Giraffes, pumpkins and zombies...oh my!

Well, the rain stopped just in time for the Halloweeners.

First ones to arrive were Riley the giraffe  

 and a little pumpkin named Bradley.

Riley was so excited to get back out there and knock on doors with mommy and daddy. We had our normal amount of Trick or Treaters and then off to walk Kane before the rain re-appeared or the zombies came out.

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween. 

hugs, Deb

Rain, rain go away......

 The candy bowls are out and the pumpkin is lit. 

 
  Ummmm......I wonder why the chocolate bars keep disappearing.

"I see you, ya know."

 Audrey is catching raindrops while we wish away the rain for the trick or treaters tonight.

"I'll be outahere when they arrive."

                         "Happy Halloween"
Please bring all your out-door cats inside tonight.
hugs, Deb

Hmmmmmmmm!

I am very suspicious of people who do not like cats.

As I post tonight, my thoughts are with all those who have been affected by such a devastating hurricane.

My heart is heavy for you, your pets and your homes.

May God bless.

hugs, Deb

Calming the nerves with tea and The Friendly Gene

 I'm on the computer upstairs and Audrey runs through the house calling out. She normally follows me up the stairs but was mesmerized by a flying leaf through the dining-room window and missed my departure. Now she's looking for me. All I need do is walk into the bedroom to make the bed and she will appear in the center of the sheets. That, she never misses.

Have you ever heard of the 'friendly gene' in cats? Some of my followers has asked why Audrey would be timid since she has known nothing but love and a secure home. I really do believe something I read many years ago about the father cat passing on this gene to the kittens. It made sense to me as I have met litters of kittens where some were very friendly and some stayed back and were much more cautious. Ruby, Audrey's sister, was adopted by my daughter and she is the friendliest little thing you would ever want to meet. She is much like her mother and  loves everyone. I guess she got the friendly gene from her father and Annie got the friendly gene from hers. :) Audrey takes her time and feels insecure in a strangers arms. It's just her make-up.

Because of this dark and dismal weather, my freezer holds cookies and loaf-cakes galore.

Good for anytime I make tea. I am using one of my favorite tea-cups today to lift my spirits.
The banana bread cookies are disappearing fast. The recipe is posted 2 days ago.

I love the handle on this cup. It is made by Peppertree Tabletops and it is Fine Porcelain.

I will have company, there is no doubt about that.

                                                                  "Hi, Cutie"
                                      This is her happy face.

I am off to cat-sit before 'Sandy' shows up. We are hearing sad news about the damage done so far in the States. We are to see the worst of it in our area over-night tonight. Praying all goes well for everyone.

I am linking up with Tea-time Tuesday at http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.ca/
and A Return to Loveliness at http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.ca/

hugs, Deb

Rainy days are good for the soul

True love here, folks.

One is deaf and has a damaged, arthritic leg and the other has a weak heart. Both are tooth-less. If you add up their ages it equals 42. They were both adopted with no teeth years back and Ed was deaf but since being here he fell backwards off our couch and now his back left leg is almost useless.

He gets around though, as he always has, but with a funny gait. 

But still, true love here, folks.

Annie was testing out the baskets by the stove today.

 Annie is first to the fire. Not long after, Ed and Lily take notice and follow suit. Annie leaves. The fluidity of cats keeps me so interested in their makeup. They have their own language concerning it's use. I respect their body language and let it be.

Rainy days make me do two things; clean the house and fill my head with thoughts of my mom.  Every year that I get older I think of her at my age now. I think back to her life and her place as a mother & a grandmother. I wonder what she thought of her place as a 'granny' and what it was mostly that brought her joy. By the time she was a grandmother to my first child, she was also a widow. My dad passed away 4 months before Jess was born.  When she spent time with the kids it was just her, no partner to share the joy of a new generation from their youngest child. It must have felt lonely sometimes although I know she loved to be with them. Thoughts like this...questions.

                                     My mom at 24 is my favorite photo.

