Tea from the perfect tea-pot.

Finding that perfect tea-pot that holds enough tea and does not drip when poured is getting harder all the time. I had one once; a beautiful pottery pot, that bit the dust when I dropped the lid on the pot. It was the best tea-pot ever and gifted to me by my daughter and I thought I may never find one as good again. But...never say never.

My friend, Donna from The Visual Palette, https://web.facebook.com/visualpaletteart/?fref=nf, visited the mouse-house in the early summer and brought me a gorgeous gift; a drip-free tea-pot. And to make it the best tea-pot ever, it has a little bird on the lid. So pretty.
And to go nicely with this tea-pot, I purchased four of these purr-fect cups. Pretty cute, huh!

Just imagine how good the tea tastes in one of these.
It's been too, too hot to bake these days so a favorite Peak Freen cookie will have to do.

 As soon as I saw these cups I thought the cat looked like someone I know because that's just how big Annie's eyes get when she sees a bird.

And speaking of snacks, there is no guessing anymore as to what comes calling at night to dine on the apple in the apple holder.

 I would have guessed a raccoon or a skunk and now we know.

At least it's not a bear.

Whew!

Now that would have been a shocker.

I wonder if he swings in the tree-chair while he eats it.

hugs, Deb

Sharing a snack and the cat-dancer.

Sharing a snack with this guy.

He ignored the oat bread and went for the grape. 

I should do the same more often.

Now that's good.

It is still hot, hot, hot...and dry.

Not a drop of rain.

Tomorrow is to be our hottest day yet this summer.

So, the kitties love the A/C on in the mouse-house.

Especially when it is time to play with 

the cat-dancer.

=^..^= =^..^=

A few flip and flops but mostly they just whack it around. I can never get a photo when they jump. And believe me, they do leap for it. Audrey almost fell off the bed.
This is a favorite toy that your cat may need to be introduced to. You can find them at all pet stores.

Stay cool,
hugs, Deb

hydrangeas and a little treasure.

The beautiful Hydrangea in a favorite pottery vase.
I'm hoping to enjoy them inside before I dry them for the winter.

These ones were just on the verge of turning so I scooped them up just in time.

The retired-guy dug this piece of porcelain 

up near where the old farm house burned down 

in the '70's.

My grandmother had many pieces of blue and white in her floor to ceiling cupboard in the old summer kitchen.

This, I'm sure, came from there.

Holding it in my hand was bitter-sweet as the memories came rushing back of our happy times as kids and young adults sharing tea and home-made cookies in granny's kitchen.

I expect there will be a lot of these little treasures surfacing in the future.

A blue and white platter.

hugs, Deb

The fruits of our labour

I've had plenty of very cute help in the garden this summer. With the dry weather and hot sun,  it takes a lot of watering and weeding to keep this garden alive.  Even with that, we are battling Japanese Beetles and Wild Morning Glory. Both are invasive and a big fat pain.
Still the fruits of our labour is abundant and we dine on our fresh produce every day.

We can barely keep up with the beans, tomatoes and zucchini this year. I have given lots away and still I fill baskets every few days. It will soon be time to make a tomato sauce for pasta that can be kept in the freezer for the winter months.                                        

Again, we wait for a good rain-fall. We have had so little rain this summer and the ground and lawns are drying up. We have relied on soakers and sprinklers to keep the garden alive. And lots of pampering...more than I had bargained for.

Today is my oldest daughter's birthday. While driving to care for a kitty-client thoughts filled my head of this day thirty-four years ago when my life changed forever. It was one of the most wonderful days and we have been blessed to have such a caring, loving person in our lives ever since.
"Happy Birthday, Jess. We love you and wish you a fabulous year ahead. You deserve it."

hugs, Deb

A morning ritual and a hot, dry summer.

The Morning Ritual

Waiting on the birds to arrive.

The feeders are filled and the party begins.

One feeder is strictly for the cats' viewing pleasure.

Annie calls back to the crows.

She figures they belong between two sesame seed buns.

"CROWS!"

Sparrows and finches are more fun to watch

on this hot, sultry morning.

The garden needs watering morning and night.

The Japanese Beetles are driving us mad.

The sun beats down so hot that leaves are burning.

Our grass is completely brown but the strips between the veggie rows.

It takes stamina to keep this garden alive.

It's the driest summer I can remember.

And tonight we had five minutes of rain.

But we carry on because this garden feeds us fresh, organic, delicious food.

And we love that.

Tomorrow's another day.

Bring on the rain.

hugs, Deb

 

 

Cool Cats & keeping an 'eye' on Annie

We are all doing our best to stay cool today.

Yes, even Audrey.

Although Audrey marches to her own drummer.

I'm sure you noticed that Annie has Iris Melanosis.

When she arrived with her three kittens in tow five years ago I noticed it immediately and had to look up what the dark spots in her eye was caused from.

She has been under vet care for this eye issue ever since and we are keeping a close eye on it ourselves with examinations and photos. 

It's worrisome as it could turn into malignant melanomas

which is a very serious eye condition.

We pray that won't happen to our Annie.

I'll link you to an article if you are interested in learning more.

http://www.cat-world.com.au/Cat-Health-Collection/brown-spots-in-cats-eye.html

Day one with Annie.

It took two months to get Annie in better shape as she arrived mal-nourished, full of bacteria & worms and exhausted.

And she had 3 one day old kittens by her side.

Yes, that's Audrey. :)

Annie was a very unhealthy cat trying her best to be a good mom.

You can see the dark spot has changed a bit in five years.

She has another check-up this fall and I'll keep you posted on the results.

Thought I'd throw this one up, too.

This was Annie one day after she was spayed.

Audrey  (at two months) never left her side.

hug your kitty,

Deb

Welcoming August

"Is it August already?"

 

"Yep, we're in the 'hot' month now."

"Brace yourself."

 

 

We really have had the hottest summer I remember and August is usually a scorcher.

Lots of company show up when you sit under the sumacs for that much-needed shade these days.

The bird baths are filled twice a day with cool water

which attracts all the birds.

The chipmunks are becoming quite amusing, daring and entertaining

 to watch.

I swear they know the camera is on them.

The blue jays are getting bolder

and eat with the others now.

And the garden is feeding us well.

Dinner was all from the garden with the exception of what came off the barbecue.

It was fresh and delicious.

And the Ontario peaches...oh man, are they good right now.

I betcha can't eat just one.

I think a peach/blueberry crisp is on the 'to do' list this week if there's any peaches left over.

I just found the best recipe at Karen's blog.

Pop over and visit this beautiful blog for another summer treat.

just add ice-cream.

http://beatriceeuphemievintagecottagestyle.blogspot.ca/

I think I need another peach.

hugs, Deb