Kittens

This afternoon Emily and I popped round to (my niece) Theresa's house to see the new kittens. Minnie, the Mum, was really relaxed about us being there and let Emily put her hand in to stroke her and then one of the kittens. They're not a week old yet and their little eyes are still closed.  I wasn't sure how much detail I'd get because they were lying at the back of the box but you can make them out :)

Minnie with the kittens

While they were asleep Minnie was happy to come out of the box and have a break

 Love this one with the feet up in the air!

 I think all three have little white tummies and feet. At this stage two of the kittens appear slightly grey-er than the third one. We'll have to see what happens.

Too cute!

 Alyssa was happy to sit with us while we watched the kittens (nearly as big time wasters as babies ;o)  )

 And Tyler managed to add sprinkles to his yoghurt while we weren't looking  (sorry about the shadows in these photos, I had my camera on Auto to try and get clearer pictures of the kittens and didn't switch back to manual)

Claire had got home with Alice just before we got back. Alice was very happy and had been smiling away - until I put a big camera in front of my face.  I have also got some video on my camera from a little later but I'm going to have to work out how to a) edit it and b) put it on the blog. Eventually it may go up here :o)

Have a good weekend.
xx

Gift card envelope and kittens

Life is busy at the moment, lots going on but I am back to having little room on my computer so I haven't been editing all my photos. I hope to order an external hard drive this week and then I should be back in business :o). In the meantime, I'll continue using photos I've already edited and hope they don't run out too soon.

.

I meant to show this little gift card envelope I made for Claire's birthday and then missed it out somehow! I had kept the paper template I made when I made Sarah's envelope which made making this one so much easier. I kept it simple but stuck with the polka dots ( see wrapping paper underneath the envelope) and used some thickers letters I had already. The flower was made using my favourite punches and both sides of the patterned paper. Claire loved it, which was the main thing, and has decided she's going to frame it ;o)

Our weekend has been fairly busy. We had beautiful weather and managed to get a braai (barbeque) in on Saturday. Unfortunately I didn't think to take any photos at the time! Too busy organising food etc. It was so good to be able to sit outside and eat, lots more of that to come I hope!

More kitten photos now. In the top one we think Bellatrix had been stung by a bumble bee. She thinks it's great fun to pounce on them and play with them but this time I think the bumble bee got the upper paw! She came limping inside, jumped on the sofa and tucked her sore paw under her chin and went to sleep :o(

Maybe it'll teach her not to play with bumble bees in future!

We can see now why the Cats Protection people didn't want these two seperated when they homed them. We often find them lying curled up together - sometimes in the weirdest positions - but they are so cute. In the top one they were enjoying the sunshine lying in the flower bed.

And here curled up on the sofa! We do have another one where it looks like Bellatrix is about to bit Mac's neck - it would fit in well with Mel's recent posts which included mention of dracula ;o)

.

Hope to have some of the more recent photos up soon.

Happy Birthday once again to my nephew, Max, who turned 19 today.

xx

Kitty capers and daffodils

I'd been speaking to Michelle on the phone while sitting outside in the sun and as I got up to go indoors again, I saw these daffodils! Great excitement!! I had to grab my camera to take photos ;o)

They still look a bit straggly but they are daffodils none the less. Spring is coming :o)

The kittens came out to see what I was doing and kept me entertained for ages. WARNING: If you're fed up looking at photos of our kittens I'd stop reading now and come back another day ;o). (These are just some of the 60+ photos I took today!)

I had been lying on the grass taking the photo of the daffodils and turned round to get these shots of the kittens playing

They are so funny together, still chasing each other and play fighting.

I think Bellatrix is just showing Mac who's boss ;o)

Animal camouflage (would have been an ideal shot for Emily's art homework!)

She reminds me of a little doll (cat one - obviously!) ;o)

Mac enjoyed lying in Charlie's favourite spot and soaking up the sun.

Now, on the next two, I was experimenting with taking photos in mid day sun. I've read so often that you should use your flash as a fill flash to get better results. I realise on cats you can't eliminate the shadows under the eyes ;o) but it was interesting anyway. The one above is the photo taken without using the flash (straight out of the camera).

And for this one I popped the flash up (also straight out of the camera). I can see a difference - especially on the white of Mac's chest. Now I'll need to find a willing model to see what a difference it makes on the eyes and whether it helps as much as it's supposed to. I just need a person and a sunny day to experiment with.

Bellatrix makes the weirdest clicking noises when she sees something she'd like to catch. I don't know what she'd spotted but I caught her just as she was making the noise.

Cloud was getting fed up with me taking photos of the kittens lol! She badly needs to go to the dog parlour but each time I think her side is healing she scratches it again and opens the wound. :o(

Bellatrix decided to get my attention again by climbing up the tree

Then Mac decided to join her - and neither of them are very good at getting down again.

Bellatrix ended up hanging on by her paw (she wouldn't let me help her - each time I went close she climbed up again) while her foot tried to find the fence. So funny!!

Mac on the bottom branch - shall I jump or not?

And then very casually climbed over the fence into next doors garden.

.

