We're back in business...

Well what a wonderful week we had in Italy. We stayed on the tiny island of Isola dei Pescatoire in Lake Maggiore. At night we had the entire island to ourselves apart from all the cats, ducks and toads that hid during the day from the tourists and came out to play when they had all gone.

We came back to earth with a crash landing yesterday when we got to Gatwick and the car brakes didn't work! Eight hours and three AA vans later we arrived at home.

Fur & Feathers:

After much worry we managed to collect the girls this morning and it was wonderful! They were so pleased to see us and we were to see them. They have been following me round the house all day.

As we are minus a car unfortunately Lily and Puddles are having an extended stay at my mum's. Sounds like they are being spoilt rotten so I'm sure they wont mind!

The chickens have been well looked after by our neighbour, I think he has secretly enjoyed every second of it!

Foliage:

Had some great news, I have been offered some voluntary work by the Woodland Trust encouraging people to visit woods in their local areas and enjoy being outdoors. Really excited about this opportunity and looking forward to getting started.

Animal logistics... Part 2

Fur & Feathers:

Well, our neighbour has been briefed on looking after the chickens. Ellie and Isla have been dropped off at the cattery - our first time apart. Mike and I miss them loads already. Suitcases are almost packed so all that's left for me to say is bye and i'll be back on here in a week!

Animal logistics... Part 1

Fur & Feathers:

With Italy only two days away today was the start of animal logistics. Holiday preparations nowadays require a great deal of planning!

This afternoon I drove Lily and Puddles to my mum's house. That was an interesting journey!

Puddles moved in with his two temporary house mates, a pair of beautiful blue budgies. I left the three of them sharing one of mum's aviaries. Puddles on the ground and the budgies keeping well out of his way on the branches high above!

Lily also moved into her holiday home, mum's other aviary and has lots of canaries for company. I left her enjoying an enormous bunch of dandelions that mum had been saving especially for her arrival.

Lazy Sunday afternoon...

Fur:

Isla enjoyed a lovely afternoon nap yesterday in the most bizarre way, she was hanging over the sofa arm. She only woke up because of the camera flash!



On the mend...

Fur:

Ellie had an antibiotic injection last night so fingers crossed she should be feeling back to her old self in the next couple of days. We've been so worried about her. It would be much easier if cats could talk and tell you when they are feeling poorly...

Feeling a little under the weather...Part 2

Fur:

Well it turns out our lovely Ellie has got Feline Cystitus, poor thing. I did wonder why she kept wanted her belly rubbed. Must make it feel a little better. Luckily our lovely friends who just happen to be vets are on the case and going to get her feeling back on top form.

Feeling a little under the weather...

Fur:

Our lovely little Ellie is a little poorly and on painkillers. For someone feeling under the weather she is still determined to climb the curtains!

Revenge is sweet...

Fur:

After Lily’s disturbed afternoon nap yesterday she must have decided today was the day of getting her revenge. We’d let her out into the yard for a run around this morning and every time Ellie and Isla tried to come out of the kitchen door and into the yard to join her Lily ran towards them. Each time the kittens ran straight back inside the house, through the kitchen and the living room, up the stairs and into our bedroom with very wide toilet brush tails!

The sun has got his hat on...

How exciting! The sun has actually come out today and it was warm and everything. Superb!

Fur:

Well Lily met Ellie today, Lilly was desperately trying to catch some rays when one little tinker kept disturbing her by crouching down with her belly on the floor and seeing how close she dared to go.

Feathers:

Puddles came into the house this afternoon to meet some of our family we had over. He is such a socialable boy! Only had to clear up after him once and luckily the floor is wipeable in the kitchen!

The chucks had a lovely dust bath and a nice time scratching around in the overgrown garden.

Also you'll be pleased to hear we have someone to look after Lucky, Beatrice and Gladys when we go to Italy. Our neighbour is going to help us out... phew.

Foliage:

Mike has made a great start digging over one of the vegetable beds and preparing it ready for some top soil. That's the next job tonight researching the most cost effective way of buying top soil in bulk.

Cold Monday morning...

Fur:

Having a lie in is never an easy thing to do in our household and it just got a whole lot more difficult as Ellie hs now worked out how to open closed doors. Just what you need at 7am on a bank holiday!

After completing the PDSA What Rabbits Need course i thought i would try Lily with some chard which is apparently good for rabbits to eat. She enjoyed her morning treat.

Feathers:

Let the chickens out whilst I cleaned them out and they had a lovely dust bath. Did notice that Lucky's leg looks a bit pink, think I might have to buy some scaly leg cream tomorrow and get it nipped in the bud.

Foliage:

Mike and I managed to get a little bit more done on the vegetable garden before the snow started again. I sprayed weed killer and covered over the slope over to try and get rid of the weeds. Hoping to use the slope for the courgette, cucumber and butternut squash plants so they can trail down and spread.

Whilst I did this Mike cut out the weed liner from the beds and started digging the first one over. Not as easy as it sounds with all the big stones! A blackbird watched Mike from the fence the entire time he was working away and as soon as he turned his back flew down and gobbled up about ten worms! You can just see him in the bottom photo.