Potting and Puttering...and cats, of course.

I watched this morning as a Starling built it's nest in one of our maple trees; deep inside a hole in the trunk. Boy, she was a busy momma-to-be.

I mentioned that I have another bird feeding station set up outside my portable greenhouse so I can snap a few photos from there. It's become the favorite place for a drive-thru lately. :)

Juncos, sparrows, chickadees, downy woodpeckers, nut-hatch....

I think she knows she's my favorite.

Busy, busy.

The little greenhouse will stay up until our veggie garden is done. It holds the new sprouts right now as it stays warm in there all night from the daily sun. This morning early it was +25C in there.
I keep my tools, pots, bird seed & a huge barrel of water inside. The water heats up in the daily sun and then keeps the greenhouse warmer at night.
I've been potting and puttering all day.
My tomatoes are up but I wait now for the other veggies & herbs I have planted in sprouting pots to make their appearance.
We'll be sharing our veggie garden with my brother, Joe and my sister, Diane and their families this year.
So, once it is time to plant,which here in Ontario is after the 24th of May, there should be lots of gardeners around. :)

Simon's friend is getting used to me now. The little critter spent much of the morning sitting inside this flower box. Why? Because there were sunflower seeds in there. lol   But, not anymore.

I saw Simon sitting on the old pump while this one kept me company. Funny, fast and furious they are.
I'm not sure where this relationship is heading but baby chippies would surely be welcomed at the mouse-house.

And David was by for his cuddle and belly rub. He visits every day now that we work outside more.
This photo was taken last summer. I just wanted you to see how friendly this little king of the wild frontier is.

I've been showing off cats that I cared for through my cat-sitting service that I provided for the area that we have recently moved from.

So

Let's look back a bit...

Meet Cortez

Yes, he was as loving and charming as he looks.His dead-pan expression always made me laugh.
I liked to call him my dapper little gentleman as he was a lovely cat to be around; a real treat to care for.
He was gentle and soft-natured and loved his indoor/outdoor life on his spacious country homestead.
He's another cat that I miss with all my heart.


hugs, Deb

Around and about the mouse house today.

The sun is shining

                           as the cats wash up after breakfast.

                                Say "AHHHHHH", Audrey.

                                  "Ahhhhhhhhh.....get lost."

                                                       She's back to her old self. :)

 Red, the little scamp, is frisky as all get out. He's flying from feeder to feeder, somersaulting through the air. He's as happy as I am to feel Spring in the air.

The grandittles came by for a romp around the property. And, Ry, our little naturalist, delighted in the many worms that live inside the dirt hills. I guess the robins left a few behind.
"And I like snakes, too, nan."

"Good grief!"

Ry & her mom.

3 year old Bradley contemplating his next move.

Ry will be turning 6 next month. And Grandittle #5 will be welcomed this coming June. A sister for Riley & Bradley.
We have a busy summer ahead but not near as busy as my son's family. :) Great times ahead.

Let's look back a bit...
Here's a photo of a much-loved kitty-client that I cared for through my cat-sitting service in the town we recently moved from. 
His name is Puff and he is friend and confidante to Moe.What a charming cat he was to care for. I loved spending time with this shy but curious fella. He, too, loved to be brushed and would compete for my attention as I sat on the floor, brush in hand, with the two handsome furr-balls stretched out beside me.

That sure was a lot of hair to take care of, but goodness, I miss that face. =^..^=

hugs, Deb

Company.... of the feathery & furry kind.

After a hardy breakfast out and a trip to the nursery, I spent much of the day raking. And.I.feel.it.already. Wowza! But that's ok as it will only get better the more I clean up the property. It will take one hundred years to finish this place with all the plans I have. :(

Here in Ontario, smart gardeners wait 'til the long weekend in May to plant their flowers and veggies. I'm just itching to see flowers around here so I picked up a few pansies, the hardiest of blooms, and will plant them in pots this week.
And, if we have any more cold nights I'll pop them into the little portable green-house.

I did add a few pansies to the side of the old out-house today. To humour people, if for nothing else.

This out-house has sat on this land for over a hundred years. 

And if I have anything to do with it, it will be here for one hundred more.

I have fun keeping it clean and decorated.

This is the side of it facing the mouse-house.

These leaves are staying.

