Lock-down Day 523

Normal morning, coffee, mippies, milkies, then the sad looks as I'm getting dressed for work ...

Work ...

Just saw a mail from one of my game friends. She 'spruced up' a photo I had published here months ago - of the Tulips! She turned a simple photo into an absolutely stunning artwork! I'd love to share that here - I asked her permission, and if yes, how she would like to be credited!

Permission received - and she doesn't want credit. She's an absolute Angel!

Isn't that just absolutely stunning? It's one of those artworks you can sit and gaze at for hours ... just loose yourself in the absolute beauty ... 

Back at home ... you know what? I'm now seeing this image on a good monitor and it's even more fascinating! It's truly a piece of art! Art is meant to evoke emotion. I don't think this would come out nearly as awesome, if I printed it. It'd be a bit like a photo of a Picasso paining - the photo does not evoke the emotions that the real painting does.

Yeah, I know, I'm raving on and on ... but this is actually the first time anyone's ever created a piece of art for me!

Okay, okay. Back to mippies! Mewthos seems his normal self again. Cleaning out his bowl, hiding in a box to get my attention - he looks absolutely adorable in a box! That white face with the pink nose, peeking out as if to say 'come find me!'

Oh, and I suspect that Mini drained my phone's battery yesterday. I forgot the phone at home, and when I took it to work today, I found the battery almost empty! I charged it this weekend, and it normally lasts a week ... 

I just called 'cuddle cave' and Ziva came running ... better keep my promise, now :)

Lock-down Day 522

Early morning hunt for my hairbrush, as Mini had pushed it off the bed and it fell under the bed. Coffee, work ...

Work ... no comment.

Back at home, the first Nasturtium are finally peeking through! About time, ha ha! Other than that, nothing to say ... gonna cuddle mippies some more, then bed ...

Lock-down Day 521

I got up after two, again. And by seven, Mewthos was getting impatient with me, since I - naturally - struggled to get up!

It's freezing cold! At least 10 degrees colder than yesterday morning! I'm continuously warming up with coffee ... which has a very short-term rental, so I'm equally continuously trotting from kitchen to bathroom!

Then I carried on backing up my files. Finished the C-drive, now I'm re-sorting all the backups of backups I've made on the 5Tb Drive ... backups of flash sticks, laptop, etc. Sheez, I'm a really bad hoarder! I really need to make some time to sort through this ... some things, I'm absolutely positive, are duplicated in various folders! Trying to have ONLY 2 copies of everything is proving to be trickier than having AT LEAST 2 copies of everything! Ha Ha!

Some of it, will have to be just 1 copy for the time being - until I get the replacement hard drive.

Well, that's my morning. Now I'm starting my Sunday chores.

Twenty to four, oven is warming up to bake my bread rolls and apple pie. I'm trying the new baking sheet - so far, I'm not impressed. And I doubt whether it'll really be non-stick. Anyway, I had better wash the dishes again ...

Yeah, I'm not washing the rug, after all ... it'll have to wait until next week.

Five o'clock and I'm done! Even did a wee bit of plant care - can't really call it gardening. I planted the Celery I had growing in the kitchen, which had produced roots, in a bottle. And guess what? Remember how I decided to start watering all bottles again? Well, it paid off! Looks like I have two lemon trees growing, as well! Oh, and grass and weeds growing strong in the first rose bed I cleared ... Sigh ... Well, the beans and peas are doing great!

I fear I'm going to have a problem with all the seedlings. They seem to be doing really well now - but there are far too many of them. I need to thin them out ... just ... how? They're so tiny! Can't pick them out by hand - I'd need tweezers ... and I can't actually pull them out, I need to trim them. Again: how? Yeah ... I'll probably just take a chance and will see what happens. If they die, I'll re-sow, but much fewer seeds.

Aaaand, I'm a bit miffed at Mini! I had wondered why my gloves seemed to be leaking - they're not yet that old. Turns out, Mini helps herself to Ziva's left-overs and then claws at the gloves to cover the bowl! Yeah, she does that with her bowl, too, when she's had enough - I don't know why. But now she's taken to clawing at my dish-washing gloves! I'm afraid the new pair I just opened yesterday, is now also leaking ... grrr

Ah, well ...

Lock-down Day 520

Woke up around half five! I think it was Mini who woke me. She had a severe cuddle attack this morning - licking my face, pawing (and a bit of clawing) at my face as well. I grabbed her for cuddles a few times, but that wasn't quite what she needed ... I also had some weird dreams about work, involving tool requirements ... I really wish I could take a break!

Last night I noticed that Mewthos' left 'wrist' is quite swollen. That's the joint he damaged when he fell as a kitten ... I'm thinking of making an appointment to take him to the vet. I'd need the report from the vet in PE, though - as case history. There's also the obvious possibility that it's the weather - although it isn't very humid, it's been overcast, windy, promising rain ... but no rain is falling.

I've had a look at barometers, a bit out of my league at the moment, having just had to buy external hard drives. But: I can google today's air pressure same as I can look up the weather! So ... that'll do.

Well, I've started backing up my C-drive ... only, another external harddrive popped up as 'error' - I could scan it, now it works. And then another did the same ... WTF? It's taking ages ... which is why I'm so lax, doing it.

Half nine and some drops of rain came down! Oh, and the sun is peeking through the clouds, so I guess those few drops - which didn't even cover the ground - will be all I can expect? Ah, well ... 

I've been keeping an eye on Mewthos. He's walking on his left front leg, not wincing or showing any sign of pain. He's outside now, enjoying the 'rain', ha ha!

Well, I've hung the laundry inside, washed the dishes and then made a tomato stew with bacon and pasta. Very nice!

Other than that, I've not felt like doing anything today. It's unpleasant outside - very windy, as bad as PE. That's the one thing I don't miss about PE: the wind!

Sigh, tomorrow I can wash my new carpet! Someone's piddled on it. Again. I don't know who, I just found Mini trying to 'cover' it - pawing the rug about ... Ah, well.

Lock-down Day 519

I woke up in the middle of the night, some time after two ... and couldn't just turn over. I ended up getting up and cuddling mippies - Ziva, Mewthos and Janey currently sleep on my armchair in the lounge. As I was sitting bent over mippies, on the footstool, Mini joined us - by strolling onto my back! Must have been a fun picture!

