Update from the Master of the CS-Household (the cat)

Well, there has been plenty going on around here in the past few weeks. Eversince CS & OX returned from Austria, they have been re-working the back yard, running a full work schedule and received my most, newest favorite spot in the house: A new sofa. Soooo comfy! Just look at me. Zzzzzzz!

I'll start with the latter. What do you think? Like it? I love it!! Mostly because it's not as high as the blue sofa set and eases my jumping up (I'm a mature cat, remember?). Then, it's sand coloured and lightens up the living room (and makes my shedded hair more apparent, but they knew that would happen).



For their comfort, they opted for adjustable backrests. Then they have bought this awsome extra seating that you can add and make a double-cuddle corner and just lounge around on. Nothing better than to relax with a fine human body (a fine glass of wine and a loving cat for them) and enjoy a good movie (nap for me). Just see how tiny I look on that huge thing!

We're all very happy with our choice.


Now to the garden. One things OX and CS did was to plant a few more flowers and elevated them a bit on tiles and "feet" to keep the many slugs we have here from devouring the plants.


They also elevated and refilled the corner where the box trees with anthracite grit to give a contrast to new the pots, and closed it with wooden 1x4's. This photo was taken yesterday and they trimmed the buggers only 2 weeks ago! I think they need a haircut again, no? Anyway, both oleanders are doing well, but it will take another few weeks for them to flower. Pictures will follow as soon as they do.




My humans also added three bamboo trees that were set into the old pots and placed at the end of the garden. The sound of the wind softly gushing though them makes my fur stand up. I think they like it, too!





The rhododendron are in full bloom and make me purr every time I pass them. Aren't they beautiful?




Last but not least, CS was given this magnificent bouquet of flowers for her help (see last week's post) with the organization of an international, double department company meeting. She was only deputizing a colleague a week before, so she was pretty baffled when the flowers were given to her, too. The bouquet was so big that OX had to pick her up from work because it was so heavy. What an honour!


All I can say in the name of our household is "Life is good". Let's keep it that way. Last year was more shit than one (or two) could handle. Time for a change, right? As they say in French:"Après la pluie, le beau temps" (After the rain, the sun will shine.)

We have other good new, but that will have to wait until the next post.

Loving purrs to you all,

Dale, the Master of the House

We're not dead... just a wee bit busy.

The past week has been extremely busy and the coming week is going to be even busier (I think) at work - which actually thrills me. I'm just like that.

I was deputizing a colleague of mine who was on vacation last week just before a mega-meeting that's starting tomorrow. Before you ask, she had booked her holidays over 6 months ago and the meeting was planned only 2 months ago, so no, she didn't do it to be mean to me, or anything. Actually, she felt really bad about it. Why? Now, you tell me... When do people start deciding to change their travel plans and their hotel booking, or cancel all in all? Of course, at the last minute (after they get the reminder with the agenda). What else?

Anyway, this just to tell you that we'll still be quiet until the weekend, BUT I will show you our new sofa, or maybe Dale will, since you literally have to scrape him off it, we've re-potted plants and they are growing like mad, not to mention that we re-did part of the garden, too.

But that will all be in the next post. So, stay with us, or go watch a good movie. We'll be back soon.

Have a great week!

Bad, Bad Fischau and The Dining Room

Yep. It's been over a week that we landed in Vienna for a 4 days visit to our friends Pinki and Andrea. How fast time flies!

Already on our way to Zurich airport, we found out that Pinki was in bed with the flu and that Andrea would pick us up. Poor Pinki. He really did not look his best. We had been looking forward to this get together and were hoping that he would recover quickly.

Once in Bad Fischau, not only Pinki, but also Embers was there to greet us. Isn't he cute?

On our first evening at the Backstage bar, we listend to a band called Lazy Diamonds, a blues-rock band. Their motto that evening was: "Rock is not dead". Believe me, if it was ever dead, it sure wasn't after that concert.

We slept in on Thursday morning and found a much fitter Pinki. He was still under medication, but definitely feeling much better, so we decided to just take it easy at home before going out for dinner.

After all, we had made a last minute reservation for dinner at The Dining Room in Vienna that evening.

Thanks to Kim from Stepping Stones, about a year and a half ago, I discovered a new blogger. Her name is Angelika, a lovely, warm woman with a passion for cooking. I won't too go much into detail, but I had the chance to read about how she fullfilled her dream, namely, opening her own restaurant. It was so exciting to follow her from the decision to "go ahead and do it", reading about her planning, the difficulties she ran into and the whole renovation work of turning part of her private home into a restaurant. The special thing about this restaurant is the fact that it has a maximum capacity of 12 guests and you really get the cozy atmosphere of being entertained by a private friend.

We were warmly greeted by our host, Angelika, and Maria, responsible for the service, and let's not forget Gino, her Golden Retriever. Actually, Gino is part of the family and is the therapy dog for Angelika's husband who suffers from Parkinson's. Angelika first made us visit her kitchen and then escorted us to our table where we took an aperitif. While Angelika was cooking up a storm in the kitchen, Maria made sure that we never ran out of anything. And we were not the only ones to enjoy the freshly baked bread. Also Gino loves "Mom's homemade bread", and if you feed him a few pieces (like we did), you can be sure that he will cleverly snatch the next piece that you have lying beside your plate.

The dinner was excellent! All of it. We were too busy eating to take pictures of the food, but you will find enough on Angelika's website to make your mouth water. There's a reason for the Dining Room's motto: "For the love of celebrating life". We had an incredible evening!

We drove home and pretty much went straight to bed with our full bellies.

The Friday was more or less dedicated again to resting and photography at home before going to the Backstage Bar for another evening of live band. Pinki was feeling much better and we had a fun time.

Then, already Saturday. We went to do a bit of shopping in a nearby mall before Pinki drove us to the airport. Another great mini vacation at Pinki and Andrea's was nearing its end. The nice thing was that we still had the whole Sunday to spend with Dale before going back to work. Aren't we leading a crap life? ;)