Autumn

Autumn

The morns are meeker than they were

The nuts are getting brown

The berry's cheek is plumper

The rose is out of town

The maple wears a gayer scarf

The field a scarlet gown

Lest I should be old-fashioned

I'll put a trinket on.

Emily Dickinson 

"Welcome Autumn"

hugs, Deb  (Sierra)

What made you smile today

Our grand-son, Brad who is turning 1 next week.

Already handsome like his dad.

He is just the sweetest little boy.

Spending time with Gwyn.

Those hands are going a mile a minute.

She is 2 weeks old now.

She has big Bambi eyes like her dad.

and tea-time...

with oatmeal raisin cookies from Baker Bob's in Almonte.

I made black tea and pomegranite tea. Both my favorites.

Fall flowers

and our neighbourhood cats

and This just made me laugh.

It's a rainy day here and a good day to tidy up and do a bit of cooking. Tomorrow we celebrate our grand-son with a birthday get-together.

Tell me please, where did that year go?

hugs, Deb

Sierra

This is a furry face I love.

The expression doesn't change much but she is full of personality and she's as clever as can be.
She loves the mailman, her family and she even tolerates the dog. She gives out free kisses to anyone who wants one and will greet you on the front porch when you arrive. She is like the 'middle child' in our cat menagera. She lives between two 'oldie but goodies and two young whipper-snappers.
Sierra is now 12, and although sometimes she feels like she got the short end of the stick when it comes to attention from us, we do love her and appreciate her everyday.

                                                                      "Oh, is that so!"

 So much so, that we allow her to have a little more freedom by patrolling our property and beautifying our front porch bench.
Now, I am not in favor of free-roaming cats unless it is a very safe situation but with Sierra we had to bend the rules a little. You see, Sierra won't pee in a litter box. No siree. It's not for her. She'll even throw on a scarf in the coldest of weather and head out to a snow-bank.

                                                     "And you have a problem with this?"

She really appreciates these lovely cool, Fall days.

She came to us as an out-door cat and had no intentions of changing that status. So, we had to give in to her demands and supervise her outside until we felt we could trust her to stay on the property. She has obeyed the rules for 10 years now. The only time she wants to stay in for any length of time is to help me bake. It's her calling.

I'm not going to let Audrey see this post. If she knew all it took was for her to protest the way Sierra did to have me usher her out the door first thing each morning she would be whizzin' all over the house.
So, I'm typing this while she's asleep. *grin*

                             "Hey, did I just hear my name and whizz in the same sentence?"

Now I'm sending you off to visit one of my favorite blogs, Spot on Cedar Pond. http://cedarpond.blogspot.ca/Why do I love this blog? Well, let's see...Kathy is a breath of fresh air. She lives in a little bit of paradise and will invite you over for tea anytime. She has a wonderful imagination and enjoys entertaining her grand-children. She loves cats and you will meet the beloved Blizzard.  Her blog is full of day to day life and you will feel right at home when you drop by. She also is talented beyond words and you can find some of her work in her etsy shop. So, grab your tea and one of those cookies you made yesterday *wink* and have fun visiting Kathy.

I'm joining http://camera-critters.blogspot.ca/
Hugs, Deb

A really good cookie

For my new followers, and "welcome" to you, I want to post this delicious cookie again. This is the time of year I bake these treats and everyone loves them. They are 'melt in your mouth' delicious and should go well with any tea. 

Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies

1 3/4 cups All purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. powdered cloves
1 cup applesauce (unsweetened)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup seedless raisins (optional)
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1 cup rolled oats

Measure together first 5 ingredients. Mix together in another bowl the butter, sugar & egg. Cream together.
In another bowl, combine applesauce and soda. Blend into creamed mixture alternating with dry mixture. Fold in raisins (optional)  walnuts and oats. 
Spoon onto greased cookie sheet or use parchment paper. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees. They should be golden brown.

                               So darn delicious.

It looks like October will be another very busy month for cat-sitting. I am booked every day and will be caring for many cats that I can't wait to see again. There will be a few 'oldies' that may be a bit of a challenge but hopefully they will do fine with their owners travelling and their care-giver visiting twice a day. Staying positive is key. Who knows more about the 'oldie but goodie' crowd when it comes to felines than yours truly? 

hugs, Deb

how grateful I am...

The sun warms his 'ol bones

while he dreams of days of running through the grass and climbing trees.

When I look into his baby-blue eyes,  I know he is so thankful for this home. Since the moment  I saw him, curled up and facing the back of the steel cage, I knew this was his one chance. He was depressed and confused; already old and forgotten.  He was listed as an abandoned 20 year old Siamese. He came into the shelter with over 30 other cats from the same house; all in desperate need of medication, love and care. I stood by his cage and talked to him calmly and softly. He looked at me once and then lowered his head again. When I gave the nod to the caring staff, he was handed to me with a smile and a "no charge". They all hugged him and said 'good-bye'. These ladies really cared about him. 
He has been with us now almost 6 years and, although he gained his confidence and his health back, he is now becoming quite frail. But he is loved and he has us to the end.

Must I remind her, he thinks, that I am the first to the dinner call and will keep her warm on the coming cooler nights. For as long as I can...

I hope you know how grateful

I am to have a place

To live the years that I have left

in dignity and grace.

Ed

Please adopt a cat from your local animal shelter.

It was Nana-time again today.

She is such a little bundle.

She has her days and nights mixed up so I'd better wake her up.

I am bidding farewell to Lucky and Addy as their owners return today.

Lucky

Lucky and I are great buds, and I did get to see a lot more of Addy than ever before, but I can't say she allowed me into her world. Most times I only caught sight of the south end of a north-bound cat. She is such a fearful one of strangers and until we become friends that is all I remain to her.  She took full advantage of all her hidey holes and only listened to my voice from her comfort spots.  She came out to eat only once I had left. I was so sure this time that she would finally realize that I was there only to improve her day; to give her food; speak kindly and calmly and hopefully offer her some loving attention. Nope. She'll pass.
So, here's hoping next time we will become friends. I don't give up easily even though I have often been out-smarted by a feline.

hugs, Deb

'No nip' zone

Sunday morning in our home can be quite a lazy affair. Kane is usually the last to rise and greet the day. We go through a whole pot of coffee before actually making a meal.

The sun is shining today and the September breeze is cool and welcomed. I love this time of year.

On Saturday, I found this little creamer in a shop in Almonte.

 It is called Old Willow, made in England,  and fits in nicely with my blue and white. My little french country cupboard, which has been neglected somewhat since the step-back arrived, holds some smaller pieces of blue and white china now.

 This is one of my favorite collections and I enjoy the hunt to add more pieces.

This is such a good tea.

I think I enjoy tea more than any other beverage. I love a glass of wine but only on occasion. Tea is enjoyed everyday.

I've had the talk with Audrey...

but she pretended to sleep through it.

I gave her a wee bit of cat-nip last year and she darn near left this planet.

Her eyes dilated and she began to growl. She lashed out at everyone and anything that moved, even her tail.

She then slipped into a corner of a box and stared into space smashing her tail against the side of the box. 

There was no telling what was coming next so I removed all the other cats from her reach. This lasted only moments and then she was 'back' .

Since then cat-nip has been banned from our house.

Which explains why there are paw-marks on my wine-rack.

Moral of this story...not all cats can tolerate nip. =^..^=

Not even the great lioness.

 hugs, Deb