Lilacs and Apple Blossoms

Today was a day to welcome the lilacs and the apple blossoms. They are just opening and will need a week to be fragrant but we are very happy to see them.
We had a surprise visit from Little Gwyn and her mom. Gwyn helped Gramps feed the birds and squirrels. Never too early to learn, I think.

It was also a day for me to visit the dentist.
Why is there always a flip-side to everything?

Anyway, here are a few nice pics of the day...(none of me in the dentist chair :-b)

Is this a cherry blossom tree?

"Oh,  Lindaaaaaaa"

http://linda-keaveney.blogspot.ca/

Soon this tree will be gorgeous with blossoms.

I favor the white lilacs.

See how close the Chickadee's nest is to our front door. She hops from my hanging basket of white geraniums to her little perch on the wooden cat. It's nice and deep in there for her nest.

Silly bird, though, to nest so close to the busy front door. We have already been scolded for standing on our porch and when the dog came out she darn near had a fit. Geesh!

I'm joining Jody athttp://rootedinthyme.blogspot.ca/ for Simple and Sweet Friday.

hugs, Deb

Finally we have heat.

Mama bird is waiting in the top photo for me to go inside the house. Look up....look way up.
The little Chickadee has built a nest in a wooden ornament at the front door of our home. Since I kept her fed all winter I guess she thought this B&B was the best she could find. I'll continue to leave her plenty of seed and apple for awhile yet. I think she likes the white geraniums I hung on the porch. The second photo was taken from a distance since if you get too close she gives you 'heck'.
I'm still amazed that she picked this place to raise her young. That wooden cat has hung at our door for 15 years and never once chosen as a nesting spot.

Lily & Sierra share a sun-puddle on this gorgeous day.

Sierra helping to prepare the yard for summer.

She is our indoor-outdoor cat as she never leaves our property.

She has been with us for 10 years now.

The grass needs seeding next.

The yard is coming alive.

and look who just woke up...

We are having July weather today.

And the lilacs are blooming. 

*smile*

hugs, Deb

Play & enjoying the long weekend.

Emmi (kitty client)  having a treat.

A little treat before bidding farewell 'til next time.

It's been a busy weekend with my grand-daughter's party, lots and lots of cat-sitting and I'm still in the midst of Spring house-cleaning and preparing the yard for flowers.

The sun is shining on this May 24th long-weekend. It has been beautiful. It's 'get your garden going' weather.

This is the weekend when we started gardens without the worry of frost, in the past. But, since we are two weeks behind in most Spring growth I think it might be best to wait 'til June 1st to put flowers in the ground.

I`m sticking to pots on the deck and around our apple tree for now.

I'm anxious to grow herbs again this year along the deck. 

Rosemary on the island

Sunday dinner was roast chicken along with my favorite dish - stuffed zucchini.

Loaded up and covered with cheese.

 Accompanied by warm whole wheat rolls from the oven.

Strawberry shortcake for dessert.

A wonderful Spring-time dinner.

Hope you had a fun and yummy weekend.

And I do hope you played and had fun with your pets, too.

Am I the only one this weekend that can say they watched fire-works with their cat? Annie and I were in the kitchen late last night when all of a sudden we heard a loud bang.

Annie's head swung around to see the fire-works across the street illuminate the sky.

She was mesmerized.

Just look at those cute little ears.

Our dear old dog, Kane would normally be terrified at the sound of fire-works but now that he has lost some hearing they don't bother him anymore. He slept right through them.

It's the one good thing about his hearing loss.

Cat-tip-for-the-day=^..^=Play

Do you play with your cat? In order to keep your cat happy and content you need to add fun and excitement to it's life. If your cat is an in-door only cat, it's important to PLAY together. Most in-door cats are bored and need some stimulation. Add a box or a big brown paper bag to it's area and roll a ball into it. Get down on the floor and play along with your cat while it enjoys it's new toy. Attach a feather to a stick and dangle it so the cat will jump. Exercise is so important for cats who are unable to climb trees and run free. I find a ping-pong ball really gets Audrey going if I bounce it down the hall or the stairs. Adding new toys to their stash once a month is something for them to discover and have fun with. 

                           Spend time with your cat. They love it. And that's that. 

Audrey..."That being said, I fail to find a new toy in my basket today." 

"So sorry, Audrey. I'll get right on that."

hugs, Deb

"Thanks a minion for coming to my party"

Riley turned 4

and requested a Minion cake.

They played games

and had a 'pizza party'.

It was a gorgeous, sunny afternoon 

and the kids, just as expected, had a blast.

Birthday girl took time out to give a hug to her little cousin, Gwyn. And proud Gramps, too.

It's hard to believe that this little girl will be off to school this Fall.

Here's something else that will put a smile on your face. The story of Tilly.

 http://hopalonghollowgazette.blogspot.ca/

& just read the news...
Siam & Sri (previous post) have found a loving home together with the help of the Ottawa Cat Rescue Network. Thank you so much to anyone who posted their need for a home on your fb or blog. It's wonderful how we are all so connected and can use it to help the homeless cats and dogs. 
I wish Siam and Sri a long and happy life in their new home.

The sun is shining...*smile*

                                  Rae-Rae
hugs, Deb

'A beautiful morning' to you.