Back at home, I get busy with the rose beds. I finished the last quarter of the one bed, then started on the next. I was feeling somewhat disappointed with my progress, when, by five, I hadn't even finished half the bed ... until I remembered, that I'm actually ahead of my schedule! This bed was only planned for next Friday, but I cleared 3/4 of this Friday's bed last weekend, already!

Well, I didn't manage to finish the bed, even though I worked until six! Mini insisted that it's time I call it quits! I'm telling you, she is the most human cat I've ever come across.

Inside, I find that mippies have been fishing in my lingerie drawer ... found some of my panties sticking half-way out the drawer! It's a closed door thing - it fascinates them, they must see what's behind / inside!

Well, now it's twenty to eight and Smeagol just showed up. He's on the veranda, looking mournfully at my bedroom window. Mewthos is standing up at the window, making threatening noises! Poor sod! Smeagol, that is.

I'm going to call it a day ... I'll try to post some photos tomorrow!

Lock-down Day 518

Power went off during the night, but was back on in the morning. Sigh ... 

For some reason the kettle wouldn't boil. I think it's just that it couldn't whistle - I'll have to have a look when I get home tonight.

Quick turn at the local Spar for milk, etc.

Back at home, I'm thinking that I should maybe take the lawnmower for a turn tomorrow ... only, it won't be long until mowing will BE my Friday project again. Every Friday. Yes, the areas where I've been watering - around the rose bushes and where I've sown the legumes - are looking green and growing, but ... well ... not really too bad, yet. Might as well enjoy the luxury of Friday projects while I can ...

One thing that's always a complete bugger to mow, are the strips between the rose beds. They are too narrow for the mower. I'm thinking of pulling the grass out there and placing bricks or something there - that'd give me a place to sit when I weed, too. I've got such a lot of bricks and crap lying around ... might as well put them to use. I can always replace them with pretty slates or plates one day ... or maybe even make my own!

Back inside, I'm taking a break before I start dinner. Watching Janey play on the scratcher makes every minute I spent fixing it, really worth it! She'll lie on her side and pull herself round and round! Which only works, because I added the extra rope at the bottom! I've watched Ziva play with the toys I tied to the pole, just happily playing catch! And they all use it to stretch their back muscles and sharpen their claws throughout the day! Really, it's such a pleasure to just sit and watch them!

Well, I've paid my bills. Just had dinner, checked the kettle - it's not blocked, I can't think why it wouldn't whistle? Anyway, time to relax ...

Lock-down Day 517

I had the most awful dream this morning: I dreamed Mini was bitten by a cobra, right in front of me, and as I'm trying to wrestle the cobra off her neck, I look in Mini's face and watch her dying ... This is the second Mini-death dream this week. The previous one, I dreamed she was run over ... right in front of my eyes and there was nothing I could do ...

I had quite a bad night, couldn't sleep. Woke up around midnight and again ... so when the alarm went off, I did not feel like getting up ...

Weird thought just popped into my mind: What if LIFE is just a theme-park thrill ride for our souls?

Oh crap! I just remembered, my delivery arrived today ... here I am, sitting at the PC, and I forgot it in the boot! Better go get it ...

Right! That's a year's supply of chocolate chips - if I don't go overboard - an oil decanter. I'm always having trouble measuring the tablespoon or two I need for bread dough, from the 2 liter bottle. And, what I thought would be, another Teflon baking sheet. Only it isn't. It's a different kind. It says 'do not fold', but they folded it to fit in the box! It's completely crinkled! Well, I'll see this weekend, what's with it ...

Mippies are mipping for attention, but overall, they're very happy mippies! Mewthos' bowl is clean again, so that's my mind at rest. Mini is ALWAYS under my feet ... let's hope I have no more nightmares ...

Lock-down Day 516

Not a good night, the weather kept Mewthos hyper throughout the night, and the odd lightning kept waking me, as well. Then, just before six, the power went off! I am SOOO tired of these constant power failures! Since I hadn't got up yet, it meant: no coffee! At least, no hot coffee.

On the way to work, the odd drop of rain kissed my windscreen - just a drop here and there, nothing to get excited about. At work it looks like there's been a slight shower, the streets are damp.

Back at home, I got quite a surprise! When the power went off this morning, I removed the lid off the flower fountain and took the plug out. When I got home, I found the lid almost perfectly back in place! Mippies really are incredibly clever!

Smeagol showed up today - he hadn't eaten for two days. Still looks fine, though. I went with him to the back for his lovies ... but he's shy again. And paid more attention to Mewthos than me - I didn't want to provoke a fight, so I left ... at least he'll be eating tonight!

Mewthos cleaned his bowl tonight, so I gave them a 4th treat just now! Yeah, I'm a sucker for my mippies ... no, I don't mind, since they don't treat me like their doormat! They make so much effort to make me happy, like closing the lid on their flower fountain! It's 100% two-way!

Lock-down Day 515

Not the earliest of mornings, made coffee, enjoyed it with my mippies, then to work. A bit late.

Weird thing: the news are warning of cold front, even expecting snow in places which don't normally get snow - yet the weather forecast is teasing the 30 Celsius mark all week?

Anyway, back at home, chores, then watering ... lots of watering.

I'm not sure whether I need to worry about Mewthos? He's not emptying his food bowl, lately! He had a bit of a nibble, then cries for more ... then nibbles ... but leaves a lot in the bowl? He is eating, though. And his behaviour is his usual, mewling, annoying self ... well, I'm keeping an eye on him ...

And that's it for the day ... 

Lock-down Day 514

Relatively early morning. Let mippies out, they're happy. Made myself coffee and gave some thought to my backup system. What I lost is my own fault: I didn't follow my own system of always keeping everything in at least 2 places. Pity about the photo's ... or maybe a good thing. I'm an obsessive hoarder, ha ha! Not only physically, but digitally, as well.

The reason I didn't follow my own system is simply that it's quite tedious, having to go and fetch my 2nd backup ... so, the logical solution would be to keep a mobile 'interim' backup. I did mention that I can be obsessive, right?

Well, I've placed my order ... I had placed Lime on my list as well ... guess what? Out of stock! Friggin' irritating! Well, it'll be delivered in about a month ... yeah, I added an import DVD, hence the delay.

