Outside work is no work at all.

We spent the morning cleaning up the wood-lot; raking and getting paths made for the Easter egg-hunt.

It was our first gorgeous spring day today.

Hours just flew by.

Who needs to go to the gym.

We needed to pick up branches, trim vines and make the paths safer for excited little three to six year olds.

If I was the Easter bunny, I'd use the old stone wall to hide a few coloured eggs.

Now we pray for sun.

Simon found us very entertaining.

"They've gone mad back there."

Here's a little flash-back...

It's lilac time at the farm and these are my three children, John, Jess & Allie at the old white pump. This photo was taken around 1990. The old farm house had burned down in the '70's but my mother continued to grow a vegetable garden on this land every summer and the kids loved to come out to run around and play and visit with their grandmother.
note...I can't be blamed for Allie's dress. She used to dress herself from age three and I don't have a clue where that dress came from. lol

I wonder if Simon's ancestors were under the pump back then.

To think...

They loved this land as kids and they and their children love it today. And, of course, Forrest, our grand-dog, too.
I hope our lilac trees blossom again like they did back then.
It will soon be time to get a pic of the grandittles at this very same pump. And maybe a re-do of my favorite three people in this world.

Simon thinks..."Sure, bring them around and be sure they have some peanuts." :)

"You're shameless, Simon."

hugs, Deb

Little Trooper.

The sun shone all day so work began on cleaning up the property.

Didn't I just do this last Fall?

It was a joy to be outside cleaning and straightening up after such a long winter. And the quiet was so relaxing. Just me and the song-birds.
I thought.

I felt some eyes on me as I worked away, though. Itty-bitty eyes.
                                                       :)
                                                       :)
                                                       :)
                                                       :)

"It's so good to have you back, Simon."

                                        You made it through
                                    another Canadian winter.
                                                 "BRAVO!"
                                           You're a trooper.

                                         Take a bow, buddy.

hugs, Deb

Calling on the Easter Bunny.

Plans are being made at the mouse-house for the up and coming Easter egg hunt in the woodlot.

Except here, in Ontario, the grounds don't look anything like the photo above.

This is very serious stuff and has to be done right. :)))
And I'm having lots of fun planning. Although I fret a lot. You'd think I would have out-grown that by now. I'm a little impatient.

The sign is up on the one hundred and fifty year old outhouse at the opening to the woodlot.

The OH was washed and scrubbed to an inch of it's life last summer

and now the door always holds some fun whimsy.

The hunt starts here

(but not in here. ;-) 

so we hope the Easter bunny & his pals read this and fill those coloured eggs hidden in the woodlot with treats.

Easter Bunny Stop Here.

We have five egg hunters counting on it.

Since this photo was taken we have lost most of our snow.

Now we need the sun to dry the ground up.

And lots of it.

Yesterday I walked to the stone wall through water, snow and mud.

Agh!

"Come on, sun."

And no blue-birds yet. :(

(told you I was impatient)

"Wake up, Audrey, and help me fill the eggs."

"You're dreamin' "

hugs, Deb

And the rain came.

Simon was out and about again yesterday. It was nice to leave him some breakfast on the rock just outside of his den opening. I chatted with him while he sat on the rock munching some apple and nuts.

Another winter survival.

The ground has thawed, just in the last three days, enough to put up my bluebird house.

The entrance hole is 5 ft. from the ground

so it will be easy to see if it is being occupied.

The Eastern Bluebird would be a beautiful addition to our little property.

Now Vacant

&

Free Rent

in this quaint, wooded area.

Only seconds from a variety of fly-through restaurants

and an abundance of tasty insects.

We still have lots of snow to be rid of. 

Yesterday

the rain came in buckets. It will rain all day today, too.

That will take care of most of it and wake up 

our spring flowers.

I have been baking today

for an annual fundraiser bake-sale for

 Country Cat Rescue.

The rescue is run by a friend of 25 years.

It is this rescue that is now caring for Sylvester that I posted about in a previous post.

Along with many, many others.

I hope it's a huge success.

Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies

(yum)

1 3/4 cups All purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. powdered cloves
1 cup applesauce (unsweetened)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup seedless raisins (optional)
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1 cup rolled oats

Measure together first 5 ingredients. Mix together in another bowl the butter, sugar & egg. Cream together.
In another bowl, combine applesauce and soda. Blend into creamed mixture alternating with dry mixture. Fold in raisins (optional)  walnuts and oats. 
Spoon onto greased cookie sheet or use parchment paper. Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees. They should be golden brown.

Cinnamon Loaf cakes

& muffins

Chocolate chip & Applesauce Oatmeal cookies.

Sure smells good at the mouse-house.

:-)

hugs, Deb

Finding the right cat-sitter.