                                                 Check out those vines. Creeeeeepy.

While I tidied up around the OH I had some company. The kind of company that stops me in my tracks and takes all my attention.

This is Buddy from next door; David's brother. He's a lot more shy than Dave and will run for the hills if you say anything to him. Give me time, though, and I might have him rolling over for belly rubs.

Simon's friend chowed down only inches from my foot and the juncos were all around me at the new feeding area I created.

 Since I'll be working at keeping my veggies sprouts alive through the month of May and will be in the little green-house, I wanted some cute company. Chickadees, juncos, downy wood-peckers, sparrows and finch are all about. This little guy was sitting on a pot inside where it's nice and humid. I call them Hairy Mollies. He's welcome, too.

Well, not all visitors are adorable.
Three of these lovelies came by to steal what they could and give me the stink-eye.

And now that spring has really sprung...I'm back to my 1 hour morning walk. No more excuses.
You need a coat early morning but by noon a pull-over will do.
It's warming up finally. Spring has hit Ontario.

Audrey is doing well; back to her old self and driving me nuts. She's not 100% yet but better everyday in spite of her acrobats. I am so very thankful. Thank you all for your good wishes.


Let's look back a bit...

Here's a photo of a much-loved kitty-client that I cared for through my cat-sitting service in the town we recently moved from.
This is Moe.
He loved his hair brushed as long as you started from the top slowly and worked your way down. Which is, by the way, the proper way to brush a cat. He was an indoor/outdoor kitty who roamed around on his lovely property keeping all the tiny critters in line. I loved his big personality and that handsome, regal face. I sure do miss him.
Next time, I'll show you Moe's side-kick.

Hope the sun is shining where you are.

hugs, Deb

She's done me in.

Well, I've pretty much given up trying to keep down this crazy cat.

                                       "I knew I'd do her in."

The only place she hasn't jumped to today is the top of the fridge and she's probably thinking she'll keep that for the finale tonight.
She is a brave one; a lion cub; a majestic wild beast.
She's fast and furious and leaves me in the dust. 
I 'd say she's on the mend.

I show her a sunny spot in the mouse-house and instead of lying down she plays shadow games.
Ah, she's a pistol and no one will keep her still.

Why can't she be lazy like her momma.

                              zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

It's a beeeeeautiful day here.
Here's two birdies joining me at the little portable greenhouse.

And Simon's friend dropped by. 
But he must have been busy 'cause he just came to the door and then disappeared again. He may be nervous about losing his 5-star den to a free-loader. Hard to tell. 

"I can't play right now. I'm cleaning house."

I can't blame the little guy...he's spoiled rotten. Although, he could use a new house sign. I'll get on that.

                                  Let's look back a bit...

As I mentioned, I'd like to show you a photo a day of my much-loved kitty-clients from my cat-sitting service in the area where we used to live.
Drum-roll please.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce to you the stunningly beautiful Serena. Or as I fondly called her

                                          L'il Blue Eyes.

When I first met Serena I was absolutely taken back by her beauty. And in time, I thought of her as the most gorgeous cat, inside and out, that I had ever had the privilege to know.
She was a silly one who loved to roll back and forth on the floor while I
combed her soft, silky coat. I'd have done anything for her. She had me wrapped around her paw. She was a cat that was hard to leave and I still miss this beauty.

Well, I'd better go see what Audrey is up to.
A ping-pong ball just came flying out of the bedroom. *sigh*

hugs, Deb

An 'up-lifting' tail

This bright and sunny morning found Audrey perched on the cat stand eyeing dear little Red as he rejoiced in being the first to the side bird feeder. He filled his gut while Audrey made funny noises and twitched her ears. There won't be any tail-twitching for some time to come but I noticed this morning that it is being held higher off the ground. A very good sign. I'm to be watching for that. She still walks slowly with a slight limp but seems to have forgotten all about her mishap already.
Annie tried to play with her last night. I intervened quickly and Annie walked off a little confused. This might be the biggest struggle of all while this leg and tail heal completely.

Annie starts her morning off joining me for coffee. I like a hot cup with milk and she prefers just a wee bit of milk in her tea-pot saucer. She will sit and stare at it until the white delicacy is poured for her to enjoy.
She then sat at the window while the feeders filled up with finches of many colours.

