Sharing a hobby

It's always better to have company when you partake in a hobby you love. Actually, there is no getting away from this little firecracker. She seems to have numerous interests and one of them is me.
I  love to play with dishes, photograph dishes and eat off of fine china. I think tea always tastes better in a china tea-cup, for sure. I had the chance to bring home a box of tea-cups from a recent auction in our area and would love to show 2 of them off. More to come. But, as you know, a joy shared is a joy made double and I am enjoying my company in the dining-room early this morning. She is behaving herself for a change so I expect she's saving her energy for later. I can just imagine what is to come.

This cup is Jason - Bone China, made in England.

"Deb..you need a bigger china cabinet"

"Seriously!"

This cup is also Jason - Bone china, made in England.

They are two very pretty cups 

Thanks for your help, Audrey.

"You know I'm bored, right? Let's play"

I'm joining a few parties this week.

http://southernhospitalityblog.com/thrifty-treasures-4-22/

http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.ca/

http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.ca/

http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.ca/

http://www.kathewithane.com/2012/04/youre-gonna-love-it-tuesdays-1.html

hugs, Deb

Kitty love

Amazing markings. Be still my heart.

Off to cat-sit.

hugs, Deb

Seeing spots

I'm seeing black and white spots this weekend. In my care are 6 tuxedos, 1 cream & 1 brown tabby. All greet me with tails up

but one who prefers to hide out 'til the scary cat-sitter leaves. I can't win them all all of the time.  The tuxedos are all different but two. These ones have exquisite markings and look very much alike.

One likes to climb up my leg while the other is in my cat-bag.

Aren't they beautiful. Two 1 1/2 year old boys, Ripley & Nico.

It was great to get so much feed-back on my last post regarding feeding our cats. I never preach and I don't give any medical advice on this blog. I am not a vet or a vet-tech so I stay clear of that. I just know what works and has worked for years with my own cats and hope that perhaps some of my routine can help you out if you are questioning your feeding regime.

One thing I didn't mention was the fact that I also add a little bit of 'hairball remedy' dry to the grain-free. I use Performatrin Hairball dry. I throw maybe a dozen of those in each day to help the hair pass through without difficulty. Many of the hairball gels can cause diarrea in cats and unfortunately that sometimes happens here so to avoid that I have started this addition to their food. Someone also mentioned giving their cat sweet potato in their moist food for extra fibre. Fabulous idea. Pumpkin can also be used.

I took a few minutes today to look at the tea-cups I got at the auction. Many were just in the bottom of a box so it was fun going through them. I'm keeping three, giving one to my friend, Sue from 'Just Sayin' http://readymadecosmos.blogspot.ca/as it made me think of her so that's where it needs to be and the rest I will be posting and giving away.

Have a great weekend. My camera is working overtime with these beautiful charges I have. I'm sure they will complain about the paparazzi being hired for them. You'll meet the rest soon. Back home, things seem pretty normal for a rainy day.

These two are doing great and enjoying each other's company every day.

hugs, Deb

Let's feed kitty

4 hours were spent at an auction yesterday and, of course, I came home with some tea-cups. I think I was able to bid on them and 'get em' only because very few people want them anymore. I had to take a box full of them with my bid and I will be keeping only a couple. I think there will be a give-away coming soon for all you tea paraphernalia lovers. I lost out on some beautiful hand-painted plates from Spain as the bidding went out of my reach. It was fun and the retired-guy is hooked. He is already looking for more auctions to pick up small items to re-sell. That's the kind of stuff you do when you are retired. He loves it.

It is raining here today so I'll be catching up on filing and tidying up the office. Audrey is like a puppy; chews on everything. I have to keep all important papers out of her reach and my plastic table-cloth cover has a large hole in the corner now so I will be getting another one for special occasion dinners. Yes, she eats plastic. She's a hellian on wheels, I tell ya.


                                                                     "Oh... oh"

I didn't touch nuttin'

"You are shameless, Audrey"

But enough of this...let's get on to something more important.

