As I sit at the garden

                                                           (before weeding)

After three hours of weeding, I sat down next to the garden today. I had my solar-charged radio and my camera close by.

                                                                   (after weeding)

The veggie garden is coming along.

Those are potatoes growing in bags at the end of the rows.

Other than sipping on a hot cup of  tea,  I stayed very still and waited to see who would come by for a visit. Within a minute, I had two beautiful goldfinch fly up to the bird-bath for a nice, cool drink and a splash about. They are so adorable.

Next was a little nut-hatch; quickly grabbing a few seeds and then flying back to the little red riding hood woodlot.

A chipmunk scurried by; too quick for my camera.

My little mama wren in the white bird house was inside the whole time and only peaked out a few times to watch me; most likely worried I was getting too close. She is now sitting on her nest most of the day and night so I presume she has laid all her eggs. She's.so.darn.cute. :)

My perennial garden was full of weeds and now it looks well pampered. And, I added some new mushroom compost to give it a lift as the plants begin to bloom.

I'm never without company around here. No sooner was I getting ready to come inside,  I heard a rustling in the grass and David popped up, dropped to the ground and presented his belly for a rub. Which he got, of course.

Who could resist that?

Then I pointed him in the direction of his house

and he went home for dinner.

=^..^=

Today's 

Cat-in-Window

White cat sleeping in the shade of a tree.

hugs, Deb

Banana Bread Cookies

As promised...

Banana Bread Cookies

1/2 c white sugar

1/2 c brown sugar

1 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

3 ripe bananas, mashed

2 c rolled oats

optional

1 c chocolate chips

1 c walnuts

or

top each cookie with a whole pecan.

Preheat oven to 375 F

Cream together butter and sugars

Beat in eggs and vanilla

Add the flour,baking soda & cinnamon to creamed mixture and mix well.

Mix in bananas, oats, walnuts and chips.

Drop by spoonful onto parchment lined tray and bake for 10 - 12 minutes. They should be golden brown on bottom.

Enjoy!

It was fun to have a friend of 50 years visit the mouse-house today.

Mina and I went to school together, raised a bit of hell in our teens, shared two apts. and have enjoyed watching each other's life enfold over the years.

She's an avid gardener and fabulous cook

and gave me a few tips to enhance my perennial gardens that were passed down to her from her grand-father.

It was great to see her again.

Today's

Cat-in-window

Do you recognize these two little munchkins in the window?

This was taken in 2012

Audrey was only six months old.

If I recall, they were watching the school kids get off the school bus beside our house. :)

hugs, Deb

After the much-needed rain.

We finally had rain and lots of it. Everything looks so lush and there has been visible growth in the garden over-night.
While I was out checking on things I stood on my tip-toes to see if I could see mama-to-be bird in her little white house.
Sure enough, there she was sitting quite high on her nest looking right back at me.
Is it possible to fall in love with a wild bird? My heart did a flip as I looked her right in the eyes.
Of course, no camera in hand, but I expect if I had lifted my camera to her it would have disturbed her so it's just as well.
At least I know she was comfy in her little house as the rain poured down. :)

The garden is coming along. I have already lunched on fresh lettuce and basil from the green-house.  Rosemary fills the air with it's glorious scent.
The tomatoes and zucchini are blooming.

"Oh, I see you little bandit."

The daisies are blooming on the grass next to our road. I love to see them each year. We have patches of them all over our field.
The Happy Flower.
They were my mom's favorite wild flower. :)

And after snipping the stems and placing them in a pottery vase, the stove timer 'dings'. My banana bread cookies are done.


Time for tea.

I always have company for tea.

                                      Annie
 
                                    Today's  'Cat in window'

                               A beautiful tabby and white in Almonte.

I guess we have a day off from watering our plants.

 I say, "let's celebrate with a cookie or two." ;-)

hugs, Deb

Fun at the mouse house.

I love to put together a casserole for dinner from whatever is fresh in my fridge.
This one was good and I'll make it again .
2 cups each...broccolli and cooked basmati rice.
1 1/4 c grated carrot
1 1/2 c diced bok choy
3/4 cup salted cashews
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tbsp ginger minced
1 1/4 c vegetable broth.
mix in bowl
I added a bit of fresh basil from the garden.
9x11 casserole dish
Bake covered 375 degrees for 45 min.
This makes a nice side dish.

Our daughter, Allie & grand-dog, Forest.