Rainy days are good for our souls. So many memories swirl around, some that I am sure I thought I would forget someday.  If you knew my mom you would know where my love of cats came from...or was it her mom? I just laugh and think that probably my great-grandmother, who I never knew, carried a big, fat cat around with her while she did her daily chores. I like to think that, anyway.

No storm yet; just rain and wind. The kind of weather that makes you pull out the marshmallows to top the hot chocolate. 
I put extra food down for the ferals tonight in two sheltered spots. I hope they find the food and then quickly find shelter. I'll worry about them.
Please bring in any out-door dogs or cats that you own if you are in the path of this storm. They depend on us to keep them safe.

I'm praying everyone is safe from Sandy.


hugs, Deb

Goin' bananas

I groomed the cats,  and was abused by Audrey,  as she only takes a small amount of very gentle combing before she begins to bite. She bites, I react with a loud "Ow" and her ears go back and eyes look away. She knows she is not to bite but it's how she reacts to something she is not sure of . She is a very timid cat in many ways; loud noises send her running for cover. If a stranger picks her up she immediately looks for me. She is very hurt when her mother (Annie) growls at her.  She was very silly in her box last night so I took advantage of it with my camera. She actually gets mad at me if I take too many photos.

                              She loves to chew on her mom.

It has been raining and the walk last night was miserable. Kane wore his coat and I dawned a hood, scarf and gloves. Still it was miserable. This morning it has calmed but now we are being warned that the storm should hit later today or tomorrow. What do you believe?
All I know is it's a great day to make...
                                  Banana Bread Cookies
Need I say more?

1/2 cup of white sugar
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 cup of butter softened
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
3 ripe bananas mashed
2 cups of rolled oats
1 cup of chocolate chips
1 cup of walnuts
Preheat oven to 375.

Cream together the butter and sugars. Is there anything better than butter...NO!
Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Add the flour, baking soda and cinnamon to the creamed mixture and mix well. Mix in the bananas, oats, walnuts and chocolate chips. Drop by rounded spoonfuls on to parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Can there be anything easier than this?

I wish I could remember where I picked up this recipe but I thank you whoever it was. These are amazing and go wonderful with tea (of course).

I think I should package some of these up and take them over to someone very special who loves her new little brother and cookies.

Bradley is doing great and almost 12 pounds now. They are the cutest pair.  Riley is very excited about Halloween and we are excited to see her in costume.

Briony asked where I keep all my dishes when they are not on display. I don't have that many that I have to rent a storage room but I do have a buffet, a duncan phyfe display case, an IKEA  kitchen cabinet and a china cabinet. That seems to work for me. I don't leave anything out just in case Audrey gets mad and starts throwing things.

hugs, Deb

Copy Cat

OK ...so all you ladies (and fellas) who popped over to meet Susan Branch, did you quickly become a follower? I'll bet you did. Her blog is so fun and full of beautiful photographs and drawings. How could you not want to see more of Jack, too. It's a great place to visit.

http://www.susanbranch.com/

 Kane and I are on our walk yesterday and we come across this kitty sun-bathing on the roof of his garage.

He was fast asleep until his kitty nose became aware of a dog smell and then he was on high alert.

I like to see that. I don't want cats to be too friendly with unfamiliar dogs. It's not safe for them.

I congratulated him on being a 'smart kitty'.

After a quick photo or two we headed down the street. You know me, I'm always looking UP and sure enough there was a big scary cat just waiting for the Halloweener's next week.

Now, do you think that the neighbourhood cat might have seen this guy and wanted to be a copy-cat?

I think so!

Boy, that first cup this morning tasted good.

I needed this before heading out to cat-sit. Ummm....maybe two.

I had a busy day meeting and greeting cats.  My own cats are up bright and early to get their fair share of adoration before I leave.

Audrey always wakes me with a paw in the face. (annoying!)

Then she runs to her treat jar and sits there.

Did I mention she's smart? Oh, it's darn-near scary.