I had a chat with a friend of mine, who's quite an expert on computers, and he thinks it's possible that it's just the port, not the hard drive itself that's buggered. I'll take it to work and try it on my work PC, but I don't have much hope ... because the drive is making a funny sound. My guess would be, these constant power failures - especially the whacky on-off flickering one - took their toll. I've ordered a replacement, plus a smaller one for 'interim' backup.

I think I should start making it a habit to disconnect, when not in use ... sigh ... 

Oh, and I also ordered the coffee solution I had planned :) And now, I had better get into the kitchen ...

I'm not in the mood to go to the kitchen ... so I spent some more time shopping ... an annual order, this time. Chocolate chips for my muffins, ha ha! Still can't get them in stores - and I've come to really like the one's I now use. They're much more delicious than the one's I'd get in store! Much cheaper and more versatile, too. I can use them to make hot chocolate as well, for example.

Now it's going on two and I'm running out of excuses ... I really need to get busy in the kitchen ... only ... I don't quite feel like it.

I'm severely motivationally challenged ... it's half four and I STILL don't want to move! Well, the Bologenese is on the go, I'm about to set the bread dough going ... I think the apple pie won't happen, though.

Almost six and I'm done. All that's left to do is bake the rolls, then pack my lunch for tomorrow ... mippies are in, treated ... three treats, sigh. My Bolognese is delicious, I enjoyed a bowl full.

I think this lethargy is seasonal. It's been very warm this weekend, temperatures aiming for 30 Celsius, though not quite there, yet. I wasn't even up to watering anything tonight ... just managed one small watering can ...

Well, tomorrow is another day ... lets hope work doesn't take everything out of me, for a change ...

Lock-down Day 513

Early morning - for a Saturday. So I thought I'd try to get some time to play my game, before the day starts with all it's hustle and bustle. I managed about an hour, before I ran into trouble: first the PC crashed, then the internet wouldn't come back, now internet is slow ...

I also have another problem: my external hard drive insists on being formatted ... I guess all data is now lost ... I have a backup, but I haven't backed up in quite some time ... so ... I think I've lost all photos from 2019 ... sigh. Well, at least all the best photos are safe, they're somewhere here on this blog. No use crying over spilled milk ...

I did see a post that our HR Lady gave birth last night, so she's now on maternity leave.

Well, I've turned the geyser on, the laundry is in the machine ... I've put the mattress protector back on the bed - with mippies help, ha ha!

Crap! PC just crashed again ... blue screen, which is always reason to worry ...

I've improved mippies' scratching pole - just added more rope, so it's full to the bottom. Mippies scratch downwards, so the rope tends to come off, unwind very fast. Janey was so happy, I had barely put the pole back when she already threw herself at it in delight!

Well, all the chores are done. Now I can start my weekend treat - I'm planning a type of Bolognese. I've made some pasta dough, as well!

I went into the garden, instead. Sowed gooseberry, basil, maize and broad beans - I couldn't find cherry tomato seeds.

I cleaned 3/4 of another rose bed

Since it hasn't rained in months, I can only work in areas I've recently watered. So, the rose bed was the only option. You can see I've been watering - the grass is turning green and growing again ... I'll have to mow in a week or two ...

That's the rose bed I cleaned yesterday. The black row is where I put down potting soil, and mixed in some seedling food. The potting soil holds water for longer than the garden soil, giving seeds a chance to germinate.
Gooseberry at the ends, left and right, basil all along between, with some 6 maize and about 5 broad beans spaced among the basil

I tried the milk bottle thing. It doesn't work the same as the suggestion - because the handle is in one corner, not at the back. I took down the other bottles, and sowed Nasturtium in this one.

That was my Spekboom ribbon ... now it's my Legume ribbon. The bed is S-shaped.

Here a close-up. You can see the bean bush growing center left, and two pea bushes.
Looking good, aren't they?

I harvested mustard seeds - from that big plant next to the massive sunflower in the back garden. Quite a bit of effort for such a small amount, though ....

The biggest of my plum trees! It's outgrowing the bottle really fast - 
I guess it'll need to go into a pot very soon!

And that's my Golden Delicious Apple Tree! Still tiny, but looking strong! Still the only one ...

This is what's growing in my pansy pot - I've been referring to them as pansies ...
until they flowered. Yes, I should have known, the leaves are clearly NOT
pansy leaves ... but here's your proof!
If that's a Pansy, you can call me Fred!

Brussels Sprouts growing strong in this pot!
Next year, I'll grow them each in it's own pot.

Any clue what these might be? They're growing in the hanging pot ...
I've put so many different seeds in there, over the years - it could be anything!

Spinach and carrots doing very well - as are the Frangipani & other plants in the bottles!

Next generation Marigold coming a little thick - should be delightful!

Yeah ... that's what's left of that stunning Spekboom in the center bed ...
just for contrast: not everything is growing in my garden

And this is what that same Spekboom looked like less than 2 months ago!
Depressing, isn't it?

This is my standard evening: Mewthos standing at the window,
swishing his tail
I could swear some dog genes got mixed with him! Remember his puppy waddle,
when he was still tiny? Yeah - now he's playing 'guard cat'!

Standard evening part 2: Mini needs me to sit cross-legged, so she can snuggle right there!
Every single evening! While Mewthos swishes his tail at my back ...

And at the same time, Ziva demands attention in her cuddle cave!
You can't see Mini so nicely, because she's black - 
Mini in my lap, Ziva in her cuddle cave, Mewthos at the window
I call that normal - simply because it's what goes on almost every evening!

And here's a close-up of Ziva in her cuddle cave!

And last, but not least: Janey's wounds are healing very well!
They were huge! Now, just two tiny dots, no swelling ... all well!

I thought I can't be seeing this: There's Mini, standing on the counter, trying to open the cupboard to get herself another treat! I kid you not! That cat is the most human cat I've ever known!

Fortunately, right now, she's happily curled up on my pillow ... not demanding I BE her pillow!

Ah, here comes Ziva ... she'll want her cuddle cave ... so ... toodles!

