Thanks for all the sweet comments about Lemmy.

But our poor Relly-Belly is still feeling rather disconcerted. He continues to run from Lemmy like the kitten is going to attack him at any moment. Happily, the weather has been nice enough for him to spend all day in the catio, but that’s not going to last.

Please send him some love, and let him know it’s okay to come inside. He can totally take the kitten down if he needs to.

Something unexpected happened the morning of Hallowee’en. Dave and I were out running a couple errands in the late morning. We finished our errands and he wanted to go get some lunch. I wasn’t too keen, as I wasn’t feeling great and just wanted to go home. He insisted, as we would be having a late dinner after the trick-or-treaters.

The town we were in didn’t have any good lunch options (its not much bigger than Alvinston), so we headed to the next town over. Dave really wanted pizza. But when we got there, the pizza place wasn’t open yet (It was a few minutes before 11 am). I continued on up the main street, looking for an easy place to turn around. By the time I turned around and got back down the street and passed the pizza place, Dave saw the open sign come on. So I started looking for another place to turn around. I pulled into a side street with a pharmacy on the corner, when all of a sudden Dave yelled out “There’s a kitten running around that parking lot!!!!”

I took a hard left into the parking lot. Dave realized what he’d done and said “Oh crap… I shouldn’t have said that out loud.”

The parking lot was narrow and very busy, but I managed to get a place to park and jumped out of the truck. It took me a few minutes to locate the kitten, and when I did he was very nervous about coming to me.

He cried and purred, but stayed just behind the rear wheel on a parked mini-van.

By this time Dave has gotten out and was standing a little ways from me. I don’t remember his exact words, but it was along the lines of “I know the kitten can’t stay here, but you can’t keep it either.”

I finally got close enough to grab the kitten, and told Dave I’d contact the Alvinston Cat Rescue when we got him home.

I put the little guy (who was soaked through, dirty, and reeked of the underside of an automobile, but purring up a storm) in the back of the truck in one of the reusable plastic bins I use for groceries. We headed home (Dave never did get his pizza)

On the drive, the little guy escaped the bin and climbed the console between us and immediately climbed into Dave’s arms in the passenger seat. Purring the whole time.

The whole drive (about 15 minutes) Dave recounted all the reasons we couldn’t keep him. We already have three cats. Those cats will be upset. The cost of needles, and neutering, and other vet appointments…

I said nothing.

When we were almost home, Dave said “He’s got one serious little motor on him. We should call him Lemmy.” (Lemmy Kilmister was the lead singer/bassist of the band Motorhead)

When we pulled in the driveway, he said “You’re going to call the rescue right?”

I nodded and told him I’d do it after I got Lemmy cleaned up and checked the online sites to see if any one was missing him.

Now I know… you’re just dying to see the little guy…

My best guess is he’s between 12 and 16 weeks. He’s got a round little belly (probably full of worms) and very dirty ears (which I’ve cleaned up, but will probably need treating for mites), but seems to be flea free.

First thing he did was have a good little snack at the cat bowls, and then a long drink of water.

He smelled terrible (a mix of poop and old motor oil) but the bath took care of that. As you can see, other than his football shaped head, he’s pretty close in colouring to Rupert. He’s actually a shade lighter, in both fur and eyes, but you only really notice that when they are side-by-side.

As Dave predicted, and was pretty much expected, the trios diablos was NOT AMUSED. Relic was the first to see him. And Relic ran right up to give him a sniff all over. This overwhelmed poor Lemmy, and he arched his back and hissed. You would have thought that he attacked Relic. Relic took off, and has been treating him like he has the plague every since.

Burton like Relic ran over to sniff him, but unlike Relic, it was Burton who hissed. He’s been fine with him ever since, as long as Lemmy doesn’t try to touch him. Which of course, now that Lemmy’s over his initial shock… all he wants to do is rub all over the big cats.

