Juicing 101

We have a new toy in the house. The Nutri-bullet is so easy to make a healthy drink to start your day.

We juiced apple, strawberry, banana, grapes & fresh kale. Then added some filtered water and that's it. 

The kale turns it this colour.

There is NOTHING wasted. You get the whole fruit and vegetable, pulp, seeds and all.

AND - it's so darn easy to clean. Just rinse it out and your done.

This slush was delicious.

"That was the worst looking breakfast EVER."

"That's enough, Audrey"

Then some tea and a home-made blueberry banana muffin. 

Looks like someone's nose still works well...

I always share with 'the boy'

After that smoothie I think I could run a marathon except that it's -10C outside.

Thank goodness. :-)

Hope it's warmer where you are.

We are in for a very cold but sunny week.

hugs, Deb

An early-spring storm - Ugh!

It's a snowy day here in Ontario. It has snowed all morning and once again looks like the middle of winter.
The photo above was taken from our kitchen window.

The roads were treacherous so I waited a little to start my cat-sitting rounds. I knew this was coming and I prepared my kitty-clients with extra dry food before leaving yesterday. Ah yes, the early days of Spring.

Then it was a good day to be home. I did a bit of baking, knitting and tidying-up. Rae-Rae needed grooming and others needed some nail-clipping. Thank goodness she loves to be combed. She purrs and makes biscuits in the air as I brush and comb away.

Then I changed up the little cupboard again. When my little grandittle Riley was born I bought some little girl bunny decorations for her first Easter with us. I love the little one in the purple dress and knitted sweater. That will be hers someday when she has her own little cupboard.

Lily was perkier this morning (I guess she hadn't looked out the window like I did) and I expect that was from the B12 shot she was given yesterday at the clinic. They always seem to help her. She ate her breakfast with gusto haha! and made me happy just by looking more like herself. I am expecting that she has a thyroid issue and needs medication. Something is causing rapid weight loss. She ate so well this morning and seems comfortable now. We'll see what the tests show.

Hope you aren't living in a Winter Wonderland like we are again. It's getting absolutely boring.

hugs, Deb



  

This and that on a Friday

One of the best things about cat-sitting in the country is seeing all the birds at the bird-feeders.
I caught this wood-pecker having lunch on some suet today. Isn't he cool! Or is it a she?

Our weather is far from Spring-like but it is Spring so that will have to do for now. All I know is that the worst, gawd-awful winter I have ever lived through is for the most part behind us now. Yippee!

Pip and Mooty will be welcoming their mom home today. They were such a joy to care for. I felt so welcomed when I arrived at their home. Mooty is very quiet, gentle, dainty and sweet.

She is 12 years old and likes to mother Pip.

 I let Pip enjoy a few days with Audrey's crazy-pants. Well, let me tell ya, Pip had a blast.

And she loves the little laser light.

I'm going to miss these two. Hope to care for them again soon.

I am now caring for a calico and orange tabby so you'll meet them soon if I can get a decent photo of them. The calico is very shy and possibly not camera-friendly.

Lily was off to the vet today. I've been so worried about her as she is losing weight rapidly and yet eating her meals. She is wearing a little boo-boo wrap on her leg where they took blood to be tested. I hope she's ok and feeling better soon.  She has been cuddling on my lap tonight. My poor, sweet Lily.

hugs, Deb

A few of my favorite 'Cat in window' photos

Today is the first day of Spring and I'm just beginning to see more cats in their windows again. The Spring sunshine draws them near and I am never without my camera as I walk the dog.

The winter months kept kitties in their beds and boxes and snuggling close to wood-stoves and fire-places.

Now I look forward to seeing these beautiful creatures sunning themselves on their window-sills.

Here are twelve of my favorites taken over the last few years...

Here's a very determined one. haha!

                                                              I bet he's a character.

And here is a photo of my Annie and Audrey sitting in our bedroom window (2nd floor of the house) on their window seat.
I recommend you add one of these to a window for your cat. They will have hours of enjoyment sitting on their comfortable seat watching the birds high up in the trees. For indoor cats it's 'the best thing ever'.

Enjoy the first day of Spring and stay tuned for some Spring 2014 Cats-in-windows.

hugs, Deb

Springing up the dining-room

More bunnies and lambs are escaping their boxes.  

And they are staying. I don't care what the weather is like anymore.

Sometimes the cats won't even notice when I put signs of the season out to enjoy. But then there are times when they do. Having two newcomers makes it a little more 'iffy' whether I can decorate for Easter or not. Isn't it great that we are talking about Easter now? Only two more days 'til Spring. "Ummmmm.....did I just hear that there is snow coming tomorrow? I'm hoping it's an early April fools joke."

Some of my favorite Easter decorations are less than perfect with their little chips and all but they were my children's Easter egg holders and they are now over 20 years old. My grandittles love to play with them now. I tower them together and place a chocolate treat on top.

                              Soon this bunnies cabbage sack will hold lots of Easter treats.

I decorated a little cupboard for Easter, too. It has doors that latch and since cats don't have thumbs (yet) I know it will all stay safe.

You know I'm never without company when I'm doing anything around the house.

 Annie

I was a bit concerned about my violets when I discovered the blooms were turning brown on some very suddenly but after contacting my 'plant whisperer' Linda at http://linda-keaveney.blogspot.ca/ I now know that that is common for this plant. The blooms are finishing up and will fall off eventually or I can pick them off with no repercussion. They love the dining-room where the sun pours in through the two large windows. Linda told me to make sure they get lots of sun and water them from the bottom up. I've been enjoying lots of blooms for months now.
Drop over and visit Linda. She is fun and down-to-earth and you'll love her blog.

The cats are enjoying the sun in the living-room today that comes in through the patio doors. Everyone is calm and resting. I knew week two would see some good results.

I made myself a little tea-cozy with some left-over wool from a scarf I finished. Fits to a tee.

Come on Spring...

hugs, Deb

Love what you do and eat pancakes. :)

Darling little Pip

It seems the older I get the more I love what I do. I've been caring for cats while people travel for over 20 years now. Sometimes I am very busy and have many homes in the day to visit and times like today where I can give extra attention to only two kitty-clients. They so appreciate it.

Well, today being St. Patrick's Day and me being half Irish, we decided to head out somewhere special for breakfast. I didn't want anything green, no siree. I've been craving good 'ol Canadian maple syrup so it was off to Temple's Sugar Shack for pancakes this morning. There is nothing like real maple syrup & big, fluffy pancakes.

(source)

The grounds were wet and it was too cold for a hike but I did get some photos of the gorgeous building that holds a restaurant and their shop.

Built with timberwood.

It really is spectacular.

Here's the waitress stoking the fire.

It certainly wasn't busy on a Monday morning; only retired folks dining like us. The inside of this restaurant is beautiful with a big roaring fire at one end. The pancakes were enormous and perfectly made with side orders of fresh fruit and home-made beans. Delicious coffee. Oh mamma!

Every table gets their own bottle of real maple syrup. Look at his face. He's like a kid with candy.

And for the meat-lovers there was lots of peameal bacon and home-made sausage.
I brought home a bag of Maple Granola for breakfasts this week. It's amazing.
We left there pretty full so we took Kane for a long walk which he enjoyed.

And this last photo taken in Temple's lovely washroom is for my blogging friend, Shelia from http://www.notesongs.com/. I only take bathroom shots for her.  hahaha!
                                                 "Hi dear Shelia. This one's for you"

hugs, Deb