Facing winter and slowing down on the job.

I have made a new year's resolution but I am having trouble getting started. It is to walk more; every single day if possible BUT it has been freezing rain here and another resolution I made was to fall less so as to not break bones so it has been put on hold a few more days. I will get at it soon.

Morning at the mouse-house ... a few hungry mourning doves arrive at the feeding station. I hate to see the feeders covered in snow and will get out there to brush it all off after my first cup of coffee.
But I can't get over the beauty of it all.

Looks cold, doesn't it?

And another 'duty' I must fulfill is to serve up the stinky goodness for someone who will, and did, fling heavy dishes off the counter when I wasn't quick enough.
The retired guy asks, "how does she do that?"
I say, "with a joyful heart."

"What do you want from me? I have needs."

It is beginning to snow again. Oh, it is beautiful to see in the trees and across the land so I won't complain today. Everything looks clean and fresh and covered in glitter.

Winter in Ontario is a long and arduous time that we Canadians pull up our boot socks and face head on. :) We are used to the cold but love to complain. Other than head south what else can we do?

Next post I'll show you another easy way to feed your birds. *cheap, cheap*

hugs, Deb

As winter moves along.

The thought of a whole new year unfolding in front of us is quite exciting, isn't it. I have so much to plan and a business that I hope will begin to grow in the next few months. I did have some cat-sitting over Christmas which I enjoyed immensely. Three kitties, Leroy, Neo and Serena; all fabulous felines. I hope to share photos of them soon.

We have had extreme weather lately; cold with a copious amount of snow. I think I have already had enough of the white stuff and am longing for spring. Oh, beautiful spring. But we have months and months of it ahead here in Ontario, Canada. I must buck up and face it head on as we Canadians do. At least I can enjoy the surroundings here at the little mouse-house.
                                          Annie grooming.

An apple for the woodpeckers and blue-jays.

These apple holders are found at most bird supply shops and of course on-line, too.

We go through an apple a day here.

The birds and wild-life around our property are a big concern during these cold months but they are coping well. The squirrels and rabbits look healthy and the hundreds of birds are a daily delight to see at the feeders.

Just a few photos for you from our wintry wonderland. The birds are really enjoying the peanut butter suet and the black sunflower seeds.

nuthatch 

Chickadees

'Bottoms up'

I'd like to send you over to visit The Marmalade Gypsy. If you have not followed along with her over Christmas you may want to read back a bit on her posts. Jeanie loves Christmas and entertained her followers with her glittery decor and festivities. She is a very busy lady as you will soon find out. Jeanie's blog is one I recommend highly as a fun and joyful place to spend a bit of time. And you'll meet Lizzie who happens to be a favorite of our audacious one. :)

"She looks like a pistol like me."

Here you go...http://themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.ca/
Enjoy!
Well, it's a new year and I'm bound and determined to get healthier so time for a smoothie.

hugs, Deb

"Happy New Year"

Auld Lange Syne

by Robert Burns

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to min’?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o’ lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

For auld lang syne!

That second last line says it all for me. "We'll take a cup of kindness yet"...
I wish you all a big cup of kindness as we venture into the unknown with a new year ahead of us.
The last year has had it's trials, no doubt, but we pull up our boot straps and carry on, don't we. Yes, we do.

Thank you all for being 'there' throughout 2016 to share in the good times and the bad. We've had a few good laughs together and it's been a privilege to be invited into your world through your blogs.
I feel we've gotten to know each other all the more.

I have three wishes for the coming year.
First, I'd love to see peace be established throughout our troubled world. Is that too much to ask?
Whether we want to admit it or not, it affects us all so much.
Second, I want there to be more kindness bestowed on our animals.
Humans can be the most cruel of all beings and the effects of that tears me apart. So, I pray for all the wild-life and the domesticated animals that rely on our compassion. God love them.
Third, I wish good health to all those I know and love. That certainly includes all of you. Life is not merely to be alive but to be well and maintaining good health is our biggest investment. So, let's move more and eat our greens, everyone.  And the odd glass of wine won't hurt. ;-)

                                 To your beautiful homes 
                              from our little mouse-house...

             "Happy New Year, everyone"
          
                                     Be happy and cozy.
                                            Cheers!

                                   Deb, the retired-guy, Annie and Audrey.

