Spring Cleaning

     Yes it is that time of year. Since our house is not completely finished on the inside yet I cannot do all the things that I would like to. I cleaned the bedroom from top to bottom. The minute that I turn the vacuum on the cats scatter. Rudy is the only one that is not terrified of the vacuum and usually accompanies me wherever I go. He comes with me when I clean. He has an obsession with brushes. The last time I cleaned I turned around and my dusting brush had disappeared. I thought I must have misplaced it under the duvet or something like that. I searched for 10 minutes. I realized that perhaps Rudy had taken it. I walked down the stairs and there it was lying under the dining room table. He only tossed it about on the bed today. He didn't actually leave with it in his mouth. It is the funniest thing to see a little cat with a big brush in his mouth. Sometimes I think that he acts more like a dog than a cat. Pets add so much to life. I love cats. They are intelligent and each one has a distinct personality. Rudy was raised by the people at the animal shelter. He is very affectionate and loves to cuddle and give kisses.

     I also cleaned our bathroom today. I always feel better when my house is clean. Mirrors gleam, lights sparkle and the tub and sinks have a real shine to them now. When I get to decorating the bathroom I would like to paint the walls a pale turquoise the colour of the ocean in Cuba. A bathroom should feel calm and relaxed. I would like thick white cotton towels, lots of white candles around the tub and a silver vase with roses. The lights should be on a dimmer for those relaxing soaks in the tub. I have a picture in my mind, do you?

     It has been cold here today, about zero but the sun is shining. When it is quiet I can hear the birds. The buds are popping on all of the trees in our yard and soon the leaves will appear. It is a good day!

Love Always Kim

 

Cats, Cats and More Cats

     The sun has appeared again. A promise of warmer temperatures from the weather man has not materialized and I am anxious to get out in the yard and clean things up. I need to buy all new garden tools this year. All I have are a pair of garden gloves. I need a shovel, pruning shears, garden hose, rakes and something that will cut the suckers off the big maples.

     I have been watching the squirrels digging in the grass. They are looking for their treasure buried last year before all of the leaves fell. It is very quiet at the moment. I have not seen the Starlings at their nest this morning. There is a little grey cat that has befriended us. He comes every morning and sits on the porch waiting for somebody to notice him. Our cats don't seem to mind, they actually play with him through the glass.                                            
     I named him Smokey. He is a compact little cat with lovely green eyes. We think that Smokey is a male, but we are not really sure. He meows at us and rubs against the window pane but if you try to get close he scurries down the property line to the back street. Our cats don't go outside. Perhaps Smokey will be friendlier as time passes and he gets to know all of us better.
Love Always Kim

The Robins are Here!

     It was sunny all day on Wednesday and I saw my first Robin racing across the backyard. The Starlings are still busy in the tree bringing little bits and pieces to make their nest. The grass in brown but it is the best thing I have seen in a long time. I cannot remember wanting spring to come as much as I did this year. We cannot park in front of our house all winter because of the snow plows. That means the car sits at the very back of our yard. There is one little snowbank back there being protected from the overhang of our garage roof.

     The air is full of sounds, children on their march break, birds, the little dog across the road and the wind in the trees. I have missed having the windows open. It makes me feel a part of the world. There were flies sitting on the jam of the front door and a little bug with wings walking across the screen of the back door and a ladybug making her way along the threshold. Isn't it wonderful?

Love Always Kim 

Sunny Day

     Today the sun shone all day. The temperature reached 12 degrees. All day I heard the birds chirping and whistling in the trees. I heard a Red-winged Blackbird. I stood at the back window and watched a Woodpecker flit up and down the Maple tree searching for grubs. The Grackles and Starlings spent their time foraging on the grass. We have so many birds that come to our yard. They are such lovely creatures.

     Our cats love to sit at the window and watch the birds as well. Our oldest cat Chubby loves to sit and watch the antics of the black squirrels chasing each other all over the yard. He sits and watches and occasionally lifts his paw to the molding of the window. Today all three cats sat and watched and listened. We opened the window to let in some fresh air and they all wanted to be on the window ledge. Chubby is 4, Rudy is 2 and our kitten will be a year old the middle of July. They are wonderful companions and they are our babies. 

Love Always Kim

Sand and Water

     The sun is shining today and it puts smiles on everyone's faces. I walked on the beach. There are only a few patches of snow close to the shore. The seagulls must be nesting close to the shore. Their noise was unmistakable. Some of the sand is dry already.

     The Starlings are still busy flying in and out of their tree. The buds are on the trees. I look forward to their presence. Our yard has big old trees on both sides forming a lush green umbrella. It is perfect on a hot summer day.

     Our pour little kitten Eva is in heat right now. I feel for her but there is nothing I can do for her. Our other two cats Chubby and Rudy don't understand why she makes such strange noises.

      The street sweeper has been out today trying to wash away all the remains of our winter. We have two rivers here and they meet in the middle of town. The rivers levels are so high. We lost all of our snow in just one week. When you stand on the bridge on main street the dam is covered by all the rushing water. We could use a little rain to wash away the rest of the dirt and I am sure it will come.

Love Always Kim

Sights and Sounds

     It seems as if Spring is here. We set our clocks ahead one hour last night and we are officially on Daylight Savings time. All of the snow in our backyard has melted. The squirrels are chasing each other in our large Maple trees. In another couple of weeks our town is having its annual Maple Syrup Festival. We have a family of Starlings that have made their home in the tree closest to our house and I can watch their activities every morning as I sit and have my tea.

     At this time of year we make plans to clean and change things in our lives. I am anxious to turn our garage into a workshop. I want to paint and refinish some of our furniture and this would be the perfect spot. I am also thinking of our garden. We have many jobs in and around the house that need our attention. One of the first jobs will be to replace an ailing garden door with a brand new sliding one. 

     We have lots of sunshine to look forward to. I saw a pretty little crocus poking its face out of the crystals of snow that remained on a neighbour's lawn a day ago. Surely daffodils cannot be far behind.

Love Always Kim