MILLY'S DIARY

Hello everyone

Not much sunshine today, so I am spending time inside - snoozing!  It's something we cats do pretty well, need no training for, can do at the drop of a whisker and, it has been said, something we do for about 17 hours a day.  Not me though, too much to do outside.

However, I haven't been outside much for the last couple of days because the 'visiting cat' is scary!  Yes, I know I don't scare easily and I normally take no notice of other cats, but he keeps chasing me and because he is about 6 times bigger than I am I have spent a lot of time recently hiding behind sofas, under chairs and in cupboards.  This is not the image I like to project!  I may be small, but I think big!  He argues with Jazz, but doesn't seem too bothered with Daisy, Coco or Poppy.  He sometimes nips into our neighbour's garden and rolls in her cat mint - probably high as a kite when he chases me!

Scary Cat hasn't been in our garden today, so it might be safe for me to go outside for a while.  Have to keep my eyes open though because he does sometimes curl up and sleep in one of the flower beds - ready to chase me as I wander by.

A mini post today, I am going to give the big outside world (my garden that is) another reccie - come back next week to see how I am managing my life with Scary Cat.

Milly

MILLY'S DIARY

Hello everyone

How are you coping with this very hot weather?  I am very sensible and stay in the shade for most of
the day - being black and white means I have some sensitive bits and have to be careful.  We cats are struggling in this weather, but Jill and Richard make sure we have plenty of water - plus you can't beat a drop of pond water, water from a plant saucer or from a puddle.  Yum!

I forgot to tell you last week that Jazz had to go to the vets.  That boy is a regular visitor there and I understand there is talk of him having his own named seat.  Jazz had a very poorly eye and Jill had to give him half an antibiotic tablet twice a day and squish some eye ointment into his poorly eye.  Poppy, Coco, Daisy and I thought it was hilarious watching Jill and Richard trying to get Jazz to take his medication.  Not sure why, but they didn't find it so funny.  I have said it on many occasions, humans are weird!

Poppy caught a magpie last week, but it got away.  She dragged it into the hedge, and it shot out squeaking and squawking, followed by a rather embarrassed Poppy.  She doesn't appear to have tried to catch any since then.

It's hot inside, so I am off to find a cool spot.  I will be back next week and paws crossed, the weather will be a little cooler.  Before I go, please don't forget to take care of your animals in this heat:

Don't leave them in cars
Make sure they have plenty of water
Take dogs for their walk very early or late at night when it is cooler.

'See' you next week.

Milly

MILLY'S DIARY

Hello everyone

No sunshine here yet, but Jill says it is on its way, just overslept a bit.  The evenings are getting a little chilly now and although I stay outside in the sunshine as long as possible, I am glad to come inside for my tea and a snoozey evening.

I have been helping frogs travel around the garden this week - problem is Jill keeps taking them away and putting them back in the pond!  Doesn't she realise they like to travel?  Perhaps when it is too cold for me to be outside in the winter I could be a travel agent for wildlife?  How about Catford?  Kathmandu?  How exciting - as long as it doesn't turn into a catastrophe!

Jill and Richard have friends coming round for a BBQ this evening - I wonder if you can barbecue Whiskas Chicken?  Could be a whole new flavour range.  I have to help them with the housework today, so best sign off quick so I can disappear.

Don't forget that this coming Sunday (1 September) is The Gala Day at RSPCA Millbrook in Chobham.  If you are in the area, please go to this event and have a look at all of the lovely animals needing new homes and help them raise lots of money.  Even better, visit the Woking Cats Protection stand and find out about all the gorgeous cats and kittens needing new homes.  Jazz was adopted from the RSPCA Millbrook branch and Daisy, Coco, Poppy and I were adopted from the Woking Cats Protection - very special places and people to us.

Housework beckons!  Yeh, as if!!

have a good week everyone - I will be back next Wednesday.

Milly

MILLY'S DIARY

Hello everyone

I began this week's diary really early, then I got side-tracked!  I had planned to post almost as soon as I had eaten my breakfast, but everywhere outside looked so good that I just forget my diary and rushed out into the garden to play.  Jill has been doing lots of plant moving, so there is lots of lovely soft soil to dig up - even if all I do is dig a hole and walk away from it, it is good fun!

