Translate

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Cats, chickens, face masks, and puzzles

I laughed when I read this poster...

Thinking about the number of black cats that were in our yard lying in the sun this morning... 6 - I believe. One we call BK (Barbeque Kitten) that jumps on top of the barbeque pit to look into the kitchen window and watch me wash dishes. I was spraying water at him this morning... and he jumps when the sprinkle hits the window... then comes back for more.

We also have a cat toy on the patio... one of those 3 tiered things that have balls that roll around. They love this and sometimes 3 of them can be found playing with it at one time. 


this pic is off Pinterest, but great pic


****************************************************************************


Well, I'm back to making face masks and Cheeky Chickens this week... and thinking about starting to play around with watercolor. It's been a while since I've attempted any sketching or painting - but maybe it's time to start. 


new face masks


new Cheeky Chickens


I read somewhere recently how a blogger finds doing housework a good way to pass the time and relieve stress. I can see this... to a point. Washing dishes and watching the cats' antics from the kitchen window is relaxing. Ironing can be also... but dusting, mopping, or vacuuming - not so much.

I do find sculpting with my clay relaxing, also reading or writing, and even a bit of sewing as long as it's not complicated... and baking!  (Now I want to finish this and go bake something - maybe brownies with Peanut Butter and some sea salt sprinkled on top).

But before I go I need to mention 2 things: 

First is a strange phenomenon (maybe not strange, but odd to us). DH made sweet tea a few weeks ago and when he does this, he picks the mint we have growing out front to use in it. This time he picked more than he could use and it smelled so good, I hated to throw the excess away... so I stuck it in a little pottery vase and put it in the frig. Well, believe it or not, that little sprig of mint still looks as fresh as a daisy... it amazes us every time we open the door. We had no idea that mint could last this long.




And second,  we finished another cat puzzle. This one was cat books and was fun to put together as I've read many of these books.


Feline Tales Puzzle Box

Feline Tales puzzle complete


and the next puzzle awaits...





OK, that's it. Thinking about those brownies now...  Hope you all have a wonderful safe sunny weekend! 


Hugs, (virtual)

Rian








20 comments:

  1. I had to laugh at Barbecue Kitten, that's too sweet (what he does -and- the name). Um, I love that big feline puzzle too! Well Rian, I'm not the cat person you seem to be but lately I've been watching kitten videos on Youtube, now I'm trying to break the habit before I run out and get one of my own. Anyway, I've ALSO been doing baking to pass the time and when you live alone... (I am patting my stomach.) I hope the rest of your weekend is a good one :^)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is nothing like a cat/kitten to make you laugh. I mean puppies and dogs can do this also and I love them all, but we've always had cats/kittens. As for the baking... well, it's not only that it tastes good, but it fills the house with a great aroma and it's kind of comforting when so much weirdness is going on.

      Delete
  2. I don't have a cat myself right now (not allowed in our apartment complex) but I too watch kitten videos and really enjoy watching them play. It's very soothing during these trying times. I'm so glad you have those ferals to watch, and that cat toy seems to be the latest cool thing to have. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is nice to watch them play happily unaware of the pandemic or politics. As long as they have food, water, and sunshine - life is good.

      Delete
  3. Rita Mae Brown. I must download some of her books when I need an audio refill.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't do audio books, Joanne. I admit that I sometimes fall asleep reading, but I almost always fall asleep listening to an audio... and of course it goes on to the end without me.

      Delete
  4. We have 3 1/2 cats on our deck. The one I refer to as 1/2 only comes occasionally and is not a squatter like the others. However, those three have been here six years, so I guess that gives them rights. Besides, we love them including 1/2, and worry about them and try to keep them all fat, happy, dry, and warm.

    My Retired Man is also Puzzle Man. I got him a small wooden puzzle of a very colorful face of a male lion. The pieces were minuscule. He got it together in about four hours, cursing me out loud and often. Afterwards, he packed it up and mailed it to our granddaughter. We see that it arrived yesterday so she is probably cursing him right now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. On most mornings we have about 8 cats/kittens in our backyard... most have either been there for a while and/or the next generation of ferals that were never neutered. Since we have been in this house for 35 years, we find that some stay around, some eventually wonder off... but the interesting thing is that on some mornings, ones we haven't seen for months (sometimes years) show up. This morning we saw one of the Siamese ones that we haven't seen in over a year show a few houses down. It was good to know that he was still around.
      That is funny about the puzzle cursing. It can be exasperating...

      Delete
  5. I love all of this post! That is a really neat puzzle. Nice looking face masks too and the sweet little Cheeky Chickens. I think cats love you and your husband as much as you love them. Lucky little critters that find their way to your home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. To be honest, Henny, I think we're lucky to have them.

      Delete
  6. I'm with you, while housework does fill the time, it certainly isn't my favorite way to do it. I'd rather do a lot of other things!

    As for jigsaws I've got a 1000 piece one on my table at the moment, and it's driving me nuts. I'm done to trying to fit pieces by shape rather than color because that wasn't working at all. I'm hoping to have it done by Easter! :p

    Take care, stay well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We gave up on one... but went right on to another to finish pretty quickly. Some are fun, some not so much.

      Delete
  7. Just the Name Barbeque Kitten made me Smile! I bought a slew of Puzzles for the Teen Grandchild to put together during Pandemic Lockdown Extended Stay, that she could do after she gets out of Online Pandemic Schooling. Well, she and I only ever got the Edges done before losing Interest, so I guess our Puzzle Making Patience needs some Exercising first? *LOL* My first Pandemic Face Masks were bought from savvy Online Crafters that realized the Need and filled the Void, now I have a virtual Wardrobe of them and they've become a staple Accessory... and the Granddaughter and I do Love Accessorizing, so that's been Fun to find the best Masks in Style, Fabric Print or Sayings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think with the puzzles, you have to do so much, then let it rest for a while... before going back.

      Delete
  8. i am not "thrilled" with cleaning either, i like organizing and "projects"!! i enjoy crafts because at the end, you have something to show for the time you have invested!!

    you are the bravest person i know to "do" a 1500 piece puzzle. 500 pieces is as high as we go now...

    i think i am going to make brownies today too, you have inspired me!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debbie, it's not me who does much puzzling. I help on occasion, but it's DH. He has done 2,000 and 3,000 piece ones. They are framed and hanging on the walls of the workroom upstairs. If I stare at a puzzle too long, my neck hurts and I get nauseous...

      Delete
    2. oooooh, hehehehe!! thanks for visiting today!!

      Delete
  9. I've been looking for a sailing ship puzzle...need to find one. We are on our last puzzle for the season. Yard work will begin & that takes up our days until it gets too hot/humid.

    Love the cute kitty pic you found online & your clay work is pretty awesome!! That's a funny "tail" about the cat at the window too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DH loves ships puzzles and has several finished ones upstairs. Our kids gave him this one for Christmas... and the cat one for me. You are a gifted sketcher. I dabble in it and play around with watercolor too... all for fun. The cheeky chickens and other little critters I sculpt seem to have their own little magic... as they make me happy.

      Delete
  10. Dear Rian, 1,500 pieces?!?!? I just can't imagine doing a puzzle with that many pieces. I'm a 500-piece person as too many of anything can truly overwhelm me. Wonder how your baking came out. I have a recipe for toasting bread that I'm going to try soon. It's so lovely to be retired! Peace to you and your family and the 6 black cats that have attached themselves to your home.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for reading and commenting! It makes my day...