A path for Forrest

I'm pooped from shoveling out a path, once again, at the back of the property. Our tractor blows out a good portion of it and then I get my exercise by continuing further.

Our grand-dog, Forrest, comes for the weekend and he will appreciate all my work so he can have a long path to run.

He will run to the back, around the wood-lot and back to the mouse-house; his tongue hanging out and a goofy smile on his face. He'll do that every chance he gets.


I haven't told the cats yet but I think they may know something.

"Aw, geesh..."

I'd better stock up on cat treats.

There is no end to shoveling around the feeders.

My chickadees were first to the new platform feeder I hung for the birds today. It's much bigger than the one that was there so... more room, more birds.

This little downy woodpecker prefers the last of the suet.

The sun is glorious today and it is calm and quiet. It's a day to find any excuse to be outside. Maybe I'll have some green tea and head back out.

                                                                          =^..^=


Ever wonder what age your cat is in human years?
Here's a chart that will answer that question.

Cat Age...........................Human Age

6 months........................10 years
1 year...............................15 years
2 years............................24 years
4 years............................32 years
6 years............................40 years
8 years............................48 years
10 years...........................56 years
12 years...........................64 years
14 years...........................72 years
16 years...........................80 years
18 years...........................88 years
20 years...........................96 years
21 years..........................100 years

"Happy St. Paddy's Day" to all.

hugs, Deb

Unpredictable March

It just snowed for two days straight; heavy, wet snow.

Everyone was shocked...

"Not again!"

We are all just fed up by now.

Other than one appointment, it was a good time to hunker down and get some inside projects done.

And maybe a bit of spring decorating.

And drink lots of hot tea.

The birds were in a panic once again.

Even Audrey hid for most of it.

But today the sun came out, the snow-fall ended, the temperature went up

and the birds were calm and happy again.

The unpredictable month of March.

You'd think we'd be used to it by now.

hugs, Deb

Looking back...

A few posts back I wrote about my grandmother's cat, Maggie, and how I had named one of my own cats after her.

I found these pics of her in a box I was going through and thought I'd share.

This is what she looked like the day I brought her home in 1992.

Twelve weeks old and full of mischief.

She always looked surprised.

Her and I at Christmas when she was five years old. 
This photo brought back such precious memories of her. She loved to be held while you danced around the room. She would hold on tight, close her eyes and purr. lol 
She was such a darling cat and lived 'til age eighteen.

Snow, snow and more snow...

Here's Audrey after I fill the bird feeders.
She is always waiting for the Pileated Woodpecker to return.
We had one of those large birds visit a year or so back and she almost 'had a bird' when it flew in and landed outside the window. They stand about 2 ft. tall.

These birds spend their time in dead trees and there are plenty of those right across the road from us.

We are snowed in this morning.

And, it's still snowing.

:-(

I need a second cup of coffee.

Stay warm.

Deb

Thank you

Thank you everyone for your tips and suggestions on making changes to Audrey's morning ritual. You guys are the best. It was fun reading all about your own cat's morning routines.
All your suggestions were helpful and Eastside Cats (pop over and visit) http://eastsidecats.blogspot.ca/ hit the nail on the head (for most cats) when she suggested more play-time before bed for an energetic kitty like the audacious one. I did a post awhile back on that exact topic because so many cats sleep far too much throughout the day and evening.  Let's face it, they can only sleep so much and with busy schedules like most cat-owners have, it's not always easy to find the time in the evening for cat play. But, to strengthen the bond, keep kitty stimulated and maybe even sleeping in in the morning, it's well worth your time.
Here, it works fine for Annie. A little playtime each night keeps her snuggled under the covers longer come morning. But it doesn't work for Audrey. I think for her it's just a fun thing to wake up the humans and get the day rollin'. Plus she wants her stinky goodness. Maybe I'll just get to bed earlier.  


"I wonder what you taste like."

Annie with one of her morning rituals

Not nearly as annoying. :)

There's a few signs of spring at the mouse-house.

Although there is more snow on the way as I type

there are some spring flowers popping up along our front fence.

The red-winged blackbirds are back.

Five robins sat on the old pump this morning probably asking each other why the heck they came back so early.

There's lots of mud here...and I'm not complaining.

Stay warm.

hugs, Deb

Celebrating our favorite people and a question.

I'm sitting here, feet up and a hot tea in hand while I type. It's been a full weekend of celebrating loved ones. My brother's girlfriend, my son and my youngest grandson are all now one year older.

