More on mama-to-be-wren and a treasured horse-shoe.

It was a busy morning prepping the area beside the mouse-house for the excavators.

 It has finally stopped raining for now and it looks like we will have good weather for the next few days.
Measurements were taken and then the Monster Digger was dropped off. The work begins bright and early in the morning. Probably before my second cup ;-b and right about the time Audrey goes back to bed. "Oh, dear."

While the men were measuring, I started shooting photos of the bird-house as close as I could get without scaring off the mama-to-be wren. She is still shoving sticks in that little house.

 

She reminds me of a few friends of mine who can't stop shopping and decorating their homes. :)
Mama-to-be wren worked the morning all the while singing her wee head off. Surely she is ready to sit on that nest.

 

 She's so adorable.

*treasures*

I think I mentioned in a past post that I had found an old horse-shoe under the dirt while cultivating the veggie garden.  I held it in my hand and truly felt that this had once been worn by my gran's horse, Riley.  
I don't recall any other horses here years back and asked my older brother what he thought and he agreed.

 So, Riley's shoe was lovingly nailed to the old out-house (I doubt she'd mind) for safe keeping today and so we can talk about the dear old horse to the grandittles (especially our oldest grandittle, Riley) when they play in the wood-lot.

If this looks crooked it's because the whole house is crooked.

Every single day I feel thankful to be living on my grandparents land. And when I am gifted with a treasure like this shoe from years gone by it almost brings me to tears. Now I want to find an old photo of Riley to show you this beautiful and hard-working horse that my grandmother truly loved. I know there is an old black and white of her and my mom in an album.  It may take awhile, though, since most of my photos are tucked away. 

Simon popped out of his den to say "Howdy" today.

 

Yes, he lives amongst the fairies and joins them for tea once in awhile. 

Oh boy, if only he knew what was about to happen tomorrow.

He will think the world is ending.

I have left him lots of food today as I don't expect to see him for a few days. 

"Sorry buddy." :(

Onwards and upwards... 

hugs, Deb

Around and about the mouse-house

It was time to clean all the bird feeders today after having so much rain lately. I read that mold can grow quite quickly after much rain and that can make the birds very sick. Can't have that.
 
We are some-what eating from the garden. My sister left yesterday with beets to pickle and an armful of kale for her salads. We are all waiting on those green tomatoes to ripen and the peppers to bloom. 
My yellow beans are really sluggish. The gardens are quite a disappointment from way too much rain.

 

 Still waiting on zucchini, cukes & cantaloupe

While having tea with my sister yesterday we spotted a turtle walking by the mouse-house. I was so enthralled that I did not grab my camera so I'm hoping it is still in the area and will return for a visit. I've always loved turtles.
The retired-guy helped one cross a highway last week. It's not the first time he has pulled over for one. He got him settled in a grassy area and pointed him in the right direction.  He (the turtle) was so afraid he hid completely from view.

I mentioned before that we have found a fun pub to lunch at in our area and that's where we headed today for a meal with friends.  As of  tomorrow, we will be busy with construction of our home. 

                                            "Good Grief"

 Measurements need to be taken tomorrow for the foundation. The dig is Wednesday. I only hope all goes as well as the little House Wren's home building has this summer. She's been a busy little bird.

 

She can't seem to stop adding to this little nest.

Is she a bit neurotic or what?

I hope she adds some feathers or grass to cushion it. So far it doesn't look too cozy from what I can see.

I hope to get around to visit everyone this week.

Enjoy these warm albeit wet summer days. 

I'm praying for sun-shine.

hugs, Deb

Onwards and upwards to bigger things.

The days are flying by too quickly.

Family get-togethers, grandittle-sitting, grand-dog sitting, wood-lot adventures, garden tending, grass cutting and a bit of cat-sitting fill them all up.   But that's summer for most of us, isn't it?

On top of all the day to day activities, we are finally (Oh goodness, I hope none of you readers of this little blog have been holding your breath), building our  normal-sized home. No more living in the mouse-house come winter. This will be a late summer and fall project for us. I hope it all goes smooth for us as we have waited longer than planned to have our ducks all in order. Much longer. The digger arrives on Tuesday and then the show begins. I'm obviously excited at the prospect of living in and decorating a normal-sized home and I am also excited for 'the ladies' here to have more room to run, play and explore.