Lock-down Day 512

Mippies completely crowd me in the evenings, now. Ziva demands her cuddle cave - and she gets really demanding! Ha Ha! Mini absolutely insists on snuggling - preferably, while I'm sitting on the bed, cross-legged, on my lap. That's two cats wanting their ears scratched at the same time ... then there's Mewthos. He comes and stands at the window, opening the curtains so he can look out - which he often does, while I'm changing, of course! Good thing there are no people outside my bedroom window - although, IF the neighbour happens to be looking over the wall at that moment ... well ... And Mewthos always swishes his tail, while he's looking out the window. When I'm already lying down, that swishes across my face ... he also frequently steps on my head, pulling my hair.

He sometimes comes for a cuddle under the duvet, but very rarely. And, although he clearly wants attention, if I try to grab him, he dashes away ... when I do catch him, I pick him up and hold him in my arms for a while ...

I can't do much of anything, but watch something on the PC, in the evenings. When I'm at the PC, Janey jumps on my lap and strolls up and down for intense cuddles. If Janey isn't on my lap, Ziva sits next to me, mips insistently that I must go to bed - she wants her cuddle cave! And if it isn't Ziva demanding I get off the chair and to bed, then it's Mini, pawing at my hair or shoulder ...

If I try to log into my online game on the mobile ... Mini lets me, as long as she's snuggled on my lap, but Ziva? And Mewthos? Oh, no! Hands are for scratching ears, not fiddling with gadgets! Ha Ha Ha!

Yes, they are spoiled. Yes, they rule my life. And yes: I'm happy! Thank you!

This morning I got up a little late, simply because I turned over one too many times. Still enjoyed coffee with mippies - who get very excited when the kettle whistles, as it means they get their morning milkies, ha ha!

At work ... hectic.

Back at home, I retreat into my garden! Cleaning the next rose bed. Big job! It's past five by the time I'm finished - but I also re-cleaned the first bed a bit, again, weeds were poking their heads through, trying their luck.

Back inside, I decided to sow cherry tomatoes, basil and gooseberry behind that rose bed. With the basil as a center between the tomatoes and gooseberry, giving a lush, green background to the roses. If only I could remember which colour rose grows where, then I could co-ordinate the colours.

Maybe I should also sow one or two maize? I thought of sunflowers, first, but they won't be facing the house, they'll face sideways, east. I should sow those on the west.

Well, that's tomorrows thinking ... for tonight, I'm already being pestered for cuddles ... 

Lock-down Day 511

Normal morning, coffee, mippies ... work ...

Apparently 'hectic' is my 'new normal' ... can I go back to the real normal, please?

Well, on with the motley ... I did a quick trip to Spar, though. Milk and smokes ... and they also had more coffee, so I took another 3 bottles. At the same time, I'm - again - looking for alternatives. The only possible option, though, is filter coffee. My first problem here is the making ... having to stand there, dribbling water into the filter ... when I'm used to Instant Coffee? A coffee maker would take care of that, but I also have an issue with the 'keeping coffee warm' part of them - the coffee gets bitter when it's kept on a heating plate. So, I'm looking for a cheap coffee maker and a flask. Not like my Airpot, that's only good for water, because it sucks the liquid through a pipe - which would be almost impossible to clean. So, a simple flask, where you pour it in and pour it out.

Yeah, I'm overcomplicating things, I know. It's my way.

Of course, that still leaves the wee problem of 'how much' coffee to make ... ha ha ha! Yeah, it'll only work on weekends, when I drink several cups of coffee. Weekday mornings, the two cups will probably still be better using Instant. Or ... ??? Ha ha ha, off goes my brain on yet another tangent ...

Back at home, I unpacked, cleaned the litter box, re-filled Smeagol's food bowl and then the job that now takes the longest: watering my bottled seedlings, plants and the Marigold bed. When I took the big can to refill at the tap, Mewthos ran full speed ahead! Ha Ha! He still loves to participate in the watering! Then he went to look for a place to dig a hole ... where I wanted to turn the sprinkler on, to soften the ground so I could weed tomorrow afternoon ... I didn't have the heart to sprinkle him!

Well, now to unwind, relax, cuddle mippies ... and re-charge for another - albeit short - day of madness.

Lock-down Day 510

Relatively early morning - power came back sometime during the night. Yes, it half-woke me up, but I went right back to sleep.

I had a totally weird dream this morning! I dreamed that I was told my boss AND his wife had died, helping out in a disaster area - a flooding, and they both drowned. As I try to work, with tears running down my face, my boss is sitting at his desk ... a back-up version! Yeah, that probably comes from having just watched Dollhouse (a science fiction series, where they 'store' entire personalities, brain content, and can download it into different bodies) ... only, my boss had his same body, cloned. Yeah, I know ... my mind is a dangerous place! Never go there alone!

At work, the power is back on, as well! FINALLY! So, I've been working flat-out catching up with the two days I've lost ... but, of course, new stuff comes flooding in at the same time ...

Oh, and just for laughs: remember that toilet glow gadget I bought last month? Well, it comes in especially handy during a power outage! No need to pat around for the LED lamp to carry with ...

Plus, of course, I no longer get blinded at night, when I need to go - no need to turn on any lights! Fun! Oh, and quite often mippies run into the bathroom ahead of me ... so the light is on before I even enter! Ha Ha!

When I was watering my bottled trees, I discovered - to my astonishment - that there seemed to be something green in one of the bottles, I've long since given up on! The label reads 'Lavender' sown in April! So, optimist that I am, I immediately start watering ALL bottles ... who knows? Funny how these things work, sometimes ...

I just stumbled across this idea for recycling milk bottles:

I'm definitely going to try that! My way was a definite flop, ha ha!

And then there's the 'grow plants upside down' thing. I've come across that several times, from different sources. Basically, you hang the plant upside down, soil on top. Of course, you'll need a container where the whole thing doesn't just fall down - like the top part of a bottle, with the plant growing through the thin opening ... then hang it upside down. I think I'm going to give that a try sometime ...

Anyway, time for me to call it a day and get to bed ...

Last night, Ziva had a major cuddle attack - she threw herself into full roly poly in front of me, and I leaned forward, holding her and scratching her ears and back with both hands ... she purred up a storm! Mini saw this, and strolled onto my back! Settled down and purred up another storm! Ha Ha! What a picture, eh?

