Last Saturday night we were invited to dinner with my daughter Caitlin and son in law Wesley. Poppy went with us and she was so well behaved and did not get car sick this time. She lay in my lap like a perfect little princess on the way there and back. Maybe she is outgrowing it?
When we arrived we all sat outside and chatted as it was a warm evening. I was able to give Bree a bottle and then she had some solid food and happily gobbled it all up. She is a brilliant little eater. She has such personality and the biggest happiest smile.
Caitlin, Norm and I relaxed outside while Wes was frantically moving about the kitchen as he is the family chef. We all went into the dining room to have a seat and Wes served a delicious halloumi tikka masala with coconut jasmine rice accompanied with homemade naan. He made the naan using the sourdough starter that he uses to make his sourdough loafs. I did not even ask what was on the menu and when I bit the first bite of halloumi I was so confused as to what it was! I had assumed it was chicken but it was so soft and tender. I was really surprised that he got the halloumi so soft instead of the weird squeaky texture it normally has once it has cooled off.
For dessert, he made a traditional Indian ice cream called Kulfi which is made with pistachios, saffron, freshly ground cardamom and topped with candied pistachios. It was sweet and delicious and the candied pistachios were amazing.
After dinner I gave Bree her bottle and we left just after she finished. It was time for Bree to head to bed, Caitlin was finishing the washing up and we had Poppy with us and Finn at home, so none of us were interested in a late one.
Then after a perfect evening, we had such a beautiful spring day in Cape Town on Sunday. I spent most of the day outside. My friend Tamlyn popped by for tea but mostly I just relaxed and watched my crazy animals and the lizards.
I video called my Mom on Sunday night. We had a lovely chat and a lot of laughs like we always do. We talk such nonsense I can imagine what the staff at the assisted living place think if they listen in. She had a little pink mark on her forehead and I asked her about it. She said she had another one on her cheek. I asked her if she was back in the throes of her meth addiction and if so, it was showing on her skin. She had a laugh as did I. She said she is hoping to go home from the assisted living place soon.
She told me my hair looked really good and that I needed to show it to everyone. This is because I am using the purple Olaplex she gave me. She does not know I am also drinking collagen in my coffee every morning because about half of my hair fell out a year or more ago. My ponytail was a tiny little sad bundle of a few hairs. A friend who is a hairdresser recommended collagen and I have never looked back! If you are also struggling with thinning hair it is the best thing you can ever do for yourself.
Mom and I had a laugh because when Norm had gone to pick up our dinner that night he got chatted up at the pub. He had ordered a glass of wine and sat outside to wait for the food, a woman followed him outside and asked could she join him. Norm is so polite so he said ‘ummm I guess so’. I asked him if all of the other tables were occupied and he said no. He hates smoking and apparently she chain smoked while trauma dumping all over him. He knew about her divorce, her double mastectomy, her lung cancer and where she lives. Eventually she asked how long he had been in Hout Bay and he said pointedly ‘We moved here in 2007…’ and she said ‘we????’ and he said ‘my wife and I‘ to which she looked disappointed. He does not wear a wedding ring because he does not wear any jewelry. I do not need to mark my territory as he is completely able to repel them himself with his fear of me pulling a Lorena Bobbitt on him.
Do any of you have any strange things you know which make no sense, but you know? Norm gets so annoyed because I will say ‘please pick up bread’ to which he replies ‘I just bought bread’ and then I have to get indignant to make him pick up a loaf of bread (he is Scottish). This happened again this week. That convo happened on Thursday and on Friday the ‘newly bought’ loaf was mouldy. The previous day it was fine, I sniffed it and I can sniff a mould spore at a thousand paces. But I just knew. It had happened the week before and he would not listen to me and when I woke to no bread I went a wee bit mental. He is learning. He bought the bread.
Anyway. I sniff many things before I eat them. Yes, I know it is weird, yes it has saved me from certain death most likely. Okay, probably not, but maybe.
When Norm popped to the shops on Monday he came home with some lovely flowers for me. I think white flowers are so elegant.
I sat outside after work and Poppy hung out with me. She loves to sit like this and it cracks me up.