My fellow kittens (and cats of course) are so pleased Jill and Richard moved their wooden pond container because we now have a giant water bowl in the garden - they are so kind to us.  I wonder if any frogs will make their home in this pond??  It does have a lovely lily in the middle, or is that a lovely Milly?

Woking Cats Protection are having a stand at the RSPCA Millbrook Open Day on Sunday, 1 September and Jill will be helping out in the morning.  If you are going to the event, please visit the stand and Jill will be able to tell you how gorgeous I am - oh and she will also tell you about Jazz, Daisy, Coco and Poppy too.  There will be lots of photographs and information about the branch's cats and kittens that are looking for new homes, so please do go along and support them.

The garden is calling me, well the frogs, flies and butterflies are.  I will be back next week.  Enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend everyone.

Milly

MILLY'S DIARY

Hi everyone

Summer is here at last!  Woo hoo.  My black fur feels hot but my white fur is nice and cool.  I have been chasing lots of things this morning: damsel flies, butterflies and a bumble bee!  They all got away - better luck next time.

This is a photograph of me lounging on the garden table in between my 'chasing anything that flies' sessions - I did my bestest angelic look for Jill while she took the picture:

Jazz and Daisy are lounging a lot today as it is too warm for them - they are sooooo much older than me, so they need the rest.  Poor old souls.

One of Woking Cats Protection's lovely supporters is taking part in the Open Gardens Day event on Sunday, 23 June 2013 in support of the branch.  If you love gardens, do try to visit this one.  Lots of Cats Protection goodies will be on sale and you will get the chance to see photographs of the gorgeous cats needing homes.  You will be able to see photographs of Coco and Holly who are still looking for their forever home.

That's me blogged  for this week, the sunshine is too good to miss out on.  Enjoy the sunshine - I will be back next week with more 'tails' from Christmas Pie.

Milly

MILLY'S DIARY

Hello everyone

I missed posting last week - all because Jill was away and had taken her laptop with her!  Soooo inconsiderate, especially as I always have a lot to say for myself!

I have been busy sorting out the local wildlife - almost needless to say I am not very popular with Jill and Richard.  Mind you I think Jazz and Daisy are pretty impressed with my efforts.  Last week I caught a mole - Jill checked in her books and on the internet and yes, it definitely was a mole.  Today I caught a pigeon.  I was told that I looked pretty silly carrying a very large pigeon in my mouth because I kept tripping over it!  Being small is not always good when you are a kitten and I don't like being laughed at!

The weather has been pretty miserable here for the last few days, except in the evenings.  when the sun comes out, I rush outside and then rush back in because it starts to rain!  Someone keeps chattering on about it soon being the longest day - believe me every day is long when it rains and I cannot go outside!

We still have Coco and Holly with us - we thought we had someone interested, but it didn't work out.  My pal Badger Boo has written a lovely post about them this week - thank you Badger, paws crossed lots more people will want to come and meet them.  They are very friendly and love to play football and they sit on Jill's lap - and on Richard's computer keyboard!

I think I am up-to-date with my blogging now, and it has stopped raining so it's time to nip outside.  I will be back next Wednesday - have fun everyone.

Milly

MILLY'S DIARY

Hi everyone

I am so enjoying this gorgeous sunshine - it is lovely to be outside, running up trees, climbing on top of pergolas.

I got lost yesterday.  Well, I knew where I was but Jill and Richard didn't.  At tea time Jill called out 'Jazz, Daisy, Milly' - Jazz and Daisy rushed in but I didn't.  Everyone was walking around the garden calling my name (yes, even Jazz and Daisy), shaking our biscuit tin, looking in all the places I normally hide, but although I could hear them they couldn't hear or see me.  Jill and Richard were getting worried and checked the shed, summerhouse and the front garden - just in case.  An hour later I was still missing and Jill decided to check the garage - not checked before because nobody had seen me go in there when it was opened earlier in the day.  The side door of the garage opened, Jill looked in and called my name and I answered - I was so pleased to see her and told her next time anyone uses the garage, please check that I haven't nipped in there before the door is closed because I am a very nosey kitten.  I was so pleased to have been found and I purred for a long time - then I had my tea.