I'm not sure who had more fun out here today.

Although someone, I'll not name him, ran right through my perennial garden heading for the

  Little Red Riding Hood woodlot.

"Grab the beast"

He's such a handsome dog

who  likes to chase things so 

we take him to the field next door to run ...away from my chipmunks and squirrels.

Allie's photos.

Fresh leafy lettuce from the garden.

It was a fun morning at the mouse house.

Last bit of play at night.  Lights must be turned off to convince this gal it's bed-time.

And today's 

Cat in Window

Vibrant Calico

Taken in Carleton Place

hugs, Deb

A good day all around.

Dear little Annie

wears her emotions on her adorable face.

"Are you having a good day, Annie?"

"You look very content."

"Did I mention you have a vet appointment

for your check-up today?"

 

=^..^=

 It's been a long day for Annie as her vet is a 50 minute drive from home but she loves Dr. Ann and I hate to change vets since we have moved to our property.

And, Dr. Ann was very pleased with her examination today.

She looks great and as a bonus, she is down half a pound from  January.

Yah! Let's celebrate with freeze-dried chicken.

hee hee ...just one piece. :)

She is having a well deserved snooze as I type this.

No rain as yet in our area.

It's as dry as a bone here.

I'm just back in from giving our gardens a good soaking.

 

Simon's friend

Mama-to-be bird is very busy

flying back and forth to her nest.

She loves to sit on the roof and sing her heart out

 and I love to listen.

Today's Cat-in-window

A terrific tabby & white.

                                        photographed on my walk around Carleton Place

Wishing you a happy, sunny day.

Oh...here comes some rain, :)

hugs, Deb

Cats in windows & welcoming June.

Have you popped over to meet Debbie at https://debbisfrontporch.blogspot.ca/ yet?
Debbie has a post up about her love of pretty windows which I think you will thoroughly enjoy. My favorite was her first photo with the pretty yellow vase.
Her post reminded me of all my treasured 'cat in window' photos that I took over the course of four years in our little town that we recently moved from.

I have such a huge collection and would love to share them with you in my future posts. Perhaps one each post would work well and you can enjoy the beauty of  'cats in windows' like I do. Some of the cats were my kitty-clients with my cat-sitting service.

                        Let's start with this fabulous feline.

This one was taken in the town of Arnprior and was the first 'cat in window'  photo I took. This cat was one of many that were being removed from an abandoned farm and placed in foster homes by the Country Cat Rescue and Ottawa Cat Rescue Network.

Ever since that day I could not pass a cat in a window without snapping a photo. 

Here we are welcoming beautiful June.
It's a busy month for us as we have my birthday, Father's day and we welcome our fifth grandittle in a few weeks. There will be some celebrating to do.

No rain as yet.  I've been keeping the gardens watered but the grass is taking a beating from the scorching sun all week. It's been very hot and dry.

After the winter we had I swore I would never go on about the heat. And I won't. I think.

My vegetable garden is starting to grow with daily watering and fingers crossed. Every morning I notice new growth.
Now the weeding begins.

My little bird tenant is back and has settled right in to her new home. Yah!
I sat in the garden chair and was able to catch her little head peaking out again today through the jeweled door-way. So while I tend the garden I can watch her come and go all day.

This little House Wren is just passing through here so I feel privileged to have her nest for the next few weeks at the mouse-house.

I was quite amused as I read the following info on their nesting habits.  

Mating Habits

Easily attracted to a birdhouse, the male arrives first, in early Spring and begins to establish his territory. You'll know he has arrived when you begin hearing him sing from his perches.
This songster will sing from dusk to dawn. The singing is mostly done during the mating season.
As you watch, you'll notice the male begins placing sticks into prospective nest holes. He may build as many as twelve different nesting sites.
After pairing with a mate, the male takes the female to each of the nesting sites he has begun building.
The female selects the one she likes and begins to fill the nest completely with more twigs. Then she makes a small depression at the back of the cavity which she lines with pine needles and grass for egg laying.

Very interesting. This little gal obviously loves 'bling' on her house.

And I've had a talk with this guy today. He was here again to snoopervise the goings-on in the gardens. He's wonderful company although I have to remind him often not to hunt on this property. I know he's a cat that will do what he wants but if I give him a belly-rub and turn him in the right direction he will eventually head on home. lol
That, I can count on.

 

David

 hugs, Deb