Ravioli stars for Michelle’s Weekly Pet Challenge

I have just spent a week with my daughter in Johannesburg. She has two dogs called Toffee and Vanilla, who both like a quiet life, most of the time, except when the refuse guys arrive to collect the trash. Then they rise to the occasion and howl like wolves at full moon. Toffee shouldn’t really be a howler, but Vanilla has trained her sister well.

Toffee

Vanilla is quite timid and very affectionate, and if one should lavish any attention on her, Toffee flavoured jealousy will immediately rush up and try to bite her on the nose.

Vanilla

Ravioli the cat is the Queen of the house, and has everything nicely worked out. She is very disdainful of the dogs who have to lie on the floor, and are not allowed on the furniture at all. She on the other hand, has an endless choice of comfortable places where she can while away her day, usually following the sun around the house. Even I am not allowed to put my feet on the coffee table, but not a word is said when she stretches herself out in this hallowed place.

Ravioli

She is very partial to a nice soft cushion, and gets very miffed if a mere person should want to sit on it.

This is her favourite, because it tones well with her colouring.

If we’re going to be eating Al Fresco, she will make sure that she reserves her seat before anyone else gets there. Who would be so heartless as to wake up a snoozing cat?

Just before we left to come home, I tapped on the window to wave a friendly goodbye, but there was no smile for me, just that “How dare you disturb me when I’m doing my ablutions?” look.

To join in Michelle’s Weekly Pet Challenge, just click on the badge below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silent Sunday: Ocean gazing.

A very moving statue for Ailsa’s Travel Theme

Last Christmas, on our drive up to New Jersey from Florida, we stopped off overnight in the beautiful historical city of Savannah, Georgia. Our hotel was quite near to the waterfront, so we took a stroll down to River Street to see the boats, but were stopped in our tracks when we came upon this commemorative African-American monument, which stands just behind the Hyatt Hotel. This bronze statue depicts a family of four, embracing one another after emancipation. The chains of slavery lie at their feet.

The back view is also very emotive.

On the plinth are these two images.

The statue was erected in July 2002, and the inscription is by the poet, Maya Angelou:

“We were stolen, sold and bought together from the African continent. We got on the slave ships together. We lay back to belly in the holds of the slave ships in each others excrement and urine together, sometimes died together, and our lifeless bodies thrown overboard together. Today, we are standing up together, with faith and even some joy.”

This is probably the most heart-touching statue I’ve ever seen, and I found it difficult to tear myself away and carry on with my walk.

To see more entries for Ailsa’s Theme, just click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday: Chocolate is Good for You.

Seen whilst out shopping with my daughter. As if I need a good reason to eat chocolate or desserts!

Silent Sunday: Borat the Waiter

I had a VERY interesting waiter on Thursday evening.

Relaxing pics for Jake’s Challenge.

“Place to Relax” is this week’s theme for Jake’s Sunday Post. There are so many places one could relax in and some people have the ability to relax and even nod off, wherever they find themselves. My son is one of these lucky people, and after flying down from New Jersey to see us in Florida, with three demanding little ones, he just flopped down on the sofa and slept for about and hour.

My youngest granddaughter  seems to take after her dad.

Riding on the back of her dad’s bike really tired her out.

Some people go to the beach to relax.

I wanted to relax on my favourite bench, but unfortunately this couple had the same idea.

Of course, my sister’s dog Dingo, spends most of his life relaxing. It’s a dogs life.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my relaxing pics, and didn’t nod off in the process. To see more interpretations of Jake’s theme, just click on his badge below.

We’re on our way up to Johannesburg to spend a week with our daughter and family. She has lots of outings and treats lined up for us, so I may not have much time to spend on the blogs, but I’ll pop in when I can. Have a relaxing weekend.

Just another Mongoose Monday.

Here in South Africa, we often get visits from our resident Banded Mongooses. This morning, I saw one on my birdbath. Just as I got my camera, he sensed my presence and decided to turn tail.

He soon returned with his mate. Ah that’s better, safety in numbers.  They’re very timid creatures, and didn’t stay any longer than it took to have a few sips.

I opened the sliding door, and stood waiting to see if they would return, and after a few seconds,  spotted a sweet little face peeking through the fence.

He looked longingly up at the birdbath, trying to pluck up courage.

Then he got really brave, and hopped up.

Suddenly realising he was was being watched, he turned and gave me the look. “What do you think you’re staring at?”

I decided to leave him in peace to quench his thirst, and went back to doing my housework, asking myself, “What is the plural of mongoose? Is it mongooses, mongeese, mongi, mongoosies, or simply mongoose?” What do you think?

Silent Sunday: A sideways look at the ocean.

WPC ‘Inside’: From Kitchens to Bath Tub

This Week’s Photo Challenge, is ‘Inside’. Many of my pics have been taken inside, so I picked out just a few.

Here is the inside of an oven in the extensive Edwardian kitchens of Lanhydrock House in Cornwall. Just imagine having to do all your baking in this.

I was fascinated to see the inside of a very different kitchen on board our cruise ship on the Rhine. It’s really not that big, especially when you consider how many people they have to feed every day.

Here’s the lock-up drinks store on board. I wonder who was entrusted with the key?

I took a peek into a restaurant in Rüdesheim, as I’d heard wonderful music, and was curious to see if it was a live band.

These fancy ladies were there to greet us on the staircase of a boutique in Costa Rica.

Last but not least are my two smallest grandchildren, having bubbly fun inside their bath tub.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my ‘inside’ pics. To take part in the challenge, just click on the badge below.

My darling mom needs a holiday by the sea.

Yesterday was a lovely day, although somewhat tinged with sadness. Hubby and I went off up the hill to meet my sister, my mom, and two of mom’s dearest friends, Marge and Tom. We met at a local restaurant, and it just broke my heart to see how difficult it was for my once strong and independent mother to even manoeuvre herself from her walker, into her seat. Since her bout of pneumonia late last year, she has become so frail and her mind is very confused. She did manage a cappuccino and half a slice of carrot cake, and we all kept up a lively conversation, trying to include her, but I could tell that her mind wasn’t able to process what was being said, and it was obvious that the bright lighting and ambient noise were bothering her. Tom is younger than mom, and has been a wonderful help to her, after she had to give up driving her car a couple of years ago. He used to take her shopping and to church every week. Marge, who has been her best friend for many years, was so attentive and kind, helping her to get the cake onto her fork, and opening the sugar packet for her. She is 91, a couple of years older than mom, but really bright and capable.

We took mom back to the care home, and helped to put her to bed, as she was so tired after her little outing. The people who work there are really kind, and I’m happy to know that she is so well cared for, but I find it really distressing to see how little she can do for herself. When I think of the lively, bustling mom who brought me up, now so vulnerable and utterly dependent on other people to do everything for her, I could weep.

As we came over the brow of the hill, and were on the downhill run to home, I decided that what I needed was a long walk by the sea.

The sound of the waves crashing over the rocks, was somehow very soothing to my troubled mind.

Soon we were on our way to the lighthouse, the sight of which never fails to lift my spirits.

Next stop was the pier, which although quite a new addition, looks like it’s been there forever.

A sprinkling of fishermen were on the beach at the end of the promenade, and we sat for a while, in quiet contemplation, just looking out to sea.

I was thinking that mom would really enjoy a mini vacation by the sea, and although our house has quite steep stairs, just maybe, with me in front and hubby bringing up the rear, we could manage to get her up and down them. It’s worth a try, so when we get back from visiting our daughter in Johannesburg in a couple of weeks’ time, we’re going to attempt it. I’m looking forward to the challenge.

I wish you all a very happy weekend.