I was talking to Amy, next door, yesterday and asked if she'd seen the kittens yet. She laughed and told me there have been a few evenings when they've come home and both kittens are in their lounge with their cat, Charlie (yes, we both have cats called Charlie). How embarrassing! They've made themselves at home and go in and out of their cat flap as well as ours - I'm just glad we have neighbours who like cats! I've told her to send them on their way but she says they don't cause a problem. It'll be a different story when Amy's baby is born in May but she says she'll just keep the kitchen door closed. :o)

xx

Playing with Camera Raw

I've been playing with my camera today and have set it on to RAW to see whether I see much difference. I've also been shooting in manual (after doing the Moving into Manual class on BPS) and just generally playing around. Do I see much difference? At times I think I do. I've felt that some of the photos are sharper but whether that's just because I'm taking more time while I'm taking them and concentrating on my focus points etc., I don't know.

Bellatrix

All these photos are taken using natural light (no flash) and just playing with the settings.

Tom

I love his colouring, markings and facial expressions ;o)

This afternoon I downloaded the Camera Raw 5.6 upgrade for Photoshop Elements 8 and installed it. I don't know how much difference there is between 5.5 (which is what Elements 8 came with) and 5.6 but I'll be playing around over the weekend to try and find out.

xx

A bit busier today

I wanted to make a doctor's appointment for Emily this morning and was ready to phone at 8am but I'd forgotten they have staff training on a Friday and don't start taking calls until 9am. At 9 I tried again but it took me ages to get through. We finally got an appointment for 12.10pm. Claire was off work today too so, I left the two girls at home and went to keep a breakfast appointment with my friend Helena. We went to Wetherspoons but the only thing they could offer off their breakfast menu was bacon rolls or toast because they'd run out of oil! We didn't mind and ordered bacon and toast and had tea and coffee to go with it. At £2.80-something I don't think we could have got better value for money anywhere else.

The Doctor confirmed what I thought might be the case, Emily has tonsillitis and has been given antibiotics to try and clear it. I'm now really glad I took her otherwise who knows how long this might have gone on for. I hoping the antibiotics kick in soon and she starts to feel a bit better.

After the Doctors we went to Waitrose because I wanted to see if I could got some shortening to make the peanut butter cookies on Deb's blog - they look yummy! Ruth had managed to get some Crisco and I thought I might be able to get some at our Waitrose, but no such luck! I bought some Flora White and hope it'll work the same!

This afternoon I was sitting out in the garden with my tea and reading my Prima magazine when Cloud decided to chase the kittens! Mac ran straight up the tree and the more I called him the further up he went! Can you spot the black blob in the tree lol!

If not, here he is - zoomed in!

Emily came out to try and get him down but when she held her arms up to get him he jumped down quite happily! It's so funny watching the kittens getting used to the outdoors :)

While outside I noticed the buds on this bush - I know it's one of the first to flower in Spring, won't be too long!

My cushion in the sun (being blocked by my shadow!) Jane took a photo of her shadow earlier this month and when I saw this photo it reminded me of hers ;o)

The crocuses in the flower bed had opened up more. They're quite striking, aren't they!

And finally, feeding time at the zoo ;o) - Emily had just got the kittens food (note how they're looking up at her expectantly) and the others were waiting for me to stop taking photos and feed them ;o). Cloud is wearing a cone as she keeps licking/scratching herself and has now made herself quite sore. The cone helps with the licking but unfortunately, not with the scratching. The vet thinks it could be partly because of Wallace not being here any more and they used to virtually be on top of each other all the time! Hopefully we'll get it cleared up soon!

xx

Kittens

Sorry if you're fed up seeing the kittens, feel free to skip this post if you are ;). I can't believe we've had them three weeks already - this time next week we can start letting them out; yikes!! I think Mac would love to go outside to explore. He's sat looking out the door a few times today! Not too long now.

Bellatrix was also looking out the door but from a more comfortable position ;) This chair is at the end of my desk

And one a little bit closer because she is so pretty!

xx

I don't have a title for this one ;)

I am hopeless at trying to come up with titles for blog posts! I'm beginning to think I should just put the day and date or something ;).

.

It's been bitterly cold here today so I haven't been up to much. I was dozing off on the couch this morning and it was still early. I've been feeling tired lately but couldn't work out why but I think I may have come up with a possible reason. As I mentioned before, Jon started work last week and he leaves home just before 6am. This means he's up early and, although he's careful to be quiet, I tend to wake up when he gets up and then doze on and off until he leaves. By then it's time for me to get up anyway so I guess I'm getting less sleep than I'm used to which could be why I get so sleepy. My excuse anyway :)

.

Guess who're coming downstairs more these days ;). Bellatrix and Mac! They are so cute but also very inquisitive. Let's just say I'm still at the stage of chasing them off work surfaces and tables and we have to be very careful what's left lying around. If they hear me call their name and then get up, they have started to jump off whatever they are on! Hopefully it won't be too long before they go up less and less and then stop altogether.

We've found that if ever we don't know where they are, the first place to look is behind the couch.

There's a radiator behind there and it's lovely and warm - the ideal place for a nap!

Here, Bellatrix is twisted over on her side with her head upside down and squashed against the wall while Mac sleeps - using her as a pillow!

They weren't very impressed that I'd woken them up - and even less so because I'd used a flash because it was so dark behind there ;)

I think they were really glad when I went away again!

xx