Quimper mats & grooming cats

Two little munchkins all ready for bed.

                                                       Bradley & Riley
Ahhh....just having a Nana moment.

When we were in Kemptville the other day we stopped in at a little hole-in-the-wall cafe called Crusty Bread. The food was amazing and they serve mostly crepes. I had ratatouille & goat cheese and the retired-guy had sausage and apple. We were not disappointed so we ended it by sharing a home-made butter tart followed with Earl Grey tea and coffee.
I noticed the place-mat had a Quimper pattern on it and I immediately thought of my blogging friend, Deb from http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.ca/ who collects this amazing pottery. 

Deb's blog was the very first one I followed back in 2010. I was so in love with her photos, her kitties, her china & pottery. This is where I first saw Quimper pieces. http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.ca/2009/04/tablescape-thursdayorcompletely-quimper.html I have one lug bowl with the name Pierre on the side.  I found it in a little antique shop and when I brought it home I was asked why in heaven's name would I buy a dish with the name Pierre on it? I could have had fun with this but instead I admitted that I loved the dish and plan to name my next male cat Pierre. =^..^=

It was a grooming session like no other tonight. Combed, brushed and nails clipped. This is done once a week since years back when I discovered one of Lily's nails had curled and grown back into the skin. At the time, I was nail clipping every two weeks. I was able to clip the nail, add a bit of peroxide and it did heal within a day but since then it is a weekly regiment. Sierra loves to be combed and hardly notices the nail clipping and soon drifts off to cat's paradise while Audrey despises it and finds the whole process to be distasteful and down-right deplorable. While I comb, she kicks. While I clip, she chews...hard. I know I will pay for this. 

The wheels are turning.

Wishing all my American friends a very "Happy Thanksgiving".
hugs, Deb

Cat-in-the-window

Them-there love-birds are soaking up the wood-fire heat this morning. If you listen, you can hear Lily snore.

                           Lily & Mr. Ed
I'll be off soon to visit bunnies and tuxedoes. Yes, I'll be bunny-sitting this week. They are so cute and I'll have to remember to add some carrots and lettuce to the cat-bag along with photograph the little critters.

Lily took a peak at the new addition this morning.

I'm already having fun with this. So far, daughter #2 dropped in and she loves it. I hope not too much though because I want her to take my old cabinet.

 Santa's comin' in 34 days.

 It is so beautiful here today. Lots of sunshine and no wind. Audrey spends lots of time in the dining-room window as we have big maples at the front where the squirrels make their homes.
The first little cushion was not tall enough for her to see over the window sill without her stretching her neck. So I added another cushion and now all is right with the world.

She was so happy she gave me a 'cat in the window' photo for you.

                                                        "Very fetching, Audrey."

hugs, Deb

Come have a look.

Driving along the country roads, my mind was full of thoughts of my mother. Today would have been her 94th birthday. Not sad thoughts today; only happy and thankful memories. I wish I could pop in on her and give her a hug and share a big piece of fattening cake on her day. Of course, I wish that more than anything; so much so that it hurts to think about it. But life goes on, doesn't it. I have sweet memories and I had the best mother ever. I'll always miss her and today, with her in mind, I knew it would be a good day. I felt her presence.

An hours' drive and we arrived at a charming antique barn and shop next to a beautiful country home in Kemptville.  Equally charming was Karen, who was waiting for us, as we had exchanged emails.

I walked in and it was better than I ever imagined. I haggled but it was almost unneccessary as Karen was ready to bring down the price. Before deciding on the cupboard I had wandered around and saw an antique box with the Wilson's Tomatoes label  (Wilson being my maiden name) on it. I thought of my mom again and it made me grin. As I was paying for the cupboard I asked about the price of the box. Karen replied, "I'll throw that in with the cupboard."   "Could this day get any better?" I liked this girl.

 That's Rusty, the cat and Bo.

So, we loaded it up and home it came. Not a day too soon as I am behind in everything at home plus cat-sitting gets busy the rest of the week. We've been on the road hunting down a cupboard for three days now. I looked at approximately 8 cupboards and I can honestly say I got the best cupboard for the best price. Karen tells me it is about 100 years of age, came out of a farm-house in the Kemptville area and was owned only by two different women. They took good care of it. Now I love it and I'll do the same.