Rupert, our little Napoleon, has actually been the best of all of them. He mostly ignores Lemmy all day (staying up in bed, as is his routine). At night, he comes down and mostly just follows Lemmy around. Or sits where he can keep an eye on him.

But the second night, I was reclined in my chair as usual, with Relic by my feet, and Rupert stretch out down my legs. From no where, Lemmy appeared.

He wanted to get in on the cuddle puddle. And Rupert was pretty chill. He watched, and only complained once or twice but didn’t leave. Eventually Lemmy settled in.

(You can really see the difference in their colouring here) They stayed like that for about 15-20 minutes with Lemmy eventually using Rupert’s tail as a sleeping mask…

After the first day, Dave stopped talking about calling the cat rescue. While I’m working, I frequently hear him talking to Lemmy. And when I come down on breaks, more often than not, they are curled up together.

I’m 99.9% sure that little Lemmy Purrmister is a permanent member of the Wandering Cat Crew.

This week’s walkabout is all about front porches!!!

I love a nice big front porch. The house we had when I was a teen had covered front porch that spanned the whole width of the house. We spent a lot of time on that porch, crafting, listening to music, and just enjoying the fresh air.

Our house here has a front porch with an awning, but it’s not really a sitting porch.

Dave really wants to put a full porch across the front of our house, because he thinks it will draw attention away from the odd addition plunked on the side. He’s a little OCD, so asymmetry bothers him.

It would also require the relocation of our gas metre which is right out in front of the middle of the house (another thing that bothers him), and I can just imagine how much THAT would cost. It’s definitely not in the cards any time soon.

But there are lots of our type of houses around town that have added full porches.

This house just recently redid theirs and it looks lovely. I’d like to think if we had the money, ours would end up looking something like this… but longer of course, because of the addition.

Another idea could be taken from one of my favourite houses in town.

We could take the foot print of our existing porch, and build a little bump-out addition above it. The addition would be off the master bedroom, and it would be a lovely little spot for a reading nook. I’d build it with windows all around, and put in a big window seat. I could fill it with pillows and plants and laze the days away there with the cats!

And since we are dreaming….

Why not a wrap-around???? This is another of my favourite houses in town. And I think you can see why.

I would only be able to have partial wrap-around on our house, since there’s no room on the driveway side. Of course, if Dave had his way, there would be no room on the other side either – he really wants a U-shaped driveway that goes around the back of the house and out either side. This would mean taking out my maple tree… not to mention how much it would limit my garden plans!!!

But… he also wants to expand the garage, and build a pool and a pond and, and, and….

I think the final verdict is we really need more money and a bigger property!

Still. It’s fun to dream, and there’s lots of inspiration around town.

I’m taking a wee break from Tiny Needle Tuesday. Not giving up cross stitch, I just need to get some things off my plate before I start something new.

But I’m happy to say… my white cotton pumpkin is now off my plate.

As much as I did not enjoy knitting with the cotton, I am thrilled with the result. It’s like lovely little Cinderella pumpkin, and the cables just made it that much more delightful! And, I used up the last of that yarn, which is always a good feeling!

Now… I have some orange cotton… and yes, after all my complaining… I’m going to make some more. She needs a couple small ones to go with her! And I know if I don’t do it now, I will never get around to it!

The most wonderful day of the year is finally here!!!

Happy Hallowe’en!!!

It’s supposed to be a very rainy one here. I’m hoping we get a break for the trick-or-treaters.

Whether we do or not, Dave and I already had a little spooky fun this weekend. On Saturday, we took part in the Sarnia Street Cruisers Trunk or Treat event.

Dave shined up the Bonneville, and I got in character…

And we hit the road (No, Burton didn’t come along).

A Trunk or Treat is basically a big car meet, but with a twist…

Every one fills their trunks with candy, and decorates them….

Then the kids come trick or treating trunk to trunk.

It wasn’t just classic cars either, but all kinds of performance vehicles.

The Yellowstone crew even made an appearance.

