cats and cookies

It was a beautiful day today; the kind that draws you out and you could walk for hours. Well, how about one  hour and then back home for a cup of tea and some cookies. Ha!....

I was gifted today with a bag of home-made molasses and ginger cookies from my walking buddy, Sue from http://readymadecosmos.blogspot.ca/ Zaza's World.

May I just say they were amazing. 

Are they not a thing of beauty?

I know you want one, right? I'll get her to post her recipe.

I made myself share with the retired-guy and he just nodded his head in approval as he chomped away. We enjoyed them with Manderin Orange Tea in my brand new tea-cups. I bought these because they are big, shaped just fine and have a perfect handle.

 How could I walk away?
Apparently it is ok to eat cookies after a 5km walk; just not while you are walking. ;-)
I spotted these two little cuties on my walk yesterday. Oh, I just wanted to reach in and cuddle them. So darn cute.

I'm wondering how little Molly is doing and must contact the rescue this weekend. I'll certainly keep you posted. Thanks again for all the nice messages and good wishes for her.

hugs, Deb

A new tea to me.

I finished up my morning of a bit of cat-sitting (just two darling old gals, Emmi and Didi, who I have cat-sat for years now), a stop at the pet food store, helping to co-ordinate the move of Molly to her foster home and then off to daughter's in the country to help take Ruby to the vet.

She has some intestinal issues and needed to have her food changed and be de-wormed. She has free run of their yard and loves to eat the odd creature. Gah! Her and Hugo have a great life at their country home but there are consequences to dining on grasshoppers and mice. Did I tell you about her tangle with a snake? No.....I can't go there.

The best time of the day was spent with Gwyn. Aww...she's a little dolly.

 She is smiling now, staring at you like you are the most fascinating of creatures and making all kinds of interesting sounds. She is almost ten pounds now and changing every time I see her.

Returning home,  I put on the kettle to steep a pot of this tea. A new tea to me and one of my daughter's favorites.

               English Tea Shop - Chocolate Rooibos and Vanilla.
                                                         Cute packaging and delicious tea. 

It is delicious. It is made from indulgent dark chocolate and real vanilla pods.

They have a facebook page called English Tea Shop UK Ltd.

I think I'll be adding this tea to my box of favorites.

and I just have to share this...

I'm joining http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.ca/ for Tea-time Tuesday.

hugs, Deb

Dare ya! & "Good luck, Molly"

I think Audrey loves the new wand I brought home for her. It is called a Plume Wand and it is quite enticing for a kitty cat.

She loves to wrap herself in it and then gnaw on the feathers.
Don't try to take it on her; you might lose a finger.

But I must supervise her with it because the pea-brain would probably strangle herself.

Little Molly is now with her new foster mom who was found through the Ottawa Cat Rescue Network.  Bless them for working hard to find the perfect place for her. Her foster-mom is a vet-tech and has experience helping mother cats and kittens. I do believe she is now safe and sound. I will post to let you know how she is doing. "Good luck, little Molly."

Thank you Donna for taking her in off the street and helping her find a safe home.

Now, if you are a soup lover, I am sending you over to http://themainehouse.blogspot.ca/ to try a wonderful recipe that Estelle posted this morning. I'm going to make this soup by changing the chicken stock to vegetable stock since I am a veg-head. This should be good.

Have a great day. It's raining cats and dogs here.

hugs, Deb

Chilly mornings

Ed always enjoys his mornings to start with a good meal and a wood fire. Because of his back leg injury two years ago when he fell backwards off our couch, he needs to be able to stretch out if he so desires so this box I found suits him fine.

The mornings are cool here in Ontario. The humans enjoy the fire, too.

Thank you for all the good wishes for Molly. Little Molly is still with her rescuer, Donna, and we are waiting anxiously to get her placed in a foster home soon. I went over to visit her yesterday and I was thrilled to see how friendly and sweet she is; just a little doll. Yes, she is not much more than a kitten herself.  If there is anyone in the area who can help her out by providing a safe and comfortable home for her and her future kittens, please contact me.

I will keep you posted.
hugs, Deb

Molly

This is always a fun movie nearing Halloween.

Hocus Pocus

Just watched it for the third time....and still laugh at these sisters.

My mind has been on a little cat just today named Molly. She was scooped up off the street in our town  this cold, rainy morning by one of my clients and driven to our local animal shelter where, because they are full, she was sadly refused. This little orange cat who has lived on the street for who knows how long and is very pregnant was turned away.  After a lengthy discussion, hoping they could bend the rules because of her situation, my client,  Donna brought her back to town. She is now staying in her sun-room until a foster home can be found. Donna has rescued many cats throughout the years and presently has three of her own. One of her cats, Rosie, is not able to cope with a new cat arriving with kittens in the near future. She is a senior and not well enough for that change in her life. So, kind-hearted Donna must find another solution for Molly.  I spent a good part of the afternoon calling local rescues and may have found help through one that I am very familiar with and know the people who run it. Hopefully, there is room for this poor little mother-to-be and her future babies in one of their foster homes.

Molly

She is so pretty and a very sweet girl. With all the moving around today from street to shelter to an unfamiliar home, she neither hissed or growled once. Please send out good thoughts and prayers for Molly as we continue to help her find a safe and loving home. If you are in my area and can help by fostering this beautiful cat please contact me at debsteckly@catlover.com.

hugs, Deb

Time to cozy-up.

It's time to fluff up the blankies and stick them in the ever-loved, chewed-up cardboard boxes.

They must pass inspection in our home.

I'd say this one passed.

It's getting cooler outside for the next few days so kitties must stay warm and cozy. They just must.

What makes you warm and cozy? For me it's a hot cup of tea and a yummy snack.

Like this lemon poppy-seed loaf cake with black tea. I add a little milk but no honey this time.

Because this cake has an icing layer it is sweet enough.
My blue and white dishes come out for the colder season, too. They are a favorite all year round for me.

Most are kept in my little french country cupboard.

Audrey wants to say "Howdy" and show you that she can look normal and quite sophisticated.

She sure has grown into a beauty. A brat, mind you, but a beauty.

Joining http://camera-critters.blogspot.ca/
hugs, Deb

Tea-cozy

Sierra is spending more time inside now as the mornings are a little cool for her liking.

I think the mailman will miss her.

I was so busy cat-sitting last week. Tuxedos, blacks, marmalades, wonderful whites & calicos have kept me hopping from house to house. Things are now a little quieter and I can pace my day and sit to enjoy a cup of tea.
Although I do have quite a collection of tea-paraphernalia, I did not own a tea-cozy until today.
Thank you so much to my friend and client, Cheryl, for coming to my door with a lovely gift from her travels.
Today I put it to use with my favorite Fall tea-cups. Yep, I found another one and now there are two.
That means you can join me. I love the colour of these cups and they are the perfect ones to use in October. We are having Margaret's Hope loose tea with honey today. It is a favorite around here and is kept in a special box with two other yummy teas.

Margaret's Hope Darjeeling

Black Tea by DAVIDsTEA

Discover one of the finest teas from one of the very best tea gardens in Darjeeling. Named after the owner’s daughter, Margaret, who fell in love with the magical beauty of the region back in the 1930s, this rare second flush is prized for its fruity muscatel flavour and delicious astringency. Sought after by tea connoisseurs around the world, it’s a luxurious taste experience that every tea lover must try.

If you are a tea-lover you have to try this tea.

And I do have a photo to share with you from our walk. This little scrapper with the scratch on his nose picked a beautiful place for a nap, don't you think?

Have a great day, everyone.

hugs, Deb