Friday 22 May 2020

The Distancing Diaries - Day 62 & 63


Thank you so much for your kind messages & comments about Frank's dental surgery, it really helped to hear about you having similar experiences with cats having multiple extractions

Frank was still under the bed when I got up for my Wii Fit session yesterday morning (day 62). Stephen Squirrel was determined to keep me on my toes and demanded to be let out (and back in again) five times before 8am. When Jon got up we had fruit with yoghurt and, as both of us had been up and checking on Frank throughout the night, neither of us was feeling our finest.


Still, nature never fails to lift the spirits and we watched mesmerised from the window as our second Oriental poppy burst into life.


Once dressed Jon headed to the greenhouse and transferred the onion seedlings to the veg bed outside.


After washing my hair I had a weekly catch-up on the phone with my friend Liz then pulled on yesterday's bikini and shorts and watered my patio plants.


I potted up my Thai basil which had been growing in modules in the greenhouse and, along with my tray of Oriental salad leaves, left the pots on the doorstep in the sunshine.


 Jon's tomato plants are going mad, he's got hundreds! He potted some more up, moving some to the cloches with the cucumbers.


We heard the gravel crunching and looked up to see our friend Mark who'd popped round on his daily bike ride. We sat at a safe distance from each other, basking in the sunshine and chatted about what we were growing. We did a trade-off, arranging to swap tomatoes for marigolds which he'd leave outside next time he was passing in his van. It was a lovely way to spend a couple of hours.


Jacob tucked into his lunch of home-grown lettuce, dandelions and Welsh poppies whilst we went inside for our noodles - at 1.45pm, much later than usual.


After lunch, I planted out my purple cauliflower and, as Frank was showing no interest in food and, as we couldn't administer his pain killers on an empty stomach, Jon called the vet who suggested he brought him back to the surgery for a pain-killing injection.


I sat in the sunshine with Stephen by my side whilst Jon drove with Frank to the vets, their journey delayed by the main road from the town centre being closed due to a massive sinkhole appearing overnight.

SOURCE
I nipped into the house for my book, noticing that the doorstep was covered in soil, my tray of exotic salad leaves had all but disappeared and that two of my newly potted-up basil were also empty,  wondering if Jon had knocked it over when he'd left the house with the cat carrier in his haste to get to the vets. When I came back out a blackbird was trying to steal what was left and realised that it was the birds who had caused the damage. Little sods! It's not like I don't feed them.


Jon returned with Frank. The vet was happy with how his mouth was looking and his eyes were certainly looking a lot brighter after his injection. I went upstairs to dye my roots & Frank followed me and lay in a patch of sun on the landing. After I'd showered he was sitting waiting for me outside the bathroom, licking his lips and looking very alert. He followed me downstairs where he demolished a saucer of tuna and some mashed up prawns and then proceeded to give himself a thorough washing before pestering Jon for more food.


Tea was sausage, egg and chips with a bottle of beer (we thought we deserved one). After the weekly Clap for Our Carers, we watched The Real Marigold Hotel and were very sad that the wonderful Zandra Rhodes had to cut her trip short & return home as her partner was seriously ill. I hope I'm as fabulous as her when I grow up.

Friday morning rolled around again (our 62nd day of lockdown) and Frank accompanied Stephen and me downstairs for breakfast, dining on tinned tuna and cat milk. Stephen was more interested in going outside especially when he spotted a squirrel messing in the veg patch. I followed him up the garden to assess the damage but luckily Jon's makeshift twig contraptions had kept the thieving mammal at bay!


 After my last Wii Fit session of the week, I caught up on blogging until Jon got up and joined me for our fruit & yoghurt.


After breakfast, I pulled up the faded bluebells, added them to the pile of garden waste Jon was frantically cramming into the brown bin ready for collection on Monday (the first time they'd been since last October).


Next job was to nail some supports to the wall for the honeysuckle that had a massive growth spurt after last night's rain. Jon rescued the few surviving Oriental salad leaves from the tray decimated by the blackbirds and planted them in one of the cloches for safety. Bloody birds!


Remember my new potato experiment? They'd grown too big for their pot so we divided them up and planted them into three larger ones.


After Jon had successfully administered Frank's painkillers and I'd watered all the patio plants, we stopped for noodles.


