A Stressful Morning

 

Here are the babies, sleeping off the trauma of their first vaccinations.  Oh poor little ones, I knew it was for the best, but they encountered pain and fear for the first time, and I was immediately taken back to my last visit to the vet's, when I had to make the decision to have Theo pts then and there, and had to deal with that experience with him, as we waited - and waited - for the initial anaethstetic to work, and it never did, although they left us for 20 minutes.  I tried not to cry as it all came back.  Pippi seemed to cope with it better than Lulu, who really shut down when she went back into the carrier.  I popped them into their new snuggle-bed and they have slept several hours.  Pippi has just come out to see what has happened to the catering arrangements . . .  I will be so glad when they are their normal bouncy warp-speed selves again.  An appetite will do for now though! Ghengis has appointed himself as Chief Comfort Cat and is sat at my left elbow, hoping that food is going to be dished out all round and not just to babies!

We have had some foggy days recently, and rainy ones, and sunshine breaking through and then river mist moving up.  Here is one of the latte afternoons, looking across to the Quarry - you'll have to take my word it is there.

The door to nowhere is showing some of the pretty autumn leaves at the moment.

Although the Copper Beach at the end of the front triangle paddock has lost all its leaves in the past month, the two ordinary beeches in the garden are only just changing colour and dropping leaves.

Upstairs views across the woodland.

Across the orchard paddock.  The sun was bringing a beautiful soft gleaming light through the trees yesterday, highlighting the hillside beyond.

A rather blurry picture looking through the half-landing window.  You get the general idea.

I have wrapped all the presents I have bought so far -did half of them this morning.  I've ordered a couple more, and ordered a new kettle.  Despite paying over £40 for the last one it only lasted not quite 16 mths.  I have asked Keith for jeans and a new bra for Christmas (things I need) but am a little stuck on what to get him as I know the kids have most options already cornered! I think I may buy him a few months of Audible membership, to see if it suits him, as I know he finds it hard to sit and read for any length of time as it hurts his neck. That and some Mead (which he loves and helps him get to sleep at the moment) and dark chocolate-covered ginger.

I have decided to make a Christmas cake this year - something I've not done since my mum died.  Only she and I would eat it and Keith would force a sliver down (fattening!), but this year we have an extended family get-together and it seems apt.  Must get some Glace Cherries.

I have been listening to Radio 4's dramatisation "The Witch Farm" - Heol Fanog, near Brecon.  It is quite gripping.  I've caught up as far as I can get (one episode to go) so have been listening to another production by the same chap, Danny Robins, "Uncanny".  Now I no longer live in a haunted house, I can cope with this!  Anyone else been following them.  Uncanny is from the summer, and I'm on my first taster of it.  More episodes to come.