Happy Birthday

I was tired Saturday night but I'm not much for TV so I baked a birthday cake.
I did my cat-sitting very early today and said "Farewell" to lovely Tugnut. What a sweet cat he is and I will miss him. I hope I get a chance to care for him again.

Brunch at my son's to celebrate the retired-guy's 58th bday.

I know, he's young to be retired but he sure is enjoying it.  Yesterday he repaired our roof. Yah!
He's not lying around, I'll grant him that.
Ozzie always looks for treats in my purse. Smart cat.

So, he got a ukelele for his birthday. I hope I don't regret this.

He suits it, don't you think?

Riley wants to learn how to play, too.

His favorite banana cake with walnuts.

and lots of fun presents from everyone.

We had a fabulous brunch.

"Happy Birthday, Gramps"

Our next celebration will be to meet our new grandson due in 2 weeks.

Allie was not able to be here today but she is better now and back at work.

Thank you for all your nice comments.

We had to walk the brunch and cake off so we picked up Kane and headed out.
Gary has his ukelele and Kane has a stick. They couldn't be happier.

Off to cat-sit again.

hugs. Deb

A Favorite Thing

This little sun-catcher is one of my newest 'favorite' things.

It came home with me from Newfoundland last month.

The houses there are all different colours and look so pretty along the shoreline.

There is no sun today to catch and it has been raining for hours but it still makes me smile just to look at it. It is made of glass and hand-painted.

I hung it in the dining-room

on this dark and dismal day.

Audrey's not impressed.

"Got me what the dang thing does. It doesn't even smell like fish.

It may have to die."

Sun-catcher is now safely back in the drawer.

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

hugs, Deb

Nope, can't see her.

Audrey loves to play 'hide and seek' on her mom, Annie. 

She's just really lousy at it.

Oh well! Mom will still pretend she can't see her.

We will celebrate the retired guy's birthday tomorrow although it was a week ago. Brunch at my son's with the family.

I'm baking a cake today.

If you are a follower you may have noticed I changed the name of my blog a little. One of my readers came up with that and I loved it. Thanks to Bernideen at http://bernideensteatimeblog.blogspot.ca/ for this idea and do drop over to see her pretty Fall table.

hugs, Deb

Cats in my neighbourhood

If you ever have the notion to become a full-time or part-time cat-sitter you should first take a walk around the areas where you would provide the service. Many cats are easy to spot either sitting in the windows or outside the homes. 

When I see one, I pop a business card into the mail-box.

These cats just may need a cat-sitter soon.

Along with scooping daily, remember to add a tablespoon of baking soda to your cat's litter box. I guarantee it will keep the odour down.

It's been a very busy week. Time to 'kick back' like our 'ol dog and get some R & R.

Until tomorrow anyway...

I'm joining up with Diana at http://dianaevans.blogspot.ca/ for Sweet Saturday.
hugs, Deb

Seasonal cups & off to cat-sit

I really must give a shout-out to Carolyn at Aiken House and Garden. http://warrengrovegarden.blogspot.ca/
Her blog is so  beautiful and you must do yourself a favor and drop over for a visit. You will want to follow Carolyn just to enjoy her gorgeous table-scapes and gardens. She's a fellow Canadian with a flare for decorating. Do drop over.

Hot chocolate weather is on its' way.

That's when I pull this coffee mug out.

and bake more.

This un-marked tea-cup and saucer is a favorite of mine. This one is used any season, any-time. It belonged to my mom and reminds me of her love of flowers.

It is nestled in my little french cupboard right now and goes well with the Fall colours.
Speaking of Fall colours, this vase was also my moms.

.I'm off to start a busy day of cat-sitting. One more home added to the long list today. I'm filling the cat-bag with new toys and a new cat-dancer as my old one is toast.
Hope you have a fun weekend and remember to take time out for yourself and maybe try a new kind of tea. If you are used to tea in a tea-bag why not throw caution to the wind and purchase some loose tea for a change.

 I doubt you will ever go back.

hugs, Deb

Love at first sight

At 60,  I still believe in 'love at first sight'. That's a good thing, I'm sure.

It happened again this week.

Often, it is the eyes that grab me first.
You know, that little twinkle.
Sometimes it's the smile but in Optimus's case...it's the feet.

Truly, that is a first for me. I already know he has noticed me because this morning he sat on my pen while I wrote in his daily log. He also tried to climb into the cat-bag and maybe come home with me. Oh boy, it was tempting.

The leaves are turning quickly here and we still have 2 weeks of summer. By the time Fall actually arrives our trees will be bursting with colour. It's a very pretty time of year.

I'm home for lunch and some tea. I wish you were here to join me. Cucumbers from my daughter's garden make a wonderful sandwich and there is nothing like a hot cup of tea and some treats to finish lunch off. I have had no time to bake this week so Dad's cookies will do just fine, thank you very much.

Tea with a bit of honey.  Yes, I am a big fan of the bee.

I'll be heading out to do the dinner rounds soon. I'm already missing old twinkle toes.
Have a fun day.

When God created kitty cats,
He had no recipe;
He knew He wanted something sweet,
As sweet as sweet could be.
He started out with sugar,
Adding just a trace of spice;
Then stirred in drops of morning dew,
To keep them fresh and nice.
He thought cats should be soft to pet,
Thus He gave them coats of fur;
So they could show they were content,
He taught them how to purr.
He made for them long tails to wave,
While strutting down the walk;
Then trained them in meow-ology,
So they could do cat-talk.
He made them into acrobats,
And gave them grace and poise;
Their wide-eyed curiosity,
He took from little boys.
He put whiskers on their faces,
Gave them tiny ears for caps;
Then shaped their little bodies,
To snugly fit on laps.
He gave them eyes as big as saucers,
To look into man's soul;
Then set a tolerance for mankind,
As their purpose and their goal.
Benevolent ... and ... generous,
He made so many of them;
Then charged, with Fatherly Concern,
The human race to love them.
When one jumped up upon His lap,
God gently stroked its head;
The cat gave Him a kitty kiss,
"What wondrous love," God said.
God smiled at His accomplishment,
So pleased with His creation;
And said, with pride, as He sat back,
"At last. . .I've reached purr-fection!"
Author Unknown

hugs, Deb

My 'sweet' job

This little kitty-client reminds me so much of our Annie

Her name is  Vora & she's a Pastel Torti. 

The elegant Olivia

waits for her daily brushing

And Optimus

 is sporting 18 toes in the front. 

There should be 10. He's a polydactyl cat.

Normal cats have a total of 18 toes. 5 on each front and 4 on each back.

These mitten cats  are nicknamed 'double-pawed cat'

I think this guy could go snow-shoeing.

And there is nothing better to a cat than to hear the lid of a new can of soft food pop open.

Well, unless you are Tugnut and you want to eat the food OUTSIDE..NOW!!

"Sorry bud, but not on my watch. Mom's orders"

All adorable & friendly cats. 

Makes this job so sweeeeeeeet!

When God created kitty cats,
He had no recipe;
He knew He wanted something sweet,
As sweet as sweet could be.
He started out with sugar,
Adding just a trace of spice;
Then stirred in drops of morning dew,
To keep them fresh and nice.
He thought cats should be soft to pet,
Thus He gave them coats of fur;
So they could show they were content,
He taught them how to purr.

Just a reminder to always spay or neuter your cat because SMARTIES NEUTER...DUMMIES DON'T.

hugs, Deb