Friday roundup and of course some kitten photos too.

 I can't remember who was asking, but the header photo was one I took last Friday on the way to pick up the kittens.  It's of the Towy Valley near Carmarthen, where there are meanders of river and flooding by Dryslwyn Castle.  Here's another, of the castle ruins.

Not a great deal happening this week, apart from kitten cuddling.  My breathing hasn't been good (I think it's from having the carpets cleaned - there was an ammonia smell for several days when I came down in the morning.)  I sprayed the carpets with 50/50 water and white vinegar to neutralize it and had my air purifier on in both rooms. I am better today - kittens were brought upstairs and their crate put in Tam's bedroom.  

Before the kittens arrived, I finally got to finish sewing the rose x-stitch I bought when I visited Mottisfont with my best friend Tricia a few months before she died.  That would be 6 years ago now.  I will get it framed and on the wall with my other stitched pieces.  

I have been baking cakes today - one for friends, and one for visitors.  Lemon Drizzle and Dorset Apple Cake respectively.  Busy last week making jars of jellies: 

This was so high in pectin it was setting in the pan as I was ladling it out!

Both jellies almost free - just the cost of sugar and a quick heating.  Apples from friend Pam, Blackberries picked locally, and Crabapples from Tam.

I heard loud cat yowling outside this morning, and got out there in time to see L. Whale and young black and white tom from the farm up the hill, having a stand-off.  I tried to break it up by shouting and running towards them but L. Whale decided he wanted this young whippersnapper off his property and leapt into action.  Oh goodness, he was twice (or three) times the size of the young tom and there was fluff going everywhere.  The young cat ran off, with L. Whale in hot pursuit.  I don't think we'll see him again in a while.

Meanwhile, the two little horrors have started climbing up the blanket over the crate and found where their food lives and were trying to get into the open sachet.  They have terrific appetites, and would have a dozen meals a day, let alone the four they are getting.

I have renamed Scallywag.  Called her Lulu instead (after the 1920s song which talks about don't bring anyone "wild and woolly"!)  "You can bring Pearl, she's a darn nice girl, but don't bring Lulu".

Note the long-suffering Ghengis in the background.  He doesn't mind them at all, even when they bite his tail!  He just pulls a put-upon face.

After each other's tails.

Some Zzzzzzzzzzzzs with G. Uncle Ghengis.

Do you want a close up?

Stand-off!

I am still having to be very careful that they aren't in the same room as either of the big boys, who really don't like them and due to their size, are quite capable of harming them if they wish.  I don't think L. Whale would - he has been running away until yesterday, but now he hisses nastily.  His brother, Alfie, is probably one to watch more as he is a prolific catcher of baby rabbits and the kittens are baby rabbit size.  He also hisses and spits.  Hoping it will all calm down soon but for the moment, my nerves are plucked ragged!  I didn't expect this reaction.

A nice week with family here - Gabby yesterday, who was enchanted by the new additions, and Tam arrives tomorrow to stay over.   Next weekend it's Danny and his girlfriend and her little girl.  We are meeting them for the first time.

Right, this won't do.  Have a lovely weekend.

Kitten update

 

Scally goes to see Keith.

No holds barred . . .

Smelly slippers are fun.

Up and down the stairs.

And generally being wicked. . .

St Mary's Church, Fownhope

 

Fownhope is on the far side of Hereford.  Some years ago we viewed a nice cottage on the edge of the village, with lovely views of orchards, but the layout wasn't right and the approach was steeply down a garden and no external storage.  

        The church here has a central Norman tower with a shingled broach spire, and one Norman N window.

This font dates from 1670, and there is a later one which I overlooked completely.

This wonderful mid 12th C tympanum used to be over the door outside, but was brought in and unfortunately placed beneath a window, where the lighting made clear photography difficult.

It is dedicated to the Virgin, who sits with one hand up (take my word for it!) Can I just say at this point that words are going to be brief as I have not one, but two kittens draped around my neck!!

The draperies have close parallels with those used by the Herefordshire School of Sculpture (which is why I wanted to see this).  I will add some more details later when I am not a kitten playground :)

It would seem that the Lechmeres were the local family with a lot of influence in the parish, as you can tell from the monuments.

Gilded bosses high in the roof.

Only fragments of early stained glass remain.

This tickled me.  It appears to have been the parish chest (and an early one at that) which was tidied away up in the Belfry at the time of the Civil War.  335 years later it was brought back down again!  I'd like to have been a fly on the wall when that idea was first mooted!

I hope you can read all these.  All I can say is, I bet it came down a darn sight easier than it went up!!

Isn't this lovely?  Such a lot of work went into this.

Joanna Lechmere's incised slab, 1692.  A most unusual combination of letterings and drawings.  I've not seen anything like this elsewhere.

Out in the churchyard, this very  unusual tomb.  Backlater with more words and kitten photos - currently have Pip crawling right round my neck using her claws for balance! TCP is the new eau-de-cologne here!

I am now a climbing frame!

 

Please let us out of jail!  The little black and white one is a girl, the runt of the litter.  She has a Voice and has been called Pipsqueak.  (Full title Pippi Longstockings, as she has completely white legs).  The obviously half-Siamese one is currently called Scallywag (named by Keith).  I think it may be a boy, but lots of "bum-fluff" precludes a definitive gender ID.  Either way, they are SO much fun, but I seem to have become a climbing frame and they scoot up my legs - esp. Scally, and so I fear for my nice living room curtains!  I shall have to try and get the linings outwards when they're not pulled.  I think the Christmas tree will need to be very well secured this year or hung upside down from the ceiling!

I'm WICKED!!  Mum has passed on her bib and white paws.

Playing, not sleeping!  When they are out they are hurtling up and down, either the carpet or my legs, dangling from apron strings, and playfighting.  I had forgotten how kittens did the "I'm BIG" on tippytoes, with arched backs, flagpole tails and head on one side :)

You can just make out the slight tabby markings in the coat.  When the 3 obviously half-Siamese ones were tiny they were all cream with darker cream stripes.

I think you are going to soon tire of kitten photos!  I keep trying to get one of them fighting, but they move so quickly.

The 3 old boys are not impressed. Only Ghengis has met them when they are loose, and he clearly thinks, I'm too old for all this tomfoolery!  Alfie spat and hissed at them, and L. Whale ran away and won't eat in the same room now . . .  The crate is just a temporary affair, but I am very glad to Tam's partner for loaning it to me.

Enjoy your weekend.

It's KITTEN time!

 

I went to see the kittens today, and chose which ones were coming home with me.  I had a choice of three, two already being spoken for.  You will have to wait until tomorrow to see which ones are now in a puppy crate in my kitchen (and have already wasted hours of my day being entertaining as they explored the kitchen!!) They are ADORABLE and I am SO happy.

This is mum, who arrived as a stray, but is now in a very loving home.  Dad, we assume, was a Siamese . . .