Teddy Bears and Kittens

 It's Thursday and the week is almost over. My but it went by fast!!  My back is still stiff and sore but I've been taking it easy. Thank you for your sweet comments. I honestly try to be careful but I seem to forget and then these things happen.

One of the little jobs I took care of was putting the Spring Teddy Bears back into the box under the bed while taking out the Fall Bears from the same.

 

 Miss Kitty is very helpful when I putter outside. I was in my garden shed where I store a lot of my things and she tried to be useful.

She gave us a big scare a few days ago when her kittens suddenly disappeared.  We knew that mother cats sometimes hide their kittens but never dreamed that ours would.  DH went around to the neighbours and asked them to be on the look-out. After 24 hours she was discovered in a neighbour's garden shed well hidden in a corner. If that neighbour hadn't heard the tiny meows he would not of known they were there.  For now the kittens and Miss Kitty are being very closely monitored.
Tomorrow the little ones will be 2 weeks old and their eyes are finally open. Soon I should be able to get some pictures without unduly upsetting the Momma cat.

Thanks for stopping by,  GM
 

Mostly about Zinnias

 I found a curious zinnia growing with the rather ordinary ones. I don't think I've ever seen one bloom growing right on top of another. Maybe someone else knows or at least has had this happen.

 The bees seem to  love the zinnias.

I wanted to show you this lovely bowl which eldest daughter gave me this week. Underneath is written Rio Salado----- hand painted in Spain.  The 'dots' all around the top stand out from the surface. It's too big for a salad bowl but I don't mind having it empty so I can admire the pattern.
 

Here's a lovely Autumn picture that I found on the INTERNET. It's not my picture but I think it's lovely.

Thanks for popping by,  GM

My Week

It's a very smoky Sunday with air quality very bad due to all the wildfires.  The full moon last night (the Harvest Moon) was deep orange in colour as is the sun today all because of the smoke.

Except for a mishap when I slipped on the stairs and fell it was a good week. I'm so thankful that I didn't break any bones!! The mishap happened because I was wearing slippery socks and hurrying down the varnished wood stairs. And talking on the phone at the same time. Yes, very foolish of me.

I 'm still nibbling away at all the little tasks that have been neglected during the heat of summer. This week I dusted my miniature shoe and purse collection.  I counted and there are 21 shoes, 11 tiny purses, 2 mannequins and 10 pins ( brooches).

 

 

Middle and youngest sons did some pickling  in my kitchen. I'm designated keeper of jars, pickling salt,

and other essentials so it's simplest to do it here. The result was 4 jars of pickled beans and one of jalapenos. In spite of reusing jar lids they all sealed.

I'm hoping for cooler weather in the week ahead. Some rain would be very welcome. I would not be surprised to find that we've set a new record for least rain in July and August------- 7mm in August and 5 mm in July. I have no idea how that translates into inches but its a very very small amount.

Thanks for coming by, I hope your day is a good one.

Granny M

Finished Decorating for Fall

 Well, that didn't take long at all. DH got the big Rubbermaid tub up from the garage and I had it done fairly quickly.

I may change this yet. I'm not very pleased with how it looks but for now it stays.

Even the dollhouse got the usual pumpkins and basket of apples on the porch. I know the Christmas trees should be put away but so far I haven't done it. I pretend they're just plain pine trees.

About my tomato soup.....it was too salty, otherwise it was tasty. There was enough for 2 days and the second time around I added some tomato juice which helped to tone down the salt.

 

Also., for anyone wondering what has been happening with our rescued cat Miss Kitty has had FIVE kittens!!!

 

Thanks for coming by,  G.M.

Chit Chat

 It's a sunny and warm day...feels like Fall.   25C (77F).   The cooler weather has made me eager to start on some household tasks which I couldn't get myself to do when it was hot. This morning I started with one of the jobs I was dreading the most. One drawer of my desk was crammed with miscellaneous papers ranging from medical information to old receipts and so much more. I sorted that out and would have finished completely but the shredder stopped working.  In any case that drawer is now only half full and I'm relieved to have done that.

 Went out and picked more zinnias to refresh my bouquet.

  

Over the weekend I changed the display on the drop leaf table in the sun room.
 

 Since this picture was taken I've brought in many more tomatoes and I thought I'd make tomato soup for supper. No recipe but surely it can't be that difficult to make. Tomatoes, onions, garlic, maybe celery.  A friend told me that last year I said I wouldn't bother with the black cherry tomatoes again. I wish wish I'd remembered because they're not tasty at all.  If they get red as they're supposed to when ripe, they tend to be mushy.

That's my day so far. I'm off to sit on the porch and enjoy the sunshine.

Thanks for coming by and thank you for your comments.

Granny M.

Added later.  Has anyone else had trouble when trying to publish a comment?   I seem to get this pop-up notice Whoops, an error has occurred.

Saturday Trivia

 The day is going by way too quickly again. It's actually nice and cool at  24C  (75F). Perfect for getting things done but also perfect for sitting on the porch which I what I'm hoping to do in a short while.

I didn't mean for this first picture to be included but since it is I'll explain that I removed all the things that were on the sideboard and got out my autumn arrangement. Decorating has begun

I did some baking for the weekend including a cheesecake and 2 loaves of bread. I did one in a pan and the other is sort of free form.

I wanted to explain a little about the Hydrangea stump in yesterday's post. That Hydrangea began as a twig from one that still grows in our front garden. DH rooted the twig then grew it as a tree with one trunk instead of a bush like the front one.   You can see how big they grow. (This is a Pee Gee Hydrangea). Very soon I will ask youngest son to do some cutting back on this one so walking to the parking area is less crowded. I doubt the back one will regrow.

 About the movie that was being filmed, I haven't heard if it's going to be a Hallmark Christmas one or not but our town has been used for those in the past. There's a very nice old part of town with old fashioned store fronts.

That's it for today. I hope your day is/was a good one.  Granny M

This and That

 A day or so ago we noticed that a movie was being filmed on a property by the lake. At the time we were not sure if they were setting up or taking down. Later we found out it was being taken down. Filming a Christmas movie on one of the hottest days of the year. At least they were quick about it. The next day they were gone.

 Some pages from September from the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.

 Here's what happens when your husband says he's going to prune a lovely big Hydrangea and you're busy and don't supervise. To say I was shocked would be an understatement.

Both my daughters came for lunch today. That was special.

 Slightly cooler weather is in our forecast.  I'm really looking forward to that.

Thanks for coming by, G.M.