Lock-down Day 509

Well, the 'early night' resulted in my waking at half three in the morning! Got up, made myself coffee, treated mippies - Mewthos insisted, of course ... then went back to bed. When I got up again, at a more normal hour, Mewthos insisted that it's 'that time' ... as in: morning treat time! Ha Ha, so they got two this morning ...

The last news I caught announced that power would be restored to Rosslyn by midnight, so ... off to work. Half-way I get a call from our HR Lady, she's stuck in a major traffic jam, seemingly the Rosslyn main robot is without power. Funny thing, I 'caught' her just as she was looking to turn into the right lane, so I could let her in!

No power at work. Still. We waited for a while, then my boss sent those of us, who couldn't do anything, home. I offered to take At home, since it would mean someone else who CAN add value today, take time out to drive him. He didn't mind my stopping at Builders. They still had no Lime, and no Perlite, either. They also had no more Seedling Soil, so I took Potting Soil instead. I also got double sided tape - so that I could repair the scratcher which Janey keep begging me to fix! It's completely bare for most of the pole.

Ah, and here's Mini with a Weaver Bird! Not in my bedroom, please!

Found it on my bathroom mat ... Sigh!

I'm busily working on the scratcher. Taking the old rope off is no problem - but scraping the double sided tape off the post ... big job! Especially since I didn't bother doing that last time - so there's two sets of tape to be scraped off! I suppose I could use acetone (nail polish remover) but then I'd have to leave it to dry completely for a while ... this way is a LOT of work for me, but mippies will have their scratcher tonight!

Took me four hours, but it's done! And so worth it! I called mippies, and Janey, Mewthos and Mini immediately came to investigate! Janey is so happy her favourite toy is back, she's already climbed to the top, trying to catch my hand and then Mewthos started fighting Janey over it!

Mini has never known it in full action, like it is now, so it'll be fun watching her explore!

Well, it's still light and I have a few hours. So I thought that I should probably plant the apple trees as well ... only, on closer inspection, only one seed looks ready for a pot! The rest have sprouted, but I think the culture shock of moving from fridge into a pot would end them. So, leave them for now.

I had four pots ready for apple trees, so I used the other three for bell peppers (two types, one yellow one ...??? probably green?) and Lovage.

Did a bit of weeding, sowed more beans, then inside with mippies ... great! Power just went off! Grrr ...

I got lucky tonight, for a change: my food had already boiled, so I had a hot meal and I had put the geyser on early, so I also had a hot bath 🛀 What more could I ask for tonight?

Well,  tomorrow is another story, though. Let's hope the power is back tomorrow morning! Here and at work!

Lock-down Day 508

Very early morning, enjoying coffee surrounded by mippies.

At work, power went off some time after nine! Substation is burning ... we only found out after noon ... since there is nothing much I can do without electricity, I'm home. I've been doing stock take to keep myself occupied ... not really a good use of my time, just barely better than doing nothing ...

At home, I don't know what I should do ... I'm actually really tired. Cat food delivery arrived Friday afternoon .. well, at least that's here, now.

Message from my sister, a childhood friend passed away a few months ago ... well, I say friend simply because we used to play together as children. Actually, he was a bit of a bully, though not the beating-me-up kind. Maybe bully is a bit strong ...  

I ended up doing a good bit of weeding. I cleaned the succulent bed again - and made a happy discovery: the cabbage plant may be dying, but it's given birth to lots of babies! I actually read up on that plant recently, and it's usually called paddle plant - because the 'leaves' are shaped like paddles. Anyway, I also read that you should cut the big plant at the stem, to give its babies access to sunlight. Well, I did that ...

Then I went around my carrot and spinach bed, also: again! I wonder whether I should start cutting some spinach leaves? They're not very big, yet ...

I think I burned my bonce again! Silly of me, really!

Mewthos has lately taken to dropping loads in the middle of the front lawn! Good thing it isn't really lawn, eh? Don't ask me how he digs holes in that hard ground - but he's quite happy with his results!

Ziva, on the other hand, industriously digs in my flower bed - quite regularly. Today, while she was digging, Mini approached her in attack mode - but didn't attack, then Mewthos followed suite! Ha Ha! And Janey and I watched from the lounge - not a very private business for poor Ziva!

Well, I'm still tired, so it'll be an early night for me ...

Lock-down Day 507

Much better morning! Still overcast - so much so, that at half seven, it's still pretty dark - but no migraine!

Made myself coffee and decided to let mippies out, even though it isn't really light, yet. What if it rains today? Poor mippies should get some time to run off excess energy! Well ... there's a dog outside my garden, looking at mippies with curiosity! Ha Ha! I took a photo and asked my neighbour whether it's one of his - his dogs at least won't attack mippies.

On with the motley ... as I'm feeling fine today, yet, the amount of work to do is overwhelming ... I'm going back to a method of task selection that has always yielded the highest results: Step 3. Basically, I just meditate and do whatever task I feel strongest about.

So far, I've made pie dough and thoroughly cleaned the bedroom! Remember that I changed the bedding, because someone had widdled on my duvet? Well, afterwards, I kept smelling cat pee and just couldn't figure out where that was coming from - yeah, my sense of smell is not very good. Well, I found it! Meister Piddles, aka Mewthos, seems to have decided that letting rip against my bed is a wonderful addition! Never mind just the puddle under the bed - but the base cover, mattress protector and mattress cover are wet - as well as the mattress! Grrrr ... I took everything off, washed the mattress with carpet cleaner as best I could, put new covers on and all the dirty covers are now washing in the machine ... don't ask me where I'm going to hang them to dry, though!

I am NOT happy with Meister Piddles!

And then ... imagine my surprise when I looked at the top of my fridge door today!

That's at least seven trees sprouting away happily! I just spent an hour planting each one in it's own spacious apartment, aka bottle.

And no, the irony is not lost on me: hardy, indigenous plants (spekboom, succulents) are dying en masse in my garden, while I've got exotic trees growing in my fridge!

And then, of course, I took a closer look at the rest of the bags ... and it looks like the Golden Delicious apple seeds have also sprouted! Not quite as large, yet ... but I guess I had better plant those as well!

Only ... it's half two in the afternoon, and I still have to make bread, and clean the kitchen. So: apple seeds go back into the fridge ... for now ...

