Coming up for air -

The past week has been one of reflection and I admit

 to many, many hours in front of the television, or staying

 in touch with the happenings in the UK on my phone or

laptop. I felt the need to gather with my people across

 the pond in some way to honor our late Queen.

Being British, I was raised in a family where Royal

pageantry was embraced. My maternal Grandfather was

an officer in the Coldstream Guards. My Mother and her

siblings grew up in Windsor where he was stationed and

they used the castle grounds as their playground.

Later, my Mother was a Royal dressmaker in London and

worked on clothes for Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

I saw Her Majesty twice, first as a 9 year old child when she visited

near my home in July 1952 to attend the Royal Agricultural Show.

We had a day off school, were crowded onto local buses for the 

short ride, and then lined up along the street waving small

 Union Jack flags as she was driven by in an open car.

I can still recall the excitement of that special day.

via Devon Live

Elizabeth II's first visit to Devon as Queen was in July 1952 when she came 

to the Royal Agricultural Show at Stover near Newton Abbot. She arrived

 in the town by train and nearly 50,000 people packed the streets and Courtenay Park

My second sighting of the Queen was in Boston in 1976

when she visited for the Bicentennial celebration. She arrived via

 the Royal Yacht 'Britannia' on a beautiful July day. I lived in

Massachusetts then so again didn't have far to go to see her.

On Monday morning I will be up at 5:30 AM to prepare

to watch the funeral at Westminster Abbey. Later that day

 I will be watching as The Queen is taken back to Windsor 

Castle where she will be interred in the royal vault in

the gothic 15th century St. George's Chapel, alongside

 her Husband Prince Philip, Father, King George VI, Mother, 

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and sister Princess Margaret.

Today I needed to get away and get out into the beautiful fresh air.

We drove south of the city to our usual farm for pumpkins. 

Tucked into the countryside we were warmly welcomed by our

 farm friends. Timing was perfect as they opened today to sell the

 first harvest picking and I was able to get some great ones for

 decorating and cooking.  

Will show you more later.

The 'money cat'. . . . . . . . . .

I love cats but haven't had one of my own for a long, long time. 

My last feline friend was Tiny - a beautiful long-haired, bushy-tailed, part 

Maine Coon, who ruled lived in our home for twenty one years. We still miss her.

This is Nala, my neighbor Bob's big cat. 
She belonged to his daughter's college roommate. When she could no 
longer keep Nala at school, Bob was asked if he could take her for a little while. 
That time has lengthened into its second year but Bob doesn't seem to mind.
This weekend while he went out of town on a golfing trip I agreed to be the 
'kitty sitter', popping in to feed, water and scoop. I also handed out probably 
far too many treats - Ms. Nala really needs to start watching her waistline!

Nala, a calico, has beautiful coloring in her glossy fur, and her eyes are green.

Calico cat facts/genetics are really interesting - go HERE to read more.

I found her to be very shy with me, perhaps because I'm a stranger. 

Don't think she's used to having her portrait taken either - it was hard to get

 her to look up at the camera - but she was very sweet.

Folklore, in some cultures, says that calico cats, who are almost always female,

 bring good luck! Here in the US they are often referred to as money cats - perhaps 
I need a new feline friend of my own!

I know some of you share your home with beautiful cats.

Does anyone have a sweet calico girl?

Before I close, I also have to show you the cats I met on Sunday afternoon.
These are farm cats. They live at my favorite country place to visit when 
preparing to decorate with some Autumn colors.
More on the Johnson's Farm soon - it was a perfect day weather wise for a 
visit. We'll be leaving on a trip soon and I felt the need to buy my pumpkins 
early. I'll store them in a cool place and have them waiting for me when I get 
home. By then I'll be ready to do a little seasonal decorating around the cottage.

This was definitely a weekend full of cats for me.