We hadn't been for a walk for a few days so we went for a stroll around the block, deviating slightly from our usual route and passing the now-derelict Highgate Brewery at the bottom of the road, named after the part of Walsall in which we live. It opened in 1896 and, at its peak, produced 100,000 barrels of Highgate Dark Mild a year. It closed in 2010 and has lain empty ever since.


It was another gloriously sunny day and, out of the wind, it was gorgeously warm. Accompanied by Stephen, I set up the deckchair in a sheltered spot beneath the laburnum and finished The Distant Land of my Father.


Although it's been warm, it wasn't quite bikini weather and I wore the vintage block printed kaftan I'd worn to travel around Rajasthan & Mumbai earlier this year.


Today I wore it with one of my vintage Indian silk screen-print scarves (to hide my dye stained forehead).


Tea was mozzarella and roast tomato pizza with sweet potato chips.


It's Friday which means we'll be doing the same as every other law-abiding citizen in the UK and staying in. We have plenty of rum and I'm sure we'll find something decent to watch on the TV.

Stay safe and see you soon! 

58 comments:

  1. Glad Frank is now not down in the mouth any more, they are like our children I know, I would have been up in the night too, both your boys have such shiny fur coats. I haven't seen Marigold yet, it's on catchup list, but so sad Zandra is out, she is so glamorous and fun. I like Duncan and Britt the best. You are doing so well with your veg - it's amazing how quickly it's all taking off. I am following your lead and planted a few potatos with roots today - fingers crossed. Have a great weekend.

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    1. Thanks, Betty! It's a huge relief after being paralised with fear and worry for a couple of days to see Frank back to his usual fussy and prawn demanding self! The boys have developed a taste for Sheba, typically the most expensive food on the market!
      Have you caught up with Real Marigold yet? I think this series is the best ever, the celebs are really opening up and showing their vunerable sides.
      Good luck with your spuds, I love experimenting and seeing what happens. xxx

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  2. So glad Frank is on the mend, he does look better. They say that with strays that have been on the wild for some time when they come in their teeth are often bad, my Mom's kitty that was rescued from a hoarder has teeth issues even though she's been super spoiled for the last 2 years. Bloody blackbirds and squirrels, love them all but leave your garden alone! I don't have squirrel issues, only rats but since we live trapped them and freed them last year it seems they've left our yard alone. Being so close to the ocean (1 km) rats will always be here, just have to learn how to live with them. Wow, India was only a couple of months ago and it seems like decades and I didn't even go!

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    1. Thanks so much! He does look better, he was very out of sorts last week, doing all the normal stuff but just not with much enthusiasm. Now he's back to shouting for prawns, rolling around in the garden and running about with his tail in the air, a joy to watch!
      Aren't these creatures inconsiderate little sods? I'm very fond of rats when people have them as pets but not so much when you open the compost bin and one pops his head out and stares you down! xxx

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  3. So glad to hear about Frank. Blogger wouldn't let me comment yesterday! Our last rescue cat Twitten had had a really tough start in life....unspayed etc etc and so thin we thought she was about 2 but nearer 6 when our vet looked at her teeth. Due to her awful diet she had to have six teeth extracted within a couple of days of us getting her poor thing. Arilx

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    1. Thank you so much! Twitten does sound like she had a similiar start in life to Frank, teeth and all. I can't believe how quickly his mouth has healed, we were brave enough to look yesterday and you've never know he'd only had surgery a few days ago - except for his missing trademark fangs! xxx

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  4. I'm so pleased that Frank has eaten well and much happier.I've spoken to a few people recently who are having someone into their garden now at a safe distance-one said it won't be quite so nice when it's raining though (it's all very odd isn't it) You look lovely in your kaftan Vix x

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    1. Thanks so much for asking about Frank, Flis, it meant a lot.
      It seems a lot more sensible to have someone come and sit in your garden if you can get to it without going through the house, if you went to a park, like they keep telling us to, you can't control those covidiots who have no concept of social distancing. xxx

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  5. Oh, good to hear that Frank is up and about and eating again! That is such great news! It is so rough when our little furry fam members get sick! It looks like Stephen is taking care of things, although could possibly do a better job of chasing off those birds!

    We have oodles of grey squirrels here (they've nearly taken over from the native black squirrels), and see them in the Gary Oaks outside our condo all the time - Vizzini is often watching them.

    You look lovely in that caftan, Vix, and love that head-scarf. Have a good weekend, and you both definitely deserve a good glug of rum tonight!