I really hope they didn’t give Mr and Mrs. Claus a ride to the train station!!!! Lol.

Our trunk was pretty tame compared to most of the trunks, but this was our first year, and we weren’t sure how far to go.

It was just my witchy broom and black cat, of course. We did bring our foam pumpkins too, but I ended up putting them away because I just kept knocking them over with my cloak.

We did have something the other cars didn’t have though…

A skeleton chauffeur at the wheel! Several of the kids were quite delighted with this!

As you can see, the day was sunny. It was also warm. I had to take my cloak off, but it was just perfect for the kids.

I was told there was about 80 trunks taking part… and as for kids, someone said something like 5,000. We gave out candy for a little more than two hours.

The group posted this picture taken from the sky.

I’ve marked this one up to give you an idea of the scope…

The area surrounded in blue was all the trunks. The pink line is children and their parents lined up waiting to get in (all the little bodies around the cars are kids already going trunk to trunk. The green line at the back is a line of cars on the street waiting to get in.

But I did not hear a single complaint about the long line or wait to get in. Everyone seemed to have and amazing time. I know I was pretty darn pooped.

Rain or not, tonight won’t be quite as intense, but I hope it’s just as fun!

The other day I realized I never reported on the outcome of my Austere August.

It went really well and, other than a small slip up at the start of the month, I managed to not spend money on anything not needed (and truly not needed… because face it, I can justify needing just about anything) and it felt really good. In fact, it felt so go that I’ve pretty much celebrated by spending money on anything and everything in September and October, completely destroying all the financial gains I made in August…

I bought fabric and clothes, plants for the garden… but the biggest expense wasn’t actually my fault.

You may remember that Dave’s Charger went in the shop at the end of July for what as supposed to just be a brake conversion….

But I know a little about cars, and when you let them sit and don’t drive them…. let’s just say I knew it wasn’t going to be JUST a brake conversion…

She came back mid-week this past week… and that brake conversion turned into new suspension, new exhaust, frame work, gas tank work, this work, that work…. and the price ended up being six times what we budgeted.

(SO nice to have the girls reunited under one roof)

Now I’m not complaining… every time he and the mechanic talked about doing something else “while they were in there” I said to do it. Because there’s no point having a classic car if you’re not going to drive it. They sit, and they rot… which is why the car is in the shape it’s in! I told him his options were to suck it up and get it done, or sell the car. We all know he wasn’t going to do the latter.

Also… he has a small amount of money coming from his grandmother’s estate that will more than cover it. I don’t expect to see it until next year, but it is coming. In the mean time, most of the cost is sitting on my credit cards, collecting interest.

So it’s the perfect time for another month of fiscal dieting.

Other than one project for the house (reinforcing a beam in the basement), nothing is pressing there. And though we’re getting into the holiday season, almost everything on my list is either bought already, being made, and I already have the supplies, or can wait until December. The present I have left to buy are just gift cards anyway.

So… I’m heading into NO SPENDER NOVEMBER! Lets hope I can stick to it!

I mentioned that last weekend was nice and warm. How warm you ask…?

How about “Need to wear shorts” warm.

It got up to about 20C/68F… but when I was out working in the sun, it felt much warmer. Perfect weather to get those clearance perennials, as well as the second box of bulbs I ordered (another 120 bulbs or so…) in the ground.

I know you’re just dying to see what I got. Of course, there’s no actually flowers, but here’s a look at what we have to look forward to next year.

For the clearance perennials…

These three went inside the catio. Potentilla is something I’ve been considering for a few years. I’ve never actually seen it in a garden centre – just my mail order catalogues. The Iceland poppies and Pasque flower I had at the townhouse, but neither made the move. It will be nice to have them again.

The pussytoes I had to get just because of the name. But it’s a nice little ground cover plant so it went in the driveway garden. I also added two ice plants. They are also supposed to be great for groundcover too. I tried tog grow them at the townhouse a couple of times with no luck. I planted one here in mid summer. It didn’t bloom, but it’s nice and healthy so I figured why not get a couple more.

