Growing plans and sunflowers

I always feel happy walking around our property in the country. After a great breakfast in the town of Manotick, we dropped by the lot and cleaned up and planted some Sunflower seeds along the fence.

and found some fallen branches from our last big wind storm.

Here is the old log hen house. It must be 100 years old. So many memories of early mornings, collecting eggs for my grandmother and playing hide and seek around the building. It would be nice to save this building just for 'memory' sake but it would never house chickens again. It would be a fun restoration project, though.

Kane had a good run about, got too hot and jumped in the car to wait on his water dish.

He always smiles with his eyes closed. Then he had a snooze.

The weather was funny today; muggy, sunny, cloudy, you name it. One of those 'great hair days'.

Along the stone fence at the back of the property is a little grave-site for our departed cats. One corner holds graves of  5 cats; Charity, Patches, Tina, Dharma & Gus. Another spot is the resting place for  Sassy, Maggie & Ginny. These cats have all passed away over the last 19 years. All but Gus lived to be very, very old. It felt good to visit with them and let them all know, once again,  that I missed them so much. I can't help but cry when I sit there. They were all so special to me;  so beautiful. They are a part of my past, now, leaving me with such sweet memories. I had placed a statue of a Collie at the fence near the spots where they lay.

That is our Kane protecting them. God love them, they were wonderful cats.

When my grandmother's home was on this land, this rock where I am standing was just outside and up a bit from her shed.

Here I am outstanding in my field.

 It was often used in a game of baseball as one of the bases. One very hot day, when I was around 8 years of age, I lay in the grass with my head on this rock watching the clouds go by.  I felt something touch my leg and sat up to find a large snake climbing over my ankle. I can't remember what happened next :-b; I just know I couldn't breath but by geez I could run. Snakes scare the life out of me. Little grass snakes make me run screaming. Bigger snakes send me into panic mode. If I know there is a snake in the grass...I go somewhere else. I know it's silly and I wish I could get over it, but....
So whenever I am walking about the 2 acre lot,  I wear boots. The bigger the boots the better.

We'll be out here a lot this summer and I will bring you along.

Our plans are moving forward to build a home here and I couldn't be more excited.

There is so much to do.

and we're not getting any younger.

Have you left a comment on my previous post to win a tea-cup give-away? Draw will be tomorrow. Good luck.

Cat-tip-for-the-day=^..^= cutting kitties nails.

I have been asked how I cut my cats' nails. I do not use any fancy nail clippers just the regular LA CROSS nail clippers we use on our own nails (our cats have their own, though). Some of my cats do not mind this weekly event and sit still from start to finish. Lily & Sierra really struggle so I clip a few one day and finish them the next. This way, by the time they even notice, I am done one paw. There is no law saying all the nails must be trimmed at once. Do a paw a day and that will work fine. The tip of the nail is usually quite narrow and may be hollow. That is a good guide where to cut. I only clip the sharp ends and do not go near the quik.  I don't recommend wrapping your cat up to do this. That just stresses them out. Try to get that one paw done while kitty is snoozing. I did Annie's nails one day and she never woke up. If you have someone who can distract the cat with treats while you clip one paw that may be the route to take. Good luck!

hugs, Deb

Future tea-lover and a give-away

A magazine for me and a new book for Riley sits in the dining room on her chair. 

Is this not the sweetest children's book cover you have ever seen? Of course, I am talking to all you tea-lovers and dishaholics out there.  The illustrations from cover to cover are just so darn cute. 

I know Riley will love this. She has her own box of dishes here that have been selected from thrift stores and antique shops. A little box of heaven for her sitting right next to nan's china cabinet. She will be surprised to see new treasures in there.

She likes nan's cupboard that looks different every time she visits.

Of course, she's too little to play with it but there are some 'special things' just for her little hands

just below it. One being the little silver bell in the Duncan Phyfe cabinet below the cupboard. That is for her to carry around and ring-a-ding all she wants.

Sometimes she'll spot something that she can play with and then she's a happy girl.

Wooden kitties that came all the way from Greece are fun.

Since I'm in the dining-room...and not alone, once again

                                                  "Hi"

I think it's time for a give-away and this time it will be one of the group of tea-cups I bid on and won at an auction last month. I plan to have a few give-away's with these but for now it will be this one.

Queen Anne, Fine bone china - Made in England

It has a pretty gold, scalloped rim.

                        The tea-cup in the middle needs a new home.

It's very delicate with pastel colours.

Leave a comment if you like it and let me know if you have a cat that would like a little gift, too. I will add your name to the hat (or tea-cup) Draw will be this Sunday.

Good luck,
Deb

The lump

After the bed is made, 2 cats adorn it.

I leave the duvet off during the day and just cover the sheet with a towel. That is supposed to take care of the cat hair if,  for any reason,  a cat should find its' way there. Which they will, and they seldom lie on the towel. There is always another purpose for it. Note to self...add another towel.   Annie is never bored with 'Trouble' around.

 "Have you seen Audrey, Annie?"

Her look of "What's this kid doin'?" is becoming quite familiar.

Meanwhile, the lump waits patiently for the right moment to pounce on an unsuspecting 'oldster'.


