Valentine boxes

I'm sending you over to my friend, Jeanie's blog today. http://themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.ca/
She's a wonderful artist and always comes up with fun do-it-yourself projects. I love her Valentine boxes and wanted to share her post today.
Enjoy!

Annie & Audrey say "howdy" xoxo

Slipping and sliding through the week

It seems quite acceptable to walk like penguins these days. The ground is covered with ice and, like I have heard over and over,...if you don't want to break a bone then don't fall. :-b

I have been chipping ice off the feeders this week in hopes to keep our birds well fed as the temperature drops lower once again. I am looking forward to spring and I don't care how many people tell me to not wish my life away.

There are six downy woodpeckers that make our property their home. If this winter ever ends, I am thinking just maybe we will have some nesting here in the spring. :-) 

Around our feeders lately...

 

It has felt a bit like 'walking on ice' when it comes to our cat, Audrey's, health, too. Audrey wants to say "howdy" and thank each and every one of you for your good thoughts and prayers for her. She is struggling, I'll not sugar-coat it, but she is coping quite well with her new medication. Phenobarbital takes weeks to get used to and there are some side-effects so I am staying close and not leaving her alone. She gets anxious sometimes and will pace the floor so if I go out she comes with me. Thankfully she is good in the car. There have been no seizures for seventeen days and my prayer is that she never has another one. We are taking it day to day. She will visit her vet soon to see if we need to adjust the levels of her meds. I hope you will continue to keep her in your prayers and thank you to all who have contacted us with your good thoughts and wishes for her complete recovery. This is her resting this morning.

Annie slept most of the day away. The mouse house was flooded with sunshine this morning; something we have needed for awhile. :)

There are copious amounts of work yet to do in the new house. 
Our stairs have made it possible for me to finally visit what will be our loft. I love the view from the windows and look forward to seeing the gardens this summer.

There are a few more doors being hung today. 
Wouldn't it be nice to just wiggle your nose and have it all done. :)

Wishing everyone a fun weekend however you spend it.

hugs, Deb

Checking in...

I hope everyone is well.
Our weather has finally warmed up enough that we are able to go for walks and dress like adults; not a child heading out in a storm. That deep freeze we were in for so long took a toll on all of us. Many had flu, colds or just the dreaded cabin fever. But it's behind us for now.

Since my last post Audrey's health has declined. We have been back to the vet and to see a specialist (a neurologist) to try to get to the bottom of these seizures that she is having. She was two months with nothing and then suffered another one a week ago. So far the tests have shown nothing. She has been put on phenobarbital for now to control and prevent another seizure.  We are going through an adjustment period to the medication. It's all a bit bewildering.
We may be looking at epilepsy which means she will have to be on medication for the rest of her life.
She is presently eating well, using her box, washing up and today I took her over to the house to walk around the basement and she jumped up on her cat tree and scratched on the post. That did my heart good. I'm looking for any normal activity and keeping a journal on her daily. But the medication causes drowsiness. :( Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

I promise I'll get back soon with some pretty pictures and hopefully a cheerier post.
Right now I just need to take a deep breath and carry on helping Audrey get herself stabilized on the medication. I hope this won't take long and that it is the answer we are praying for.

I have been posting a few pics on instagram from the bird feeders and outings with the grands but since Audrey's last seizure I have not left her side. We did take her in the car today and thank goodness she doesn't mind that at all; rather enjoys it. :) Tomorrow they predict sun puddles. :)
 =^..^= =^..^=

Sending a hug,
Deb

"Happy New Year"

 We had a wonderful Christmas with the whole family. No need to ask if it was noisy. lol
 Five grandittles...from left...Gus, Gwynn, Tenley, Riley & Brad
Gramps looks pretty proud, doesn't he? :)

 

 And an afternoon tea

was enjoyed on a frigid cold December day.

 

The mouse-house welcomed many beautiful visitors over the holidays.

 

 

 Some rather rare.

Male Pileated Woodpecker

 

 An one uninvited party crasher.

 Sharp shinned hawk

Oh, Lord!

And as the year comes to an end...
Here's to a fabulous new year, everyone. May you all be happy, peaceful, healthy, safe and warm.
Thank you for your wonderful friendship in 2017.  I look forward to continuing on this fun ride with you as we welcome in the new year and see what's in store for us all.

Annie & Audrey are well and send you all purrs and hugs.
Simon...well, he's asleep for a loooong time.