I have some re-arranging to do on the walls but just wanted to show you the cupboard.

 "Hey, I fit right in here."

Thanks for comin' along this weekend. I enjoyed your comments. Audrey and I will have fun with this. The retired-guy is happy, too. He's happy to be done with this and he says if I'm happy, he's happy. :)

I'm joining up with Wow Us Wednesday at http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/

 hugs,

Deb

Still lookin'

Annie tries out every bed in the house every day. She likes to be 'cool' so she's a 'top of the covers' kinda cat. Audrey is a cave-dweller. Her favorite place to be is under-cover.

She is so smart though. She knows that if she doesn't stick her paw out someone is apt to drop by and sit right on her head.

 I think her biggest concern is the dog since this happens to be one of his sleeping areas.
And believe it or not, if Kane sees that paw sticking out... he just walks on by.

Audrey 1     Kanie 0 

Well, the cupboard I went to look at was not quite what I thought and the owner refused to budge on the price. I still like it but decided to look at one more in Kemptville (one and a half hour drive) ...

It is Pine. 

It has all original hardware and glass. The owner painted it so it is not old paint but that's ok. So far, it is the least expensive of the 4 I have looked at. I'll take a drive and see it in person. If I like it, I'll haggle a bit.

Keep you posted.  

hugs, Deb

Step-back cupboard & Petra

I'm still looking for a cupboard; a step-back cupboard to be exact. Stepping back in time...yes, but this is called step-back because the top of the cupboard sits back from the bottom. It is early 1900's.

I go to sleep thinking of them and wake up, listening to Audrey purr and imagining in my mind decorating one.
Obsessed...oh ya!
This is one I am going to see today as it is being sold in a private  home. So far, I have only been looking at antique shops and barns and the lowest they will go is $975.00 for one larger than this one pictured. This  one is much, much cheaper, great condition and cute as a button. Wish me luck....I'm running out of steam.

Audrey likes the little cubby under the shelves. She already has plans for it if I bring this home.

"Mine..all mine."

In the meantime, I'll just play with my little china cabinet.

It is cold in the mornings here but seems to warm up by noon. Another nice day is in progress. 

I must introduce little Petra. 

She is a darling cat that I kitty-sat last week. She has her favorite spots in the house, as all cats do, and I was able to capture a nice pic as she rested on her perch. I just loved her and the feeling was mutual. I'll be seeing her again soon.

I'm off to cupboard shop.

Sounds like a good day to me. 

Enjoy YOUR day.

Hugs, Deb

I really enjoyed a post today at http://ashtreecottage.blogspot.ca/. Drop over to meet Susan and Bentley.

I spy & short for Tornado

I spy with my little eye

Sierra's favorite toy is a feather, any feather, preferably on the end of a wand.

Audrey? Nooooo.......
This is Tori, short for Tornado.
An armful of LOVEY-DOVE

although he is not so keen on being picked up and only tolerated it for a moment. He loves his tummy rubbed and his favorite toy is a feather on a wand .

We hit it off from the get-go and now his owner is home and I'm going to miss him.

 Here he is waiting for me to turn on the tap. What cat doesn't love that?
 
Such a sweet 'ol guy at 11years of age. Still plays like a kitten.
"Take care, Tory. Hope your mom likes to travel 'a lot'.  So happy to add you to my long list of kitty-clients."

hugs, Deb

'A Favorite Thing'.

You know me...the Christmas decorations are coming out, little by little. Can't wait until December like many do. I want six weeks of Christmas.

 The cats have noticed something different going on.

"Oh, good grief, Audrey." 

.

                                           "What the heck is this?"

 Kitties are enjoying all the sparkly additions to the dining-room. I know a few things that will have to be placed up high when I am gone from the house. Someone wants to eat them.

I had a great visit with my 'country cats'  today and I had one little lone kitty in our town, too. Got home just in time to grab lunch and then head out with Kane for a good long walk.

 

A Favorite Thing...

While out walking Kane one day, I came across this little shelf next to someone's garbage can. It was painted black and looked like it needed a new home before it ended up in the landfill. So, I brought it home, cleaned it up and painted it white and now it hangs on my kitchen wall. It is one of my favorite little shelves and today I dressed it up with some blue and white.

I'm joining http://mockingbirdhillcottage.com/ for A Favorite Thing.

hugs, Deb