We are preparing for a big storm that's heading our way. The rain is just starting and it is very dark today. Better make sure there is an adequate amount of hot chocolate 

stored away

and last I saw Audrey she was counting the cat treats.

"Oh, there you are."

When it rains, I dust. That means more time with dishes. There's always an up side to everything.

Have a fun weekend, everyone.

I'm joining Sunny Simple Sunday at http://sunnysimplelife.blogspot.ca/

hugs, Deb

Is it a tea-cup?

I had a bit of time today to play with my dishes. I'm a dishaholic...maybe I forgot to mention that. :)

I keep popping in to the china cabinet to look at my latest rescue; a brown transfer-ware pitcher. It is fast becoming one of my favorite things.

The words  "I have a need to rescue something today" stops the retired-guys breathing for a moment. His head whips around at the speed of light and he asks quietly, "Is it a tea-cup? Please tell me it's a tea-cup."   Oh, he loves the cats, but we do have six.

I often change up my cupboards and cabinets but I always end up going back to displaying my whites and creams. That's my favorite look. A little addition of colour here and there finishes it off. The Fall colours are perfect.

Coffee in my white tea-cup and cinnamon sugar toast .

1/2 tsp. of cinnamon to 3 tbsp. sugar. Mix together and keep in a jar near the toaster.

This has been a favorite since childhood. I popped over to Susan Branch's blog http://www.susanbranch.com/page/2/ and was reminded of this simple, tasty breakfast. Have you met Susan? You MUST drop over as she will take you on a journey with her creative writing and her wonderful illustrations. She had me at her china display and then I met JACK. Oh, you will love JACK.

And where is Audrey right now? She's never far. Just to my right as I type there is a blanket on a wicker chest. This is her hide-away and she thinks no one knows she's there. It's where she goes to meditate & clear her pea-brain head.

Or maybe I have yet to find the results of her latest CATastrophe.

I'm joining 'A Favorite Thing' at http://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/& Saturday Night Special at http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/
hugs, Deb

Filling up the cat bag

It's time to fill up the cat-bag again. I have gone through lots of treats and furry mousies lately. I haven't been posting much about cat-sitting but I do have some new kitties to show you. I wanted to get my photo issues out of the way first.

I had a delightful time with these two boys. Are they not spectacular? Big, handsome, friendly & funny felines and I enjoyed every minute with them. Ace had no idea how captivating he was and Caesar was delightful with his silly antics.  Check out the look I'm getting. He just can't figure out what I'm doing in his kitchen. They are booked in again soon and I can't wait to see them again.

Ace
             
Caesar

 

jewel & Angel are regulars but it has taken forever to win Angel's trust. The day she finally stayed in the room with me and seemed to enjoy my company was a great day. Most times, she would watch from under the bed. :(   I make it my mission to win them over and I usually do. I'm still working on one named Addy. I've yet to get a good photo but I will.
I've had some time with my two favorite tabby brothers. Love this shot.

                                                              Chase & Bud
Ah yes...and handsome Cortez. I lay on the floor to get this shot.  It was wonderful to see this stately fella again with his side-kick Teddy (a young ginger and white tabby) who never stands still long enough for a photo.

Also,  Emmi & Didi, Max, Buddy, Presley, Molly & Billy 

Here is our Sierra waiting for the postman.

"I did NOT do this."

To make the time pass quicker she sharpens her nails on the bench.  I am picking up paint this week to freshen it up and then once the cold weather hits she will be happy to watch for him from inside the dining-room . I guess he will have to blow kisses through the window. ;-)

Today's walk with Kane was slow and steady. It is warm but we are being warned to prepare ourselves for a big change coming. Does that mean snow? I'm not ready and to be honest I never am. I don't ski and I have a habit of falling on ice. I have injured my back numerous times walking dogs in the winter.  If you are wondering about the ferals that I feed nightly, they will have a long winter ahead. I have only seen a couple of them in the last few months and sometimes there is no sign of them for days but I am there every night with food and water nonetheless.
That's all I can do for them and I will worry about them all winter. Damn!

hugs, Deb