We will have two new foster kittens later today: Coco and Holly.  I haven't met them yet, but have seen the photographs of them on the Woking Cats Protection website and their coats look so different to mine.  Must find out which hairdresser they use.  They are only 6-months old, so a little younger than I am - Jill says they look gorgeous and she is sure they will be adopted very soon.

Trees, shed roofs and fences are calling me as they need to be climbed, so I am off out into the sunshine now.  Hope you all have a lovely sunny week and I will be back next week.

Mkilly

MILLY'S DIARY

Hello everyone

I have been outside!  Although I have snuck out a couple of times, this time it was legit.  So exciting, lots to see, sniff and chase.  Jazz and Daisy kept an eye on me to make sure I didn't go into unsafe places.  I did visit my neighbours on both sides.  Discovered lots of cats in one garden - should be good fun in the summer.

Jill took some photographs of me - sitting in her flower bed!

Henry is still with us and when I peeped in to tell him what I good time I was having, he wasn't impressed.

A short post from me today as I want to get back outside again.  Apparently from today onwards the weather is going to get warmer and by the end of next week the temperature will be around 18c.  Yipee.

Don't forget to visit the Woking Cats Protection website today and have a look at Gorgeous George.  He needs a home urgently and if you would like a grown-up cat, please get in touch with them.

Have a good week everyone - I will be back next week with more of my news.

Milly

MILLY'S DIARY

Hello everyone

At this very moment the sun is shining!  Amazing.  I thought it had forgotten how to shine and had decided to go away for the winter.

Henry is at the vets today for his chop and chip session.  I did wish him good luck because it wasn't too long ago that I had a stay at the vets for a similar operation.  I think I am getting used to him now and I do spend time looking at him through the glass door; he talks a lot which is good because I don't.  No chance with Jazz and Daisy around!

Jill has persuaded me to put a photograph of Henry on my blog post - so here he is:

He does have a white tip to his tail, but you can't really see it in this one.

Anyway, that's enough about Henry because I need to tell you about my adventure.  I haven't been out officially, but I did sneak out on Monday.  Jazz was on his way in and quick as a flash, I darted out of the open door.  I ran down to the bottom of the garden, over to the left, to the right, into the field at the bottom, behind the summer house and the greenhouse.  I had a great time.  Jill was calling me, rattling a bag of biscuits and tapping a food bowl - was I interested?  No, of course not.  However, my downfall came in the shape of a screwed- up paper football.  So embarrassing.   Jill threw it through the open kitchen doorway and I rushed in after it - I am a big football fan and I just had to chase this one.  I will go out again, but Jill and Richard have said it will be when it is warm enough to leave the back door open for me.  In the meantime you two, watch out, watch out, there is a Milly looking to get out.

One final thing before I get back onto the warm window sill, have a look at the Woking Cats Protection website and you will see some lovely news that lots of grown up cats have been adopted.  There are still more so if you are looking to home a cat rather than a kitten, please do have a look at the website - there is even one cheeky girl with my name.

I will be back next week with more news of my life in Christmas Pie.

Milly

MILLY'S DIARY

Hello everyone

What a chilly week!  Yesterday's wind nearly blew my whiskers off!  Well,  if I had been outside it would have done.  I did escape this morning though - Jazz was on his way in and I took the opportunity to nip out.  I didn't really know which way to go, so was very glad when Jill picked me up and took me back in.  She has said that when it is a bit warmer and I am a little bigger, then I will be able to go out - so exciting, I can hardly wait.

Now, what have I been doing since my last post?  I helped Jill with her accounts on Monday - she entered receipts onto the computer and I 'filed' the receipts for her.  I don't understand why putting them behind cushions, under pillows or in my food bowl is wrong.  She is always saying she could do with an assistant - well, here I am!

Jill has been getting ready for her pilot card-making workshop this Thursday - I have helped, but again my assistance has not been welcomed.  Jill puts something on one pile and, tidy-minded kitten that I am, I  move it to another pile where it looks much better.  You just cannot help some people, can you?

I have had a busy morning helping Jill, playing with Jazz, chasing Daisy, throwing my furry mice around, so I think a snooze is needed.  Yes, I know I snooze a lot, but I am only a little kitten and kittens get tired easily.  Before I nod off though I will have a quick look at the Woking Cats Protection website - I like to check out the cats needing new homes and read their stories.