                       "Happy New Year."
 xo

hugs, Deb

Merry Christmas from all at the mouse house.

It's been a busy time for all of us. I hope everyone has enjoyed the preparations up to the Big Day and will now have a very merry and fun Christmas.
It's been beautiful around the mouse house with fresh fallen snow and all of our wintering birds back to be cared for. I so love looking after them on these cold winter days. Our feeders are busy with blue-jays, chickadees, nut-hatch, downy woodpeckers, juncos, cardinals, mourning doves, crows and our handsome pileated wood-pecker. Our little family of four squirrels show up everyday, too.
Simon disappeared under ground a month ago and I may not see him until spring now. I will miss his sweet face.
Our raccoons are hibernating but will wake up depending on the temperatures and most likely be by to fill up and make a mess at the feeders. They are like teenagers left alone for a weekend. :-b

Annie and Audrey are doing well and have been good girls leaving our Charlie Brown tree alone. I think we brought it home from the field a little too early this year as it is already drooping and changing colour.  Live and learn. It is good that we are not hosting on Christmas day this year and will enjoy gathering with our family at my son's beautiful country home.

"Merry Christmas everyone. Enjoy your time with friends and family and may God Bless You in 2018."

 


hugs, Deb, the retired-guy, Annie & Audrey. xoxo
 =^..^= =^..^=

In the air there's the feeling of Christmas...

I'm dropping in to wish everyone a happy week and fun preparing for Christmas.  It's moving along faster than I remember but then the weeks do fly, don't they.

I've been keeping our feeders full and adding suet to the cages. This helps them get through the cold nights that are now here. We have our winter birds arriving slowly. Our juncos are back and the downy woodpeckers are about every morning at the feeders. I find them quite amusing as they want you to know they are there by tapping on the tree bark. And our gorgeous chickadees are in abundance and they cheerfully greet me every morning by swooping by my head on the short walk to where they feast.

Things have slowed right down the last two weeks with the house so we are hoping to have workers back next week and of course, after the holidays.  I'll have some inside photos for you once I see a big change from my last ones. Did I mention you need more patience than this lady has for this kind of immense project. Ugh!

Annie and Audrey are helping move things along as best they can. Apparently, figuring where we want electrical sockets for the electrician takes one man and two cats to do it right.

 

Soon the need to watch birds takes over and we lose their interest.

 

Wrapping gifts is on the 'to do' list today and since I came home yesterday with two dozen fresh farm eggs from Lucy's farm I will be baking, too. 

 

I hope everyone is enjoying the lead up to Christmas and remembering to take time out for yourself while you are at it.  Christmas movies are coming out now and I plan to watch a few of my favorites; just as soon as the gifts are wrapped and done up with pretty ribbons and bows. That is, if the cats let me...it's always a struggle. lol

Enjoy!

hugs, Deb

Preparing for Christmas

Christmas prepping is going on at the mouse-house. The 'ladies' have behaved themselves so far with the Charlie Brown tree. :) They probably think it is too flimsy to climb. Little do they know that was the idea. lol

It's been cold the last week and the critters have kept me busy keeping feeders filled and cleaned off from the snow fall. Look at Simon begging for more while he sits amongst the spill-over from above. Cheeky, eh? He got some apple and peanuts in the shell just for looking too cute for words.

                     Birthday celebrations for my youngest daughter, Allie. Delicious Indian cuisine.
We have three birthdays between Nov. and December.  Never a dull moment.
Today I am just back from picking up farm fresh eggs from the 'ladies' at Lucy's farm across the road so it's time to get Christmas baking started. Once I get an apron on it's full steam ahead.

And today I get to wear a very special apron that I received from Henny at http://hennypennylane.blogspot.ca/. She does beautiful work and I am just thrilled that she sent me one all the way from North Carolina. It's so pretty with all the kitties and I have a feeling my baking will be extra tasty this Christmas. :)

"Thanks Henny"  If you love hobby farms, adorable critters and a really fun-filled blog drop by to meet Henny and Poppy and all their animals.

Construction of the house has come to a halt for a couple of weeks while we wait for our plumber and electrician to fit us in. Everyone is so busy and working seven days a week to catch up. :(
We have the pellet stove now in the basement so it is toasty warm down there. And we are heading out tonight to look at a vintage mantel to add to the main floor over the wood-stove.
We are doing all that we can while we wait for professionals.

Hope your Christmas prep is going well. 'Tis the season. :)

hugs, Deb