It was a fun weekend.

With the time change, we are all feeling tired and Audrey doesn't give two hoots about that. She still got me up at 5:30 by screaming like a hyena and flinging my watch across the bedroom and on to the floor. My bedroom blind, torn to bits now, is then attacked because she loves the sound of it as it is thrust against the bedroom window; her claws tearing the fabric ever so slowly.
I swear if I knew of a feline behaviourist that could diagnose this cat's problem without taking me to the cleaners I would. Instead I will just keep reading about The Cat and WHY they do what they do and figure it out myself. I have quite a library of cat behaviour books as I cared for cat's for years while their owners travelled. After moving from our home of twenty-five years, I now offer this service in our new area.  Very slowly the business grows.
But getting back to Audrey, I'm just wondering if any of my blogging friends are as fortunate as I am to be woken every morning by a holy terror in a cat costume. Not one of my books so far addresses her behaviour. Why doesn't that surprise me.

We are in for another snow-storm so the resident birds are on my mind.
Suet and full feeders will help them through it. We'll hunker down in the mouse-house and drink tea. ;-)

"Best have coffee, woman. You look about ninety this morning."

:-(
Stay warm.

hugs, Deb

Campanula to the rescue.

Someone was not happy with the bottom shelf I installed for her.

So, the flowers have taken to the bottom and she's back where she is happy and can view the birds best.

"As if..."

This may  become a 'musical chairs' act.

Only because she lives to drive me nuts.

I found another violet that needs some TLC.

I hope they love it here.

I'll be trimming those blooms soon.

It's so dark and cold again. The temperature has dropped to -19 C this morning.

The feeders are so quiet...poor birds.

The Campanula plant is 

very appreciated with it's beautiful burst of colour.

It's home will be with a friend who is celebrating her birthday today

but for now it will lift our spirits.

"I smell chocolate"

"Beep...beep. Comin' thru..."

The little Queen Chick has arrived at the mouse-house with a cart full of Easter delights.

It looks so heavy for her.

I may have to help lessen the load.

:-)

It's a busy birthday celebration weekend;

three in all.

Looking forward to seeing all the grandittles.

Stay warm & cozy.

hugs, Deb

Charlotte

I could not count the number of evenings, either while preparing dinner or sitting at the dining-corner table, that I would listen to the bray of a donkey in the near distance calling out for dinner. 

It was such a comical sound.

I wished I could meet this mysterious donkey.

well...

Introducing

Charlotte - Wonder Donkey

She's just as cute as I imagined

                                                  Our snow is quickly disappearing.

and she has friends and apparently a very, very important job. I didn't wander too close as the look in the steer's eyes was a warning.
Charlotte, a guard donkey, lives with our neighbour where we now buy our eggs. She resides just across the road and waaaay up the hill. You can set your clock to Charlotte's 5 o'clock dinner "hee haw".
For the longest time I wondered where the donkey lived. I would always look up the long drive-ways of the farms as I did my daily walk and wonder if that's where she was. 
So, it's nice to finally see her.
Charlotte's job is to keep the loose dogs, fox and coyotes from coming close to the livestock. She has a large field to wander around and keep guard over the cattle, chickens and well-fed barn cats.
When I first learned of this, I was really shocked as I never thought a donkey could protect other animals from predators; especially coyotes. But, you learn something new everyday, don'tcha.
Yep, even at my age.

From Mother Earth News...
Donkeys who do attack a predator will be very aggressive, using their teeth and hooves. They may bray loudly. They will charge the threat and attempt to chase it away. If they confront the predator, they will attempt to bite at the neck, back, chest or buttocks. They may slash out with their hooves or turn and kick the predator. Experienced owners strongly suggest you do not attempt to stop a donkey that is charging or attacking and that afterwards, you allow the donkey to calm down before approaching it.

"Wow...you go, girl."

See you next week, Charlotte.

Early Bird Special...
To all you fussy bluebirds out there...fly by and take a look at our beautifully rustic spring model. This 'cheap' and airy structure will be vacant as of April. I know location is everything when raising a young family. Our wooded landscape provides you with peace and tranquility. Athough, our neighbour's cat, David, who has a short attention-span and can be bought with Temptations, may think he is hiding in the woods. All-day dining available only seconds away in our up-scale fly-thru restaurants and a 24/7 spa for mom. Fly by, bring your friends. I can let it go for a song.

hugs, Deb