I'm having some issues with photo-bucket and will be back soon.

Have a nice day.
Stay toasty,
Deb

We are in for a 'snowy' week.

Although it seems like it has snowed for two months in our area, we expect to see a lot more before it's over. The sound of snow-plows rumbling up our streets is what wakes you early on this Monday morning.  I wonder as I gaze out the window if I will always think of Lily when I see the fresh-fallen snow on the ground. I hope to never forget the feel of her soft white coat and the sound of her gentle purr. I should be so thankful for the time I had with her but damn....it's hard when they leave us.

Yesterday we dropped by our property to deliver a fridge and for me to fill the feeders once again. I won't be going out for a few days now so it was good to have a chance to do that. It's time to finish up some stuff at home.

I had lots of visitors while filling the trays and feeders. I noticed how chubby the Mourning Doves look lately. It could be that they are just puffed up because of the cold. They do eat a lot, though. One stays very still while I work around and seems to be quite comfortable with me there.

There were Chickadees, Tree Sparrows, Goldfinch, Nuthatch, Mourning Doves, Blue-jays, Woodpeckers, a gorgeous female Cardinal & the comedy trio of Black Crows. 

                                                    Mourning Dove and Sparrow

Chickadee

Joe's been helping me around the house this morning.

He's offered to flatten the tissue paper for me before I use it to wrap some dishes.

Ever so helpful when he's not kickin' up dust.

Thank you again for all your lovely comments. It is so comforting to know that others can understand this kind of loss and your words really are so appreciated and comforting. When Spring finally arrives, we will have Lily laid to rest beside her Ed. Two of the finest cats that ever lived.

 Stay toasty,
 Deb

Our Lily 1996 - 2015

My Lily-bug

waiting for her evening treat.

Well, as you now know, we lost her.

 It happened so fast. She had been quite fragile for a few days, showed some improvement and then went into a deep decline. 

And now she's gone.

Although she had been diagnosed with pancreatitis only months ago, it was expected that she had a tumour in her abdomen. I had to let her go. 

Our vet was wonderful and made her passing so peaceful.

I thank God for her.

Lily started life as a neglected barn kitten and was rescued by an elderly friend of mine. Six years later, when my friend's life took a bad turn, I adopted this wonderful cat who at that time was named Sarah. Because I already had a 'Sierra' in the home I told my friend I would want to change Sarah's name to Lily. She laughed and said, "Not a worry, I just call her 'bug' anyway."

So, Lily-bug it was.

Someone else loved her very much, too.

     and she is now with her beloved Ed 

but I'm going to miss her so much. 

Rest in peace, sweetheart.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. I feel that you all got to know her a little through me and could see what a special cat she was. I have another very wonderful cat, Annie, who will miss Lily so very much. It is time to give my attention to Lily's nurse-maid (as we called her) as she, too, grieves for her friend.
Thank you again for all your sweet comments.

Hugs, Deb 

a little time

We said good-bye to our beautiful Lily today. I need a little time before I can do a tribute to her. She was such a wonderful cat and my heart is broken.

Deb

The Mild Mourning Dove.

The Mourning Dove is such a peaceful-looking bird.

 I love their sound as they fly from tree to feeder. Their Coo-woo-woo-woo sound is almost always uttered by the male bird. It is actually a mating call.  I hear it often as I walk around outside the mouse-house. These birds are not always easy to spot in the trees but I have at least six that come to the feeders and one in particular that stays as I approach. I would love to stroke it's head but I know better. I'ts nice that they stay around and are satisfied with the seed that is provided on these cold winter days.

Lots of snow to clean up again at our property. I put a little tin roof over one open feeder to help keep the snow off. The others are all covered. I also changed all the seed so none of it would get moldy from being wet. The sun shone but the temperature dropped over-night. What a roller-coaster ride this winter is so far.

   

Another week is almost over. Where does the time go?

                                           "You could spend some with me today."

That I'll do.
Stay toasty,
Deb

Winter Wonderland

We had a day of snow falling from early morning 'til early evening. I spent much of the day shovelling the drive-way and enjoying the birds at the feeders. No sooner would I have the drive-way shovelled when it would fill up with snow once again. But it was so beautiful outside with the soft snow falling and the temperature hovering around -7C that I didn't mind a bit.

                                                       Red-breasted Nuthatch

Gold Finch

Wood-pecker

Chickadee

A winter wonderland today.

Chickadee

The south end of a Chickadee heading north

It was just brought to my attention that there is neither a cat nor a tea-cup in this post.

"Sorry, Audrey. I'll pay better attention to that next time."

Stay toasty,
Deb

Quick at the feeders.

Today was spent at our property again finishing up some fiddly stuff, painting the bedroom (again) and installing some bathroom fixtures.
We are still waiting on the electrician to do the final hook-up of everything and the inspector to do the final inspection. It is so cold here again that the siding on the coach-house will have to wait. We did pick out the garage lights which will be installed by the electrician if he ever gets out there.

I took this photograph from the kitchen window looking down to the feeders. They are all tucked in amongst the Fir trees and too far to really enjoy from the house. I can see the birds but for the warmer days I have placed some benches amongst the trees. There was no sitting around today. As soon as I am settled I will add some feeders close to our garage where the cats and I can enjoy bird-tv from inside where it's warm.

The birds were happy to see me arrive today. Chickadees are quite vocal when their feeders are low and you appear before them with an armful of various seeds, peanuts and fruit.

Chubby little Chickadee

They carry on quite a conversation with you if you stay quite still and slowly fill the feeders.   It was so cold today that your fingers would freeze and fall off in seconds so filling the feeders was a chore and no time to photograph the birds. But today I spotted Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Tree Sparrows, White-breasted Nut-hatch & a new visitor I will have to photograph hopefully tomorrow if it returns and then I'll do some research.

                                                 I am FROZEN here.
                                                      to. the. bone.

In two days, four suet bars were eaten and the feeders completely emptied all but some mixed seed. Zowie - these guys are hungry. I headed into what will soon be our new town and filled up on seed and suet to have on hand at the carriage house. Boy, will this store get to love me. They'll know me by my first name in no time. :) They had a well-stocked bird section and bulk seed for sale which I prefer to the bagged stuff. Lots of suet, too.
They'll just have to have the commercial bars this week as there is no extra time allotted for home-made.  I'd better not find any birds picketing when I arrive.

Tomorrow will be a little warmer so perhaps I'll catch that new visitor in a photo for you. Right now I want a cup of hot tea while someone is off in lala land.

Stay toasty,
Deb