Grandittle time & unexpected visitors to the mouse-house.

Our nights have been cold the last week. It is very still at the feeders when I am so rudely awakened each morning by Audrey's shenanigans. This morning the comb that I used to groom her lately came flying off my dresser whirling to the floor at 5:45 am. Then her Siamese-like warbling started up.
"Nope...too early for me. Go back to bed, brat."
Disgruntled, she sat on the cat-tree facing the side feeder where once again she was disappointed by no action. She might tell you her life ain't worth livin'.

Mourning Doves are first to the feeders. They clean up the spillage from the day before.
Time to fill all feeders again. See my squirrel feeder. I always put peanuts and bread crusts in there. The squirrel goes in, sits down and eats lunch under glass. lol

Breakfast at the mouse-house.

Grandittle-time.

Teaching Gramps all the dinosaur names

in his favorite book.

He'll never remember them, believe me, ;-)

"These are 'wishing stars', Nan. Pick one and make a wish."

I did, and I'm not tellin'.

I picked one, made a wish and said it's a secret.

Riley says..."Well, you could tell me and then have a do-over." haha!

She's so smart.

Cuddle-hog Ozzie

So at home on anyone's lap.

We enjoyed a delicious meal of maple salmon, rice & asparagus.

And...apple cake. :)

Wonderful to see my son and family.

When returning home we noticed what I expect is coyote tracks in our drive-way.

And, around the feeders.

I know we have a bunny coming around.

Wish I could warn it.

:-(

hugs, Deb

Time for baking FLIES by

As you probably know, we live in 600 sq. ft. right now so I try to enlarge the cat's world by bringing them down to the garage every day. They have places to climb and a window to look out but they do spend most of their time upstairs. They get a few treats each day and they are given to them in the garage, only. I know how small the mouse-house feels to me so I guess the cats find it tiny, too, but they really don't seem to mind it. The door to the garage is open all the time but I find them upstairs in their favorite spots most of the day.
I think I worry too much.

I baked today on my new counter top. We still need to find the right back-splash but I am enjoying the clean surface and the new feel to the teeny-weeny kitchen. Two little shelves have been added, too, so less is on the counter top. :) Lights are now installed under the cupboards.
Still need to hide some cords, though.

It's snowing today but that's ok. I'm enjoying the warmth and coziness of the mouse-house with my Annie girl while Audrey snoozes and the retired-guy is out. I am listening to The Eagles while I putter around. Best music ever. I still can't believe we have lost one. :(

As I stirred up the mixture,  I watched the wild-life outside the mouse-house kitchen corner window. The squirrels were ridiculous; little red being chased by a grey one, two black ones hanging upside-down on the maple branch. Grey took off after another black one and they actually somersaulted through the snow. The balancing acts on the maple branches were impressive as the two black made their way to the feeders.
The big wood-pecker was back for a quick bite and then was scared off by starlings. The blue-jays were filling up on suet.
As the birds come in to the feeders for lunch, the entertainment here makes baking fly by.

A slice of this with whip-cream and a dash of cinnamon.
And tea...always tea.

"Happy weekend, everyone."

hugs, Deb

Making the best of dreary.

The weather has been dreary with snowflakes falling much of the day.

But, it is winter after-all.

So what goes on here on a dreary day?

The Pileated Wood-pecker paid us a visit early this morning.

 

You can see his size better here.

 Man, does he love suet.

He can take out a cake in minutes.

Good thing there's lots more in the freezer.

My chickadees have to fill up before this suet-monster arrives.

I grab a few hugs while I can.

Mommy's girl

or

as I call her...

my little bundle of ferociousness.

"Oh, for crying out loud."

Audrey

I think I can hear her count backwards from five... and then she goes nuts.

( but she secretly enjoys the attention)

=^..^=

And lunch at our local tea-room.

I'm not quite the glutton our wood-pecker is. 

I shared that ginormous veggie omelette. ;-)

Hope you have some sun today.

But, if not, make the best of it. :)

hugs, Deb

little & BIG

A Downy Woodpecker enjoys some suet while our new regular at the feeders, our Pileated Woodpecker, heads up  for a snack.

This big guy comes by every day now.

And look at this little one fly away.

I love catching them in mid-flight.

The empty suet cage was full of home-made suet just yesterday.

Big Guy has a big appetite.

Look how cute this little one is.

Here's two more littles.

Grandittles Riley & Bradley.

These two are growing like weeds.

They are loving their new country home. They have a hundred trees to climb and space to run like the wind. Riley will soon be six and Brad is three.

Riley just lost her first tooth yesterday.

****TOOTH FAIRY TIME****

By this summer, we will be grandparents to five little ones.

We have a grand-son and a grand-daughter on the way.

"Holy smokes"

We have a very exciting year ahead.

I'd better warn Audrey

and keep the top of the fridge clear. ;-)

hugs, Deb

A bit of randomness at the mouse-house.

Let me just start this post by telling you that I got an email this morning from face-book telling me there were two people that I might like to follow. The first one was called Lip-stickwhore with a picture of a rather sultry-looking woman. I didn't even look at the second one. Where do they get this stuff?  And WHY would I want it???

