Lovcat

I know there are a lot of people who don't really like cats, but I love them. The current "lord-of-all-he-surveys" is a big male but doesn't like to be left on his own. He always calls to find out where we are in the house and then wants to sit on our laps or laptops.

Here he is in sleep mode

Recently there's been a neighbourhood gangster-cat who has been leaving some serious wounds on our cat so we've implemented a curfew. After 8pm the windows are closed and the litter tray is made available. This is met with vociferous complaint until the DH and I go to bed and then it's all purrs and snuggle time.

Catching up on a little more sleep

Life is full of surprises

This one is somewhat sentimental. Last year I had a tonsillectomy and because my sister was given a kaleidoscope when she had her tonsils out (she was four), my mother went to quite some trouble to find me a kaleidoscope as well.

Kaleidoscope making kit

It really is quite fascinating how simple the design is. It's very easy to make, just three reflective plates arranged inside the tube and when you look through the eyepiece, whatever you're looking at is reflected again and again and again.

View through the kaleidoscope

More from Dear Rae Jewellery. Lucky me!

Some time ago (it was October 2010) I ordered a ring from Dear Rae and received a beautiful, charming silver and brass ring and the friendliest service imaginable. I was really smitten. So when I started following Dear Rae on Facebook and saw that they were making gold heart earrings, I just couldn't believe the coincidence. I had been looking for gold heart earrings for months and these fitted the bill perfectly. I wasted no time in placing an order and again I received the friendliest service and the fastest delivery ever. And, as it happens, they were having a promotion, so I also received a linen shopping bag with my earrings. The earrings had their own box and came with care instructions and even a cleaning cloth.

Dear Rae Jewellery

Grumpy Cat is adorable

Just say "awww"

Humanity

I have this feeling that what really defines human beings is not actually the war, terror and damage that we are generally acknowledged to be doing to this planet and one another, but really what individuals do after war, after terror attacks and after natural disasters.

One example is Horseback UK who I follow on Facebook here. They are an example of how it is that people will see someone who needs help and decide to provide that help themselves out of care and concern for their fellow human beings.

It is examples like this that give me hope for the future of humanity.

Go on. Like them on Facebook. The photos and the inspirational words will brighten your days.

Photo from Horseback UK on Facebook.

You know who you are

Don't let the cat out the bag!

I love this pic because he's my cat, the photo reminds me of laughter (though of course cats hate being laughed at) and it's a photo of a cat in a bag.

My new sweet addiction

I haven't eaten these for years and years but today I bought a bag for the jar on my husband's desk.

They are really sweet, really chewy, really fruity and really yummy. Five stars for Beacon sweets for keeping up the tradition.

Back at home (and so glad to be here).

Well, we are back at home and I am so relieved to be here. There really is (as Dorothy said) "no place like home". We had a truly wonderful holiday but to be back in my own bedroom and my own kitchen with familiar possessions and kitchen utensils is like a holiday in itself. The sense of comfort from what is familiar is impossible to achieve anywhere else but at home. 

Won't you be my Valentine?

I've always thought that Valentine's Day is commercialised even more than Christmas. Those folks over at Hallmark must be laughing all the way to the bank. Yesterday, I saw single red roses selling for R15.99. It seems that there's this huge pressure on just this one day for people to declare their love (which is measured by how much money was spent).  My husband and I meet for lunch every week and those 52 lunches are worth much more to me than an hour in February spent shopping for jewelry, perfume, flowers or a card.

PLEASE NOTE: This image is not real.
It has been created using computer graphics software.
No cherubs were harmed in the making of this photo.

The Package Project rides again

I was thoroughly disappointed when I found that I had joined the blogosphere too late to participate in last year's Package Project, a spectacular, amazing, awesome, super cool (sub zero) initiative by Cupcake Couture.

Explanation directly from The Package Project website: The Package Project is an exchange aimed to connect bloggers around the world and to grow the blogging community even further. It is all about swopping pretty packages and handmade delights. The packaging only makes the exchange more fun so get creative...strings, manila tags and ribbons galore. Each package must be a joy to receive and each time you do receive one...pop out your camera and snap away. This way we all get to share in a bit of your excitement.

Wedding floral options

Denise at Freshly Found is sending off some of her beautiful origami flowers for someone's wedding - lucky girl that's having such a stylish wedding. When my florist let me down I went out and bought some fabric roses and made my own bouquet which turned out to be a perfect because they stayed "fresh" and I still have them as a beautiful reminder of the day. 

Astounding use of iPod apps

I got this link from a tweet from Big Concerts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAllFWSl998
I'm a complete Apple geek and I just love it when I see them being used by other people. See what the drummer is using as a surface for his iPod?