Happy Easter

Wishing everyone a Blessed and Beautiful Easter.

Hugs, Deb

Thrifty find & family outing.

I found this beautiful little crock for $5

Inside the little crock is a branch from our lilac tree.

The day after this photo it snowed and dropped down to freezing.

Now I wonder if the buds will open on the trees at our drive-way.

So pretty.

Friday started out a dull, cloudy day as most Good Friday's do.

Plans had been made to meet the family at Temples for an early breakfast.

http://www.templessugarbush.ca/

Breakfast was deeeelicious and the coffee was piping hot.

We then headed over to the trail through the sugar bush. 

Even Kane came along for the hike.

This was a good opportunity to capture a family photo once again.

This is our first Easter with little Gwyn. 

As luck would have it, someone who walked by was nice enough to take a photo for us. He said "No problem. I have the same camera."

Not bad. "Thanks so much...whoever you were." :)

Some of you have enjoyed your Easter dinners by now.

I hope you all had a great time with your families.

The Easter baskets are filled at our home and waiting for three very special little ones.

Our Easter dinner will be Monday.

On the menu this year...

Ham with a pineapple glaze

Cheesy scalloped potatoes

Layered  hot veggie dish which includes

sweet potato, carrots, zucchini, tomato & spinach topped with feta. (bake until bubbly)

Sweet corn and green beans

whole wheat rolls 

Cupcake Wine

Raspberry custard pie

Carrot cupcakes with butter-cream icing

AND

lots of chocolate

coffee and tea

I'm also busy once again with cat-sitting and SO HAPPY to see so many of my regulars. =^..^=
I am caring for a ginger, a calico, two grey tabbies, and a tuxedo. I'll try to sweet-talk them into a photo or two...just for you.

Wishing everyone a Blessed Easter weekend.
I'm off to kitty-sit.
hugs, Deb

*smile*

A story that one of my cat-sitting clients sent to me that I would love to share with you.lhttp://funnycatsgallery.com/mom-cat/the-cat-and-the-ducklings/

I truly could see our Annie do the same. Audrey would have put on the food bib.

I added a little bird in it's nest to the Easter tree. His feathers are sparse as he has met up with the wrath of Audrey but I was able to save him. Now he's safe. (I think)

It is sunny and cold this morning.

Joe is enjoying a cushy seat in the house.

This little crock is a thrifty find ($5) and I will love filling it with pansies as soon as I can find some. Apparently, our nursery is still waiting for theirs to bloom.

For now, it holds some lilac branches.

Audrey has found a box and will settle in for awhile.

Then it's your guess as good as mine what she will be up to.

Do check out the video at the beginning of this post. It will amaze you.

Have a wonderful day.

hugs, Deb

Easter table-scapes.

Easter is a fun time to decorate a table for a family dinner.

Our dining-room is very small though, 12 x 12,  and I have a growing family to accommodate.

It's a tight squeeze.

This was last year's table

I  had to cover the table cloth once again with plastic or no one would eat on it. You see, it was a gift from my youngest daughter when she travelled through South America and found it in a market in Peru.

It is a piece of art and I love it. No one wanted to be the one 'who spilled the wine'. :-b

My son-in-law said, "If you don't cover that with plastic I'll have to eat on the porch."

So I did.

In 2012 the centerpiece was tulips.

Easter 20ll 

I had to have some daisies.

and a chocolate bunny for everyone  (the little one was for Riley)

Dinner was served buffet-style so no plates on the table yet.

                   
We are squeezing one more munchkin in this year as now we have Gwyn in a high-chair along with Riley and Bradley at the table.
I'm thinking back to when I was young and there was always the 'kid's table' at family gatherings.
Perhaps we are not far off from reaching that plateau.

While the snow blew around our house today, Annie watched me clean the house for this year's dinner.

"You missed a cat hair. Not mine, of course."

From the look on her face,  I think she is at a loss as to why I even bother today with all the dusting. It's not like I won't have to do it again the morning of.

OY!

Now I know you are wondering "How the heck does she set a table with  6 cats in the house?"
This old house is just like all other older homes. The dining-room has two doors that I can close off  before the dinner just to tick off the cats.