See you next week

Milly

MILLY'S DIARY

Hello everyone

Jill is writing my diary today because she claims she knows the full story.  As if!

I woke in the early hours of Monday morning to crash, bang, thump, etc and thought 'oh, only Milly playing with her toys'.  Dropped off to sleep, but woken up again a little later as the noise was continuing - Jazz and Daisy were sound asleep, so clearly nothing to do with them.  I got up to find Milly 'playing' with a mouse - a real one!  Luckily it had departed this world already, but the question was (and still is) where did it come from?

Milly has not been outside yet, Jazz catches things but tends not to bring them inside (well, he tries to) and Daisy restricts her catches to flies, spiders and butterflies!  Yes, I know cats can be disgusting, but how can you change the habits of history.  With three cats in the house, it seems impossible to think this mouse has been living here.

Sunday was a gorgeous, sunny day and we think that as we had the back door open during the day (Milly tucked away elsewhere) that one either nipped in to get away from the many cats who live around here, or Jazz did indeed bring one in and it got away from him.

Just before 3.00 am on Monday morning saw me sweeping up said mouse and nipping out into the garden (it was very, very cold) to dispose of him (or her).  What did Milly do next?  Went to sleep!

Milly will be back next week with her diary - hopefully mouse-free.

Jill

MILLY'S DIARY

Hi everyone

I know we shouldn't wish time away, but I am glad January is whizzing by coz in the spring time I am going to be let loose into an unsuspecting world.  By that I mean I am going to be let out into my garden.  I look at it out of the window and so far I haven't been too keen to go outside, but I am sure there are lots of places to explore and lots of wonderful things to collect and bring inside.

My 'borrowing' is still continuing; when Jill tried to put her boots on on Saturday, she found it a little difficult as I had hidden a pack of Richard's cigarette papers in the toe!  He just isn't getting the message that he should give up smoking!  I won't give up and Jill will just have to remember to check her boots in future before she puts them on.  I do occasionally get into Richard's sock drawer if he leaves it open - bundled up socks look rather like big mice.  Mind you chances to borrow things are getting less and less as they get wise to me - spoil-sports.

I am really well settled in here now and although we have a few 'discussions' I think Daisy is beginning to realise 'I aint going' nowhere'.  I love Jazz, he is my best friend - don't think he sees me in the same way though, but I can hope - and as you can see in this pic I like to cuddle up with him for a nap after a hard day's play:

I am off for my mid-morning snooze now, but I will be back next week.  Have fun everyone -
I will.

Milly

MILLY'S DIARY - WEEK ONE

Hi everyone

I have just been called a kleptomaniac!!  Is that the way to treat a new kitten that has moved into your home?  Okay, okay, I have collected a few things since moving in: a carrier bag, a scarf, a pen, a sock - plus lots of other things that my new family know nothing about!  But name-calling is not something I expected and surely they realise that I was only collecting things I need to go shopping with!

Yesterday I celebrated being here for four weeks - but only one week has been as a 'proper' family member and I can honestly say I am loving my new life.  Good food, plenty of warm places to sleep, two humans who think I am wonderful, lots of lovely toys and a very snug igloo that I have to battle Daisy with to occupy.

I now live with two grown-up cats, Daisy and Jazz.  They are both four years old and I love Jazz, I follow him around, play with him (but he does occasionally bop me when I get too playful) and I curl up with him on the sofa each evening.  Not so sure about Daisy yet, don't think she is very keen on me but I am sure I will win her over.

My first week has been spent exploring everywhere because being in a home is brand new to me and as you can imagine there are lots of exciting places to check out.  I have discovered there is so much fun to be had here: climbing curtains is wonderful, getting into cupboards and drawers is great fun as is throwing the contents out on to the floor.  Computers are incredible - things keep moving across the screen and I try to catch them, no success yet, but I won't give up.  The keyboard is great fun too as is sitting on the iPad screen!  That one doesn't seem popular with Jill who claims she is working!  Doesn't look like work to me!

I think I need a snooze.  I am only 17 weeks old and get tired quickly, but I will be back next week with more tales of my new life and also some photographs.