Spiderwort has foliage like a dayliliy, but smaller simpler flowers. I planted a bareroot one back in spring, with no luck, so I figured I’d try these two. I might have better chances with an already established plant.

I already have some Beard Tongue (also known as Penstamon) and Globe Thistle, but I love them both so I got more!

These four are going to get pretty big, and I need to dig a new garden for them. For now they are planted on the edge of Willow Grove. Come spring, I’ll build a new garden and give them the space they need to shine.

Now onto the bulbs…

I’m trying out some Winter Aconite for a nice pop of early colour.

I’ve also added a mix of muscari (grape hyacinths) since many of the ones from the townhouse didn’t make it. None of my Allium did either, so I got these nice Drumstick Allium. Dad has a tonne of Glory of the Snow in his garden and I always forget to did some up… so I just gave up and bought some. It won’t come up quite as early as the Aconite, but it’s still one of the first pops of colour.

I got a pile more tulips – including a Wine Lovers’ Blend, a Pretty in Pink collection, and a mix of Turkistan Tulips (also known as ground cover tulips).

And of course, we can’t leave out the Daffodils. I got a gorgeous mix of whites, as well as a traditional ‘Poet’s Daffodil’

And last, but definitely not least…

Lilies!!! You didn’t see much of my Oriental/Asian lilies this year because they got absolutely ravaged by orange lily beetles. But I’ve got a plan to stay on top of it for next year, and I always want more lilies! I got a “Red” mix, Muscadet, and Hotel California.

And now… there’s nothing left to do but wait. All the planting and tending is done for the year.

So I leave you with one last visitor to the garden…. a Common Checkerspot butterfly who stopped in last weekend when the sun was shining bright and warm.

“Trick or Treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!!!”

I mentioned earlier this week that Dave had me running around to pick up some new kijiji finds. Well the whole thing actually started a few weeks before my vacation.

We were in our favourite used store, and he found another antique radio. It was in decent shape, but this one he wanted to modernize a little more.

Ever since then, he’s been on the hunt for parts. And that means finding other broken radios and electronics.

We spent a good chunk of my vacation driving around and hunting down thrift stores, flea markets, and kijiji finds.

It wasn’t until after my vacation that we came across something really promising.

It is a Lowe Opta radio/record player console from the ’50s. I found it on Facebook Marketplace for just $10. The radio didn’t work, and the record player was no longer in it. But it had the parts he needed (speakers and tubes or some such).

Of course, once we got it home, and he took it apart, he decided the parts would be put to better use elsewhere, so he was STILL on the hunt for what he needed.

So it was Sunday morning that Dave had come across someone who might have what he was looking for., possibly multiple things.

Now, as I said, I would have been more than happy to let Dave take my truck. But he refuses. Ages and ages ago, he borrowed his uncles SUV, and it blew the rad, and overheated on the highway. Since then he refuses drive any vehicle but his own. So… off we went.

And we came home with not one, but two vintage record players, an ancient reel-to-reel projector, and a homemade PA system.

I lost half a day to work on my stuff, but he’s a really happy guy now. And he did buy me chip wagon fries for lunch

Oh… and I guess I can’t complain too much… the day we picked up the big console, we also stopped at the Restore.

I got this wonderful little antique medicine cabinet. Now I just need to tear Dave away from his new projects so he can mount it on the wall in the studio. I think it’s going to be just perfect for threads and other sewing things.

We are quickly approaching the time of year where there is more colour on the ground, than there is on the trees.

It makes walking about the neighbourhood absolutely wonderful.

Especially when the sun is shining.

It’s hard to capture with a phone camera, but it makes the leaves that are left on the trees just glow.

And of course, it smells amazing. This time of year never lasts long enough…

But there’s still time to get a pumkin or two.

And enjoy all the shades of the season!