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    1. Sheila, it's such a relief. I feel like I've aged with all the worry, especially after he was so ill last year. Stephen's great at chasing next door's tabby and the huge wood pigeons up and down the lawn, he needs to set his sights on the evil blackbird and the naughty birdfood stealing squirrels and earn his keep!
      I love your native black squirrels, we had resd ones until the grey ones took over. When we were in Kerala we saw some Malabar Giant Squirrels - have a Google, they're like teddy bears!
      I do feel so good in that kaften! I love scarves on other people but never feel I look right when I wera one, I need to get over myself! xxxx

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  6. I'm reading back to back updates. I'm sorry little Frank had to go back for a shot, but he does look perkier. We have decided that since we can stay outside, we are going to head to my sisters or conversation and a fire tonight. First though, I'm heading to get the Hard Seltzer Crowlers I orders from the brewery, helping a local business after all. my attempts at garden produce have been battles with birds, rabbits, and squirrels. We shall see this year.

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    1. Thanks, Sam! He soon perked up after that injection. I think in normal times he'd probably have had to stay at the surgery overnight but in lockdown life we're just lucky that our vets are still open!
      Good on you for supporting a US brewery, a friend's mananged to source us some local bottled beer, Jon's off to collect it - at a safe distance - shortly.
      Isn't it maddening to have to fight nature to grow your crops? Don't be disheartened though, keep trying like we are. It's not like we've got anything else to do! xxx

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  7. Love seeing the growth of your Oriental popppy, Vix. Also glad that Fran's feeling better- poor thing.

    Woah, I can't believe the size of the sinkhole - that's so dangerous!

    Reading in the sun sounds perfect. I sure hope we get some sun this weekend.
    Oh and the sweet potato chips looks delicious - my favourite! X

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    1. Those Oriental poppies are simply gorgeous, aren't they? I'm dying for the rest to bloom, I'm down to just one in the garden, the strong winds we had on Friday and Saturday tuined the other one.
      We've got sun today - and all wek, I think! I can't stay in bed when the weather's going to be nice, I daren't waste a moment of it! xxx

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  8. So good that Frank is up and about, demolishing all of the best cat food? That kaftan is so gorgeous, and , oh yes, you are as fantastic as Zandra rhodes, already xxx

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    1. It's a huge relief to have Frank back to normal, I hate feeling so powerless and on edge when our cats aren't themselves.
      I think the kaftan is one of my all-time favourite pieces, if I can find a huge piece of block printed fabric I'd love to copy it.
      As fantastic as Zandra Rhodes. I do love you! xxx

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  9. Delighted that Frank is up to consuming his usual ration of prawns! Hope he's taking his meds like a soldier (Try the wrapping-cat-in-towel-with-a-hole for the mouth method. Pain free for you & probably the cat, although it doesn't sound like that.)
    The block print is an enchanting reminder of your desert adventure! Clothes, worn or purchased on site, make wonderful souvenirs. I'm fond of a windbreaker I bought to venture out on a stormy lake many years ago: hated to wash it because it still smelled of the boat.

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    1. Thanks, Beth! Jon's got a real knack with cat and medications. Frank's first dose was via the towel method but it turned out that his medicine is really tasty and he is happy just to have it as a sauce on his prawns - amazingly easy!
      I agree with clothing making wonderful souvenirs. My wardrobe is full of happy travel memories! xxx

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  10. Oh we hate what the birds have done in our garden. I think they may be worse than squirrels. Well, except for the Stephen kind...

    We will be sending healing thoughts out to the universe for Frank and his recovery. My kitty boy did fine as he lost more teeth. I always added extra broth to his food to both soften it up and to provide extra hydration to help his kidneys. We didn't serve dry food. Then again, I know everyone eats well in VixWorld!

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    1. Gah! We all want birds in our gardens but when they misbehave I could scream! Talking of squirrels there's one hanging upside down from my squirrel-proof bird feeder trying his damdest to get something out of it! We named top cat, Stephen Squirrel, because he was so naughty and acrobatic as a kitten, he hasn't changed much now (15 years old tomorrow!)
      xxx

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  11. The Thai basil looks lovely. Jon's tomatoes seem to be doing well. I'm glad Frank is doing ok and gat a vet check up. I haven't been to a doctor in months, I'm afraid to go. That sinkhole looks scary.
    You look divine in that purple kaftan.