Twenty past five, oven is heating up so I can bake my rolls and apple pie!

All things considered, today has been a roaring success! I got more done today, than I managed the whole of last weekend - and that was a 3-day weekend! Okay, so I haven't cleaned the kitchen again and I haven't folded my laundry. I did, however, make a yummy stew, as well as apple pie and bread rolls!

Almost six, mippies are inside, treated ... I'm just waiting for the pie to finish baking, then I can bath and get ready for bed ... 

Lock-down Day 506

Very bad morning. I woke with a bad migraine. Tried getting up to make coffee - by the time the water had boiled, I could feel a faint coming on - cold sweat, dizzy, the works. So, I never even finished making coffee - went straight back to bed.

I had opened for mippies to go out, but they all curled up around me. I was beginning to feel a little better, when the power went off! I was able to eat a little, just enough to take my migraine cocktail .. back to bed.

The power came back about an hour later, and I'm feeling much better, too. So, I've put the washing in the machine ... won't be able to hang it outside, since it's overcast, cold and it looks like it could start raining anytime soon ... I suppose that explains the migraine.

I've hung up the washing. It's four in the afternoon ... I did hang a few things outside, but most of it on the stands inside. I'm afraid, what isn't dry in an hour or two, I'll have to bring inside to hang up again tomorrow. Sigh ...

Just after five, mippies absolutely insisted they come in, so I had to rush through outdoor tasks ... now they're happy. Well, they're quiet, which makes me happy.

I managed to get through all essential chores, let's hope I finish what'll need doing tomorrow.

Lock-down Day 505

Mippies definitely did not want me to go to work today. Mini held on to my shoelaces, as I tried tying them, then pawed at the dangling scarf. Ziva sat on the night stand, looking forlorn, Janey mipped at me when I tried to go through the kitchen - I had to pick her up and hold her for a bit, and Mewthos sat on the counter in the lounge watching me just as forlorn as Ziva, as I walked past to go out. As I reached the garage door, Mini made a dash for it! Just for me, not trying to dash into the garage, thank goodness!

I quickly went to the Spar around the corner ... and: lo and behold, they had one lonely glass of coffee! And not overpriced! That'll see me through the month! Which will give me time to make a plan ...

Rough day at work ... I'm glad to be home. I don't want to do anything today, just sit back, relax ... then end the day with a lovely hot bath. It's quite cold today, it's overcast and windy. Not very pleasant.

I definitely don't feel up to cleaning another rose bed - I'm trying to work up the energy to at least make some effort to try what I can of my succulents ... but it's just so depressing ...

Well, I've picked what few leaves I could find, that still looked alive. Letting them dry now ...

Oh, yes, succulents are easy to come by and I could quite easily get replacements ... but, well, the one's now dying are from Rose's garden! That makes them special to me. And THAT is why this is depressing me so much ...

I just don't get what killed them? It's not the PH. It's not the drought. I have no clue ...

Anyway ... 

Lock-down Day 504

When the alarm goes off, Mini starts putting her paw on my face ... this morning, she beat the alarm by about half an hour! I didn't sleep very well, lots of weird dreams revolving around work ...

Fleisherei is confusing me - or maybe they're confused. I've got mail telling me the order is now being dispatched ... then I get a phone call asking why I haven't picked it up, yet ... left hand - right hand ... hello communication!

With no sign of any delivery by three, I called again ... 'It's definitely on the truck, you will have it by the end of today.' I just hope it's not being delivered to the same shop again!

Right! Meat has arrived! Phew! I'll be feasting tonight!

Well, I've finally take the time to re-arrange my store. I last did that two years ago - in the meantime, I've managed to sell a lot of stock, so there were quite a lot of gaps - since I use bin locations, I can't just move things around. Well, now I've moved things together and updated all the bin locations. Oh, and cleaned the shelves as well, while I was at it! Talk about dust!

Anyway, back at home - I stuffed myself with steak! I had three of them! Well, they were a bit on the small side. I have to go to Ninapark Superspar tomorrow, and I do NOT want to go there on an empty stomach ... never smart to shop when you're hungry! And maybe I will be able to resist the temptation of treating myself to Sushi ... although ... since I won't be loosing salary (well, at least not this month) ... maybe?

Well, I'll see tomorrow. I'll have a thorough poke around and I'll stock up on the good stuff! With work as it is now, I really just don't have the time to make those trips anymore ... and especially now, with most of our staff on short time - going shopping during working hours would really be an ugly slap in the face. Not my style.

The only reason I'm going tomorrow is, I don't have enough coffee left to get me even through the weekend - and there's no online or anywhere nearer, where I can get. And I had planned a leisurely shopping trip once short time was introduced ... as I said, I didn't expect to be 'exempt'.

On other news, Janey's back is healing very well! The little hole, the one that oozed so much, is now completely closed! The big one has a scab, and she's not picking it off anymore, so it should heal very soon, as well!

Oh, and mippies appreciated my return to the standard carnivorous diet - and joyfully shared my dinner! Ha Ha!

The way things are going these days, I'm actually surprised I still manage to find the time to write this blog. I've pretty much dropped everything else from my life ... at work, I'm flat-out busy ... and at home, well, weekends I don't seem to have energy to spare; and week days, it's just 'mip mip cuddle! MOMMY! CUDDLE!' Right now, Ziva is demanding I scratch her ears, Janey is strolling up and down, looking hopefully at my lap and Mini is just about to put her paw on my shoulder again. Mewthos has already mewled an extra treat out of me and spent quite a bit of time being held in my arms ... and now I have to open Ziva's cuddle cave, or she'll drive me nuts!

Lock-down Day 503

Better night than last one, and I woke nice and early. It's still dark when I get up - not very nice. But at least it's light when I leave for work.

At work, busy, busy, busy ... sigh ... 

More mippie food arrived - Ziva's special diet and Whiskas. And again, my meat is still missing. Fortunately I took meat out of the freezer last night ...

Then, THE work meeting. From next week on, we'll only be working 3 days a week: Tuesdays to Thursdays. Only ... that doesn't apply to me and 2 other key workers ... so ... good for my finances, but bad for my garden. Right now, I'm not entirely sure whether I'm relieved or disappointed ... I think, in the end, relief is going to be the winner.

