Popscicle, anyone?

Today, it is the coldest day here in eight years. It's -30C with winds a howlin'  Your skin will freeze in 2 minutes, if exposed, so there is a whole new fashion craze in our parts.  it's called 'the bundled-up & can't breath' look.

My cat-sitting board is filling up, once again. People are heading south, if their job and pocket-book allows.

I woke to the retired-guy looking out our back deck door. "There was a cat under our deck and he just jumped the fence and headed up the street."
Why would anyone let their cat out in this weather? Now we will have to watch for it in case it is an abandoned one. "Long-haired grey and a big fella." That's all we have to go on.

This is a good day to stay in but I do have some cat-sitting so I'm heading out. I'll be back for a hot cup of tea soon.

The kitties are nestled around the wood-stove. All but Sierra.

She likes the laundry-area cat-bed 'cause it has a heating pad.

NOT MOVING ALL DAY.

Hope it's warmer in your parts.
hugs, Deb

Thinking 'outside the drawer'

The first time I saw cutlery displayed in a ceramic jar was at my friend, Christine's  home, many years ago. Instantly, I noticed it and liked how it looked. My cutlery was kept in a kitchen drawer at home.  Everyone I knew  kept cutlery tucked away in a drawer so seeing it displayed on a counter looked nice but odd to me. Chris told me that her mom always kept her forks & spoons on display in cups and jars when she was growing up. She figured it was an 'English' thing.  For some reason, I loved it. While we would sit around the kitchen I would study the designs and markings on the cutlery and realized then that I really loved the look of it. The sun would come through the window and hit the silver in a way that would illuminate it's charm. It seemed a shame to hide these beauties.

So, I started displaying my spoons in the kitchen and dining-room in containers.

 For weeks, the retired-guy would go to the cutlery drawer to find a spoon and stand there with a lost look on his face. "Why aren't there any spoons here?  Why are the spoons over there? They should be in the drawer, shouldn't they?"

(I don't have a photo of his distraught look so I'll use one of Audrey's.)

                                                               Hmmm...not quite.

Ya..that's it. Perfect.

"Why do you do this stuff all the time? It makes me crazy."
 Poor guy.
Old habits die hard.
He's ok now.

hugs, Deb

Tea with Annie

This tea-cup and saucer is Made in England, Bone china and #202/10

(center of the saucer)

I have one little black tea-cup that sits, unused, in my cabinet. It has little tiny bits of paint missing from the plate but it is too pretty to disregard. I love the one pink rose surrounded by smaller, fragile flowers. It has a beautiful white handle trimmed in gold.

I wanted to try a new tea today, licorice spice tea, and the black packet reminded me of this lonely little tea-cup and saucer that I have never used.
So today, it sits out on the cupboard and takes center-stage.
The tea is delicious. If you like black licorice,  you will like this tea.
When poured, it has a green tea look and smells of licorice root, fruit, cinnamon, orange peel & cloves. Of course, I added just a bit of honey.

My company today in the dining-room is Annie. She loves when we have 'quiet time' together. She sits so contented and loves the sound of my voice as I share the worries of the world with her. She is a very peaceful, calm kitty and she likes her surroundings to be the same. She did enjoy the family here on Sunday, though. She spent most of the day on Mike's lap, purring.

She is so happy to be an indoor cat. It is -20 at 4pm and that's not fit for man or beast.

My little 'Peach'.

I'm joining http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.ca/ for Tea-time Tuesday & .http://antiquesandteacups.blogspot.ca/ for Tuesday Cuppa Tea

hugs, Deb

Brushing, bonding and looking back.

It is -20 today and will stay at that temperature for awhile. The nights are even colder. If you don't wear proper clothing while outside, such as mittens and a hat, you look ridiculous.

I am just back from cat-sitting. One of the best ways to bond with cats is to groom them,  if they like it. This gorgeous cat turns into mush when I bring out the brush. She rolls and purrs and makes biscuits in the air (a motion cats make by pushing in and out with their paws). This behaviour is uniquely feline and is accompanied by contented purring. When a cat does that, it means it feels safe. She loves grooming time and butts my hand when I stop. She is such a pleasure to spend time with.
It doesn't hurt to have award-winning eyes and a personality to match. Oh yes, and extra toes.

She won't stay still for a photo. She just rolls and rolls.

"Smile, Indy"

Looking through some pictures I came across this one of Audrey the day she opened her eyes.

