It's always stressful to bring new cats into the house but in the end, everyone seems to settle down...and even become friends...or at least friendly. On the bed are Richard's Skanoo (13 yrs), her new tabby friend Milly (9 months) and the boys who are inseparable, Percy (9 months) and Barney (3 yrs).
Why sleep by yourself when a ménage à trois is possible?
My cousin Ellen who lives in New Hampshire gave me this mug. Kind of sums up my mood some mornings!
The upcoming issue of ATC Quarterly has a terrific challenge. Sock Monkeys! Yup, I'm looking for artist trading cards (2.5" x 3.5") that feature sock monkeys. Don't be shy! Deadline: May 15. E-mail hi-rez jpegs to me at editor@atcquarterly.com or snail mail (with SASE) to me at: ATC Quarterly, 19698 County Rd. 24, Dunvegan, ON K0C 1J0.
How do you get a vaguely shy chipmunk out of the downspout of your eaves trough?
Offer him peanuts, of course.
They work every time!
And with all my kitty cats living indoors, the chippies have the run of the place. Spring means it's time to buy more peanuts.
Ever have the urge to bathe in a bowl full of scrumptious richness? I had that experience the other day at a fantastic joint called Petit Bill's Bistro in Ottawa. My friend Peggi treated me to a lobster poutine and man, oh man, was it ever amazing. To see my full review, go to poutine chronicles.
I heard the strangest sound the other morning and looked up and there was a male Wood Duck sitting on the chimney of the old house. Three years ago, I had the delightful experience of seeing the ducklings pop out of the chimney, slide down the roof and hit the ground running. Watch this space for details in a month of so.
I love my raven mug designed by Ithaca, New York artist Alice Muhlback. I bought it a few years ago when visiting my sister Marci who took me to Alice's really funky shop called "Spirit and Kitsch." 
My morning cuppa joe makes me want to fly away with this raven!.jpg)
I take an exercise class twice a week and work out next to a great gal named Kitty. Like me, she's a big Montreal Canadiens hockey fan. Here we are wearing our classic Montreal shirts celebrating the Habs' 100th year, complete with vintage logos.
We're both huge Habs fans but I'm a bigger fan than she is...right?
We decided to try Steelhead Trout the other night.
I fried it in crumbs and butter...
...and served it with a spring salad and wedge of lemon. Really yummy!
A hot weekend meant time for a long walk in the woods.
Bonus: since it's so early in the season, there are no bugs yet. No blackflies. No mosquitoes.
No shade either. Just hot, gorgeous sunshine and at 28C it felt oddly like mid-July.
The moss was really the only green thing in the woods. To see the photo Richard took, click here to get to his blog.
The moss had woken up from its winter slumber and was doing a sort of wave or whatever it is that moss does when it grows.
The first wildflower of spring appeared! Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana) flowers were popping up all over the forest floor. Did you know they are also called "Fairy Potatoes"? Their edible tubers can be dug up, steamed and eaten (they're the size of your fingernail). They taste like teeny weeny potatoes.
This giant basswood, which last year was home to a family of raccoons, might just fall over in a big windstorm. You can see right through it in spots.
And after our walk, we came home to notice the chives are shooting out of the ground, ready to be part of our next spring salad.
It was an incredibly hot weekend with Saturday's temperature hitting a record breaking 29C. Time to take the new running shoes for a spin.
Not much green scenery to photograph yet but the pussy willows were in full throttle.
It looks sort of barren this time of year, just before everything starts to bloom.
Woodpeckers had been busy on this tree.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, the first barbecue of the season took place.
And since it was Easter, a chocolate bunny was in order.
I actually found a perfect one for Richard -- a hockey-playing bunny!
Oops. He wasn't wearing a Chicago Blackhawks uniform...so we had to eat him!
With temperatures at 28C, we were sweltering in mid-July heat on the first weekend in April! My lawn popped it's annual frenzy of crocus colour.
Richard and I knew the crocuses weren't going to last long in this heat...
...so we took as many photos of these little beauties as we could.
Aren't they just gorgeous?
You seem to notice their colours more because they just jump out against the drab grass -- that is one rain shower away from turning green.
And we seem to appreciate them more, these first flowers of the year.
Harbingers of things to come.
Welcome spring!
This is basically the shape of an egg. A nice, fat oval.
Here's my own version of an Easter Egg. I noticed my cat Nutmeg taking on that shape while she was asleep. I might have to rename her Nut-egg!
My friend Wendy sent me this recipe for almond cookies. They're great for Passover or Easter or really, anytime of year. They are so easy and really delicious.