Here is another shot of the downy woodpecker as he hung around me while I filled shelves in the portable greenhouse yesterday. They are normally shy but this one came surprisingly close and stayed.

I bet 'baby' downy woodpeckers would be so cute.

Have you been over to Mary's garden today.http://abreathoffreshair-mary.blogspot.ca/

Wait 'til you see her little bird-house that is 'occupied' with mommy and daddy Carolina Chickadees.

Mary expects to see baby chickadees in the near future.

I have a feeling you'll want to spend some time at Mary's so pour yourself a cup of something. :)

Since I'm house-bound a little more these days watching over the she-devil...ummm....Audrey, I have been looking back on older cat-sitting photos in my library. I have so many cute cat shots and thought I may share a few in the next few days.

My cat-sitting service in this area is taking off very slowly as most people call for a live-in sitter.

It's funny how different areas require specific services.

But first, here's a favorite photo of my grand-kitty, Rae-Rae and her love of violets. 

We have a similar passion for the beautiful bloom.

She has the patience, though, to watch them grow.

                                              Rae-Rae

Time to check on a certain invalid.
Hope your day is filled with sun-shine,
Deb

A little update on Audrey and the signs of spring.

As expected, each day shows improvement with little Audrey. She has been wanting to jump at times but I know this cat so well that I can see it coming before she does it and can lift her to her desired spot. If she does jump up, though, it's not so bad. It's the jumping down that may set her back. I have to have eyes in the back of my head this week. Her appetite is still 'hog-like' and she washes up after her meals and sleeps comfortably. The only time I can't stop her from jumping up is when she lands on the bed wanting to tuck in beside me.
She is on metacam for comfort for the next few days.

It's good that I can stay around and watch her; plans have been put on hold just for this week.
The mouse-house is so tiny that to put her in one room and remove all things that she could jump up on would be impossible. There is no room to use. My vet knows that Audrey would not do well in a crate while she heals. Can you imagine? My life (after) would never be the same.  So...I be the nurse & watch-dog. lol

She wanted in the sunshine so that's where I put her. Her tail is still limp but her vet expects no change there for a few days.

                                                "Me in a crate?....Think again, lady."

The sun is lifting everyone's spirit today. Could spring finally be arriving at the mouse-house? I have veggies to plant in starter pots and then soon they will go out to my portable green-house that is near where the garden will be. That will be in May. I dream of a real potting shed that I can decorate and play with but that will come after the house is built.  I have some friendly chickadees that sat in the brush beside me while I took a break from cat-patrol and added shelves to the green-house. They were fascinated in all that I was doing and  made for pretty cute company.

                                                  They are the sweetest little birds.

One lone downy woodpecker stayed around to watch me work, too.

He was showing off his spot of red.

By mid-week we are in for some warmer weather and by the weekend it will be beautiful (+20C) . I can't wait to start cleaning up the out-doors and preparing for flower gardens.
I'm watching the five bird-houses for prospective tenants but so far have just seen birds fly in and fly out. No nesting materials have been brought in as far as I can see.
There is lots of courting going on mostly amongst the mourning doves. If they nest here it will be in the shrubs or lower branches of the trees. That would be nice to see. :)

Thank you for your kind comments wishing Audrey a quick recovery. I can see that the pain-killer is really keeping her comfy and she is lovin' all the extra attention and freeze-dried chicken that magically appears for her enjoyment. She's even tolerating the extra hugs and kisses.  haha! God, I love her. ♥

Back to cat patrol. =^..^=

hugs, Deb

Take 2...

For some reason, my last post vanished on me. Weird.

Audrey fell from our stair cover to a stair-step below injuring her back leg and tail on the weekend. Normally she could have jumped the distance but her fall was unexpected and she went down hard. Her tail going limp really alarmed me.

It was off to the vet to see how bad the injury was and thankfully (Oh lordy, I was worried)  she just needs rest; no broken bones. Her tail is swollen and sore but there is no spinal damage.

The little twerp is not allowed to jump as she recovers, with the help of a good pain-killer, so I am lifting her when the need arises. Did I ever mention that she loves to jump....constantly. :(

We'll have to change the stair cover so this does not happen again.

I expect she will milk this for all it's worth. I hope I survive.

                                                                    (2015)

"Must go...I just heard her bell ring. "

hugs, Deb