                                "I had nothin' to do with it."

So, after a second cup of coffee, I headed out to fill the feeders. The chickadees were ready and waiting for breakfast and very chatty.

My pretty seed wreath was pulled apart and destroyed very quickly. I guess it was too delicious to not be devoured by something.
I'll have to blame the squirrels or maybe a raccoon. There are so many tracks to try to identify each morning. I need a little web-cam to know what lurks about after dark.
The next one I make will come inside at night.

I am craving colour these days. This little primrose plant came home with me just to bring some cheer to the mouse-house.
I hope it does well on my new window shelf.

                                                                                 Taken on this dull dark morning.
Thoughts of our Sierra sit heavy on my mind this morning.
I guess I still can't believe that she has left us so soon.

Here is a photo of her from 2012. Sometimes looking at photos help; sometimes not.
Our sweet Sierra used to love to wait for the mailman at our previous home. Every morning she would sit patiently on the railing or across her bench and when he arrived he would be showered with kisses. I kid you not. If he wasn't a cat lover he sure was once he met her. :)

My beautiful tabby girl.

Gone but never forgotten.

I hope your day is going well. 

Hoping for some sun today.

hugs, Deb

Around and about the mouse-house.

We are very excited to see that the pileated woodpecker that visited us last week felt welcomed enough to bring his friend for a quick lunch. Because they were at the feeders waaaay across the drive-way from the house, I was only able to get this lousy photo. :(    It's time for a new camera. I've been shopping around and hope to find what I want soon.

I've been told by an avid birder that this is a male (on the right) and a female which means a possible mating may be starting.
Could this mean we just might have baby pileated woodpeckers at our feeders this spring?
I would find that so cool.

Annie and I sat at the table watching the sun come up this morning. The start to another cold, wintry day.

 

These two love that I moved their cat-tree to the window above the side feeder. I keep the feeder full along with fresh suet and it keeps these two busy for hours. This is where our big woodpecker first appeared.
 In between bird-watching they like to bat at each other. This can end up with one of them getting mad at the other. Mommy dearest has little patience.

*whap...whap...whap*

The sun is coming up and we are in for a cold but sun-filled day. The finches are going crazy at the feeders.

Enjoy your day, folks.
hugs, Deb

Around the mouse-house today.

We've had days and days of sun-shine. Oh, it's cold but when the sun shines bright you barely notice the temperatures. The flowers and cats are soaking it up at the dining-corner window.

The birds have been partying at the feeders. They need their feeders filled every second day now as they try to keep their weight up over the cold winter. I'm mostly seeing chickadees, blue-jays, downy wood-peckers, mourning doves, sparrows, starlings & crows.

The retired-guy and I have been a bit under the weather with a chest cold which tends to keep us home more. That being said, more improvements are being made at the mouse-house. You can't sit around and do nothing all day.

Well, maybe some of us can.

My African Violets were getting a little too hairy, if you know what I mean, so it was time to find them a new spot.

I had seen this idea on a beautiful blog

http://www.allthingsheartandhome.com/2016/01/34874/

so a rustic piece of pine was installed in the window to give my plants 'a lift.'

This will work great.

And, I'm thinking Audrey will be happy with the top of the fridge and not need to soar through the air to this window shelf. 

It's a crapshoot, really :-b

"Thanks Robin for sharing your great ideas."

Drop over and meet Robin. Her home is so, so beautiful and full of charm.

I hope you have a great day, 

Deb

Saturday's Critters

Today I'd like to introduce you to my grand-pets.

We'll start with the ever-gorgeous Rae-Rae

and her side-kick, Joe

who belong to my youngest daughter.

And, they live with 

Forrest

one spoiled dog.

And there is Ruby

who just happens to be Audrey's sibling and she

shares a loving home with Hugo

They live with my oldest daughter and family.

And last but not least I introduce you to the charming duo of Cooper & Ozzie.

They own my son and his family.

So, the apple does not fall far from the tree.

Our family love their hairy ones.

They are all happy, healthy well-loved critters who we adore.

I'm joining Saturday's Critters at http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.ca/

hugs, Deb

Tea and a special visitor at the mouse-house.

Sunlight in the mouse-house takes the edge off this cold winter day. 

It didn't surprise me to see a chickadee be the first to the seed wreath this morning. Isn't it sweet.

There were others interested in this addition to the feeding area.

                                                Nuthatch

It's a big hit. :)

This cold weather turns me into a lover of hot tea. Actually, any weather does that, but that's my excuse for partaking more than most these days.

I LOVE TEA.

While enjoying my tea I saw a dark shadow fly by the dining-corner  window.

Audrey almost peed her pants when an unexpected visitor arrived at the feeder at the side of the mouse-house.

He flew in slowly and landed on the suet cage.

She went flat and her eyes were the size of golf balls.

A Pileated Woodpecker.

He's a handsome devil, isn't he?

He stayed for quite awhile and I think the home-made suet will bring him back again. Hope so.

Feeding the birds can be very entertaining....for man or beast. ;-)
Audrey's lying on the couch now with a cold cloth on her head.

Hope you are having a sunny day today.
hugs, Deb