Sleeping Under The Stars

This chocolate colored cat prefers to live outside.

He comes in to eat and get a drink and back out he goes!

Even during the cold winter, he's curled up in a chair on the

back porch.  Summer nights I find him sleeping out in the

grass, like he is in this photo I took one morning this week.  

♥

Today

It was the perfect fall day here in Ohio!

75 degrees, nice breeze, beautiful skies!

I picked up groceries and spent the rest of the day

outside working in the yard.  I planted bulbs, filled

feeders, hung a new bird house, 

and repotted a few plants, all with the help of

my furry friends that crawled out from their shady

bushes to keep me company!  That is, when they

weren't chasing leaves or squirrel watching!

It was so wonderful, I think I'll do it again tomorrow!

♥

Cocoa and Me

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Slice Of Life Saturday #1

  

I thought I'd start a fun new post category!

No words necessary...just my Saturday in photos.

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Garden Helpers

When I go out to water the garden in the morning the

back yard is quiet and peaceful.

 Sleepy, furry helpers come out of their shady sleeping spots.

They say hello, drink from the bird bath as I fill it up,

and get a belly scratch while I'm out there!

But their favorite thing is to attack the big long snake (hose)

while I'm watering everything!

Some of them are very serious about protecting the garden.

Very serious!

♥

Spying

Mr. Neighbor Man was working in his back yard today.

Cocoa got close...but not too close....to keep an eye on things!

♥

Cat Nap(s)

Zzzzzzz.

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If You Open The Pantry Door And See This...

You may have too many cats.

But his name is Cocoa, so I guess he kind of belongs there!

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Around Here, Lately

1. A yummy treat.  Intense flavor.  Delish.
2. The rain made Garden Girl look like GI Jane!
3. Last week I started letting Star go outside.  She was begging!  The first few times I stayed out with her.  But she never wanted to go far.  She loves to look around a little and then nap on a patio chair. She hasn't gotten the hang of the pet flap yet and I'm not encouraging it.
4. The first time Star and I went out, I had to laugh as sleepy cats emerged from underneath trees and bushes to see what we were up to!
5. I love this picture of Smokey.  
6. Not all the cat stories are happy, though.  We haven't seen Domino in over 1 1/2 weeks.  I hate the not knowing what happened the most. :(
7. Remember Alex and the glitter?  I'm still finding it everywhere!  On me, on Marmalade, on Alex's toothbrush, in the bath tub... you name it! ha.
8. A cowboy boot carrot.

♥

A Few More Firsts of Spring

1. Anemones.  I forgot we even had these in the yard!
2. Butterfly.  A Red Admiral, chased by Cocoa.  
3. Leaf buds.  It's amazing what a little green will do for the trees!
4. Green grass.  Wow. 
5. Barefoot in the house.  Not for too long, though!  Toes got cold and went back into the slippers!
6. Screen door went in on the back door.  Door was cracked open a while until the furnace kicked on.
7. Itchy eyes.
8. Big puffy clouds.
9. Pink sunsets.
10. Daylight long after the dinner dishes are done.

♥

The Weekend

1. Daffy Down Dilly has come to town....
2. Four of my five men in church this morning.
3. Alex looks like he's praying for it to be over. ha.
4. I took this pic of Cocoa on Ash Wednesday.  With that feather centered perfectly on his forehead, I asked him if he had converted to Catholicism. ha.  Well, if he did, I'm sure he's happy today is Easter and he can return to catching mice or whatever it is he gave up for Lent. :)
5. Easter Ham.  I love to cut through the top and add a glaze before baking.  
6. This year I mixed up a combination of mustard with horseradish, raspberry jam and brown sugar.  It was delicious!
7. I hadn't seen Peaches in a week.  The last time he couldn't eat solid food as if something was hurting inside his mouth.  I told The Mister after 6 days that I think he went off somewhere to die...he just looked so bad.
8. The next day, The Mister called to me, "Hey, Peachy is out here!" He still had trouble eating but I was prepared with bottled kitten milk and canned pate style cat food mixed with a little water, which he managed to eat just fine.  I have the carrier out on the back porch and hope to catch this little stray before too much longer so he can get some medical care.  He came two days in a row but I haven't seen him since Friday night now.
9. Mr. Grackle.  Love these shiny, bright-eyed birds!  They are such good parents, too.
10. Asparagus baked with bacon and topped with parmesan and panko.
11. Mr. Moon.
12. Key Lime Bars.  An Ina Garten boxed mix.  Tasted like scratch...but you did add your own butter, eggs and lime juice.
13. This little Tufted Titmouse has been my delight today.  Aw. What a cutie!  I love how her little grey gloves match her Easter coat and hat. ha.

♥

This And That

1. Crunchy snack.
2. Fresh out of the dishwasher. I'm thinking it would be fun to serve smoothies in these.  More of that Use the old stuff and not let it gather dust in a box mentality.
3. Slate's slumbering sunspot.
4. That cake, under construction.
5. That cake, freshly frosted.
6. Lookout tower.
7. Cocoa.  We're celebrating 2 years this week since Tiger was at the back door with a young kitten, in the dark of night, with a couple feet of snow on the ground.  Where he came from is still a mystery!
8. Current favorite lunch.  Top with kosher salt, lime juice, cumin and Sriracha.  Mash with a fork and scoop with blue corn tortilla chips.

♥