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    1. Thanks, Ivana! My mouth keeps watering when I look at that basil, I'm willing it to grow at every opportunity!
      I don't blame you for being wary of seeing a doctor, I think most surgeries here are offering telephone consultations to avoid the risk of infection. xxxx

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  12. I bloody love zandra rohdes she is my total idol!!! She has a cool vibe around her . Shame about her partner I hope They get well soon. We have grown plum tomatoes and have given them to anyone who wants them, including the delivery people, they do seem to get well out of hand shall we say. I just wish my sweet basil was doing as well.
    We just get earthquakes not sinkholes ohh and the odd typhoon ! The one that hit Chiba last year was awful my friend lost her house. Japanese houses aren’t built like English houses as they have to collapse easily during an earthquake nice !
    Earthquake training used to freak me out, but I am used to it. We even have a kit near the door! My mum is a sweetheart and ordered me some barry M but they don’t know when they will get it posted as Royal Mail isn’t doing air mail at the moment! Glad frank is on the mend. Milo is due jabs and they are expensive over here as dogs are treat like royalty as are cats. Cat cafe anyone? Keep safe stay away from the coronanutters . They might think differently if they all get it. Allie xx

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    1. Your typhoons and earthquakes must be terrifying, the training alone would worry me. I remember Hagabis being on the BBC news last year, how horrible for your friend.
      I've only been in a typhoon once, we were in India a week before the monsoon was due to hit Goa and a cow flew past us!

      Zandra Rhodes is just fabulous, her style is fantastic and she's just such a warm, open and kind human being. Her Mum encouraged her to work in fashion but sadly died before she was successful. Her partner of 31 years was 98, she managed to get back and be by his side when he died, thank goodness.
      Coronanutters, tell me about it, have you seen all the controversary around Cummings and his trip up North? If our supposed leaders do their own thing how can they expect us plebs to?
      Take care, dear Alison! xxxx

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  13. The typhoon was called hagabis and was a bad one. It scared me. You guys are lucky, it’s typhoon season here now, but on the plus side we do get 30 degrees and 89 percent humidity!!! Thank god for air con!!!!

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    1. I just Googled Hagabis and watched a scary video on Youtube. Eeek! I'll swapyou the 30 degrees with pleasure although it's looking like bikini weather here in sunny Walsall this week! xxx

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  14. Hi Vix! Please talk me through your mozzarella and roast tomato pizza - how do you make it? It looks delicious!

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    1. Hi Jayne! The pizza base recipe is a no-yeast one, I shared it on the blog on 16th April (Life in Lockdown, Day 26 & 27) - just top with some pesto, cherry tomatoes, whatever herbs are to hand and a few slices of mozzarella. xxx

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  15. Forgot to say - how do you make sweet potato chips as well! All your food looks so great! So glad that Frank is over the worst of it.

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    1. The sweet potato chips are pre-prepared frozen ones but when we make them we just scrub them, cut them into strips, sprinkle them with oil and sea salt and bake them on a tray in the oven for around 40 minutes. xxx

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  16. those blackbirds! ts!
    had walsall any mining business in the past? know sinkholes from my youth in a silver mining town.....
    BUT - the most important news is that frank is eating and going out again! wahoo!
    ah - that beautiful kaftan - can totally see why you wear it again & again - such fine colors and the *comfiness*!!
    happy weekend! xxxxx

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    1. Blackbirds, lovely to watch, terrible to share a garden with!
      Frank is lying on top of on the covered-up VW sunbathing. He's forgotten about his teeth already.
      Yes, Walsall was a mining town, people couldn't get mortgages for houses in certain parts of town because of the old shafts underground & property prices were insanely cheap for decades.
      I do love a kaftan, I'm always surprised when I wear one and look in the mirror, not expecting something so comfy to look so good! xx

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  17. It's a relief to know Frank is feeling a little better. It's always a good sign when their appetite returns.
    Talking of which, that pizza and chips has me feeling hungry. I just love sweet potato chips. X

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    1. As soon as he started shouting for prawns I knew he was on the mend! Phew!
      Sweet potato chips are gorgeous, aren't they? Jon hates sweet potatoes but loves them as chips, he's very strange! xxx

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  18. Hooray for Frank, what a brave boy he is. He will soon get rid of that pesky bird for you.
    You two will be having your own gardening programme at this rate. It’s been brilliant watching everything come on.
    Have a lovely weekend, I’m going on the search of big pieces of cardboard to make a rainbow tree for the kids to pin things to outside our gate.
    Must tell Philip about the brewery, I be the know it.
    Much love from us two xxx

