Cute Cat in a Blanket

This is my beloved cat Elliot. It is hard to believe that he is now about 10 years old! I think I am his fourth owner but I do not know too much about his past except that he was probably a house cat for his first two owners.

He is such a soft old thing - like a cuddly old bear and he does not have a mean bone in his body.

I was waiting for a cat to come into my life. I had been into the pet shop and seen some kittens but something in me said "No hold out.....wait for the right cat to come into your life".

A few weeks later I was visiting a couple I know and there on their window sill was this cute cat, very friendly and when they opened the door, he shot in.

I must point out that he had been put out onto a major busy road and it was a wonder he was not killed as the traffic is unbelievable and the house is only a couple of yards from the road.

I now know that he must have been terrified of being thrown out at night into such a noisy busy environment. He is really very timid and anxious and does not like to stray beyond the garden. There is no way I would want my cat out at night anyway., but that's just me.....I would be so worried of what might happen to him.

I could not take my eyes off him and I had never seen him at their house before. I asked where he had come from and they told me he had belonged to their daughter, but she no longer wanted him as she now wanted a dog! I asked them if they had wanted another cat? "Why, are you interested in him?" .....Was I??.....I could see this was the cat I was waiting for as he curled up on Bob's lap to go to sleep. They had only brought him back a couple of days before.

After a phone call to their daughter, they confirmed that I could indeed have him, so before they could change their minds, I shot down to the pet shop to buy him a smart carrier and off we set for my home.

They told me he was a hunter....that he liked to go out hunting with their other cat......and I thought that I would show him my little garden and that if he wanted to stay with me he would.....and if he went, well he was not for me. He stepped outside and a few minutes later I went to check and he had disappeared. What a fool I had been. Do you not keep a cat in for weeks when they move to a new address?  Why oh why had I tempted fate?

I remember going looking for him and explaining to a neighbour what had happened. I was kicking myself and so close to tears that I had already lost this lovely cat.

There was no sign of him....and I had resigned myself to the fact that the cat had gone......then...would you believe it?  Who should come padding down the stairs? He had decided that he was an indoor cat again and had probably spent the last couple of hours snuggled up on my bed!!

He was called Smokie, but was soon renamed Elliot Michael. I had always hoped to have a second child and if a boy would have called him Elliot. The Michael is a stab at my corny humour as my son's second name is Michael too. I believe Michael Jackson called a couple of his children Michael somewhere in their names. :D I think it is Paris Michael and Prince Michael but I could be wrong.

Elliot was about 4 years old when I got him and he is now around 10-11 so he is getting to be quite a mature cat!

Anyway, that is the story of how I came to own "probably the best cat in the world". He is such a blessing and though highly annoying at times, due to needing lots of attention, I consider myself  very blessed to have attracted such a lovely boy into my life. Love you Elliot. XX

I'm having a Blaaah Weekend!

I have had a serious case of the blaaahs this weekend.

No energy, no motivation and just generally blaahed out.

I cannot pinpoint why?  Have had a fairly good week with fairly good energy levels. Could it be that I am over tired?

Is it the weather? It's raining here in Surrey and it looks pretty grim and grey.

There are so many jobs I could be doing and I don't want to do anything.

It is a miserable, drizzly grey day and I am writing this in grey because of it.

I hope I feel better tomorrow.

Papier mache tulips plus my favourite dog!

I made these papier mache tulips quite a long time ago. I cannot claim the idea as my own as I found them in a book by an artist called Melanie Williams.

First of all you bend a piece of wire into an oval kind of shape and leave enough so that you can twist the end - this gives you something to hold onto plus it fits inside the long straws (which was my idea) that I used for the stems.

You do the same for the leaves but obviously you make them a lot longer. I probably used a few layers of papier mache, it's hard to remember as it was so long ago. Painting them was the best bit.

I really love this vase too which I purchased from a charity shop - also a long time ago. I think it was about £5.00.  I love the subtle colouring and the little bird perched on the side.

There is a hairline crack under the bird so it was most likely damaged at some point. Never mind, as it is one of my belongings I don't intend to part with.

It is not very clear I know, but in the background is a little black and white dog. I do intend to give her an entire post when I get a close up of her. She is definitely one of my favourite things and such a smart little thing too.

I am making good progress on my mirror too, just getting to the end of the papier mache layering which then takes me to the interesting bit which will be decorating. Still not sure how it will be decorated but I am sure it will come to me soon!

Hmm, I can see that the wall needs decorating too :o{