Thursday, April 27, 2017

Pigeon Problems & Playing Outside

Hello there!

I don't have a lot of news to share this week but it has been a busy time! Oom Peet is still in America, he even went to China this time. I think Winter is slowly pushing it's way in, the days are sunny but there's definitely an icy breeze in the air, Winter is letting us know that he's on his way!

Little Blitzy is really enjoying her newfound freedom outside and she has even been coming back in on time, just as I'm making her breakfast. We try to send her out early in the morning so then she stays inside the entire day thereafter. Joshy is somewhat used to her being outside again and they enjoy playing "tag" and hide-and-seek together, it's so sweet to watch! Blitzy has been chasing little Sniffles the pup so at least it's not the other way around! Poor pup though!
Curly goes out on her own and she almost always comes back covered in blackjacks! I'm not sure where she goes, perhaps near the avocado trees. Well that's all the news concerning the furry friends.

Let me now fill you in on the feathered creatures...
Well, a pair of Speckled Pigeons moved into the opening in our ceiling, above my room. They were quite a noisy couple! I guess for them it was the perfect spot as it overlooked the yard and they could hop onto the deck at any time and also, the birdbath is so close. On Saturday, the male spent half the morning collecting sticks to build his wife a lovely nest. Unfortunately, we had to evict them! We didn't want to but pigeons carry fleas and also, Joshy goes up into the ceiling and he'll surely make a meal of their future chicks. So, to prevent any heartbreak on their part, or flea infestation on our part, my Dad had to quickly seal that spot up. The male was not happy to come back to find someone had closed his fancy new home off, he even tried to give my Dad a piece of his mind, he flew into my Dad's face from behind! Little Blitzy watched the ordeal from my room. My Dad did the right thing by leaving his precious collection of sticks on the deck for him to take but I guess that Speckled Pigeon wanted nothing to do with it.
He returned the next morning and tried to peck his way through but to no avail.
So, just when we thought he had admitted defeat, my Dad saw them yesterday. Guess where they were? Well they were smart enough to just nest in the opening on the opposite side of our house! Oh boy!
So Dad grabbed his tools and closed that opening too, we had no choice! My brother Caleb says that the pigeon  was watching from a nearby palm tree, yes a palm tree in the countryside.  So I don't know what this pigeon has up his sleeve (or wing) for next time but we shall wait and see!

In other news, my crochet project is coming along nicely, I don't want to give too much information away but a pine forest is included in the scene. ;) The layout of the project is growing each day, just when I think I'm done then either my parents or my brother suggest something else to add to it, I must admit though, their ideas are wonderful! I was crocheting a barn yesterday. :)

Did I say that this is a short update? Well it turned out to be a rather long update! Please enjoy the photos, I've even attached photos of the bread in the bakery at the KwaSizabantu branch in Russia, my wonderful friend Katya sent it to me, she's been like a big sister to me when she stayed in South Africa.

God bless,
Sele'ha Mikhaila ♡



Little Miss Folded Paws 

Joshy and Blitzy outside

Can you spot them one the deck?

Blitzy sure does love feathers!

Curly begging me for my cookie


1 of 9 crocheted pine trees that I made for my project.

Weasel kitty

The male Speckled Pigeon

His precious pile of sticks

Hehehe...fooling around with Blitzy 



The beautiful types of bread at the bakery in Kuzminka, Russia. 

Don't they look delicious?

Award winning recipe for this loaf!

Blitzy

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Easter Weekend

Salutations readers far and wide! ;)

Hehehe....quite the introduction, hey?

I trust that you are all doing well, our Easter weekend was wonderful and blessed! It's a time when we remember what the Lord did for each of us on that cross and His resurrection. May He truly be resurrected in our lives!
My grandparents were here for the weekend, it was actually cold!
We'll watch the Easter conference services via Livestream , you can watch it too, just click here. Remember that you have to have an account on Livestream to watch it but it's completely free and quick! Also, the videos are uploaded for a limited time only.

Renate left over the weekend but we had such a lovely time together during the holidays, she hadn't been to Claridge in a while so it was nice to have her here again. There were 2 funerals during this time, one on Thursday and one on Sunday, I think.

We didn't send Blitzy out at all over the weekend because it was so cold! She didn't mind because as soon as she saw her heater being wheeled out and plugged on, she was plastered to it! It's her best friend in Winter, next to the sun of course. Hehehe :D
There are loads of photos for you to scroll through...geniet dit! (That's Afrikaans for "enjoy it".)

God bless,
Sele'ha Mikhaila    

Joshy eating Curly's food with Blitzy right behind.

Renae and I went on a walk with Curly

How beautiful is this?

Curly

Blitzy seems so brave in this pic

Outside!


Joshy





Blitzy exploring the farm


The window seat



Fussy girl

Reminding me it's dinner time!

Sleepy Joshy

Blitzy playing with Curly's tail!

The girls enjoying the heater

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Busy Days, A Beautiful Wedding & A Big Girl Now

Greetings dear readers!


Well it's that time again! Time for another update from me. :D
Firstly, I just want to mention that the blog has reached almost 6 000 pageviews! Thank you all!

We have decided to let Blitzy go outside on her own in the mornings, I usually entice her to come back with her breakfast, works everytime! This morning she just decided to come in on her own though. Sniffles, (the pup from next door), is fascinated by her and I guess she tolerates him too. They seem to be getting along now. Joshy isn't too happy that Blitzy is out alone, for some reason he feels he has to watch her, Curly is also like that! She worries, pacing up and down, until Blitzy walks in through the front door! Blitzy loves her new privileges, she's definitely a big girl now!
There is another thing that Blitzy has been doing, she insists on sitting on top of my tablet! I keep taking her off and she rushes right back on, she may be small but it's still a weight on the tablet so my parents suggested a solution, let her use my old tablet cover! She did fall for the decoy cover! I don't know how long it will last though but it's working for the time being,

Last Sunday was the wedding of Christoff de Wet and Elona Joosten, it was such a beautiful ceremony! One could see that the Lord was glorified through this couple's purity, it's such a testimony and an example to us. Elona is a wonderful example of a godly young woman, I enjoyed getting to know her during these last few years. She visited Claridge last year with her grandparents, Onkel Hogard and Tante Inge, they're such special people! Christoff is the brother of Jakobus de Wet, who is married to Galina. Speaking of which, Jakobus, Galina and their lovely children visited Claridge for a short time this week. We always enjoy it when they visit, the kids grow so fast! I have mentioned it before but they have 3 kids, Nadine, Janet and Josua. Little Josua is not so little anymore! He's talking and running around now!

Renate is also in Claridge this week, we have been enjoying the holidays together. She also started crocheting so, we tried out some crochet video tutorials from YouTube. I think it turned out well! A good attempt from both sides. :)
Yesterday, we went for a walk and of course, little Curly followed us. She is getting older and I have to try to convince her that she should stay at home when we go for long walks but she is adamant at times. She's such a sweet, fluffy dog though, so precious! Diane from Schulzendal Mission is here as well, yes, there have been a lot of visitors! It's been a busy time and there are two funerals and a service today.
Winter is creeping it's way in slowly, it's been getting darker earlier and the nights have been longer. We do still have a few hot days in-between though. ;)

I think I shall end off now,
God bless,
Sele'ha Mikhaila  

Crochet fun with my little kitty, Blitzy

Soaking up the sun

This is at the wedding

I didn't get many pictures, sorry!


At Bible House

The decoy Tablet cover

See all the blackjacks?!

She loves her new privileges!



Joshy and Blitzy exploring


Blitzy investigating the well



Now Joshy is having a drink from that well


Beautiful Hibiscus