Around the mouse-house...inside & out

Oh my goodness, everything is growing faster than a cat whippin' it's tail around here. I am having to weed every-time I walk past the gardens. And the grass...I don't even want to talk about that.

 

 

 

Tiny blooms appear like magic. It's so uplifting to walk out to see what's new in the garden every morning with my first cup of coffee. I just know my grandmother and mother have a hand in all that grows here. I especially feel my grandmother's presence as I walk about taking in all that late spring offers. I look in the direction of our vegetable garden and remember her garden in the very same place. As a young child visiting for the summer, I can still smell the freshly picked carrots that we would carry in our dirty little hands in to her summer kitchen to be washed for dinner that night. Oh, and the yellow beans...my favorite. And I listen to the birds around me and think, "She heard the birds sing while she gardened right where I now stand." It leaves me a bit awe-struck.

Simon is still around although he is not at home much anymore. I do see him at night sitting on the old pump before calling it a day but he is very active with the other chips all day long.
The other evening we had an early down-pour with a bit of thunder and he came tearing across the lawn and flew down his little hole; safe from the coming storm. I felt happy to see him have his little comfort-spot.

Little Red has a favorite eating spot which is the platform bird-feeder. Why?...because it swings while he eats. He seems to love that. He's a mover and a groover.

And while Audrey snoozes in her hidey-hole,
Annie is always close by me; my shadow, really.

She's always interested in anything that I'm doing.

And especially enjoys 'tea-time' at the mouse-house.

"Just milk in mine, please."

hugs, Deb

I guess this is a "me" day. :)

Our grandittle, Gwynn had a sleep-over at the mouse-house and joined us for breakfast and some birthday shopping in the town of Merrickville today.
It was a gorgeous day; perfect, really, so we shopped, ate ice cream and watched the boats go by.
Merrickville is a town that you want to visit over and over again. The architecture of this lovely town, the shops, the art-work, restaurants and parks make this town a fun destination.

Chocolate milk shake time. :)))

Watching the boats at the Rideau Canal locks in Merrickville.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rideau_Canal

It was a fun day and I'm looking forward to a gathering of our family this weekend where we will celebrate my birthday and all the dad's in our family for Father's Day.

I was born on Father's Day many, many moons ago.

Thank you to everyone for your kind birthday wishes.

hugs, Deb

Tea and a recipe.

A special tea was enjoyed today at the mouse-house.

Blueberry Superfruit

A lovely blogger and reader of Just Cats and tea-cups sent me a beautiful birthday card ( yep...another year older this Wednesday (geesh!),  and inside was this delicious tea to sample. "Thank you so much, Snap, for your thoughtfulness. Snap has a charming blog at http://twistylane.blogspot.ca/. 
Drop by to meet Snap & felines, Teddy, Cassie & Mina.
The cat on the card looks just like her Teddy. :)

With my tea I had a slice of home-made banana bread fresh out of the oven. It was time to use up some of those brown, frozen bananas taking up room in the freezer. :)

I will post the bread recipe next but today I want to share this delicious recipe with you. It's a favorite meal here.

                                                Macaroni & Cheese 
Preheat oven to 350.
3/4 of a pound (or three cups) of macaroni (uncooked) 
1 egg 
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons of butter
2 1/2 cups cheddar cheese (I added 1/4 cup of gouda, also)
salt & pepper
Boil macaroni for  minutes until half-cooked.
Mix the egg & milk together. Melt the butter and add to egg mixture. Add the grated cheese.
Place the macaroni in a buttered baking dish. Pour the egg and cheese mixture over the macaroni. Sprinkle with salt & pepper and mix well.
I topped it with sliced tomatoes and fresh basil from our garden.
Bake uncovered for 30-35 min. 
This is nice served with a vegetable side-dish.

This is delicious

and since I was home alone for the weekend, I just paired it with some cole-slaw and 12 grain bread.

You can never go wrong with pasta for dinner. :)

Even Annie enjoyed a bite or two of this cheesy delight. =^..^=

Audrey won't take part in this dining experience as she thinks all 'people food' is disgusting.

Her only request is canned soft cat food.

"Open a can and no-one gets hurt."

 

No manners here.

 But...I still love her.

=^..^=

We've had a lot of rain and now the sun and heat is returning.

I spent a good part of the day weeding

so the garden looks nice again.

It's a never ending job, though, isn't it?

hugs, Deb

The entertainers at the mouse-house.

I could watch these guys for hours. :) But then, I do have a life. ha!

"You do?"

"Excuse me. I believe I have emptied your feeder."

They certainly keep me entertained when I'm in the garden.

The weather was beautiful here with the humidity gone and a cool breeze along with sunny days. It's been perfect.
Today the rain falls as the daisies stand up tall to drink it in.

It's a well-needed rain.
                                                                    (before the rain)

Today's

Cat-in-window

is our little Peach

aka  Annie.

She's busy watching doves returning to the side bird-feeders

after being away sitting on nests, I presume.

"Welcome back, little Doves."

I miss our chickadees as they have been absent from the mouse-house for a month now.

I really miss their sweet faces.

But, they will return with their fledglings very soon. :)

That will be a nice day.

hugs, Deb

As I sit at the garden

                                                           (before weeding)

After three hours of weeding, I sat down next to the garden today. I had my solar-charged radio and my camera close by.

                                                                   (after weeding)

The veggie garden is coming along.

Those are potatoes growing in bags at the end of the rows.

Other than sipping on a hot cup of  tea,  I stayed very still and waited to see who would come by for a visit. Within a minute, I had two beautiful goldfinch fly up to the bird-bath for a nice, cool drink and a splash about. They are so adorable.

Next was a little nut-hatch; quickly grabbing a few seeds and then flying back to the little red riding hood woodlot.

A chipmunk scurried by; too quick for my camera.

My little mama wren in the white bird house was inside the whole time and only peaked out a few times to watch me; most likely worried I was getting too close. She is now sitting on her nest most of the day and night so I presume she has laid all her eggs. She's.so.darn.cute. :)

My perennial garden was full of weeds and now it looks well pampered. And, I added some new mushroom compost to give it a lift as the plants begin to bloom.

I'm never without company around here. No sooner was I getting ready to come inside,  I heard a rustling in the grass and David popped up, dropped to the ground and presented his belly for a rub. Which he got, of course.

Who could resist that?

Then I pointed him in the direction of his house

and he went home for dinner.

=^..^=

Today's 

Cat-in-Window

White cat sleeping in the shade of a tree.

hugs, Deb

Banana Bread Cookies

As promised...

Banana Bread Cookies

1/2 c white sugar

1/2 c brown sugar

1 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

3 ripe bananas, mashed

2 c rolled oats

optional

1 c chocolate chips

1 c walnuts

or

top each cookie with a whole pecan.

Preheat oven to 375 F

Cream together butter and sugars

Beat in eggs and vanilla

Add the flour,baking soda & cinnamon to creamed mixture and mix well.

Mix in bananas, oats, walnuts and chips.

Drop by spoonful onto parchment lined tray and bake for 10 - 12 minutes. They should be golden brown on bottom.

Enjoy!

It was fun to have a friend of 50 years visit the mouse-house today.

Mina and I went to school together, raised a bit of hell in our teens, shared two apts. and have enjoyed watching each other's life enfold over the years.

She's an avid gardener and fabulous cook

and gave me a few tips to enhance my perennial gardens that were passed down to her from her grand-father.

It was great to see her again.

Today's

Cat-in-window

Do you recognize these two little munchkins in the window?

This was taken in 2012

Audrey was only six months old.

If I recall, they were watching the school kids get off the school bus beside our house. :)

hugs, Deb