Random Photo Friday: Dance of the Sugar-Bum Hairies

It still makes me laugh when I think of my Dad always referring to Tchaikovsky's Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairies as 'Dance of the Sugar-Bum Hairies'. And, while this post isn't about fairies, sugar-bummed, hairy or otherwise - it is about feathers and a couple of noisy crows that have taken to tap-dancing on the balcony skylight outside our bedroom window, and it's driving the cats crazy.

So this was the scene of torment a couple of days ago when the clattering, scraping and squawking of a couple of crows - or perhaps it was just one - started up again on the skylight.


Crows Tormenting Cats. (L-R: Louis, Ella, Mel)

I just managed to grab my IPhone in time to snap a picture of all three with their necks craned desperately trying to get a glimpse of their tormentor(s).

Crows are cunningly evil little buggers. Not only have they taken to clattering and sliding around over the balcony, but both Lorne and I have also caught them tapping on the glass and peering down at the cats from the two large skylights above the landing/stairs. No wonder Louis' been doing a number on himself and nibbling away at his foreleg to the point of scabby baldness - if these crows are what's been stressing him out. And from this photo, you can also see just what a MASSIVE cat he's become though most of it is down to his absolute puff-ball hair!

(Despite our best efforts putting him on a low dose of Zylkene meds and even using a bitter-tasting spray on his baldy area, he still seems to be nibbling away and no doubt the recent heat wave hasn't been helping. In most other ways he's improved a lot in recent weeks and is very happy and sociable once again, but the leg-nibbling continues regardless. (Maybe it's the feline equivalent of me still chomping on my fingernails.)

Anyhow, suffice to say those crows are tormenting, yet creatively entertaining, little buggers!

A brief photo catch-up

I don't want this blog to become all about breast cancer, so I thought I'd do a quick post of some of my favourite photographs taken during my long absence. Okay, even I can't deny that I've had a distinct lack of....not so much enthusiasm but rather....the right creative headspace these past few months (with trying to wrap my head around the whole cancer thing) but I'm back, Baby. I've sorely missed that feeling of wanting to get out there with my camera and I desperately want (and need) to get back into it.

Anyway, here are a few shots - not least because I know my Mum's been hoping to see some more of my pictures (and Vicky's so good at regularly posting great photos on her blog). I've been a bit more diligent lately about posting pics to Facebook than I have on this blog or on my Flickr account - need to change that.

CUBA (January 2012)
Having previously been twice to the same part of Cuba, it was great to explore a different part of the country this last time which included an excellent 2-day trip across country to the city of Trinidad. Wonderful for photographic opportunities but especially to really get a feel for the country and its incredible people as a whole. I'm never quite comfortable with seeming like a wealthy, fancy-pants tourist, which is surely how we must be perceived by the locals since they live such a basic, antiquated and impoverished third world lifestyle, but I love their strong sense of community. They live an incredibly tough life with so little of the everyday foods, services and 'stuff' that we take for granted. I (personally) enjoyed the break from everything hi-tech, rushed and consumerist - but of course, that's easy for me to say since I have a choice about that. They don't.



City of Trinidad, Cuba



Where sleeping dogs lie - Trinidad, Cuba

English homework - Trinidad, Cuba

Trinidad, Cuba

SPRING FLOWERS (around Vancouver April/May 2012)

The cherry blossoms around Vancouver were stunning this Spring - though it always means allergy-hell for poor Lorne :-(

Beautiful cherry blossoms line many streets across Vancouver.

Magenta magnolia.

Bronwyn with a dog that looked like he could eat her whole.
Luckily he's a gentle giant, apparently, called Caesar.

ENGLAND (June 2012)

There are still LOTS more pictures I need to add from our trip this summer, especially from our travels around Scotland too - but here are a couple of England pics for starters:

 

These beautiful, vivid red poppies were in a field across opposite
my brother's house in High Ackworth, Pontefract (UK).



More poppies from the same field in
High Ackworth, Pontefract (UK).



Donkey rides at Cleethorpes Beach, England (my home town).
Still going strong after all these years.

The Furry Free-Loaders (aka. Mishka, Mel and Louis)

When we first adopted Mel and Louis in Oct. 2011 through VOKRA (Vancouver's Orphan Kitten Rescue Association) they were just 5 months old, their names were Aldo and Stirling respectively and it was hard to tell them apart. Naturally we changed their names and have finally learnt to identify one from the other. It's fun to watch their personalities evolve while they remain so incredibly close and affectionate with each other - and they're great with Mishka. In all her 15 years and the 4 previous cats that have passed through her life, Mishka is really quite content with these bafoons and they are constantly seeking her affection. Having these past few months off and spending so much time with these guys has been an absolute gift, especially to be able to look after Mishka's every need now that she's elderly, needs careful dietary support and is on a regular regime of medicines. I swear the energy of being around the boys has even slowed down her aging.

A couple of these pics aren't great because they're taken with my Iphone (more for expediency before the cats changed position) but I've managed to catch a few with my Nikon too. I would love to do more pet photography so these guys are giving me lots of practise.

Louis curled around a sleeping Mel.

Mirror Image. (Mel left, Louis right)

Bond...Mel Bond. Handsome devil.

Louis & Mel - when they could both still fit in the kitty condo.

It's tough being this good-looking but even a super model
like Mishka still finds time to relax, especially in the sun.

Mishka's favourite spot all summer, basking in the shaft of
sunlight at the back door. Alas the change in seasons has
seriously eaten into her sun-worshipping schedule.

The 3 amigos

Look who stowed away in Lorne's luggage!