In the grips of winter.

Altogether now...

"One of these things is not like the other..."

Your morning ear-worm. :-0

It is very busy at the feeders after the storm that blew in.

I am offering to mail snow to anyone who needs some this year.

It snowed all day today; non-stop.
Although the roads were a mess, I headed out early to do some cat-sitting in our area. I have three charges; Leroy, Neo and Serena who need one visit a day. Little Leroy is shy and I am working on getting his trust so he will stay in the room and play a bit. Some cats need time to warm up to even the cat-nanny (that's me) and we thankfully are making progress daily.

It still looks a little like Christmas at the mouse-house while things are slowly being put away.

Two stockings embellished for our youngest grands.

One is 9 months and the other 5 months.

We will keep our Charlie Brown tree up for the rest of the week and my wreath that had a little addition added to it Christmas morning with a stocking stuffer. :)

                                                   A cat makes anything look better. =^..^=

Once home for the day, I made another batch of suet for my hundreds of birds that seem to appear out of no-where. You would feel sorry for them today, believe me.

Ready for a quick freeze, then removed from freezer, cut into squares to fit the suet cage and back into the freezer bags until needed.

This makes approx. 12 suet cakes.

I'll have some happy birds, for sure.

We are in the grips of winter and there's no turning back now.

hugs, Deb

It was a Merry Christmas.

and a long one at that.
We had Christmas eve and morning at the mouse-house with the fabulous felines and their free-loader friend, Forrest. Christmas dinner was at my daughters' with little Gwynn & Gus (and Hugo and Ruby, of course) and then on the 27th we celebrated with the whole family, thirteen in all, at my younger daughter's home. So, we are all Christmased-out.

It is time to relax and enjoy the next few days of the season with movies and festive leftovers. And I do believe I will break this lovely in (one of many beautiful gifts) and invite a few friends for tea.

                                          "Thanks, Santa"
I'll just leave you now with a heavy dose of  photos from the holiday season.

I wish you all a fun and relaxing week before we ring in the new year.

Our newest grandittle.

We had so much fun with the wee ones.

Now

I have to make up for recent wrongs.

I will pay for this. :(

Enjoy the next few days of merriment.

Hugs, Deb

Merry Christmas

Time for a hot toddy.

                "Merry Christmas, everyone" 
                     from the mouse-house.

I've just cleaned up a mess at the water dish as Audrey walked through it to get to her stocking. :-b

Sending much love to you all, 
Deb, Gary, Annie, Audrey and free-loader Forrest. xo

Christmas eve.

The day has started out at +1C. That's not too bad for our area and the feeders were full of birds by 7:00am. 
This is the first week of winter even though we have had freezing cold weather, freezing rain and a few snow storms of late.
And Christmas eve is here.

            Outside the mouse-house window it is a winter wonderland.

Our big dinner will be delayed this year as spouses of our kids take their turn having it with their side of the family. But, in the meantime, smaller more intimate dinners will be prepared and enjoyed over the next few days.

I have hung a 'woof' stocking as we have a guest at the mouse-house for a few days. Our grand-dog Forrest is here. Annie and Audrey are livid 
                                              "You owe me."

but I keep telling them that is no way to act at this time of year. It'll work out, it always does, and then my daughter can travel with no worries about her big baby.
I'll just put a bit more nip in their stocking. :-b

I have a wee bit of cat-sitting to do over the holidays and hope to share those gorgeous faces with you soon. 

I am feeling back to myself again (thank you so much for your good wishes) and enjoyed visits with good friends the last two days. 
 Barb's home is so welcoming; like a big hug when you enter. And her Christmas decor is magical. We had such a great visit and look what came home with me to sit under our Charlie Brown tree. He looks right at home here. :)

So it's a busy day and I must get at it. I have keys to pick up, gifts to deliver and a dog to tend to.

Enjoy the last few hours before Santa loads up that sleigh. I hope you have all been good. Audrey has been such a nervous nilly lately trying to make up for past wrongs. Why, she even helped me pack up some gifts to deliver. Her way. :)

She really is a joyful nut and we love her to pieces.

It's time now to find that Norad Santa tracker and pass it on to the grandittles.

They are beside themselves today. :)

Have a wonderful Christmas eve, everyone.

Enjoy!
hugs, Deb