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    1. I've never wished harm on a living creature but that blackbird is starting to drive the pair of us daft. The noise he makes sets our teeth on edge and he keeps following us around the garden checking on what we're up to! Frank's hopeless with birds and Stephen's only interested if they're massive wood pigeons - something worth getting his teeth into!
      I hope you share your rainbow tree when you've made it!
      Highgate Mild was huge back in the day. xxxx

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  19. It's good to hear Frank is getting better.
    What's with blackbirds? They did the same to all of my chili seedlings and got most of my tomatoes.
    When i saw that photo of the hole in the road I thought it was street art until I read what caused it!! It looks like such a neat massive hole.
    Have a lovely weekend to all in your house. xxx

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    1. The blackbirds seem particularly crazed and frantic at the moment, I'm sure they've never been like this before or is it that I was too tied up in festival prepartion to notice?
      Isn't that a huge hole? I hope the council sort it out more quickly than they do with the pot holes! xxxx

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  20. What a relief to read that Frank's on the mend. He's tough as old boots, that boy! Naughty blackbirds and squirrel though! Our main problem seems to be slugs and snails this year. Horrible, slimy creatures! Wow, that sinkhole is impressive, and quite scary. Great to hear the potato experiment is going well. Loving the Highgate Brewery! We used to have quite a few breweries in our village back in the day. Most of them are gone, but there's one which has been turned into offices, but still has one of its old chimneys. And our garage is part of an old brewery/lemonade factory complex. Your kaftan is a delight and just perfect for wafting around the garden! xxx

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    1. The poor lad's certainly been through a lot in his life with us, goodness knows what kind of existence he had before he decided to adopt us. It's so strange when he's ill as he's such a big bruiser of a cat!
      I bet there's loads of wonderful old breweries in Belgium. The Highgate Brewery has been put up for auction a couple of times but failed to reach the reserve (just under a million punds), it's such a wonderfully imposing building, a real shame if it's left to decay. I was a big part of my childhood - the clank of the barrels, the smell of the hops and the occasional dray horse when they had open days. xxxx

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  21. Hello vix, thanks for another full and beautiful post! Love that kaftan on you looks fab. Glad your furry mate is on the mend! I thought it was great how you captured the poppy coming out. That is sad about that empty building. Well my mother in law wants me to go and visit next week it will be for a short walk at a dinstance of course it is the first time I will have seen her for months I have not been going out my knight in shining armour has been so here goes wish me luck lol anyway take care and enjoy that beautiful garden of yoursx Oh yes so glad your furry mate is on the mend!x

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    1. Thanks for reading and commenting! After so long at home with nothing but our own company venturing out and meeting people, even from a safe distance, sounds really daunting, doesn't it? I was a bit jittery about my brother coming round last weekend! Hope the visit goes well, it's lovely that your Mum-in-law is longing to see you.
      Frank's much, much better, yelling for prawns as I type. Hooray! xxxx

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  22. Hi Vix, I'm not really one for commenting on blogs but just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy yours. I have been following for a few years now but since lock down started they have become something to really look forward to amid all the awful and tragic news about coronavirus. I always feel relaxed, uplifted and inspired after reading them. You are like a breath of fresh air! So glad Frank was OK XX

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    1. Dear Tania, both your generous comment and Rachel's words made me a bit tearful when I read them. thank you so much for expressing yourself so beautifully. I often wonder who is reading my blog, it's lovely to "hear" your voice. Thank you for being there. xxx

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  23. Yes I am with @Tania, Vix - thank you so much for your uplifting posts. You must touch so many more people than you know. Only for me - your travels and style were a perfect inspiration and influence when I went to India last year, cheered me up when I was ill recently, and I even bought those fabulous coconut scourers! Just what I had been looking for.

    But it’s not just that sort of stuff, it’s just you. Your clear writing voice and kind way of inviting us into your corner of the world. I am probably not expressing this well, but I hope you get what I mean.

    I also want to be Zandra Rhodes when I grow up ;-) I have loved that series.

    Xx



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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words, Rachel. Your lovely comment brought a bit of a tear to my eye when I read it. I'm thrilled to hear that you were in India, I'm sorry that you've been ill and hope you're over it now.
      Aren't those scrubbers great? I've treated myself to a bottle brush from the same people but it's such a lovely thing to look at I feel guilty using it!
      I think this series of The Real Marigold Hotel might be my favourite one ever, I'm sad I won't be able to drool over Zandra's wardrobe any more though.
      Much love to you! xxxx

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  24. Glad Frank is perking up a bit.He must have had you terribly worried.

