come to fear...

 

...see the wild glint in her eye? It's Minnie in fucking kamikaze mode.

 

Here's another face that has me casting a quick panicked glance around the room.  She looks like one of those demons in Supernatural when, up until a second ago, they looked completely normal and then all of a sudden their eyes go totally black. God, I should have named her Ruby.

 

 

I managed to cut out my pattern pieces but by then I'd had enough.

 

This project is going to take longer than expected.

And while we're on the subject of the little shits fuckers...damage count is now:

• One floor lamp (sob)
• One glass
• Two picture frames
• One cushion (snivel)
• and a lounge that looks like a ...well, like a couple of demon kitties just escaped through the Devil's Gate...man, I'm missing that show
  

things we like

my new summer dress

fresh laundry

christmas hats

christmas trees

my new bead bracelet

my suede chair

ohyesss...we lurve my suede chair

 

 *sigh*

little shits

more eM'neM in flickr

oh, the cuteness!

I'm their human trampoline and have the scratches to prove it
my net curtains are ruined
they poop constantly
i've had to put away a lamp, all my jewelery, and move teddy
they've broken two picture frames
i'm having to fight for possession of my computer chair again
when they're in fight club mode they run up (and down) my legs and it fucking hurts like hell

....they're little terrorists but OMG so cute they're getting away with it all

Bigger pics ...and others in Flickr.

cat power

My kittens were born in Uniondale (poor unfortunate souls... no offense, Lauren ;-P) which was problematic because I'm about six hours away. After looking at and agonising over all the permutations (like waiting another month for their delivery..or actually driving all the way up there to fetch them) Lauren arranged for a drop off somewhere halfway. This involved the kitties riding in the back of a bakkie (driven by a man called Oom Stan) as far as Montagu. Mom and I would take a leisurely drive through the Boland and meet Oom Stan and his cargo in Montagu at 16:00. The day started off bright and hot and full of promise and we hit the road singing Free Falling, thumping the dashboard and punching our fists through the open window...well, OK, no singing or thumping...but that was probably because I had the camera permanently glued to my face. Like this.

I'd pop the lens cap on, put the camera in my bag at my feet and say "Ok...that's enough. I won't take any more." Two minutes later the camera would get whipped out the bag and I'd be in full cyclops mode again.Can you blame me when the scenery was as irresistable as this?

Ok..enough about the Western Cape's rural charms..on to the kitties (one of which keeps climbing from my lap to the keyboard as I type)..I'm ashamed to say the only photo I have of kitties in transit is a horribly blurry one taken during one of the road work hold ups. I think it was because I was still so worried ....worried that they'd die of heat exhaustion..or shock....I don't know kittens.....
Besides, I couldn't bare seeing their petrified deer-caught-in-the-headlight stares.

But who really wants pics of poep scared pussies? Besides, I have already amassed an arsenal of pretty pics...let the onslaught begin!
Two and a half hours later we get home and head for the safe, dark (and probably dusty as hell because the vacuum can't really fit under there) place of Under the Bed. After hiding there for two hours bro and sis (still unnamed) came out to play.

And they haven't really stopped since.

 

  

 

 

Except, of course, when they're taking a nap. ; )

More road trip pics in Flickr.

ETA- The 'M's on the forehead have me ditching the idea of naming them after favourite TV couples.
I've decided on Maxwell and Miranda. How does that sound?