Anyway, I phoned about my meat ... oh, yeah, they'll deliver tomorrow. Sigh ...

Aaaand, guess what? The meat I took out for tonight? I didn't read the label - it's stewing beef ... so, I'm having nothing but apple pie for dinner! Well, could be worse ...

Well, I'm absolutely knackered ... I've been working flat-out ... I really could do with some kind of real break ... ah, well, no rest for the wicked, eh?

Lock-down Day 502

Power went completely off shortly after I published last night. Then it came on and flickered, like there's power, but not enough to keep everything going. I woke up again and again - every time the water fountain started tinkling again.

I got up very early and tried to boil the kettle. After twenty minutes I gave up! The water was quite hot, but hadn't boiled ... at one point, I was afraid that the problem could be my pre-paid meter! It was flashing like a disco-ball! What worried me the most is: a) someone would have to come into my house - and hopefully not let any cats out; and b) if they have to replace the meter, I'd loose all the stored up, pre-paid electricity! That's three months' worth I've hamstered away on there! All in all ... not a good start.

I'm waiting for my meat delivery ... I called my new neighbour as well, and his first words were 'we're living in a Christmas tree, aren't we?' Yeah - the flickering light show really isn't fun! At least he confirmed that it's been reported, so I'm hoping to have steady power tonight! And also hope that nothing has blown!

Right, mippies food was delivered - mine wasn't! Grrr ... Fish fingers again, tonight! Bleh!

Back at home ... mippies did a real number! I was puzzled to find a puddle in the passage outside the bathroom ... I tried to figure out where that water could have come from (yes, it was definitely water) but it hadn't rained - and my roof never leaked before, anyway - nor could I find any source where the water might have spilled? The kitchen floor was dry ... when I went to get the mop, I saw that my water filter (holding 1.5 liter) was on its side and empty! There's my source! Some mip was atop my fridge, lost her footing and fell onto the counter, toppling my water filter! I say she, because the fur I found was definitely not Mewthos! Most likely Janey, but possibly Mini! I found stuff from atop the fridge under the fridge ... and this must have happened early morning, since the whole kitchen would have been wet! How else would the water have got all the way across the kitchen to the passage - diagonally across from the fridge!

So ... first I get to clean up the puddle! Poor Janey, she DOES feel bad when there's an accident I need to clean up. I don't care what people say about cats vs dogs - she may not feel guilty, but she definitely feels bad! She ALWAYS points me towards any accidents, leads me to messes, etc, and stays around while I clean it up.

At least the electricity is back to normal. And, to my great relief, my PC still works! I don't know what I would have done if THAT had blown! It shouldn't, since the power goes through a UPS first, but ... well ... no guarantees ...

Anyway, normal night tonight ...

Lock-down Day 501

Okay, trying for a happy holiday today. It's nine, mippies can't go out really, because the construction works outside are still going strong! I can open the door, but mippies won't go far - it's scary noisy outside.

The 'happy holiday' isn't working. I just feel weighed down by 'musts'. Every 'must' feels like a heavy bag weighing me down, nothing feels light or pleasant. I'm sitting on a stash of seeds, yet the thought of sowing, watching them grow ... right now feels like just another 'must'.

I've packed the laundry away, including the towels. I've cut the apples, the bread rolls are rising, waiting to be baked. I still need to make the pie, clean the kitchen ... etc. etc. 

Okay, it's just after two and the kitchen is clean. The apple pie is a mess ... it'll be delicious, but messy.

And then the power went off ... just about half an hour, but still. It is FRUSTRATING! Well, I sowed a few seeds. Parsley, Oregano, Thyme and Garlic Chives ... Alyssum, Forget-Me-Not, Chamomile, Sage ... mostly just easy-to-grow and hard-to-kill ... or so I hope!

I feel like In an episode of Columbo. Every time I finish one job, there's just 'Oh, one more thing ...' ... like 'refill the kibble dispenser', then pack lunch, then next and next and next and next ... 

Half six, mippies are inside, and I still have a few 'one more thing's to do ...

Half seven and the power is dimming - not quite off, just wobbly. Lights are flickering between full and half ... weird ... and irritating. At least I've had dinner and my bath.

Lock-down Day 500

I didn't want to get out of bed, so ... it was seven, when I finally gave in to Mini's insistence! Well, Mewthos joined the 'get mummy out of bed' campaign ... and, as you know, he can be most insistent! He bypasses the nuisance level and goes straight to painful annoyance!

I've decided to force a positive attitude down my throat today. I'm starting by washing the bedding ... duvet first. Mippies, of course, helped! And I've got a lovely scratch on my hand showing Mini's help! She still doesn't know about paws vs claws.

For dinner tonight, I've decided on tuna pasta. Just because. I'm in no mood to do any major cooking - and I'm a little short on meat, of course. And I actually feel like crunchy celery in tuna!

Well, it's almost eleven and I've watered some areas where I might wish to weed - if I'm up to it. For now, I've cleaned and re-filled all the litter boxes, and given the water fountain another deep-clean. It wasn't flowing properly, so I needed to get to the pump. I can't open it - like the flower fountain pump - but I could clean it. Now the water is flowing strong, again!

It's after noon and I've still done nothing but chores ... sigh! And tomorrow I have the kitchen chores again ... bleh!

Janey is just sticking right under my feet ... same as yesterday. I tripped over her yesterday, when she chose to run between my feet, as I was walking. Today, she decided to steal a spaghetti right out of my plate! And then didn't even eat it, ha ha! Right now, she's just really enjoying the flush water fountain!

Well, all I've done with regards to gardening is carry the pots off the veranda to the car port. When I looked at my succulent bed, I saw more plants dying ... this is just so depressing! I'm not used to seeing so much death and destruction in any garden!  Kind of saps any motivation to grow anymore ... if this is how it will end up!

No, I'm not giving up. It's a set-back, that's all. The Marigold are already sprouting again, the carrots, spinach and Frangipani are also still doing well. So ... it's depressing, and demotivating, but not the end. I don't give up. Tomorrow ... I'll sow some seeds tomorrow. Okay?

