Susan can cook....Just Sayin'

"Thank you Susan so much for such a lovely meal."

"This girl can cook!"

Watermelon, mint and feta salad.

Oh my! This is so refreshing.

And check out the chick pea salad and teeny roasted potatoes. Chicken done to perfection by hubby Ian and my main item...portobello mushroom stuffed with a salsa, green pepper and onion filling and topped with feta done to perfection on the barbeque. 

So good!

The retired-guy's favorite pie is peach and sure enough we were served the best home-made peach pie and ice-cream for dessert.

Thanks again Susan and I hope you enjoy your tea today in your new vintage tea-cup. I found it at the Log Farm and Audrey helped me pack it up.

We had to leave early last night as my daughter, Allie was ill and I wanted to check on her. The flu-bug has arrived.

Drop by and meet Susan http://readymadecosmos.blogspot.ca/and take those recipes she posts very seriously. 

hugs, Deb

Pampering my orchid & one eye on Audrey

Is this ok? Should I straighten this shoot so the buds will bloom and not be damaged? I have attached it to another shoot and I'm hoping this is the right thing to do.

Audrey was put on a bus with a note attached to let her off at the first camp-ground and I'd pick her up in a week or so but she was returned by the bus-driver because of her bad language. I can't win.

                                  "I'm  reporting you, you maniac"

Anyway, she's back and I will just have to keep a 24 hour watch on my very brave orchid.

I've been dusting again. I live with 7 furry bodies and a messy retired-guy who is always 'fixin' something so you can imagine it does not get done at one fell-swoop.

Then I came face to face with dishes and you know what happens then.

I'm nursing a head-ache so I'm enjoying a second cup of coffee. Have a great day.

hugs, Deb

Buddy in a window & a bloomin' surprise

He's yawning here because he finds me quite boring, I suspect.

He goes to his window to 'pretend hunt' and does not appreciate the pawparatzi bothering him.

That's ok, Bud. 

I think my orchid is about to bloom. This will be a first for any orchid that was unfortunate enough to find its' way to my home. Either a particular lion-like cat destroys them or I over-water them because I think watering means 'love'.

Look.....look.....look

Maybe it just likes the window A/C

  

I tucked the orchid in with these other plants so Miss Audrey wouldn't eat it and I think it has paid off. Ha! for once it's Deb 1...Audrey 0

"I CAN HEAR YOU, YA KNOW"

         

"Witless woman...pfffft!"

hugs, Deb

Tasha Tudor, Fancy-footed Lola and my sweet Ebony

Today we celebrate Tasha Tudor. She was born August 28, 1915 and her work is cherished around the world for its' whimsical imagery and celebration of simple pleasures.

With her constant companion, Minou.
http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/tashatudor/homepage.aspx

If you read my last post I'm sure you noticed Lola's big paws. Lola was a rescued cat that one of my client's found behind her office. lost and emaciated.
Home she came and now she lives in the lap of luxury.

See the extra thumb

Lola is a polydactyl cat. A polydactyl cat has more 'toes' than your normal everyday kitty-cat.

 The most I have seen is 6 on one foot and 7 on the other. That was our cat, Tina many years ago. I'm not sure how many toes Lola has but I'll find out from her owner.



A polydactyl cat is a cat with a congenital physical anomaly called polydactyly (or polydactylism, also known as hyperdactyly), a type of cat body type genetic mutation that causes the cat to be born with more than the usual number of toes on one or more of its paws. Cats with this genetically inherited trait are most commonly found along the East Coast ofNorth America (in the United States and Canada) and in South West England and Wales. The Carleton Place area where I live has many of these beautiful, big-footed cats.

Ebony has tiny feet but a big personality.

She is another one of my client's cats who I will be saying "so long" to today after caring for her for 2 weeks. She is 14 years old, but, like so many of my blogging friends, does not look her age at all. She has been such a treat to care for; always happy to see the lady with thumbs arrive. The sound of me cracking open that scrumpdillyishus can of cat grub sends her heart a flutter.
I'll miss her but she's already booked for a time in September so, "See you soon, sweet Ebony."


My favorite time of year is just within reach. I'm already planning the flowers for the porch and thinking about going through my Fall clothing. Pumpkin muffins have been dancing in my head lately.
The colours of Fall & hot chocolate, warm sweaters, new runners, Calico Cats. Love, love, love.

hugs, Deb

Tea party/shower & a recipe

How do you get a bunch of young beauties to sip tea from china tea-cups? You throw a tea party/shower for the newest bride. That bride is my daughter, Jess.
                                                     

They are good sports to play 'tea-party'.