         What to look for in a cat-sitter

                                                                Me and Billy 2012

I believe, after 25 years of cat-sitting, that there is 'no place like home' for your cat.

The first step to finding a good cat-sitter is to contact your vet clinic in your area and ask if there is a cat-sitter registered with them that they can recommend. If you are lucky, you may find that one of the vet-techs will provide cat-care in your home while you travel. Also, your local pet stores may have someone who is advertising through them and hopefully will have business cards there for the public. The best way to find one is word of mouth. The cat-sitter should be bonded. Always ask for at least three references and CALL THEM before your first meeting.  Ask the cat-sitter if there is a fee for them to meet you and pick up the key so you don't find out after the fact.

Once you have found someone to care for your cat then the next step is to have a meeting with them in your home. Have a list of questions written down to ask and do expect the cat-sitter to also have many questions about your feline. A well-organized sitter will have a form for you to fill in that will provide them with all the answers they need about your cat, your home, your plans of travel and their fees. There should be a form that gives her/him instructions as to what to do if your cat needs vet-care while you are away. This needs to be signed by you with explicit instructions.

Your cat-sitter should immediately show interest in your cat and be willing to spend a bit of time for the cat to get to know them. That way it won't be such a surprise to your cat when she/he arrives to start cat-sitting. Show the cat-sitter where everything is kept and where the litter boxes are located. Be sure to go over the cleaning regime. Have the food cupboard well stocked and in easy reach.

Ask the cat-sitter what she/he will do to bond with your cat. Will they play and  take time to groom if kitty allows?

If there is daily medication involved have the sitter arrive at a time when you are pilling your cat so the process can be shown easier. I recommend pill-pockets if the cat will eat them as it will be less stressful for your cat and no chance that your sitter will lose a finger. *ouch*

If there is insulin for diabetes to be administered the cat-sitter will have to arrive at a time to see the procedure and you must be very sure that they are comfortable with this. They need to know all the signs to watch for so again I can't stress how important that they come with some experience.
When trying out a new cat-sitter I recommend you do this when you are away for only a couple of days. You need to build confidence in the sitter before leaving your cat for an extended length of time.

Be sure to get your sitter's email address before you leave. That way, you can keep in touch daily for the first time if you so wish. Your cat-sitter should be fine with this.

Leave a key with your neighbour as a back-up for your sitter.
Go over what lights should be left on for the cat (and there should be a few) and leave a radio on perhaps in the kitchen so the cat feels less lonely between visits. 


If you require two visits a day, keep curtains open where the cat likes to sit in the window and have the sitter close them at night. 

So that is a bit on 'hiring a cat-sitter' and I hope it helps you to find that purr-fect person to hire.

You must feel comfortable with this person so take your time with the interview. A love for cats should be clearly evident.

If you have any questions...ask away. 


hugs, Deb

What made YOU smile lately?

The sun was shining and the temperature is rising.

My Easter tree got the seal of approval from our  grandittle. It just needed some tweaking. ;-)

Audrey didn't hide for a change.

She was very brave today. 

She is either up to something or going through some major personality changes. I always hoped she would be friendly with visitors no matter how tall they are. :)
She even looked around for our little visitor after she went home.

The mouse-house smelled deeeeeelicious today.

                                   Best Banana Muffins
1 egg
3 mashed bananas
1/2 c melted butter
1 1/2 c flour
1/2 c sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon

Topping...
2 Tbsp melted butter
1/4 c brown sugar
1 Tbsp flour
1/3 c rolled oats
Preheat to 400 degrees
Mix egg,banana & melted butter
Combine flour & dry ingr. Add to banana mixture

Spoon topping on and bake for  17 - 20 min.


The crows always  enjoy seeing the grandittles arrive as there will be more toast crusts and half-eaten fruit slices being offered at the feeders. Guaranteed.

And every flat surface became a buffet for all the birds and Simon, who made an appearance for only a minute today and then returned to his den. :)

We were thrilled to see him again.

The snow is disappearing. So long...good riddance.

Hoping you, too, had lots to smile about today.

hugs, Deb

After the storm

It wasn't all that bad.

She fell asleep in order to avoid it so I'll just let her think she slept through the worst storm ever.

When in fact, it wasn't much of a storm at all.

Back to the Easter tree

which

amazingly

is still standing.

I added three more baubles

and now it's done.

Annie approves

While Audrey makes plans.

And we welcome April today.

What a beautiful time of year as nature wakes up from it's long winter's nap.

Some places have a bit thicker duvet than others

(like Ontario)

but it will soon appear.

That we can count on. :)

I'm off to welcome a new baby boy into the world.

What could be more appropriate.

New beginnings.

hugs, Deb