Milly

KITTENS, KITTENS AND MORE KITTENS

Hi everyone

My mid-week post is kitten-related.  As you know I am a Cats Protection Volunteer and over the last few months I have helped out with trapping, fostering, taking kits to the vest for their jabs as well as visiting and feeding kittens in a pen when their 'foster-person' was on holiday.  I really enjoy it and am glad I am able to contribute to an organisation that does so much for cats and kittens.

My lovely Jasper and Wallace went to their new homes yesterday and their places have been filled by Millie, Daisy (second Daisy in our home) and Spot.  Here are the photographs of them (together with more information) on the Woking Cats Protection website:

Spot's coat is gorgeous: apricot and grey

Millie loves to play with anything and everything she can find

Daisy has really beautiful eyes

Daisy and Milly are sisters, even though one (Daisy) has long hair and Milly has short hair.  They have almost identical marks around their noses, which don't really show up in the photographs.  Spot has people coming to see her on Friday so I am hopeful that by the time I write my next post, she will be homed or about to be homed.  

Originally my post today was going to be about two gorgeous boys who are desperate for a new home for their first Christmas, so if you are able to give them a home or know someone who who is looking to adopt two lovely kittens, please do contact the Woking Cats Protection branch.  The two handsome fellows I am talking about are Chaplin and Harley:

They are so lovely and you can read about them by clicking on the link in their names above their picture.  These two were abandoned with their mum, so I am sure you agree they deserve a good home.  I love the markings on their chins.

Please check out the Woking Cats Protection website for details of how to support them, events they are taking part in and other information for cat-owners.

I will be back on Sunday with my usual main post, full of details of how I got on at the Secretts Christmas Fair.  My last guest blogger for this year will be here on Friday, so do come back and read another great post.  Enjoy the rest of the week everyone.

Jill

WALL-TO-WALL CRAFTING

Hi everyone

Lots of gorgeous sunshine here - hope it stays around for a few more days.

So far this week my days (and evenings) have been filled with making stock for next week's 3-day event, playing with the kittens and Jazz and Daisy, of course, as well as still trying to plough through and dispose of the loads of 'stuff' we (more me I think) have accumulated over the years and not used.  Local charities and the book bank have benefited from the massive book re-distribution that has taken place over the last couple of weeks - as well as neighbours who have acquired a lot of reading material to see them through the winter.  I find it very hard to part with things, as there will always be a need for them some time in the future (a habit I am trying to break - not successfully though).

I have a Christmas wreath order, gift tags to make and I have had three card orders this week - busy times ahead and time permitting, I will be making more wreaths for next week's event.  The difficult decision is what are priority makes for the event?  Given the nature of the event, I know lots of variety is needed and although my main 'makes' are cards, I feel that some of my other items need to be available too.  I am planning, but it is a the bottom of my list, to have some candles at the event but this will depend on available time.

I also need to bear in mind that I have another event the following weekend, and there are three days in the preceding week when I am not able to make anything due to other commitments.  Although I am sure I will have stock available, I would also like some new items just for that particular event.  I need a few 48-hour days I think.

Pottery tomorrow and I am hoping to be able to biscuit-fire my candle holder and my mask.  I need to also think about other things to make while the firing is taking place.  Perhaps more jewellery.

Back to work now, but a cup of coffee first I think.  Don't forget to come back on Friday to see this week's guest blogger's post.  I will be back on Sunday with my main post.  I hope you enjoy the rest of the week everyone.

Jill

WINTER HAS ARRIVED - ROLL ON SUMMER

Hello everyone

I know colder weather had been forecast for Friday, but it still came as a bit of a shock.  So far no frost in Christmas Pie, but very cold.  In certain areas of our garden that are protected from cold winds, there are still some summer flowers blooming - hanging on until the last possible moment before they give up until summer.

Have you read my latest guest blogger's post?  It is mouth-wateringly good and just look at the pics of those cakes and cookies.  Thank you Mrs Crafty B, it is a great post.