I brought three kittens, along with their mother, home from the shelter when the kittens were three days old.
At ten days,  Audrey was the first to open her eyes. Even at that age, she was raring to go. She wasn't the boldest of the three but she did get herself into many predicaments. She was the first to climb the curtains, only to hang there and scream. When I rescued her, she turned around and went straight back up. She hung on with one leg and screamed bloody murder. The curtain was put away. I should have known then what I know now about Audrey.

(6 months)

As a kitten, Audrey loved to hang out in the dining-room with me. She still does. I was sure that I soon would be 'fondly remembering' many of my dishes as they, one by one, became victim to her shenanigans. But, to this day, this monkey, has never broken a dish. Is there such a thing as 'feline dishaholics'?

hugs, Deb

Family breakfast while the cold winds blow

Well, the temperature has plummeted and we are heading into a deep-freeze again. It took an extra tug to open the car door tonight before leaving to feed the ferals. I put dry down, canned on top and then covered it with lots of dry again, in a covered area, out of the wind . This will keep the soft food insulated for awhile but not for long.  I call them before getting back in the car but I'm not really sure if that brings them out. It's a big guessing game as they can be anywhere.

I have two homes where I am caring for cats this weekend. Both are single cats that need a lot of attention and I'm glad I have the extra time for them. 

Auntie Jess and Riley

The family were here for breakfast. It's always so nice to have them all home together. After the last of the coffee was drunk and the company left, I gathered up the items Riley likes to place here and there. I always find small things in odd places after she leaves. She's a real little re-arranger.

She told me this morning, "Nan, I love your cupboards." Now, she doesn't really mean the actual 'cupboards'; what she means is what she finds inside these cupboards. After saying that, she opened her fist and showed me the chocolates that she found in a container, in the cupboard, that just happened to be eye level for an almost three year old treasure hunter. She cracks me up.

Bradley is so cute now as he notices everything going on around him.

Gramps is showing him a fish in a plastic bubble.

He'll be four months old soon.

Bets are on he ends up with curls.

The weather report for the coming week is very cold and it will be hovering around -15.

We are in the bleak mid-winter.

hugs, Deb

Daisies

Source

'Daisies are the 'happy flower'.

Daisies remind me of lazy summer days at my grandmother's farm.

I remember picking armfuls of them; winding them through my shoelaces and bringing a bouquet back for my grandmother.  Of course, you always wore them in your hair. We were the 'flower children' afterall. "He loves me, he loves me not..."

My mom loved them and passed that love of them on to me.

At home, she would often fill a vase with them and place them on the dining-room table. I do the same now.

As a matter of fact, I place them in the very vase that was eventually passed on to me. 

(Audrey always helps the retired-guy pay the bills)

Unfortunately, daisies are poisonous to cats and dogs so they have to be placed up high when no one is in the room.

My kitty-client, Gracie, is now out from under the bed and we are getting along just fine. She has a love of treats, her favorite toy and she is the proud owner of the best cat-tree in town.

I'm just back from feeding the ferals and am happy that the temperature has risen again. It is not freezing; just wet. The landscape is covered in snow but we will lose much of it if it continues to rain. I was able to leave them soft food along with the kibble.

I came across this photo and it has always been one of my favorites of Kane and I sitting outside a friends' home. He isn't a 'ball dog' anymore and that saddens me to think that those days are behind him now. He is almost 13 and has slowed down significantly. But, he's still my boy, loves his walks and he smells like a flower as he has just been bathed.

 

   2010  

Family are arriving for breakfast.

Time to get the quiche into the oven.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Hugs, Deb

Winter winds and kitty in a window

We are deep in winter now. It is cold & damp and the little bit of sun is greatly welcomed.

Kane wears his coat and his collar is pulled up to wrap around his neck. I am dressed for this weather but still, the wind whips at your face. Our walks are a little shorter on days like today. A hot cup of tea for me and a cozy corner on the couch for Kane is very welcome when we return.

A 'cat-in-window' photo for you.

He looks quite content to be inside today.

Then off to cat-sit...

We have such a nice time together. She loves to be combed and I love to stroke her soft, white coat.
I can also get very lost in those beautiful blue eyes. Then off to work on one that is a little scared. Treats and a feather on a rope should do the trick.

Back home our two oldest cats, Mr. Ed & Lily sleep peacefully around the fire.

Ed is enjoying the long box I dug up for Audrey.

And where are the younger ones? They've chosen the round beds and the tomato box. That's right....she's in the little 'mouse bed' again.

Remember this?

She's such a drama queen.  

hugs,  Deb