Cats

Back in February I wrote a post called The Stress of Cats!  The stress is no more and I think I am a cat tamer!

When we went away at Easter my main concern for my three week absence was Jess the mad cat.  I thought Tabby cat would be fine but I was only just beginning to be able to stroke Jess - when she was safely in her cupboard!  I spent a lot of time with her and even managed to get her to purr a bit.  Since their neutering, the cats were not friends.  I think the whole episode was very traumatic for Jess and I was a bit cross with the vets for letting her out of the box and she ran riot all over the surgery and it took forever to catch her and then she nearly didn't get done due to it all.  And as for the skin condition, I was convinced it was stress related and no way was I taking her to the vets again.

Anyway, back to Easter.  Our nice neighbour Sabine was looking after them and when Matt came home he said he couldn't find Jess but she was probably hiding. Thank goodness the weeing everywhere seemed to have stopped!  So then I got a phone call from Sabine saying that Jess had slunk outside and disappeared! I told her not to worry as she wouldn't have gone far due to being so scared and she was probably hiding out in the barn in the field behind the house.

Needless to say I was right and for a few weeks she stayed there but I left food out for her and gradually after me dashing out when I saw her come for food and spending time with her she has become almost tame.  She has a basket out on the patio and I feel she wants to come in but the the Tabby cat Tapas has been a bit mean.  But they are both getting better with each other again and Jess I think is actually a nice cat.  Her skin condition has cleared up so definitely stress related and so no expensive cat food for her.  She's not a skinny runt of a cat like poor Tapas and I really think that in time - hopefully before the winter sets in, that she will become a friendly normal cat.

So you see - never give up on feral cats!  Or any cat really, or any animal, or child.

Relaxing

I am a Tiger!

Jess in her basket

A good hiss at Tapas!

Mostly relaxed and I can stroke her

I am quite ocnfident now that we can live in a cat happy house very soon.

The Marble Run

So I took some Marble Run photos. Alex loves it.  He gets very excited when watching them go down. Katie and I built one together yesterday when Alex was asleep and we had races.

Alex having fun

Checking the marbles are coming out

But who likes it the most?

Alex turns 2!

Today was Alex's second birthday.  Whos was most excited?  Katie of course!  She was unbearable yesterday and when she said she didn't think she would go to kindergarten today becasue it was Alex's birthday I said something to the effect of if she didn't go she would drive me insane!

Yesterday I had a domestic goddess morning and made chocolate crispie crackle cakes, choc brownies, cookies and the birthday cake.  Last night I made the birthday cake into a lil red tractor. I was so pleased with my efforts. Anything seems quite straightforward after Katie's huge Upsy Daisy cake for her second birthday.

Lil read tractor

Alex was so cute this morning as when he woke up I went in and he said "It's my birthday!"  "How old are you?" "TWO!"  What a cutie.  The present opening started and he had some lovely pressies.  A great helicopter book from Knitting Granny, a fire engine from the Fearons, a winner of a Marble Run from Painting Granny (well done mummy for that great idea!)  and a water play table from us. Everytime he pulled off a piece of paper he would say "Wow!"

After we took Katie to kindergarten this morning Alex and I did a bit of shopping and came back to make coffee for Catherine and Alex played with Thomas.  Catherine very kindly put together the marble run which Alex just loves. I think it is his favourite pressie.  I haven't got a photo of it yet though.  I made cheese muffins too and cut up some fruit to be healthy.



Then it was all systems go for Alex's party this afternoon. I was suddenly a bit concerned as there would be 25 of us - smallies, middlies and mummies.  But it was so lovely and relaxed. Kate did a fab job as tea lady and although Alex was a little grumbly after I woke him from his nap he soon perked up when cake was the focus.  It was a lovely afternon and I think everyone had a nice time.  All was cleared up by bedtime and although a sugar rush was had by all children, they both fell asleep quickly.   So glad it wasn't as hot as last year or the year he was born.