Our usual gardener came on Tuesday but he knows nothing about plants and just potters about mowing the grass and sweeping up. He has worked for us for 10 years now so at this point he is part of the furniture. However, I also know nothing about plants and just wing it and hope for the best. When I found out that Kim is available I asked him to come on Wednesday. He is very knowledgeable about plants and has worked for a friend, so I have seen his magic. The weather was windy and overcast but it did not rain until he finished. He only worked a half day for us but he made such a difference! Kim filled the back of Norm’s truck with garden refuse so Norm went to the dump and then dropped Kim off at his home to save him the walk. Kim got an extra day’s work and a hot cooked lunch and I got a lovely flower bed! I have to mention I also made him breakfast but in the time it took him to get to it Blue had licked the jam off of his toast. I tried to make him more but he said he would rather get working in case the rain came. These wild iris were completely out of control. I wish I had taken a before pic so you can appreciate how amazing they look. Poppy kept a close eye on Kim.
Kim is coming back in a few weeks once we get the earth for my new flower bed at the front, he is going to transform it for me. I am so excited!! I have several jade plants that are in pots that are huge and have outgrown the pots so we will put those there as well as space out my existing clivias which are all ready to be divided. I want to get a couple of strelitzias to round it all out and then it will be so perfect. I can envision it.
The rain hit that evening and remained on and off all week. Even though it was cold I had to sit for at least a little bit outside to stay regulated. The animals all cuddled with me to keep me company.
Friday morning I was booked to walk my direct managers at the client through my deliverables. An hour before the meeting I was asked to reschedule until Monday so now I have to be anxious all weekend. My project ends at the end of June, I have one month remaining. The same client may pick me up again to extend this piece of work, I hope so as I am enjoying it. Another project at the same client may need me, word is that there is a data migration coming up and those are my jam! Whatever happens I trust the universe to provide for me what I need.
Yesterday I made a cup of coffee and sat at the back to drink it. Poppy wanted up on the couch with me so I lifted her up. She did some weird spin and was falling backwards off of the couch and I reached to grab her and ended up spilling my boiling coffee all down my front. The skin on my upper chest is always sensitive and when the boiling water hit it I yipped and ran inside stripping off layers of clothing. I put cold compresses on it until it calmed a bit then put bee pollen on it. Today is is a bit sore but much better. Norm said I just look like he does after a nice shower. I cannot bear hot water, my showers are lukewarm.
We were supposed to baby sit for Bree on Friday night as Cait and Wes had a work function to attend, but Bree, Wes and Caitlin all came down with the flu so we ended up just staying at home and having a pizza.
With today’s technology both my mom and I can keep in contact with the grandbabies almost every day as we get so many pictures of them to keep us feeling close. I wish we had that technology when my own children were small, what a difference it would have made.
This week I had several dreams that I remembered and this is only significant because I never remember my dreams. In the first dream I was Wonder Woman.
Now I am no psychiatrist, but I hope it represents that I am feeling on top of my game? That I should acknowledge my abilities?
The second was about my Medicine Name and Shamanism. When I studied the Path of the White Wolf and was given my Medicine Name by my teacher, we were advised that you keep your Medicine Name for just that, when called for healing or when praying, practicing ceremony or when speaking to your ancestors or creator. For example, when calling in the directions and the spirits you can use your Medicine Name. Most people do not even know mine.
Then I see some people who post theirs often so I am confused about that, obviously my brain was mulling it over while I was asleep. I love my name and it represents me so well. I use it in prayer only and never on social media. Everyone must practice as they wish, I just wonder what is the traditional way?
This week Norm and I started watching a show that has been hyped for a while but it never appealed to me until I saw it starred everybody’s favourite naughty southern boy Walton Goggins. Then we spotted it was available on Prime and we were delighted.
This is not at all my usual type of vibe, I do not like violence or guns or anything that makes me squeamish but I am trying to view the scenes when someone gets their leg blown off as comedy (while repeating ‘it is just a film’ and viewing through clenched eyes). Some of the horrendous things I cannot ignore, especially when animals are involved, for example I rooted for the mutant bear. Walton I blame you. We are only a few episodes in so far but I give it 3 Kitten Stars ⭐⭐⭐
The weather is cold and overcast but at least it is not raining today. I intend to relax and potter about in my garden. I hope you all have a lovely weekend.
Until Next Time, Kisses from the Kitten xoxoxoxxo
Kitten in the City 