A wee cutie...

...came visiting in the last couple of weeks.

Isn't she sweet? 

That's how we first saw her at our place, 

peeping out from under the car.

She was born around the Christmas/New Year period, 

and we saw her when she was only a few weeks old. 

Her mother brought her and her brother/sister out

 to play in the sun in the next door neighbours yard.

Then they disappeared. 

About a fortnight ago she plucked up the courage 

to come onto our back steps and eat the scraps

 our Claude had left.

No sign of Mum or the other kitten.

This is how she looked, 

all head and a scrawny little body.
A real little bag of bones.

A little scrap of life and very timid.

Claude was very good, 
sometimes he even let her eat first, 

so we decided she must be a girl.

We didn't think he would tolerate 

a young tom cat quite so well.

We started to feed her, Claude disciplined her 

a couple of times when she still tried to get 

his tucker first, but he never hurt her.

Today it was time to take her to the SPCA 

so she could get a new home.

This is how she looked after a couple of weeks of good tucker,

still a little bit thin but much filled out,

letting us pick her up and pet her.

I was a bit sad to leave her behind 

but she'll be well looked after, have all her shots, 

be desexed etc before she is sold

 to someone who'll love her. 

And we definitely do not want

 (or need) 

another kitten, no matter how cute.

I hope you are all enjoying a lovely Easter,

Diana

A poem for Palm Sunday.

 The Donkey

by G. K. Chesterton

When fishes flew and forests walked

And figs grew upon thorn,

Some moment when the moon was blood

Then surely I was born.

With monstrous head and sickening cry 

And ears like errant wings,

The devil's walking parody 

On all four footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth, 

Of ancient crooked will;

Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb, 

I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;

One far fierce hour and sweet:

There was a shout about my ears, 

And palms before my feet.

Blessings to all as we head into Holy Week.

Diana

St. Paddy's Day

I remember as a child quite a fuss 

being made about St Patrick's Day.

Especially about wearing something green.

Grandad especially used to have us on about it,

 just in a joking sort of way.

Maybe it's because we lived in what I always

 think of as the catholic part of town.

There was always a St Patrick's Day concert in 

the evening in the school hall which was just down the road,

 alongside the schools, the church,

 the convent and the Marist brothers.

We were one of three protestant families in the street 

but no-one cared, least of all the kids.

So tomorrow I will wear a little piece o' green...

and remember St Patrick, and  my Grandad...

 and think a little of my childhood days.

A happy St. Paddy's Day to you all.

Diana

Just a little bit spoilt...

...that's how I'm feeling today.

I'll show you why.

I arrived home on Monday to find this

 pamper basket on the doorstep,

 a birthday gift from my eldest grandson.

It is filled with bath time smellies 

and creams and soaps and such. 

 He knows I love to relax in the bath.

It was all tied up with a lovely little posy of flowers.

Then today as we were finishing tea

 there was a knock at the door, 

and my GKB walked back inside carrying this -

 

- a lovely bouquet of flowers from 

 his boss, who apologised for it being late.

Totally unexpected.

Wasn't that a lovely thing to do?

With the book and necklace, from daughters,  

and phone call from Japan 

plus the family barbecue last weekend,

 I'm feeling very spoilt.

Have a great week everyone,

Diana

A birthday on 'Girls Day'

March 3rd is Hina Matsuri or Doll Festival in Japan. 

It is also known as Girls Day. 

My daughter in law, who lives in Japan, 

was excited to find out it is also my birthday.

The Japanese Hina dolls  are very formal.

photo taken from Wikipedia page showing Hina Dolls
displayed in a store in Los Angeles. 

The dolls at the top represent the Emperor and the Empress.

In all there are seven tiers,

each one ranking lower than the one above.

I thought I'd show you a couple of my dolls.

They're both porcelain and quite different.

This elegant lady, dressed for the snow,

was given to me a few years back 

for Christmas by one of my daughters 

and her family. Isn't she gorgeous?

It's a pity the colours don't show up well,

 the dress is a beautiful emerald green 

with gold snowflakes.

And this wee sweetie...

...dressed in a pink petticoat and ribbons and lace,

would be all of four inches high,

 if she could stand.

She was also given to me for Christmas

by a friend and workmate several years ago.

I have more dolls but I'll show them to you another day.

wishing you all the best 

in the days ahead,

Diana