I'm joining http://jannolson.blogspot.ca/ for Share your Cup Thursday.
Deb

A happy start to the day.

I have wonderful news...

on Molly (now named Maggie) and her kittens

Here is a facebook update written by Louise Hindel from The Ottawa Cat Rescue Network.

Maggie-E has been adopted to the same family who adopted her son, Brent. That is the end of the Maggie-E saga that began in the fall when a very pregnant stray, who had been turned away by 2 shelters, came into foster care. She is the young cat who had 9 kittens. All of her kittens have found good homes. Agnes and James were adopted together; Laura and Fitz were adopted together, Maggie was adopted with Brent and the other kittens, River. Ailish and Aden were adopted into homes with other cats.

http://www.catrescuenetwork.org/

I'm so happy for Maggie and her babes, who, with the help and wonderful care from The Ottawa Cat Rescue Network, have found permanent, loving homes.  Thank you again to all who donated and sent prayers and good wishes to the rescue in response to our plea for this homeless, pregnant cat.  May they all have a long and love-filled life in their new homes.

And to celebrate, let's have a little music shall we...

http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2014/04/play-your-music-grab-a-cat-start-a-catband.html

Thanks, Donna B.

Hugs, Deb

In the blink of an eye it changes

It was +24 this morning. That came out of nowhere. It was the first 'hot, windy and sunny day' so far and we were out as much as possible to enjoy it.

Kane was actually too warm today and his slow, methodic walking showed it. He came home and headed straight to the cold water dish.

We made our smoothie for lunch today. This time we threw some blueberries, cantalope, banana, kiwi, pineapple, apple, strawberries and plain yogurt together. Yep...tasted great.

My lilac bush at the front of the house has buds on it and that worries me as we are expecting a snow storm and ice pellets tomorrow. This weather is just too much. I want to warn the birds that are singing their little heads off of the up and coming change. I feel so sorry for them. I feel sorry for us, too. haha!

My shamrock is blooming again.

It will remain Spring inside even if 'ol man winter' is at our door again.
I'll just take to a hidey-hole tomorrow like my little friend, Audrey does.

The others never know whether to lie on a blanket around here or not. You never know what lurks inside.

As I type this the wind is picking up and the rain is starting. Snow and ice pellets expected tomorrow. Geesh...

Canada has four seasons...Almost winter, winter, still winter and construction. :-b

hugs, Deb

Snippets from the weekend.

Almonte was 'a happenin' town on Saturday. The stores were showing off their Easter decor and staging their Easter goodies right as you walked in their doors. It was beautiful with all the yellow, greens, creams and purples. Easter baskets will be filled to the brim, I expect, with all the cheerful customers lining up at the cash. I found a little ornament for the Easter tree and also a 'thrifty' treasure to hold some chocolate delights for the kids.

 Oh, did I mention it was A BEAUTIFUL DAY? Winter coats were ditched and Spring attire could be seen everywhere. After a great lunch, we took Kane for a long walk and enjoyed the sunshine.

Sierra helped me feed the birds and squirrels today and then had herself a manicure on the tree bark. I think she's a good cat to stay on our property. That's why she's allowed out for awhile most mornings.

Sierra

The little knitted egg was this year's addition to the Easter tree.  

I finished a little blanket in the basket stitch for Riley.

Now I'll make a little pillow and then wrap it up with a bow for her Easter basket.

I have a bit of a sore back today so this is my 'day of rest'.

Although, I do feel like putting together a tasty spaghetti sauce so that much I'll do. 

I don't 'rest' well.

It was a quiet weekend for cat-sitting as everyone will be travelling for Easter soon.

Next week you will meet 2 black beauties, 2 tabby sisters, a gorgeous tuxedo, a calico and a marmalade tabby. 

Time to fill up the cat-bag.

Audrey watches me dress from atop my armoire. She is worse than a full-length mirror. She is my 'encouragement' to keep up my daily walks.

"That's a little snug, don't ya think, darling? "

"Okay...so it was a long, cold winter."

"Oh, zip it, Audrey".

hugs, Deb