"Mornin' Deb" 

purrrrrrrrrr!

"I brought your camera in case you'd like to capture my adorableness"

And that, I did.

This is the face I often see next to me in the morning.
I've always said there is another side to Audrey.

Well, it's good that Audrey woke me up bright and early as this is a busy day of cat-sitting and some fun celebrating our grand-daughter's 4th birthday.
Here's what we are giving  her.

A hand-made closet/cupboard for her dolly clothes.
I may be passing the love of cupboards down to her. :)
It has little drawers, too.

I added a couple of outfits for her doll

wrapped in pink paper, of course. The carpenter is a fellow that lives in our town and makes a little extra cash on the side creating fun things for kids.
The little white four poster doll bed that we gave Riley for Christmas was also made by him.
Well-made and soon well-loved.  

How are you all keeping, anyway?
I think I mentioned that I am making smoothies now with my Nutri-bullet.
I love this thing.

Since starting our juice/smoothie regime, we are both feeling more energetic and healthy.
Our daughter is loving it, too. She makes one every day before work.

Today I made a drink with
Greek yogurt
1/2 apple
pineapple
1/2 banana
1/2 orange
kiwi
handful of black-berries, blueberries
and strawberries
chia seeds
flax seeds
lots of ice

this is when I warn the cats..."It's going to be noisy for a minute guys"
Done in no time.
Oh.my.goodness...it was so good.

I should go for a walk now but I need to vacuum the house.

And when you need to vacuum THIS house (6 cats (we have 2 extra)  and 1 hairy dog)...you need lots of energy but they are well worth it.

Here is a link to one of the nutri-bullet sites.

https://www.nutribullet.com/recipes.html?gclid=CNOAvNnysb4CFYeUfgodugkAaA

Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

It's a long one for Canadians.

Before I go I have one request. Would you please take a look at these two cats who desperately need a home. Their owner has passed on and these two seven year old, declawed and spayed cats are now homeless. 

New photos of bonded pair, Siam and Sri, whose time is running out. They are friendly, like to bump noses with you, be pet and roll over. They are 7 years old, declawed and spayed. email flora_louise@yahoo.ca . Please share

They are with the Ottawa Cat Rescue Network.

http://www.catrescuenetwork.org/

I know we can find a home by sharing this request.

Thank you.

hugs, Deb

The tea cupboard

I have found a new purpose for my little french country cupboard. It is so small that it really cannot hold very much china so it has now become 'the tea cupboard'. This little cupboard has held many things in the last two years and it has been fun to display different dishes and tea-cups. I think one of my favorite displays was when I filled it with my Spring tea-cups.

I have since given away most of these tea-cups.

 It has also held children's dishes for little Riley. 

But now that the step-back cupboard has taken over it has a new purpose.
I like to be able to see the varieties of tea that I have to choose from when I want something different and up 'til now the boxes of tea were in a kitchen cupboard and hard to see. Now, I can pick and choose without boxes of tea falling on my head.

AND ... you can drop on over and go straight to the cupboard and I will brew you up a cup.
Perhaps you would like a fresh out-of-the-oven pumpkin muffin with that?

I just baked a big batch this morning. I think these are so good year-round.

                                     The Tea Cupboard

The doors are always open.

We can always start with tea. 

"What is it Audrey?"
"Do you like the tea-cupboard, Audrey?"

"NOT SO MUCH."

"Why not?"

"I don't see any cat-nip tea in there."

"That's because when you have nip, Audrey,  you go all bonkers.

                                                                     

                                                                "I'll bonkers her one."
                                                                 
=^..^=

This and that around the house

Today was the first 'quiet' day for cat-sitting in a few weeks so I decided it was a 'Me' day. 

I finally had some time to meet with two friends, Martha and Bobbi,  for lunch. It's great to catch up and have some 'face time'.We enjoyed a lovely lunch in Almonte at JR's restaurant.  The food is great and the company even greater. We talked for two hours straight. :)

It was very hot this afternoon and plants were taken out to catch some rays on the deck. This little Rosemary plant will be transplanted and placed on the island IF it can escape the jaws of six felines. We'll have to see about that.

I love dusting the dining-room and made some time for that today, too. It takes me much longer than it should as I start to play with the dishes. That is what they are meant for, right? I guess you'd have to say it is an obsession of mine. One of them, anyway.

That little photo is of Natalie, Ronna and myself having tea on one of their visits. If you haven't met these girls do go over to their wonderful blogs and say "howdy". Natalie has quite the menagerie of rescued animals on her hobby farm and Ronna, who is owned by four fabulous kitties,  can bake a cake like nobody's business.
http://knatolee.blogspot.ca/
http://ronnas.blogspot.ca/

Audrey has finally settled on a bed much to Sierra's dismay.

                      "Check out my new BFF. Ain't she a peach?"

"Oh, Audrey."
Obviously Sierra is a deep-sleeper.

More cat-sitting requests have come in so it looks like it will be a 'kitties galore' weekend coming up.  It is the Victoria Day weekend in Canada,  afterall.  Lots of parties and lots of travellers.

I'll be attending a party/barbeque, too, this weekend celebrating a little 4 year old's birthday. Should be lots of fun and let's hope the rain holds off. Fingers crossed.


hugs, Deb