Winters Return.

Much to my chagrin, this is what I woke up to yesterday morning...


Shocking really when you think that only a few days earlier I was out raking leaves and moving plants. But then, that's more or less typical for April here.

I had small pots of clematis seedlings put outside and forgot to bring them in at night. I haven't checked to see if they have survived. I have to put that on my "to do" list for today. I should never have started them. I get over anxious to see things grow and plant seeds in flats far too early.

Laurie has been here since Sunday and is returning home later today. I've enjoyed my time with her. The parents are coming out for a few days near the end of the month.

I hear lots of bird song early in the morning these days. Lots of activity going on all around me it seems. The squirrel is back and forth every day.


Lots of Finches around.



The woodpeckers are always here.



The Grosbeaks are still here.

City visit...part two

I arrived at Laurie's last Thursday and she had some friends coming for dinner that night. It was a lovely evening. The next day we were invited to another friends house for a Good Friday brunch. The man of the house was making crepes with a variety of food to stuff them with laid out on the table. There was a nice crowd there, lots of conversation. Then Saturday I went to the parents for the next two days, but first......

A couple of Laurie's four cats.
Sagwa.


Skipper, the sweet little one eyed cat who was homeless until she took him in a few years ago.



Skipper and Sagwa.


The pigeons wait on her roof for breakfast each morning.



After visiting the park on Sunday morning we decided to go to Signal Hill. You can get some great views from there.

Cabot Tower.





City and Harbour.


My brother and parents enjoying a before dinner drink. My father informs me that he wants to have his 90th. birthday at my house in July. So, big party in the making...whoo hooo!

Garden visitors

Just a quick post today. I've been so busy this past few days, both inside and out. I'm taking a break right now so thought I'd put up a few pictures I took today of.......

The First Robin in the Garden this Spring. I don't often see them in my garden so I had to take the opportunity to get a photo.




I hadn't seen a squirrel for a long time, at least not up close. I do hear them over in the woods around me though. So this little cutie was in the tree right by the deck.


And, right beside him was a Chick a Dee breaking open a sunflower seed.

The City....part one.

I got back from my short holiday on Monday. It was great to see my brother once again and we had a good lot of laughs as usual. It was great to have Easter dinner with Laurie, my mom and dad and my brother. Easter Sunday my father wanted to take myself and my brother to Bowring Park as per usual so off we went. It was a lovely day but the wind was bitterly cold.

Ducks in the park.



These two were acting as if they were a couple.









Young woman feeding swan.




My father.

Brother.

Spring Day in March.

It's the most beautiful day. Sunny and temperatures to go into the double digits. Himself is outside taking down the storm door. This definitely means that spring is here. Lots of bird song and birds back and forth to the feeders all day long.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I went by this climbing vine and saw that the leaves were starting to open.


And the Willow as well starting to show their furry coats.


The girls are also enjoying the wonderful spring, walking the paths to the feeders. Grabbing up the bits the other birds drop.



After almost a year without seeing them, the Nuthatches have come back.



And the ever present Blue Jays.

Bloggers Block

I guess it's like writers block. I can't think of a thing to blog about. Nothing much happening, basically waiting for the snow to be off the ground so I can get out in the garden. Mind you, there's not much snow but it's being very stubborn and seems to be clinging on to the ground. You'd think with all the lovely mild days it would have all melted. I do see more patches of grass showing up each day though. I've already started buying seeds. What gardener can resist all those lovely racks of seeds in the department stores. Every year I say that I'm not buying any more seeds but inevidably I'm drawn to the racks and walk away with a handful. I'll probably be going into the city in a couple of weeks and as my father loves taking me around to all the big stores, I dare not think what I'll come back with.

Himself is going to Spain in April for a three week visit with his daughter. Have I mentioned that before....probably! The brain is not what it use to be, lol. Anyway, I'm really looking forward to my time alone. I'm hoping that the weather will be nice as every spring I stain the floor of the deck and paint the railings. I will also have to take the screen door apart (it's an old fashioned wood frame one) and put new screen in. It gets torn up every summer by the cats. I bought paint for the guest bedroom, a bright salmon colour. I would like to get that painted next week. Then there's the usual spring cleaning to be done both inside and out. I don't understand how the property gets in a mess over the winter. In the fall I have it tidied up and when the snow melts all manner of things show up.

Did I say I had bloggers block. Guess I've gotten rid of a bit of it, lol. Here's some pictures of the cats taken recently.

Stanley in a box.


Ratch waking up.


Freya and Stanley.

Frankie having a relaxing afternoon.