Welcoming May

This photo was taken in May of 2010.

I was about to take a photo of my flower pots when Sierra photo-bombed the picture before photo-bombing was popular.

The grass was green and the flowers were abundant in May back in 2010. Not this year. We are weeks behind and our grass is far from green.

Gardens are empty.

It has rained for two days steady and we expect more this week.

That should green up the grass if nothing else.

A visit from Gwyn and her mommy takes away the rainy day blues.

That is a Catalpa Tree in the foreground. We have started it from seed and it is growing quite well.

The plan is to plant it on our property so we can enjoy the beautiful flowers and fragrance. 

Amazing seed pods.

Look at the size of those leaves.

This is one in full bloom.

Just look at the blossoms. So pretty.

The branches are thick. It's a great tree for playing in when you are a kid.

It's about as tall as Gwyn now. I'll take another photo of it when it is planted, grown and Gwyn is playing in it. :)

It will grow to 20 feet in 10 years. 

Right now, she just wants to grab the leaves. Or anything else in her reach. :)

I'm off to cat-sit two orange and white brothers and a silky, black beauty.

Tomorrow I will finally show you lots of kitties that have been in my care lately.

May is always a busy month for cat-sitting with Mother's Day travellers, weddings and business trips.

I'm looking forward to seeing some of my regulars and meeting a few new kitties, too. 

Hope you are all enjoying some sun where you are.

hugs, Deb

Time for some tea

It's been awhile since I have done a 'tea post' and thought today I'd do just that.

Perhaps Audrey would like to join me.

"oh goody...I can barely contain myself from all the excitement.

Do I at least get some cat-nip tea?"

"No, Audrey. You get all psycho when you have cat-nip. You get weird and stare into space and start growling. You give me the heebie-jeebies.

"I DO!, how cool is that."

Ok...time for some tea. 
This was my mom's Spring tea-cup that displays daffodils so beautifully. It's a very teeny cup, about 3/4 of the size of a regular tea-cup which makes it all that more sweet.

I enjoyed some chamomile tea, a bit of honey and a chocolate chip walnut cookie left over from Easter.

So, I thought I would have to be happy with flowers on a tea-cup, since we are still lacking flowers in the garden, until my walking buddy, Susan showed up. She brought me some beautiful posies left over from her daughter's baby shower *excitement ahead* and some delicious tarts. So.....we sat down for another cup of tea (I can do that, no problem) and a bit of catch-up that was long over-due.

                                                            "Oh, yummy yum yum yum!"
                                           The retired-guy has already claimed what was left.
                                              He'll devour them during David Letterman tonight.

Thanks Sue. Sierra misses you already.

She was told not to be on the table but Susan insisted. :-b

Have you met Sue? Drop on over and meet one of the sweetest ladies in the world.

http://readymadecosmos.blogspot.ca/

We'll soon be back hitting the pavement.

hugs, Deb

Sun worshippers

There were many sun-puddles to enjoy today

Audrey

and not one was wasted in our house.

                                                    Annie

 

                                          Freeloader Joe

                                                   Sierra
I knit this little bear for Gwyn the other day. It's a pattern for beginners; most likely for children. That's why I picked it.  *grin* I've never tried to knit a toy before but now I'm hooked. It's very bendy and no buttons to worry about. I'm ready to tackle a more sophisticated pattern so I am on to the next one already. I think she will like this, though. It's teeny, cute and soft just like her.

Gotta go...the retired guy just baked multi-grain bread and I've offered to do the taste-test. ;-) 

hugs, Deb

We miss him everyday.

Taking a stroll with my buddy last summer.

Today we laid our Ed to rest on our property in amongst the maples. He's with the others now and this week I will paint a little rock to put on the grave the next time we are there. I thought I would pick a flower or two in the field to place at his spot but there was not one to be found. We are weeks behind with Spring and proof of that once again today. There should have been many. For those who are new to my blog, we lost Ed to kidney failure last December. He was in his 26th year. I know how incredible that sounds but we only adopted Ed at the age of 20 from a local shelter and he was with us for almost six years. My veterinarian told me that Asian cats have a tendency to live longer than most other breeds. Well, he proved her right and we are so happy he did.

I'm feeling a little low today but I'm also very happy to have had the priviledge of knowing him and loving him for the time we did.
Rest in peace, dear Ed. We miss you every single day and want you to know that your Lily is doing ok.

hugs, Deb

Pottery and pussycats

I've always had a love-affair with pottery but only recently have started to look for pieces in thrift shops. I found one piece in a shop near Perth, Ontario. When I turned it over I discovered that it was made by a local potter, Rosemary McGinnis. That made it even more special as I have had the pleasure of spending an evening with Rosemary at a dinner party.
This piece I found in a shop in our town. I love dishes with lids and was attracted to it immediately.

Two pieces found locally.

It's the hunt for these fine pieces that makes 'thrifting' so fun.

 The sun did shine yesterday for a few hours so Sierra plunked herself down in a sun-puddle for a good snooze.

I had a busy day with cat-sitting and will continue to be busy until Monday.
I`m on my own this weekend as the retired-guy and daughter are both away. I now have a new admiration for him since he is always the one to be up, put the coffee on and feed the finicky felines before I even see the light of day. Now I am up waaaaaay too early, being bossed around by screaming cats and a jealous dog that stands next to the cat dishes and tries to disguise himself as a starved feline. The whole time I am dishing out the stinky goodness I am complaining about their lack of patience so I could at least have my first coffee. "Geesh!"