This week has been busy - my first Christmas event is on 3 November and I am working to ensure I have a good variety of stock.  I have done this event before and it has always been good - perhaps helped because it is based opposite a Waitrose supermarket with free car parking for 2 hours?  I started to make some snow-globe cards this week and hope to have a few ready for next Saturday.  No cards to show really as I have been making and packing as I go, so my 'make of the day' is some more of my pottery work:

This is a half-circle tall candle holder made of porcelain.  The pattern is from a piece of embossed wall-paper and I cut the top to the shape of the pattern and then pierced holes all over following the design.  It is currently 'drying' and will be biscuit-fired the week following half-term (next week).  I haven't decided on the colour yet, but definitely something very glossy.

I haven't completely finished the wreath I displayed last week - I changed the embellishment from red velvet ribbon flowers to white roses.  The colour difference is more striking, but I haven't completely forgotten the red velvet flowers and they will appear on another wreath.

It's a good time to visit this week's Handmade Monday post to see other great blogger's work as I bet there will be lots of lovely Christmassy things to read about.

Following the Wedding Fayre I attended recently, I checked out one that was taking place the following week very near to where I live.  I emailed the organiser asking if they had spaces and what the price was.  They asked me to ring, which I did but the price was outside of my budget.  I told them this and they immediately reduced it by £25.  Still too high and they said 'well it is going to be a good event'.  Ten minutes later I received an email reducing the fee by a further £25!  I replied stating this was still outside of my budget (which it was, it wasn't me applying any stall price-reduction tactics) and they responded dropping the price to nearly half the original cost!  I couldn't decide whether this was a genuine offer to help a small business or a desperate plea because the 'two spaces left' really had a zero after the two.  I didn't do the event and felt sorry for anyone that had paid the full price if others came along later in the pre-event stages and paid considerably less.  I know it is possible to negotiate (sometimes) the prices of stall rental, but how fair is it on others?

I placed an advertisement with Adgo - I used this to specifically promote my wedding stationery.  If you place one of Adgo's banners on your blog or website, your advertisement is permanently free - how could I refuse?  Thank you Adgo.

Outside of my crafty world

The other side of my crafty world has been sociable this week.  I spent Wednesday helping a friend with her website - embarrassing really as I am still slowly, very slowly working on mine.  I am trying to convince her of the value of a blog, but not succeeding so far.  I am also encouraging her to use Twitter more to promote her work and the events she is taking part in.  As we live is a world that thrives on social media, I feel every opportunity should be taken to use them to support a small business.  I know my friend's priority is her website, so I am sure once that is up and running everything else will follow.

I helped out at the Woking Cats Protection Christmas Fayre yesterday and it was a great success.  Lots of visitors who contributed to making it a great fayre and help raise much-needed funds.  I won a prize in the tombola and bought some cat nip twists for Jazz and Daisy and the kittens: Jasper and Wallace, who are still with me.  They are progressing very slowly - no longer spitting, purring more and hissing less, but still a little nervous.  They are off to the vets on Tuesday for their first jabs and to be chipped.

I hope you have managed to read my post about National Black Cats Day?  Three gorgeous black kittens waiting for new homes - have a look at their pictures on the website.

I met up with friends for a meal on Friday - we re-visited a restaurant we had been to before, but sadly it wasn't as good this time.  The service was poor, food not very hot and does it really take 15 minutes to make/serve a cup of coffee?    One off of the list for either future visits or recommendations.

A day of kittens and cards beckons.  Don't forget to come back for my mid-week post.  At the moment I don't have a guest blogger for this week, so if anyone would like to have a guest blog spot, please let me know (christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com).

Have a good week everyone

Jill

TO COMMENT OR NOT TO COMMENT

Hi everyone

What grim, grey weather it has been so far this week.  Just waiting for the BIG drop in temperature we have been promised for later this week.

All bloggers know that it is lovely to get comments on their posts - not only does it enable people to share in our blog, but it gives us much-valued feedback too.  This is always very welcome - as long as they are friendly, positive and/or helpful comments that is.  I had a comment left recently that inferred that my kitten fostering activities give the impression that I have 'gone senile bringing in all the waifs and strays' (I should add that this was in the context of my cats, Jazz and Daisy, supposedly feeling this way).  A humorous remark?  Perhaps I have over-reacted and I am sure many of you will feel that I did, but I didn't find it funny and I haven't published the comment.

Once blogs and their comments are published, they are open to anyone and everyone to read.  Therefore my recommendation is think carefully before you post a comment that may reflect on you rather than the blog post you are commenting on.