This was a surprise party held at my daughter, Allies' home.

Jess and her best friend, Lindsay

Jess's aunt Diane baked all these goodies for the 'tea-party'.

I baked a banana cake with vanilla icing. These tea-cups were for the ladies to take home along with tea and of course, some chocolate.

Cass & Jess

Lindsay, Allie & Jess 

I've known Lindsay since she was just a little squirt.

Aunt Diane is an amazing baker.

Three long-time friends

Sarah, Jess & Lindsay

I think there may be 5 more tea-cup collectors in the near future.

Sarah, Cass, Jess, Allie & Lindsay

Now these gals are off to party the night away.

I was off to feed and bid farewell to Toad & Smudge & Misty.

I'll see them again soon, I hope.

Here's the banana cake recipe 

(It got a 10 from the ladies)

Mix together

1/2 cup of butter

1 1/2 cups white sugar

2 eggs

3 mashed bananas (use brown ones)

2 tsps. vanilla

1/2 cup of milk

Mix together

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1/4 tsp. of salt

1 3/4 cups of all purpose flour

Add dry to moist

Last, add 1 tsp. of baking soda to 1/2 cup of  hot water.

Add to the above

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

I iced it with a whipped vanilla icing but here is another icing that is delicious on this cake...

1/2 cup of butter

2 cups of confectionery sugar

1/2 cup of light cream

2 tsps. vanilla

Melt butter in saucepan.When golden brown remove from heat and stir in sugar. Blend in cream and flavoring. Place pan in ice-water and beat until it will spread.

Well, all cleaned up from the party. 

Off to cat-sit some of the cutest cats ever.

hugs, Deb

I'm joining Sandi at http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.ca/ for Tea-time Tuesday and .http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.ca/ for A Return to Loveliness.

Busy week behind me.

Wow..it's been a busy week. I've had lots of cat-sitting but not that many cats. You see, many of my clients like morning and evening visits so that takes up most of the day. This week I cared for 7 cats and 3 of them have 2 visits a day. They are usually the older cats, cats on medication or single cats that are very used to having people home all day such as retired folks.

Here are my charges this past week.
                                                                  Toady 
                                                            (He had me at "Hello")

Smudge

                                                                       Bagheera

                                                  Ebony

                                                      Otis & Lola

                                                    Rosie

I'm really beat. I think I am just now feeling the frenzy of our quick trip to Newfoundland  and all the excitement surrounding it. I can't wait to see the professional photos of Jess and Mike's wedding ceremony.

I'm going to be busy all weekend, too. Winding down with some kitty-clients only to pick up keys for the next lot of home-alone cats. It is the end of summer and everyone is squeezing the life out of the last couple of weeks. The hot weather is back in Ontario and along with it comes the humidity. I expect it will be the last time we will use the air-conditioning. I'm looking forward to throwing a log in the wood-stove, sweaters, wool socks and hot chocolate. I know...I'm nuts.

Have a great weekend everyone. I hope you have lots of laughs.

Susan from http://mymothersapronstrings.blogspot.ca/ asked what kind of cake I made yesterday. I'll post that and the recipe next week.

Hugs, Deb

Dish Dusting Duo

Is there a feline version of a dishaholic?

If so, Annie is it.

hugs, Deb

Am I bad?

"Oh boy, I love Kane's bed."

"This is the perfect size for stretching out."

"It definitely needs my scent on it,though."

Hmm..hmm...hmm.."I hate dogs" hmm..hmm..hmm

"I bet he won't even want it now, I betcha."

"And there is even room for my toy"

"I'll wait up here and when he comes to bed I'll scare him. He won't know what hit him. He'll never want that bed again. hahaha"

"Did you know Deb found more dishes at a thrift shop yesterday? She's wild, I tell ya...wild!

Have a great day..I'll be here waiting for dufus."

audrey

Dustin' dishes & my co-pilot

Sometimes I just have to play with dishes

                    and it was time to re-arrange and dust a bit

I always have help. That's Annie and she never breaks a thing. Boggles my mind, it does.

These cups remind me of summer

which is quickly leaving us.

My favorite time of year is right around the corner, though.

It's Kane's, too.

He's all tuckered out from helping me with my cat-sitting this morning. He gets to run around in the country. Yippee! We were on the road early; much too early for an old dog. He's not a coffee drinker so he was a little groggy at 7am.

He'd actually make a lousy cat-sitter.

I'm joning Tea-cup Tuesday with Sandi at  http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.ca/

hugs, Deb