I have promised them an out-door enclosure, too, for living through all the noise that's ahead.

In the meantime, the gardens are growing and youngest daughter went off with her first bag of kale for her smoothies this morning. The beets are ready to harvest. The tomatoes are green, the beans are stunted from all the rain but are starting to come alive and the peppers, cucumber, zucchini, carrots and cantaloupe are coming along. Unfortunately, we are to get four days of rain again. :-(

 

Our little house wren is frantically caring and feeding her babes. She is very shy and leaves as soon as I come out with the camera so I have yet to get good photos but it is lovely to hear her song. 

This little one showed up this morning.

                                          Eastern Phoebe

Simon is doing well and spends much of his time chasing after another chippy and guarding his den. He has been enjoying the extra peanuts left at his door by the grands. He's a happy camper.

I'm baking and cooking today as I expect next week I will be spending more time with cats whose nerves may be *shattered* with the noise and confusion. They'll be in the bedroom with the radio on and windows closed tight.
I best stock up on freeze-dried chicken strips.

           "You'd better get a big bag, lady." 

 (and maybe some wine for the humans)

Our little house will be attached to the mouse-house by a breeze-way.

I hope everyone has a fun weekend.
Here's to sunny days ahead. :)

hugs, Deb

Tilly

Tilly, the Tree Swallow, just noticed me standing here. You can see that the babe is almost the same size as her and there are three of them in that little blue-bird house. I don't expect they will be here much longer. I hope they leave on a beautiful sunny day.
 I will surely miss them. 

Here she is feeding one of her babies.

The above was written two days ago. Yesterday, while we were away celebrating a family birthday, Tilly and her babes left the nest.
Needlesstosay, it hurts to find them gone. I really thought I would witness their departure and am quite surprised at how their absence now has left me feeling sad. I found two more little white feathers at the base of the now very empty bird house this morning. They are little treasures now and I will never forget this brave little swallow that picked our one and only blue-bird house to raise her young with her handsome mate. 
I hope she will return someday to once again nest. I will miss that funny little face that watched me garden for two months. I will miss her song.
"Take care, Tilly. You are always welcome at the mouse-house."

hugs, Deb

"Happy Birthday Canada"

I have always been proud to be Canadian.
As a child I remember being told to be thankful and appreciate the fact that I was lucky to be born in this great country; very lucky.
And I always reminded my children how fortunate they were, too. 

Now, I will pass that 'reminder' to my grandittles as they grow up and benefit from living in this beautiful & diverse corner of the world.

It may be a rainy day to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday but, no doubt,  everyone will be out in full force.

                  "Happy Birthday, Canada"

My Kane was a handsome and patriotic pup back in 2009. 

 hugs, Deb

A purr-fect addition to the cluttered country cottage china cupboard.

Yesterday the sun shone between rainfalls and Annie enjoyed listening to the crows and their babies outside the dining-corner window.
Today there is no sun; just constant rain.
I really fear for our gardens this summer.
So there is no listening to birds at the windows; just a lot of this today...

                                                  Audrey being Audrey 

 

My cluttered country cottage china cabinet 

 got a dusting and a new addition today.

 

 

 

These purr-fect dinner napkins

(another fabulous bd gift from my daughter)

 Black & white cats AND blue and white.

How could they suit me better?

=^..^=

=^..^=

=^..^=

"Grey cats for a starter, lady."

Oops!

I guess I'll be on the prowl.

Here's to 'sunny days' ahead.

hugs, Deb

Around and about the mouse-house

Our weather has been crazy these last few days. If we do see the sun for awhile we can be sure that more rain is only hours away.

 

I'll put a birdhouse anywhere.

We really need more sun-shine.

 Our gardens are a bit water-logged.

And the critters have had enough, too.

 

 But they sure are enjoying all the treats.

Goodness, more birthday celebration at my daughter's home last Sunday.

Thank you everyone for making this BIG birthday so special, xo

Notice all 5 grandittles are looking so innocently at the camera. What??

Love them so much

:)

hugs, Deb