Lock-down Day 499

Fairly early start. They're working again, outside, so mippies are staying quite close. I'm afraid Janey's wound is seeping again - not much, though. I've been giving her her meds every evening, last one tonight. On the whole, both wounds seem to be healing well. 

On a whim, I checked whether Ziva's special food is back in stock ... it is! Not that I received the promised notification, though. Well, I've placed an order for three - and since they do have stock, I also ordered the Jelly Whiskas. I also added another packet of filters for their flower fountain to the cart ... funny, that. I bought the nice, big water fountain to replace the little old one - but mippies love their flower fountain so much! They use both! And those filters are a bugger to get hold of - a while back they were out of stock for many months!

Sigh ... not happy about spending so much money, but ... well, the Whiskas is a luxury, but the rest? And I'm being as stingy as Mewthos will let me with the Whiskas ...

I also need Lime for the garden, quite urgently, to raise the PH of the soil. I'm wondering whether I should pay the delivery fee, or add items to qualify for free shipping ... There's really nothing else I really need ... I'll think about it a while.

Well, I had better get started ... 

Quarter to twelve, kitchen is clean and the laundry is on the line.

Almost two. Laundry is dry and inside. I've made pie dough.

I can't get moving ... again. The garden, at the moment, is just depressing. Plants are dead or dying - and not just 'wintering'. Weeds are shooting up everywhere  I find myself re-doing the same patch around my tunnel bed every weekend!

I did a bit of pottering around in that big bed out back, that's filled with succulents ... I don't think cleaning is going to work, there. I think I will need to pull out every single plant and work that whole bed over from scratch. There's just too much rotting in there ...and a lot of those creeper bulbs are in that bed, too.

Oh, I don't know ... maybe it's just this time of year, but I'm just feeling like a flat battery ... no energy, no interest, nothing. Or maybe I only have enough energy for one drive at a time - either work or home? And work is really draining me at the moment.

Mippies came in early, again - because Smeagol was outside. Janey pulled the scab off the big wound - so it's open again! Better give her the last dose of meds ...

Well, let's see how I feel tomorrow ...

Lock-down Day 498

Earlier morning ... work ...

I get mail telling me my meat delivery is ready for collection ... at effing Wonderboom Junction! That's an hour to get there, find parking, find the effing shop ... what the &^%$? Why the feck would I order online for delivery to some out-of-the-way shop?

Anyway, it's Friday ...

Right, Fleisherei just called to let me know that delivery to Rosslyn is not cost-effective ... okay, good to know! They'll deliver my order on Tuesday, but I can't order from them anymore ... pffft! Apparently the guy who called now, has been explaining that to the sales team for months - but they just ignored him. It's a pity, but yeah, I see his point. Not many business' deliver all the way out to Rosslyn - which I know only too well!

Anyway, it's still Friday and very close to going home time!

Back at home, I've cleared another rose bed. I'm afraid the center rose is already dead in this bed, though - but there are two little plants that, to me, at least, look like offspring! The bed is cleared, fed and watered.

Afterwards, I took a look at the trees ... I think I should try to see how much dead wood I can cut out of them, tomorrow. I don't think I'll be able to saw the dead trunks off, after all ... I think they are already too hard. I'll give it a try, though ... see what happens.

Mippies came in early, quite happily! Without the meat delivery, though, I have a bit of a problem ... I'll have to make fish fingers for tonight.

Nice dinner - I like fish fingers, he he he! Well, time to sit back, scratch ears, watch an episode then off to sleep ...

Lock-down Day 497

Really crappy dreams this morning. Maybe it's time to get out of bed at the first alarm again? It's not all that cold anymore ... the problem, though, is actually that I'm not looking forward to the day at work, at the moment.

I got my juice and my seed deliver arrived today, as well! I expected the meat today, too ... but it's only coming tomorrow. A bit of a problem, as I also need milk - and both won't fit into my cooler bag. Well, too bad ... nothing I can do ...

Back at home, Janey is looking good! All mippies run out happily, and come back in just as happily! Giving Janey her meds was no issue - she's now in my wardrobe, calling me!

I'm watching 'Prime Suspect' at the moment, a bit more drama than I like for entertainment, but really good!

Time to snuggle and cuddle ...

Lock-down Day 496

Awful dreams again this morning ... I think it's the worry about Janey ...

I've made an appointment at the vet. Earliest I could get was 14:30, so I'll be leaving work sometime after one ... please, please let her be okay! Now, of course, I'm having all sorts of nightmare images scrolling across my mind ... 

My post was finally published in the FB group, where I asked advice. The majority say they've seen similar wounds on their cats, from cat fights. And given the update, it's most likely an abscess ... not good. My poor girl! I'm counting the minutes until I can take her ... while the horror images still scroll on and on ...

Big relief! She'll be fine! After an extremely long wait  - which was weird, because when I arrived there was nobody in the waiting room, then people arrived, were helped, more arrived and were helped ... fifteen minutes past our appointment it was finally our turn. 

Janey is incredibly good about the whole thing! Not crying, not wriggling - even when he pricked her ear for a  drop of blood, she didn't even flinch!

Then she snuggled in my arms while we waited. They suggested they put a stitch in the larger of the wounds - which has grown quite big! But there was no lump and nothing more came out. 

They did,  however, offer to help get Smeagol fixed. Knowing the situation, they'll make a note in my file and will accept him without an appointment. That was my biggest headache!

Now I'm waiting for Janey to pay and take her home! It's already half past three  - no use going back to work. Even though my juice delivery arrived soon after I left.

Janey has been so good about this whole trip, I don't want to expose her to even one minute longer than I have to!

As you can see, they didn't suture, after all! Once they had shaved and cleaned the area, they decided it will heal on its own. They gave me meds against pain & inflammation - 3 doses, 1 per day. No problem!

And she was really so good the whole time! Even on the way home, she hardly complained! And it all took such a long, long time ... it was past four when we were finally on our way home!

When we got home, she hid! Under the bed! Even Mewthos went into hiding! Only Ziva loudly demanded attention and Mini sat on top of the bed were Mewly & Janey were hiding - dead give-away! They didn't stay in hiding for long, though - and I let them out ... but just for a little while. I don't want Janey rolling in dirt today.

Mewthos didn't want to come inside - even when I used the magic word! Well, I guess they'll be happy when I'm at home more ... soon ...