Still  in a cat frame of mind, I am posting my first Thursday cat-related blog post tomorrow, so please do drop in and don't forget to come back on Friday to meet my guest blogger.

Jill

IS IT REALLY ONLY 65 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS?

Hello everyone

65 days left to get everything ready for events, orders and our own Christmas!  Am I panicking?  Of course not!!  Calm, collected and running around like a headless chicken not sure what job to start first, and often not starting any because of dithering too long about which one is the most urgent.

A hectic week - seems to be the norm at the moment.  I spent Monday helping a friend set up/sort out her spreadsheets for her business - not long in business and wanted to ensure she had the break-even calculations set up correctly.

Around numerous other non-crafty activities, I managed to make lots and lots of mini-cards.  I now have two ranges: 3" x 3" and 4" x 4".  Very easy to make and a whole variety covering Christmas and all other events that occur throughout the year, including birthdays. They always sell well at events and I want to ensure that I have plenty of stock for the ones I am taking part in in November - especially the 3-day event I am doing when I want to be able to move stock around so it looks as though each day has a brand new basket-full of mini-cards.

As well as mini-cards, my makes these week have involved ribbon.  I love ribbon, I can never have enough of it and buy it even if I don't have a use in mind - yes, I am a ribbon addict!  This addiction is not helped by my ribbon supplier often having offers of a discount of 25% off all stock and that means more ribbon arrives at Christmas Pie Crafts.  Lovely great big 50 metre rolls of the stuff.  However, I am not a complete nut-case, I am making inroads into my stock and this week I decided on a different type of wreath/wall-hanging made of Black Watch tartan ribbon and here it is in it's nearly finished state (unfortunately, I discovered my camera's battery is as flat as a pancake so I used my iPhone, which seems to have turned the Black Watch tartan blue!):

I bound the ring with the ribbon and I am in the process of making red velvet roses to attach to it - guess what they are made of? Yep, that's it, ribbon!

That's my confession over for the week, but I bet that if you visit the other participants in this week's Handmade Harbour blogging event you will find more addicts - craft addicts that is creating beautiful things and writing great blog posts.

Before I leave my crafty bit of blogging, don't forget to read this week's guest post from Claire of Lady Luck Jewellery - it's all about the good, the bad and the ugly of craft fairs.   It is a great insight into craft fairs from both an organiser's viewpoint as well as that of a stall holder.  Many thanks for being a guest blogger Claire, I really enjoyed your post.

The Other Me

As well as the crafting me, the other me has been busy this week with kittens.  Monkey and Damon went to their new home on Thursday.  As always, it was hard to see them go, but more so this time because Monkey was such an affectionate kitten; you sat down, and so did he - on your lap, neck, shoulder, anywhere he could get to.  I know they will have lovely lives and that is the important thing.

I now have Jasper and Wallace, two little ginger boy kittens aged 7 weeks.  They are very nervous, Wallace more so and although you can stroke them, picking them up to cuddle is not easy - they wriggle a lot.  I feel this is going to be a challenge and I will let you know how things go over the next week or so.  Here is a photograph off them; they are not as keen on having their picture taken as Monkey and Damon were:

Jazz, as always, is fascinated by them and what is very interesting is that Jasper appears to like Jazz as he purrs when he is near by.  Daisy looks at them with a 'oh, no, not another lot' look on her face.

In my pottery sessions I have added ears and hair to my mask.  I have decided it is going to be as you saw last week, not blending the features into the face.  Perhaps this can be my practice mask and the next one will be the 'real' thing.  The hair is not quite hair, but looks (to me) like the top of an acorn, so Mr Acorn it could well be.  I made another pendant this week, but no earrings; I planning on using a shiny black glaze this time, with some 'rubbed out areas to give depth'.  I do enjoy the course and I am really glad I made the decision to join last term and book both morning and afternoon sessions this term.  Hard to believe we are already half-way through this term and I know the weeks after the half-term break will whizz by even faster than the first half.

Time to get back to my ribbons - so many ribbons, so little time to enjoy them.  Before I forget, this week's funny keyword search terms are 'tellero' (er, how did the searcher end up on my blog??) and 'christmas wrapping ribbon'.

