~~Rhonda

I flew home yesterday. I loved having some time with the twins and their big sister, but is SO good to be back!

So back to normal life, normal routines, etc. After a day or two of relaxing first! At suppertime, DD decided she wanted to bake something. She chose a cornbread recipe from her new cookbook. We didn’t have any buttermilk (the pantry and fridge are woefully empty!), but it was a good opportunity to teach DD how to substitute milk and vinegar for buttermilk.

Cheddar Corn Bread Wedges

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. cornmeal
1/4 c. sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 c. buttermilk
1/3 c. vegetable oil
1 egg
3/4 c. shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese (DD omitted the cheese)

Preheat oven to 375*. Grease a pie plate. (DD used cooking spray.)

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir until well blended.

In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, and egg. Mix with a fork until well blended.

Pour the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture. Gently stir until blended. Pour batter into the prepared pie dish. Bake until browned on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes.

Remove from oven and set on rack to cool.

Using a sharp knife, cut the corn bread into wedges. Serve warm or at room temperature.

From The Kid’s Cookbook, page 46.

The cornbread looked so pretty and was delicious!

While we ate supper, Niko sat on the rug and kept an eye on us. He looked quite relaxed, but I think he missed us while we were gone. He wanted to be with us.

It’s good to be home. ~~Rhonda

Niko enjoys a head scratch. Some days he seeks more attention than others. He likes to be around us all the time, watching what we’re doing, but he isn’t real cuddly most of the time. Note the cat fountain in the background (never thought I’d own one of those!), but he has been happier since we got it. He no longer cries for drinks from the sink.

Happy never sat on this little ledge when the table was in the dining room. Now the table sits in the front hall.

Niko is under the dining room chair, while Buttercup sits in the window, watching him. Buttercup follows him around the house and keeps an eye on him. They haven’t become friendly yet, but they do tolerate one another pretty well.

The kitchen room was once an enclosed porch. This window, which looks from the dining room into the kitchen was once a window to the outside, prior to the porch. It makes a great pass through for food…and cats…

The second day of the house tour went very well. I’ll post about that soon!

~~Rhonda

Genny and I decided the deer needed something and she brought in some magnolia leaves. Perfect. We will use those for the open house and for the house tour, as well.

~~Rhonda

He likes to be petted and he likes to groom you back by licking any patch of skin he can reach.

~~Rhonda

This is a good sign. ~~Rhonda

I thought I’d post a few more pictures of our new kitty, Niko. He is still staying mainly in DD#2′s room/bath (by his own choice), though he saunters downstairs now and then to see what’s going on. If he and another cat meet while he’s out of his room, they just sit and look at each other until one moves on. But he will defend what he sees as his own space. Buttercup walked into his room the other day and he fluffed up and chased her out. He did the same to Zilli. He has no problem with them sitting just outside the door looking in at him. We leave the door to his room open all the time now, and I have found Buttercup, Zilli, and Happy lounging just outside the bedroom door watching, at one time or another.

Niko loves to drink running water from the sink. We can find him by turning on the tap in the bath if we need to. He’ll come running. Can’t resist the sound of running, dripping water. We find him napping in the sink a lot, which is funny as none of the other cats have done that. DD brings him down to the kitchen every morning to get him used to coming downstairs. He seems pretty relaxed and happy.

~~Rhonda

~~Rhonda ::still painting::

Yesterday, Buttercup spent time in the basement, but today, she was upstairs while Niko was free to roam. Most of the day, Niko stayed upstairs and Buttercup stayed downstairs. This evening, after supper, DD brought Niko downstairs. Buttercup sat on the kitchen stool and watched as Niko explored the things on the floor under the kitchen table. He didn’t realize at first that Buttercup was there.

Buttercup never moved, but she didn’t take her eyes off Niko.

Once Niko realized Buttercup was nearby, he sat under the chair and waited to see what would happen. After about 15 minutes he decided to go back upstairs. No hissing or growling…just a lot of watchful waiting.

I think they’re doing fine. There haven’t been any kind of kitty confrontations. It’s just a matter of time. They’ll be playing and snoozing together before you know it.

~~Rhonda

In the kitchen, he stood at the back door and watched the outdoor cats.

He thought DD’s school book bag was full of interesting smells.

This evening Niko sat on DD’s lap for a long time while she told him good night.

We’ve had a busy day. I painted several pieces of furniture and Russell painted in the addition. We settled on a wall color…I’ll take a picture tomorrow. I forgot to today! The oak flooring was delivered and will be installed next week. It has to acclimate to the house before installation. Someone from the counter top company came and made a template for the bath and laundry counters.

We’re making progress on the remodel. I think we’ll be ready for the twins’ visit the end of the month. At least in the addition. DD’s room is going to take a while longer!

~~Rhonda