    Yeah, birds are awful. And after they finish eating they have the nerve to crap everywhere. Hope you figure out a way to keep them out of the garden. Maybe you can build a scarecrow.

    Don't know what causes a sinkhole like that but wow. I mean after everything 2020 has thrown at us, why not giant sinkholes? I'm waiting for the asteroid.

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    1. We've both been wrecks - even Stephen's been acting weird!
      Birds are terrible. The blackbirds seem to have no fear, they have an uncanny habit of following me around the garden and staring. I'm codged up a makeshift bird scarer to keep them off my fruit, little sods!
      Walsall has old limestone mine shafts but this turned out to be a collapsed Victorian sewer. xxx

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  25. So glad Frank is on the mend!

    You look as if you were born to ride a camel - you probably were in another life...

    I can't get over the size of that sinkhole. I don't think we can blame the rain for that one. I hope no one was swallowed up by it! What a waste of a fab building the brewery is. Having said that an entire university campus opposite to our house, complete with swimming pool and dance stadio and lots of other sport facilities as well as the usual classrooms, library ,refectory, offices etc was fenced off in 2006 and left untouched until it was all demolished in 2016 and houses built on the site.

    Your garden and its contents is looking so lush. Birds can be very greedy but don't you mind Jacob eating your Wesh poppies?

    Take care,
    xxx

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    1. Such a relief that Frank's on the mend, pets really do keep us on our toes!
      I loved riding a camel, they get such a bad press. I'm tempted to get one and keep it at the top of the garden, maybe it'll keep the weeds down!
      They've tried to sell the brewery off a couple of times, it would make brilliant flats but it's Grade II listed and the road it leads off is tiny so parking and any work would be impossible. It'll mysteriously burn down one of these days like so much of Walsall's heritage buidlings.
      Birds are such a pest, it's not like we don't feed them anyway. I try and ration Jacob to three poppy heads a day, gives them time to recover! xxx

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  26. I have no doubts about you become just as Fabulous as Zandra Rhodes when you grow up.

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    1. I do hope so! Thanks for the vote of confidence! xxx

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  27. Wow! Great pictures of the poppy coming into bloom. That's a big sinkhole! It looks big enough for a car to fall in. Some birds can really mess up a garden. We have some birds called thrashers here and they've been digging up the zinnia and herb seedlings. I'll have to replant I guess. I had some old colanders that fit perfectly on the pots to cover the other seedlings. Hopefully they won't find a way to push them off. Darn critters! Love your incredible kaftan! Awesome to hear that Frank is eating and getting better!! Those sweet potato chips are making me hungry! They look like they would be good with our weekend beers.
    Take care

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    1. Isn't that hole enormous? Thank goodness it happened during lockdown rather than normal times when that road is jam-packed with traffic, it doesn't bear thinking about!
      Thrashers sound like bad ass birds with a name like that. I like the colander trick. It does drive you mad when a plant you've lovingly grown from seed gets uprooted and carried off before you eyes. Ah well, it's not like I'm busy at the moment, I shall follow your example, take a deep breath and start again!
      Much love to you, Cheryene! xxx

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  28. Stephen Squirrel needs to put in some time chasing those blackbirds! (I'll give Frank a pass 'cos he's poorly.) We have a snail problem, but none with birds thanks to the urchins.

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    1. He does, he's great with pigeons and magpies! xxx

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  29. I obviously forgot to comment on this post, but I think I conveyed my good wishes to Frank in a later, or earlier post? Anyway, I'm so glad he's feeling more like his old self and is diving into his food again. I had to have Sylvester's teeth cleaned over a year ago and the cleaning itself was so expensive, I can't imagine the bill if there were extractions. It is worth it to keep our furbabies happy and healthy.

    Your plants are growing like crazy! Sorry about the bird damage though. I only have a small flower bed so there's not much maintenance involved. We have lots of grey and black squirrels in our neighbourhood, and my next door neighbour feeds them peanuts and has named them all. I am now able to recognize who's who, which means I've been spending way too much time at home!

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  30. That block print kaftan is amazing. It is fun to be reminded of how you wore it during your Indian travels. I remember reading those posts and being so inspired- not that your lockdown posts are any less inspiring.

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix