Feeling the heat.

It's so hot today

that Audrey's head never made it under the blanket. 

And that's something.

And dear Annie

cooled off with a treat of refreshing, cold milk.

I lasted no more than twenty minutes in the garden as it is directly  in the hot sun and the humidity is awful.

But, the week of steady sun-shine has been wonderful for produce and even one tomato showed it's true colours today.

Soon it will be in a sandwich :)

but for now,

I'm happy with the home-grown cucumber and lettuce and my local tomato from the farmer's market

to make the perfect summer lunch.

With tea, of course.

I've been busy with a certain little someone

who asked to have a sleep-over at nana and gramps place this week.

She kept busy with gardening, golf, tea parties,

side-walk sales, ice-cream sundaes and puppy pampering at the park.

 This little cutie.

And, the odd needed nap.

For gramps, too.

Can you feel the love here? lol

It's so quiet here today

even Annie & Audrey notice it.

But they are glad to get their toys back and couldn't figure out what this was all about come bed-time for little Gwynn.

First,  the toys get tucked in...

then it's story time

5 books...

I kid you not.

haha!

and .....she's asleep. 

So it's catch-up today with tidying up the mouse-house and trying, anyway, to keep cool.

The bird-baths are cleaned, filled with cold water and in great use today.

Especially, by my sweet little chickadees.

Did I mention how nice it is to have them back?

:)

hugs,  Deb

A dirty little bottle...

                    

"Another story...ho hum!"

                                                  =^..^=

It's becoming quite ordinary that, during our construction, we dig up a little something that came through the house fire of 1975.

This little perfume bottle was possibly my grandmother's; although it was not like her to fancy up with perfume or any other fragrant product. I like to think that she may have put a dab or two on just before Old Man Bulger picked her up for church on Sunday mornings. We, the grandkids, visiting over the summer holidays, would wave good-bye to them as they headed out the drive-way, the oldest of the bunch left to be in charge. Oh, good grief, I would have hated to be that poor cousin that was run ragged and given lip for the hour and a half gran was at church praying for our souls.
I was, thank God, one of the younger ones and never had the job of being left in charge.

The old ceiling-to-floor china cupboard along the wall in the summer kitchen held tea-cups, glasses and plates and was also home to the home-made hermit cookies that were stored in an old biscuit barrel. They were kept for when we deserved a treat which, basically, was never, in my opinion. lol

Gran was out the drive-way but a minute and the scrumptious cookies were devoured. Then we were off to goodness knows where; wherever the wind took us, knowing full well, we had that one hour and a half to do as we pleased. Cousin in charge would be yellin' and cursin', demanding we stay inside where she could keep an eye on us. "Just colour at the table." she'd say.  But, we'd head out and play in the out-buildings, the old coop or hang upside-down in the apple trees in the orchard. We'd try to lose someone in the hay field under the pretense of a 'hide & seek' game. We'd 'drop in' on neighbours, anger the rooster and see who could out-run him. We'd fight.
I guess it was all pretty innocent as no grandchild died.

I still remember the old black car that they drove in. Watching from atop the wire fence, first you would see the car amongst the dust on the road. Then it would disappear for a moment, only to re-appear again at the top of the hill just before they turned into the  driveway. We'd have time to all be sitting on the front porch like The Walton's, waving as they turned in between the lilac bushes. Cousin-in-charge would be inside, walking the floor, red-faced and ready to burst.

This dirty little bottle, whether it be my grans or not, opened a flood-gate of memories of those hot, summer Sundays spent with my cousins. I feel very lucky to have these wonder-full memories and now to have found a little treasure to cherish.

hugs, Deb

Randomness at the mouse-house.

As requested...My camera is a Samsung 21X 23mm lens, still small enough to take everywhere.

I grabbed a second cup and headed out to the garden on this beautiful sunny morning.

Lots had happened over-night, such as the squash grew and the beans appeared on the vines. There were lots of teeny cucumbers and a few large ones. It had been a busy night in the garden.

And I wasn't alone.

You are possibly wondering how we are not losing produce to the wild-life here and that has me gobsmacked, too. I'm just happy they are keeping their paws off things for now.
It might be that I keep them well fed and they are thanking me for that. haha!

The days sure go by fast, don't they? Here it is evening once again.
This is the time of day Annie seeks out her white ping-pong ball. :) Easier to see, my dear.

We all know where Audrey is.

Goodnight!

Deb

Crooked little Darma

Our Dear Old Darma.

Me & Darma 

2002

I may have never mentioned on my blog a dear 'ol cat I had the privilege to love for only two years.
Darma came to me through my vet, Dr. Ann, who found her injured on the road one evening on her way home from the clinic. She cared for her injuries and brought her into the clinic the following day. Darma was already a geriatric cat and she was now an injured stray. Dr. Ann waited for an owner to come forward to claim her but alas that never happened. She remained at the clinic while she healed from her injuries which were mostly to the pelvic area.
This is where I come in. My old calico, Patches, was brought in to see Dr. Ann when I discovered a lump on her side. While at the clinic, I peaked in to Darma's cage and looked into the gold-coloured eyes of an old, confused and sad little cat. After getting the story on her I left the clinic with a heavy heart not knowing if her owners would ever look for her.
Dr. Ann called me a few days later and asked if I would take her. She offered free vet care for the rest of her life if only I would give her a loving home. She said she was healing well but would walk with a crooked gait from now on.
I was heading to the cottage the next day and told Ann that if she was still there on return I would adopt her.
So, Darma came to live with us; all 7 crooked pounds of her. She was approximately 16 years old.

Darma was shameless and wobbled into our home of 5 cats without a worry in the world. She ignored everyone of our cats and became my little black shadow.
When approached by a resident feline she would stare them down and turn her back on them. She had absolutely no use for them. She was not a fighter but neither was she a lover.

For two summers Darma joined us at the cottage as she was unable to be away from me for any length of time. And she was an old lady, remember; I did spoil her.
She loved it there and spent her days lying on the wide window-sills looking out over the lake. She ate barbecued chicken off the grill for dinner and followed sun-puddles throughout the cottage.
She slept on a futon near the front window where she could hear the loons early morning.
I carried her around like a baby.

We lost Darma to kidney failure when she was 18 years old. Two wonderful year with this funny little crooked cat.
I still miss that pouty old face.

hugs, Deb

Meeting the family.

The heat is overbearing these days but the garden waits for no-one.
It was time to weed again and weed I did. It took my mind off the events of the day, and for that I was thankful.

Gooseneck Loosestrife
http://www.perennials.com/plants/lysimachia-clethroides.html

Zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, onions, green & yellow beans, potatoes, lettuce and tomatoes.

There is a space showing where two bean plants were damaged so we have planted seeds there again.

I'm still waiting on tomatoes to ripen and beans to appear on the blossoms.
We have been eating cukes, zucchini and lettuce for weeks now. So delicious.
And the herbs have been wonderful in pasta and stir-fry's.
Still...can't wait for those tomatoes.

I think I spotted Simon in the garden but there are so many new chippies around here that I'm now losing track of him. He still lives under the pump, though. I see him run there before a storm. :)

There was a lot of chatting going on in one of the sumac trees and when I looked up I saw the wee red squirrel and it's mom, I expect. Baby was swinging her heart out while mom watched from the blue glass feeder.

They were very friendly with each other so I know they were related. Perhaps it was dad but nevertheless, it was a cute sight to see. Baby, swinging again in the platform feeder and mom (or dad) filling up at the thru-way.

Gosh, this little one is adorable and not one bit afraid of me.

 Mom was much more cautious even though I expect I've been feeding her for a year now. I can walk right up to baby and almost touch her.
It's good to know baby is being cared for and watched over.

How can you not love these little critters.

We had a beautiful visitor at the mouse-house very late last night checking out the feeder and the bit of food I put out for one lone and very chubby raccoon that calls every night.
She's very pretty but was quick to leave so the photo is terrible as I grabbed my camera with no time to focus. You can see what my concern is.

 Does she belong anywhere? Who knows. I guess I'll have to speak to my neighbours again and keep an eye out for her. I HATE to see cats outside at night.  We have coyotes and fishers in our area and it angers me so much when people allow their cats to roam at night. I'm not comfortable with them being out in the day-time, either, but many of these cats around here live in barns; dangerous, albeit but well-fed. It's the life of a country cat and if I'm going to live in the country I just have to get used to it. But, saying that, I will watch out for this dilute or pastel calico cat and keep you posted. I'll pray for her safety for now.
https://www.pinterest.com/joanatdravetorg/pastel-calico-cats/

Enjoy the heat with a big, tall lemonade. :)

hugs, Deb

Sadness

My heart is broken this morning.

I feel so helpless.

The troubles and sadness of this world 

leave me speechless.

The children...

                                       
                                 Prayers for Nice, France.

*love*

First poppy to bloom at the mouse-house.

We love the colour. :)

This is one hot day; over +30C and so humid that you, too, will have a bad hair day.

My poor garden needed some tending to so I headed out very early to tidy things up. 

I knew by noon you would not be able to breathe out there.

After filling the feeders, I went back to watering for awhile waiting to see what would show up for breakfast.

Boy, it was worth the wait.

A little baby squirrel 

showed up for some seeds and a swing in the platform feeder.

This cutie was obviously having a fun time.

You're right...I'm in love.

hug, Deb