After living with cats for over 50 years, I have come to the conclusion that they need moist food and lots of it. Since putting my cats on mostly canned food with only a little dry for their crunch addiction, they have lost some weight, look better  and act much less sluggish.
I started reading up on the down-side of feeding cats dry kibble only a few years back. Then, a good friend who lives with 5 cats and is on top of all the latest news in the feline world, told me that she took her cats off dry food and is really happy with the results. All her cats lost a bit of weight, their coats looked better and their stools were normal, finally. She fed them, twice a day, canned food only with a snack in the evening of a handful of dry. Lots of fresh water throughout the day and that's that. So, about a year ago I did the same and I also am happy with the look of my 4 oldsters and now the 2 young ones. The dry I give them for a snack (1/4 cup at most) is a grain free dry food. They all love it. They each get 1 1/2 cans a day of moist food ( 5.5 oz. cans) broken up into two meals. I give them Eagle Pack Holistic Moist food. If they are around at our dinner time I will give them a little treat of whatever meat is being served, mostly chicken and fish cut up on a plate to be shared. They look forward to this and it helps them bond.
My vet agrees that the dry food is what puts weight on our cats. All dry food is high in calories, loaded with fillers of mostly corn and sprayed with fat to entice the cats to eat it. She recommended that I go ahead and put the cats on moist food. I'm glad I did and will always feed my cats this way now.

If you decide to try this, I suggest you talk to your vet first. The vet can help you figure out how much food your particular cat will need daily and will also monitor the results. It's worth a try especially if your cat is on the 'chunky' side.

I'm off to cat-sit six cats I haven't seen in awhile. Time to fill the cat-bag.
hugs, Deb 

Brown Transferware & an anniversary

I found this little egg-cup at the thrift store. There is nothing written on it so I don't know where it is from. To me, it's like a piece of art.

I have it sitting out to admire.

I love brown transferware and am on the look-out for it all the time.

Today, it is 30 years since my dad passed away. I was expecting my first child in August of l982. I flew home from Calgary, Alberta to be with my mom and bid my dad farewell. It was a sad time.

 It is a strong reminder of how fast life goes and to always make time everyday for something you enjoy.

After cat-sitting today I am off to an auction with the retired-guy. We are just lookin' but you know me if there happens to be some pretty china. Hope I have something special to show you soon. What am I saying...of course I will. :)

Just a reminder....

Keep kitties nails trimmed and don't declaw. 

hugs, Deb 

Lovin' the company of cats

Who said cats are solitary creatures? Not so. Most cats love the company of other cats and some will go so far as to share their human when she sits for 5 minutes.

Here's Lily, who has been my lap-cat for 10 years and Annie, who refuses to hear any of that. They get along well so they make room for each other. When I don't want to be 'pinned down', I sit on the couch and they lie one on each side. 2 funny little lap cats.






I love this white picket fence I pass by everyday. Oliver comes running to the side to bark at Kane and cause a fuss. Then I hear the owner, "Oliver, that's enough" and it makes me laugh because tomorrow Oliver will get to rant again. He's a border collie and protects his beautiful property.  

What is this yellow bush?

I want to ask the owner but he'd never hear me over Oliver. :)

I'm on the hunt for more white picket fences and if there is a cat in their window.....'Jackpot'

I did find some nice kitties lounging around today in our neighbourhood.

Let's get a little closer look

and this one was in it's usual spot

"hello again"

Back home, the fire was on & the kitties were enjoying it one more time.

That's right, it was cold here today.

That's April in Canada

hugs, Deb

April Note card party

Vee at A Haven for Vee is having a note-card party and I thought I would join in.

She asked that we post 4 pictures from our blog that we would like to see on note-cards. I chose 4 from my 'cats in windows' photos so I hope you like them.

This kitty above watches Kane and I walk by her house every day.

The kitty below was a kitty-client of mine for many years.

The kitty below is also a kitty-client of mine

This little Calico was one of my first 'cats in windows' photos

Drop by to see some fun and beautiful photos at http://ahavenforvee.blogspot.ca/

hugs, Deb