Have a great week, don't forget to come back on Wednesday for my mid-week post and Friday for my guest blogger.  I haven't forgotten that I mentioned I will be starting a cat-related blog post on Thursdays, but will be leaving that for a week or so.

Jill

WWW: WET, WINDY, WEDNESDAY

Hello everyone

Awoke this morning to heavy rain, dark skies and trees being thrashed about by heavy winds.  A big improvement since then: no wind, no rain, some sunshine.  Fingers crossed for weather today similar to yesterday's.  I know it is a long, long time ago, but I recall one very bad windy night in October, which I am sure everyone one does, when we woke to no power, trees down in the garden as well as a chimney stack!  Overhead power cables mean we are prone to lots of cuts and in the Big Storm we were without power for 2 weeks - it wasn't not much fun and romantic though candle-light is after a few days it began to get a bit boring.  Would prefer to give it miss please Mr Weather-Man.

I hope you like the falling leaves on my blog - I understand that on some people's computers the screen appears to be juddering.  I promise it is not the falling leaves causing that - I have checked on two different platforms and on my PC it is fine, but on my iPad it judders.  So I am guessing it doesn't like some systems.

Monkey and Damon have been adopted - I am so pleased for them, but will miss them very much.  I took them to the vets this morning for a check-up, first inoculation and micro-chipping.  They are all  ready to go and their homing may take place tomorrow.  Damon whinged all the way to the vet's, but settled down and snoozed on the way home - they clearly knew where they were going.  Monkey couldn't get a meow in edge-ways!

The highlight of my day so far has been a email offering me 25% of £28.5 million if I hand over my bank accounts details!  Hard to refuse isn't it!  The worrying thing is that I am sure there are some people so desperate that they do fall for these emails.

A mini-mid-week-post today, off to try to get some more de-cluttering done.  The problem is it is going so slowly that by the time I get back to it a whole new pile of stuff to de-clutter has appeared.  One step forward and quite a few backwards.  I wonder if Jazz and Daisy are moving things around?

Or perhaps a cup of coffee while I plan what I am going to do with £7 million would be a good idea.

Enjoy the rest of the week everyone, don't forget to come back on Friday to meet this week's guest blogger.

Talking of guest bloggers, it is the 11th birthday today of one of my favourite bloggers: Badger Boo.  He is having BIG celebrations on his Facebook page, so why not drop in and wish him many happy returns of the day?

Jill

A TALE OF TWO KITTIES

Hi everyone

While it is not normal in my home to have four cats, at the moment I do.  Jazz and Daisy and my two little lodgers, who (oh dear) are going to their new home today.  Even though they have only been here for a few days, I will miss them - they have been such great fun to have here.  I hope the closeness that they demonstrate goes on throughout their adult life, because at the moment they clearly love each other.  They sleep cuddled up, they play (OK, they occasionally thump each other, but it is kitten play-fighting) together and share each others food.  Watching their antics has been very off-putting where my work has been concerned, but considerably better than what is currently on the television.

They are off to the vet's this morning for a health check, first jab and to be chipped and from there they are going on to their new home.  As difficult as it will be to say 'goodbye' to them, I am so glad they have a new home - so this morning was spent packing their little suitcases, collecting their cage and pen and putting them in my car and off to the vets we went.  But all is not lost, on Thursday afternoon I will be collecting Ash and Micro; two more gorgeous kittens who need some TLC while their fosterer goes on holiday.

Yesterday Daisy nipped indoors with a mouse, dropped it in the lounge and then wandered off!  Why do cats do this?  Do we look hungry?  In need of fresh meat?  Or is this payback for bringing two kittens into our home - she isn't so keen on them.  I think that what goes through her mind each time she sees them is 'I had four like you once and that was enough, so don't think I am going to look after you as I have enough on my paws looking after Jazz!'  Not much mothering instinct there.

To round off the tale of two kitties, I homed two kittens yesterday!  My neighbour, who as I have mentioned in other posts, loves black cats, is going to adopt two little black girls from Woking Cats Protection.  They are very nervous - poor little things were abandoned when very young (they are six months old now).  So very soon two new kittens will be moving in with Diva, Shadow and Trio.

Enjoy the rest of the week everyone.  Don't forget to come back on Friday for my guest blog post and I will be posting my usual bumper scribblings on Sunday.

Jill