A conversation-piece & Smudge.

This is a little 'treasure' found last week at our local antique shop.

Can anyone tell us what it is?

Seriously, we have no idea. :-b

Under the plug is a small area that holds something (I'm thinking ice) for whatever is in the bottle.

The area under the plug is not perforated. 

We think it is quite the conversation piece.

My guess is it would hold wine and the ice keeps it chilled. We were told it is around 100 years old but how the shop-keeper knew that beats me because she wasn't sure what the heck it was.

Here's another little treasure; the little crock that hangs in my window.

Last week it held pansies.

 It holds little mums today.

                                                                  Beauty  
Linda...if you are reading this, can you tell me what this is called?

I met lots of gorgeous new kitty-clients today and will have a very busy weekend spoiling them.
I mentioned the other day that I was caring for a special cat this week and would be saying 'farewell' to her as she is soon moving with her family. That darling cat is fourteen year old Smudge. I have cared for her for ten years and will miss her so much. So, so much. This is the down-side to what I do.
I wish all the best to her and her family as they start their life in their new home. "Take care, dear Smudge. It was such a privilege being your cat-sitter." *sniff*

I miss her already.

On Sunday I hear I am the guest of honour for a family breakfast at my daughter's lovely home.
I'm sure there will be many wonderful get-togethers as we celebrate Mother's Day.
Sounds like a great weekend ahead.

hugs, Deb

Wordless Wednesday

=^..^= Rae-Rae =^..^=

Black Beauties

"Gotcha Toots."

A gift from my daughter

Cast iron hanger.

On the wall it will look like this...

but I won't be hanging it yet.

And one of my favorite vases that now holds lilac branches.

It will look even better filled with purple lilacs.

"Oh, alright Joe."

He figures he has enough black beauty that he should be included in this post.

And since he posed so nicely for me,  while watching the birds enjoy new suet and an apple this morning at the feeders, I am including him, too.

He's still in love with Annie but she loathes him.

The sun is shining and the temps are rising today.

I have some cat-sitting to do and a Mother's Day card to buy and mail to my 91 year old MIL.

I wish I could hand deliver it as I miss her. I must plan a trip soon. 

hugs, Deb

2 lovely cats...2 lovely 'finds'

                                         Flash & Quincy
Aren't they lovely? These two boys were cats with behaviour problems when first adopted by my wonderful clients. With determination and lots of love they brought these cats around and now they are ...dare I say it...purr-fect companions. I love these two fantastic felines.

I haven't had time to buy fresh-cut flowers with all the cat-sitting this past week so I cut off a few lilac branches and brought them in to enjoy. They are gorgeous when they open up; the most beautiful colour of green.

We are still waiting on lilacs. Won't be long now. 

It was a good afternoon to go 'hunting' for a treasure in Almonte.
The antique shop/thrift store was a happening place today. Not 
much else to do on a cold, rainy Sunday.

Hmmm....perhaps a cookie jar.

                                                 A pitcher that can double as a flower vase.
I was happy to come home with two new pieces of pottery.

Off to kitty-sit a very special little cat who is moving away soon. I have cared for her for over ten years and it will be hard to think that it will be my last visit with her. That's the down-side of what I do. :-(

hugs, Deb 

Still helping out our bird friends

I'm getting paid back tenfold for feeding the birds all winter. It took awhile before I started seeing lots of action at the feeders but now I have many different birds visiting daily.

I'm a little surprised because of all the comings and goings at our front door but momma-to-be Chickadee is determined to have her babies in this ornament. It is a bird-house but was never used for that until now.
I stay clear of the bird-house and only speak to the bird when she is sitting watching me only a few feet away. I'm quite thrilled about this as the Chickadee has always been a favorite of mine. I remember at age 8 writing an essay on the Chickadee for English class and receiving an 'A'.

Here she is sitting in the tree next to our house.

You can see it is over-cast again today and rain expected. *darn*
We really need some sunshine.
Here's the little house where the nest is built.

I would normally wash it down and straighten it's whiskers after the long, cold winter but I am afraid to touch it in case it scares her away. So,....it's no mansion but it's home for her.

I'm a little concerned as far as Sierra being on the porch to greet our mailman each morning. It's not like she hasn't been known to grab a bird in her younger days.

We will have to keep her in when the time comes for the fledglings to leave the nest.

"Well, pfffffftttttt....to that", says  Sierra 

Yes, this is how she sits and waits for the mailman.

It's no wonder he finds her amusing.

hugs, Deb

Just Cats and some other finer things in life.

CATS...

Annie and our ghost cat behind.
Lily often pops up out of nowhere.

I arrive at my kitty-clients home this morning to find the basement hall-way filled with strands of toilet paper. Yep, he was bored and made full use of his spare time. Every one of his toys were scattered. Just look at those rascally eyes.

But by the time I reached the next home, the sun was shining and the residents were enjoying a nap in a sun-puddle.

                                             Little Lion

and a few little treasures...

Pretty pansies

a little more pottery

*grin*

Hope you all have a fun weekend.
hugs, Deb

Kitties galore.

The area in which we live is home to many talented artists and photographers. I am lucky enough to provide cat-sitting service to some of these gifted people.

I purchased this photograph from one of my clients many years ago.

The photo was taken of a stranger and a cat just outside of Toronto by the talented Susan Fisher. I remember asking Susan whether the person was a man or a woman. She wasn`t sure, she said. She paid more attention to the kitten. :)

Susan is owned by the energetic little Pip and her side-kick Mousie. You might remember them from last month when I posted photos of them.
                                                      PIP

Mousie

  Susan and I do go back further as I cared for some of her cats that have now passed on.  I also used her property for the back-drop of this favorite photo of Kane and me taken in 2009.

I wanted to show you some of my kitty-clients that I have pampered with TLCC (insert Cat where appropriate).

Gorgeous, friendly, healthy, well-loved felines that brighten my day.

                                                                              QUINCY

Here is Quincy & Flash enjoying the wild-life

who I feed on their back deck.

SPARKY

He loves to watch the birds all morning.

Sweet old Jenny.

She has hair like angora and is always in need of a brushing.

She is 21 this year.

WILLOW

She`s a mover and a groover.

PARKER

A mushball who was once feral.

&

DOMINIQUE

A beauty inside and out.

Lots of gorgeous cats. Now I`m off again to cat-sit.

Have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Deb