Autumn light

As Autumn moves in, we enjoy the changes all around us at the mouse-house;

especially the different light throughout the day.

This is the most beautiful time of year.

Yes, we are still eating tomatoes.

Audrey was delighted to hear of all the birthday wishes from everyone.

Thank you so much for your fun comments. :)

"You beans rock"

"That's the best you get, folks."

hugs, Deb

A very important day.

5 is the number today. 
                 "Happy Birthday to you." 
                               =^..^= 
Our audacious one is celebrating her birthday. That's her to the right.
Five years ago, she was born, along with her two siblings, to a lonely, skinny and neglected pastel tortoiseshell who wasn't more than a kitten herself. The momma cat, known now as Annie, was found at the animal shelter nursing her day old kittens but needing so much care herself. 
I brought the little family home and they started their new life in our spare bedroom.

How can that be five years ago already? But it is.

So "Happy Birthday, Audrey." We love you so much and to celebrate we were off for a car ride, which she loves, by the way, to purchase a bag of her favorite treats, a new toy and maybe a coffee and a doughnut for the humans. What? We're celebrating. ;-)

"Help, I've been incarcerated."

Ah, but now you can join us as we celebrate your big day.

 "What'll it be, Audrey?"
2 coffees, 2 doughnuts and 1 bird breakfast wrap?

"Have I got that right?"

"Hold the pickle...hold the pickle."

 

"Ya, hold the wrap, too, and add a large mouse."

"Hey...it's your day. :)"

Believe it, she really enjoyed her outing. She loves the car.

"Here's to many more, love."

hugs, Deb

Fall is moving in.

Fall is moving in fast and nowhere do you see it more than in the country. The sumacs at the mouse-house are already changing colour, the wild flowers of fall are here and the critters are acting a little frantic. 

If there was a party in there I didn't hear a thing.

We also notice many birds have left and more of those that stay the winter are here now...to stay, I expect.

I have been feeding the birds all spring and summer to keep them around and will up the ante in a month or two as the weather changes. Suet will be put out for them to fatten their little bodies up.

But for now, I continue to feed black sunflower seed and niger seed for the residents. I also put fruit out as there is always some to spare with just the two of us at the mouse-house. We never seem to get through a bag of grapes, especially, without a few that look more like raisons at the bottom. I always throw in some plump ones, too. Apples are a big hit and so are blueberries. I tried adding fruit to Audrey's dinner but she threatened to call the OSPCA on me.

The birds love their feast of grapes and apple pieces that I leave in their favorite feeder; especially the blue-jays. Apparently, this is a great way to encourage different birds to stop by for a snack that may not be seen often at your feeders. That's always a treat for me. :)

We had a visitor this morning...again. The garage door was opened only to find this guy waiting for his cuddles. He just fell over on the stones as soon as he saw us.

                       DAVID - King of the wild frontier

It looks like we now have a garage cat; one that will keep the retired-guy company as he putters in there.
It's love, I tell ya.
I know he misses our little tabby, Sierra, and we welcome David with open arms.

Wishing you all a happy weekend.
It's another family birthday this weekend. Party, party. :)

hugs, Deb

Blue & white...and blueberries

It's a gorgeous day today, and after working outside for the morning, it was time for tea.

Which means a snack because, let's face it, they just go together so well.

Sometimes nothing will do but my blue and white china.

It makes me feel *fancy*

after digging in the dirt all day.

"Audrey, can I interest you in joining me for a snack?"

"I hate eating alone."

"I'm picking out a bird for lunch so

you're on your own, big baby."

"And...you eat weird stuff."

"So, NO!"

"Hmph!"

I know who will join me.

Annie is always up for a snack.

But just a few drops as she is still watching her weight.

It doesn't help that when she is in this position she looks like a fresh loaf of rising bread.

"Lip-smacking delicious."

"Thanks for your adorable company, Annie."

The peaches are from Niagara and they are the best peaches ever.

We have gone through more than I will mention.

Which reminds me...

"Have you had your blueberries today?"

They are the most healthy berry we can eat and are delicious this time of year. Here's a bit on the little blue health booster.

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=8

Enjoy your day,

Deb

Getting to know them.

After feeding the birds on our property for two years now, I am beginning to see the pattern of their day. Mornings are always a little frantic before the feeders are filled so that is the best time to hopefully get a chickadee or two to forget their fear and come that much closer for a tasty seed. I'm now finding that even as I walk around under the sumacs these little sweeties will sometimes fly right by my shoulder. You can hear the *swoosh* as they flit by. And if I sit at the table under the shady sumacs they will sit above me and watch with great interest. I guess I'm as interesting to them as they are to me.

"So you're telling me that they fly right into your hand and I STILL don't get one for lunch?"

Later in the morning it will be quiet as they rest in the trees. By early afternoon they are out again bathing in the birdbaths and bickering with the nuthatch, blue-jays and chipmunks over the best spot on the favored feeder. 

By dinner-time, all is quiet again under the sumacs.
At five o'clock each evening, the mourning doves arrive for food and water near the old pump.  I watch them from the kitchen window and am always amazed at the accuracy of their timing.
Then after dinner the crows fly in to clean up everything that is left in the feeders and has fallen to the ground below.
Those comical black bandits.

I added a new finch feeder for the fall and the chickadees are loving it. 
And in case you are wondering, Simon is doing fine and jam-packing his pantry with seeds and nuts for the winter ahead.
He often sits right at his front door to say "Howdy!"

The  latest addition to the woodlot; an arbor.

I'm looking forward to planting flowering vines to cover this pretty addition.

I hope you all had a fun long-weekend. 

Here's one of my chickadees.

hugs, Deb

5

5 of my favorite kitty-client photos over the years.

Otis
Caesar
Toby
Cortez
&
Lucky  (I won her over)

Oh heck...one more...

The lovely Lola.

hugs, Deb

A birthday and those cooler mornings...

We are out in the garden most mornings, picking what is needed for the day. The weather is beautiful; cool and sunny.
The peppers seem to have a lot of new blossoms as do the beans. We may have produce well into the fall this year. We are to have a long and warm autumn which will be really nice, I'm sure.
That's some of my family; my siblings and Joe's partner, Joyce. We had a fun morning celebrating the retired-guy's birthday and filling bags with veggies for their weekend meals. It's always good to get together. Our mom passed away nineteen years ago and since then we do our best to keep the get-togethers and special celebrations an important part of the calendar. We live close so we can do that. :)
Annie enjoyed their company and even Audrey rose from the dead to say "hello" today. But she soon found her hidey-hole to be the preferred spot for the rest of the day. Enough of these humans.

There is a little more celebrating on the agenda today. Lunch out and a bit of an outing to a favorite little town to see some boats come in. That's what the birthday boy requested.

Retired-guy and his grand-dog, Forrest.

I'll send you over now to a beautiful blog and wish you all a fun and happy weekend. It's a long one for us.

https://myfivemen.blogspot.ca/

hugs, Deb