A little touch of pumpkin

hugs, Deb

In hopes of a cherry pie.

Today we were out cleaning up around the property again and planted the cherry tree from Riley and Bradley. Today is Brad's 2nd birthday so it will be easy to remember the date. We decided to plant it right where the old log building stood. We'll be seeding the ground and adding wildflowers next Spring. I hope this tree loves it out here. I can't wait to bake that first cherry pie for the grand-kids.

Oh yes....we had a visitor. You knew we would, didn't you? Over the stone wall he came when he heard us walking about. I think he looks forward to our visits and watches for us now. The retired-guy thinks he is a girl. Well, it is hard to tell with this cat so I'm sticking with calling him Davey for now. You know...King of the wild frontier. He was such a character today; keeping me amused while I raked & moved rocks around. Look at this mug...

 All you have to do is touch him and he falls over.

I still don't know where he lives for sure but I'm starting to think he might be our next door neighbour. :)

I brought him out some kibble today and he wasn't all that interested. He had two bites and went off in search of a tasty mouse.

"Happy 2nd Birthday to our grandson, Bradley."

These grand-kids sure are growing fast. 

We'll be celebrating on Sunday.

hugs, Deb

A little more of Fall's performance.

Tomorrow we will be back out at the property and I will be inquiring as to who might own this roaming tabby cat.

 Someone commented yesterday that he might have lived in the old log building we just took down but there was no sign of that whatsoever. From the neighbour over the fence, we were informed that it was a home to small wildlife over the years such as squirrels and raccoons but she never saw a cat in there.
Fall has shown it's glory already this year. These were taken yesterday as I walked around capturing the beauty surrounding me.

                                                          (across the fence)
Kari mentioned in a comment that it saddened her to think about the hands that cut the logs and placed the mortar between them. While I watched Luke remove the logs I not only thought of the men and their dedication to this structure but I could almost hear the voices, the conversations as they worked together. I imagined the laughter and then breaks where they might have enjoyed an ale or two while wiping their sweaty brow and standing back to admire their work. I thought, wouldn't it be amazing to just get a glimpse of the day the old building went up. To go back in time and be standing in the field watching as they work.  Oddly, in my mind, all the builders looked like Pierce Brosnan. :)

Funny how that happens.....

Hope you are enjoying these beautiful Fall days as the trees begin their last performance of the year.

hugs, Deb

It's been an emotional day.

That's putting it mildly.

But all went well. Many logs were saved (75% of them) and as you can see the others were rotted. Most of the rotted ones came from the bottom of the building.
Luke was amazing at removing the logs so carefully. We really did appreciate his work.

Right in the middle of all the commotion and noise I was surprised by a visitor showing up. A very welcomed visitor, that is.
He sat with me as we watched each log be lifted and carefully placed on the ground. I was able to give him a tummy rub today so I know he is very comfortable with us now. He was actually very silly and I appreciated the distraction.

I told him all about my grandmother's cat who he just happens to resemble. How she would hunt in the same area that he has claimed as his little kingdom.

He found my story very fascinating.
Then he wanted another tummy rub.

Which he got. :)

So, that's that. We will be back this weekend to remove all the rubble, and there is lots of it, and take the scrap metal away. The logs will be stacked so they are off the ground for the winter.

Thanks for coming along on this project of ours. The fun part will be the rebuilding of the log structure so it's not over yet. I hope to have a safe and fun log building for my grands to play in and make lasting childhood memories just like I did. I know my grandmother would be smiling down on them. I certainly felt her presence today.

The weather could not have been better. We are in for some summer-like temperatures for the next few days. Hope the sun shines where you are.

hugs, Deb

A little more on the log building.

Saturday was a busy day removing the rest of the boards and part of the roof on the log building. It was decided to do the balance of the roof work when the loader arrived. Windows were removed, hydro box removed and pictures taken of all the logs. Another nesting box was discovered under the floor dirt. It still had feathers in it.

Today we headed up again to tag the logs. Allie (my youngest) came along to help her dad and see the old coop as it is one last time.

Of course, Kane has been there to help all along.

There is no doubt we all feel very sad to see the old coop taken down. It has weighed very heavy on my mind for a long time. It has been on the land since before my mom was born and was used by my great-grandparents. We are not sure of it's original use but at one time it housed two horses while the barn was being moved and then became home to many chickens, roosters and banty hens. There is a lot of history in this old building and memories to cherish. But knowing it will be rebuilt better and stronger has us looking forward to the family getting together and making it a fun project in the near future.  I have big plans for these logs keeping the memory of my grandmother alive. I know she would want that.

Tomorrow's post will be the last one now on the 'ol coop. Drop by to see the logs being carefully (and I stress carefully) removed and stacked. I'm hoping we start the re-building project next Spring.

hugs, Deb

Always a pat for her cat

It poured rain today, and other than a little bit of housework, I spent some time looking at sites on-line. This photograph of Tasha Tudor and her tabby cat instantly transported me back to my childhood. My grandmother, who resembled Tasha, would often be spotted in the field next to her clap-board house with her Maggie close by. Maggie was her cat. A cat that had the perfect cat life; outdoors all day hunting and sleeping in the warmth of the sun and inside at night almost disappearing in her owner's apron lap next to the old wood-stove. 

(source)

I can picture my gran rocking with her tea in her hand. "Oh she can be such a nuisance" she would be heard saying as she struggled to move her from her lap to stoke the fire.

Then the instant she would sit back down in her rocker, Maggie would leap up and settle once again on her lap. My grandmother's hand would pat her on her head and then settle on her back.

That memory is very vivid in my mind all these years later.

(source)

Maggie could have been called a gardener with all the hours she spent helping my grandmother keep her hollyhocks, geraniums, gerbers, pansies and peonies looking beautiful.

I imagine my grandmother would accuse her of being a nuisance then, too, but nonetheless, she always had a smile and a pat for her cat. 

Even though I had been owned by a few cats already in my young life, I think seeing my grandmother and Maggie together really left an impression on me. One that grew with the years and led me to wanting to work with cats.

(source)

It was a quiet joy they shared just being together. 

And even as a very young child I understood it.

My grandmother, Mary.

(2nd from the left)

hugs, Deb

Is anybody there?

"Hey, is anybody there?"

"HELLOOOO!"

"Oh, there you are."

"I've been feeling very lonely today. Everyone left with tool boxes and grubs on and we cats have been home trying to survive without our servants here."

"I ate all the measly bit of food she left us." burp!

"I've already napped 'til I can't nap no more."

"I even worked in a new box while wearing airplane ears."

"And I stole Aunt Sierra's blankie"

"AND, I put lots of hair on someone's bed duvet."

"On purpose."

"And I'm still really bored and neglected."
"There's nothing left to do but sleep with my mom."

"I'll call the OSPCA when I wake up. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"

=^..^=