A snowy Sunday in our little town

The snow has arrived but my shopping day is behind me so it is time to kick back and watch a Christmas movie with a good, hot dinner. Kane loves Sundays 'cause he knows something good is in that crock-pot. :)
We just got back from a walk in the woods and the snow is beautiful. It is falling slowly and it is clean and sparkly. I LIKE THIS KIND OF SNOW. Just don't give me that dirty, slushy stuff.

Gary, Jess and I headed to Almonte and put a further dint in our Christmas gift buying today. Little did we know their parade was on so the streets were lined with excited kids and a few wide-eyed adults too. I found some fun things for Riley's stocking and bought a special friend her Christmas gift. I'll be shopping with her on Wednesday in Perth. I tell ya, after Christmas I don't shop for 6 months.

Dropped in to see Max today and as if...............he had been shopping too. He was very excited, as you can see, to show me the lovely plant he bought for me with his owner's money.

"I'm over here, Max"

He's such a charmer. I have the best clients & I appreciate them every day.

 Little Max is one half of the Chico & Max team that I have posted about last summer. Chico passed away this Fall and now Max is the king of his domain. Apparently, he loves it.

The lights are on the tree and I will decorate for a few days. My tree is a mish-mash of all different ornaments, some bought, some given, some made & some old ones passed down in the family. I'm always changing up things so it really does take me a day or two to finish it. I bought one little, white, round ornament today and Jess went home with a beautiful red bird for her gorgeous tree.

I hope you all had a great Sunday and your house is looking just that much more festive.

hugs, Deb

a perfect Sunday

Off to our favorite breakfast place with our daughter, Jess and then a bit of shopping. After my visit to Jewel & Angel then little Max,  I will be heading home to work on that lovely tree we dragged home late yesterday.

No theme.....just a lot of fun decorations. Hope you are decorating too.

hugs, Deb

Bringing home the tree

Our weather is cold but no snow right now. There is no snow anywhere to be seen. I'm not complaining because I am one of those people who think we should have the white stuff on Christmas day and that's it. It is beautiful to look at though. I am hoping for snow this Christmas.

We headed out late today and picked out our Christmas tree.

"I think I found her"

We are taking this lady home.

I am caring for 2 lovely cats named Jewel & Angel. I can't think of two better names for cats at Christmas-time. They are keeping my spirits up this weekend with their silliness. There has been a lot on our minds this week.

The ferals are continuing to be fed each night in case you were wondering. There will be extra food put down now as I imagine every kind of wild animal and bird is dropping by looking for food. They are getting double the amount of dry and I am leaving many cans of various kinds of cat-food. I also add bread now for the extra mouths. There is never a crumb there the next night. Everything is hungry and desperate in the winter and I suppose this food will help them 'til the next day. It's a tough time for them. I am placing the food earlier now as it is dark by 5:00 and the cats come by first. I know this because sometimes I wait and watch from the car. I usually leave there with tears and have a hard time driving but I know it's all I can do. I want to scoop them up and bring them home but they are as wild as the night and their life is planned for them. I pray for them every night. God love them. 

Around here, nothing but comfort and joy.

Sierra

Love-birds Mr. Ed & Lily

Cali & Ginny 

Are you getting excited for Christmas? I know I am. Now on to decorating our beautiful tree.

hugs, Deb

My favorite Santa & a heavy heart tonight

I won't be posting tomorrow as I will be caring for my grand-daughter, Riley.  A friend of my son, at the age of 25, has passed away from cancer. Tomorrow is the funeral. Our hearts ache for Eric's family and his many friends.  God's speed, Eric.

hugs. Deb

A tree for the birds

I dropped by to see Rae-Rae today. She is doing well and is enjoying the run of a two story house and no old cats swatting at her when she gets too rambunctious.  I watched her play on her staircase just like she always did here and she was so 'at home'. She is such a darling.

Joe is doing great and has become the keeper of his new neighbourhood already.

Tonight I added 3 more wreathes to our outdoor decorations. I think I am finally finished and will snap a picture tomorrow night.

I have a busy weekend ahead with cat-sitting, shopping and I am working on a gift that I will show you later. Saturday we will head on over to the tree-farm across the street and drag home the BEST TREE EVER (well at least to me) I want one about 10 feet tall.
I have been watching the rows and rows of trees growing over the summer and  many that were planted a few years back will now be ready to become Christmas trees. I love trees and have always had such respect for them. After Christmas our tree goes on our back deck and I fill it with food for the birds and squirrels over the winter. It will be a beautiful shelter and feeding spot. In order for the food to stay in the tree I tie little baskets to the branches and fill the tiny baskets with bread, nuts and seeds. You can also hang suet.

This tree also becomes an entertainment area for our cats as they lie around and watch the birds for hours. Last year our tree lasted 'til well into the Spring as a shelter.

 We just placed the tree into the corner of the deck because we can see it easily from our sliding door and the cats lie on the back of our couch to watch them. It worked well for us and for the little, hungry birds.

Hope you are enjoying your preparations for Christmas and still decorating. 
hugs, Deb

Here's the recipe

Paula Dean's Banana Bread is the best I have tasted. The secret to this bread is adding the yogurt. It is the most delicious, moist and flavorful banana bread we have eaten and we (that includes Gary & Kane) know our Banada Bread.

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup of butter melted
2 eggs beaten
4 mashed bananas (very ripe)
1/3 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp of vanilla extract. Note* - I substituted maple syrup for vanilla

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
Spray your 9x5 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray or cover with a thin layer of butter
In a large bowl combine all dry ingredients. (1st five)
In another large bowl combine wet ingredients - whisk until smooth
Add dry to wet and mix before placing in prepared pan
Bake 50 minutes

I doubled this recipe and it turned out great. I also sprinkled cinnamon on top.
Enjoy!


Just finished up with Otis, Rosie & Lola. We had fun and they'll be happy to see 'mom' tonight.

HUGS, DEB

Bye, bye brown bananas

After cat-sitting the mood hit to start some baking. I wanted to try  Paula Dean's banana loaf so I got busy.
I had company in the kitchen today and I don't mean the 'feline' kind. Well, I actually had that too but look who joined me.

The 'ol biker' turned chef Santa.

He stuck around to make sure I didn't mess things up.

3 loaves of Paula Dean's Banana Bread to use up the bananas in my freezer. Hope they're delicious 'cause I plan to give them to special people as a little Christmas love. 

I'll wait 'til I try this recipe myself before I pass it on. I'll be making more soon. They sure smell good though.

Here is something that helped time pass quickly in the kitchen. 'The Master'. There is no-one like Mr. JT and I am still reeling from his last concert in Toronto where I actually high-5d him. Yep, I'm pretty special now.

I hear he is doing a tour with Ben (his son) in the States and I hope he comes to Canada. I'll just have to go again.

It is raining now for 2 days so I am cat-sitting and then back to decorating a little.

All the rain has taken away our snow. But that's ok

I am having so much fun visiting all your blogs during the Christmas season.

hugs, Deb