Can you picture 14 eyes staring at you, which includes a pair of hopeful Collie eyes, with mouths open like baby birds and the most hideous sounds emanating from their cartoon-like faces at 6am while the rain hits the kitchen window? And it's still dark out. It's the makings of the start to a movie, I tell ya.

After a busy day running the roads  I ordered up some chinese food for dinner and enjoyed a little feast. I`m not one to cook very much when I`m alone and any excuse for chinese food is a good one, I think. :-)))

Hope you are having a good weekend. I am off to cat-sit (since I just can't get enough of those felines) and then plan to have a rainy day inside with a good movie and a smoothie. I suppose those wascally wombats will want some of that, too. :-b

Hugs, Deb

Springing up the cupboard

Sometimes I have the three 'kitchen cats' keeping me company all at the same time. They will pull up a box and make themselves comfy for as long as it takes. That's how it was today while I cleaned the kitchen then they joined me as I re-arranged a few cupboards in the dining-room.
One in particular was a little annoying as usual.

                                                  "I don't like what you've done."

"It looks stupid."

                                                                    
Anyway...I do love their company.

It's an  over-cast day with very unseasonable temperatures. I won't have any bright and beautiful sun-puddles to photograph today. We are back to wearing coats and gloves again. *sigh*

I'm just 'springing-up' the step-back cupboard since I do believe that we have seen the last of the snow.

But then again, I am an optimist.

Early this morning I sat with my coffee on the stairs and had a little conversation with Rae-Rae.

She is the first one up every morning and she needs to wait just a little longer before waking up the rest of the house.

She's going to do her best, she thinks, but can't promise anything.

                                                                    5 am with Rae-Rae

hugs, Deb

Cats in windows & some kitty clients

There are many kitties enjoying the warmer Spring sun in their windows these days.

The only way to make this window with the gorgeous shutters more beautiful

is, of course, to put a white cat in it.

Tonight I arrived at the feeding spot where I feed a few feral cats and was greeted by a huge raccoon. "Dang...if it isn't skunks or crows it's raccoons." I know everything is hungry, and I don't mind the wildlife cleaning up the left-overs, but my concern is the cats.
I didn't have to worry though as he scooted off into the bush when I pulled in. The food was placed in its' regular spot and before I got back to the car one of the cats came running across the grass ready to be first in line for a free meal of dry and moist food.  :) I left feeling good.

It's a busy weekend ahead for cat-sitting & yard work.
Hope the rain holds off.
I've also changed up the step-back cupboard for Spring and will show you tomorrow.

Enjoy your evening.
Hugs,  Deb

A good plan for a rainy day.

It is a rainy day but that's ok.

It's a good day to put away the Easter decor for another year. Maybe, too, I'll plant some more pansies since I need to fill a hanging pot for the window.

The violets want to bloom again.

I have keys to pick up this evening to care for some stay-at-home kitties. May will be a busy month.


And...it's time to plan an herb garden. I think I will plant more tea herbs this year. Here's a little from Country Living on just that...  .http://www.countryliving.com/cooking/about-food/herbal-teas-0906

But then again, it's a lazy day and Audrey has the right idea.

Audrey toes

It's good to have a 'hidey-hole' when the need occurs.

And dear little Annie (or  Peach as she is often called).  She is so exhausted after all her company yesterday. All that entertaining takes a lot out of a girl.

Peace at last.

Hugs, Deb

Let's hear it for pie

I hope everyone had a very nice Easter.
I had a few requests for my Raspberry Custard Pie recipe so here goes...

Raspberry Custard Pie

9 inch pie crust                        1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup raspberries                   2 cups milk

2 tsp flour                                 2 eggs

1/3 cup white sugar

Recipe from a Mennonite Cook Book..
 Method:   Sprinkle the flour around bottom of pie crust.  Sprinkle the raspberries evenly around the bottom of pie crust.   Put milk, eggs, vanilla, and sugar into blender. (I mix by hand)  Blend until mixed well, and pour on the raspberries.  Sprinkle a little cinnamon on top.  Place in 400 degree F oven for 10 minutes.  Then turn down to 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until silver table knife inserted in centre comes out clean.     Personally I don't think 1/2 cup of raspberries is very much so if you like more you could probably put in almost one cup of them.   I always thought the raspberry custard pies were a little short on raspberries  :-)

How about a slice with a BIG cup of tea? Can I twist your arm?

Easter Sunday morning I had a little surprise at my front door. I was out feeding the birds and as I went to come in a chickadee flew up to the railing on our steps and started giving me a scolding. Have you ever been scolded by a chickadee? It's very hard not to laugh. :-b. 
I looked around to see what had her tail in a knot and realized that she was building a nest in my little cat bird feeder that hangs at our front door. 

This wooden cat has hung there for fifteen years and has always meant just to be an ornament. The retired-guy thinks it's an ugly one but that's beside the point. This is a first any bird has shown an interest in it.  I'm not sure how this will work for her with all the comings and goings at our door but she'll have to figure that out herself.  The nest is already built. I hope it all works out for her. I know I'm going to have to take a peak once in awhile. Is that ok?

A little of our Easter...  

Bear in a chick suit

Rae-Rae helped with setting the table for dinner.

Then the bunnies opened their baskets and went on an egg hunt.

Riley, Brad and Gwyn really enjoyed the egg hunt.

Little Bradley likes to pretend to make a fire in the wood-stove with Gramps.

Everyone enjoyed their meal and went home feeling full to the brim.
I then headed over to where I feed the ferals and treated them all to some left-overs.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend, too. The sun was shining, flowers are popping up and as I mentioned before, nests are being built. :)

hugs, Deb