I am having lots of fun caring for Madi, Bud and Chase and Toady this week. While it rains, I can sit inside and play with all this week's kitty-clients.

This is Madi who looks mad but is the sweetest girl. Look at all those lovely stripes. She's a new client and when I arrive she immediately falls on the floor and starts to roll. I love that kind of 'welcoming'.

Toady

Bud & Chase

Love these boys.

After cat-sitting, I headed out for a long walk with Kane. I'm always amazed at the beauty that cats add to a neighbourhood.

Even peeled paint looks better.

Please pop over to God's Little People to read about an auction going on right now to help homeless cats in Greece. 

http://godslittlepeople.blogspot.ca/

hugs, Deb

Feline Fanciers

I came across these photos on line.

I love the old black and white photos and especially those of women with their cats.This one on the porch made me think of my grandmother's house that had a porch similar.My grandmother rarely sat on her porch but in her kitchen you would always see her tabby cat, Maggie sitting in her apron.

This lovely lady makes me think of the Cat/Chicken Lady, Natalie from Knatolee's World.

If you drop over and visit you will see why.

http://knatolee.blogspot.ca/

and lastly, my mom at age 21 with one of her cats.

Hope you enjoyed 'vintage ladies and their cats'

hugs, Deb

Please drop by a very special blog called God's Little Peoplehttp://godslittlepeople.blogspot.ca/ to meet Joan and see all the wonderful work she does for homeless cats in Greece. Her blog is both heart-breaking and heart-warming. It is a fact of life that many cats do not have a warm, loving home and Joan tries her best to help the unfortunate ones in her area. You will not believe your eyes when you see what a little love and care can do for some of these beautiful cats. She is having an auction to help these felines. Please drop by.

Welcoming May with cats in windows

"Welcome, May"
I have 2 'cat-in-the-window' photos from my Monday walk about town. Look closely..

and this one was sleeping 'til I came by.

"ooo..I think his tail's in a knot"

This one was out & about, too. Probably walking off lunch,  just like I was. I prayed this one would stay safe. Thankfully, the car you see was parked.

I would love to know how many steps I walk a day. From what I have read, 10,000 steps a day is a reasonable goal. It sounds like a lot but it really isn't. It's very do-able.

Although it is raining today, it's getting warmer here, thank goodness.  I welcome May with open arms.
Please stop by http://godslittlepeople.blogspot.ca/ and see the lovely items up for auction to help Joan's homeless cats in Greece and in particular,

Pesto's expensive dental surgery. Take some time and look back on some of Joan's posts. She is the sweetest lady with a heart as big as all outdoors for these beautiful, homeless cats. Thank you.

hugs, Deb

Snack time with Annie

Blue and white dishes for the kitchen sound just right to me. Cream walls and brown trim compliment the blue. Here is my new tea-cup and saucer I found this weekend at the Log Farm antiques.

I'll show off my newest tea-pot even though I am not using it today. One seems to compliment the other.

 This tea-cup feels perfect in the hand and holds 'lots'.

Oatmeal raisin cookies look just fine on the saucer, too.
 Blue & white just may become a new favorite. This cup and saucer is called Countryside.

Oh, I have company.
Annie loves to join me in the kitchen.

Does she not have the cutest pouty face? I know..you are thinking "Does she have legs?" Yes, she does. 
She figures if I'm having a snack...she should,  too. So, she had a little salmon. :-)

I'm joining up with Tea-time Tuesday today. Drop by and meet Sandi.http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.ca/, http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.ca/ with Marty
and http://www.marthasfavorites.com/ for Tea cup Tuesday.
Also, http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.ca/ for WHAT'S IT WEDNESDAY.

hugs, Deb

Make the bed? Why, thank you...I'd love to.

I managed to pop into the Log Farm (antiques) on Sunday for just a few minutes. Just long enough, though as I came home with my first blue & white tea-cup and 5 silver tea-spoons. Pretty? I think so.

This is my new favorite tea-cup.

It is called Countryside, Wedgewood and made in England. It holds a lot of tea for a cold day like today. Yes, it is still cold here..stop laughing. I believe our Summer came and went.

If you are a  cat owner,  you will understand when I tell you that making your bed in the morning may take a few tries before it actually looks good, if ever. I always remove the duvet, pull up the sheets and then place a clean towel over-top so if the cats lie on the bed the hair stays on the towel. Just getting that done could take some time.
Here's why.... between the towel and the sheet appears this..

who thinks I cannot see her. Out.of.her.freakin'.mind, this cat is.  Did I mention she's a lunatic?  I may change her name to Demente. (Insane in Spanish)

Then her ever-so-gentle and quiet little mom appears with a toy of some sort and decides to play with it on the bed. Why? Because I am in the room and where I go..she follows. So, some days I give up.
I've actually given up on a few things until 'monkey' grows up. I know one thing for sure...we need to move a lot of our 'out-door' plants out to the deck 'pronto' or she'll be digging her way to China, next. And all my jewelery is tucked away safely in a drawer since discovering that she loves 'all shiny objects'. She's a jewel-thief,  I tell ya. Oh yes, and she likes to shred all paper so the newspaper, paper-towels, toilet-paper, kleenex....need I say more.

hugs, Deb