"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." ~George Bernard Shaw

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time." ~Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn


Thursday, March 23, 2023

Feline Friday! March 24, 2023


OKAY I know this isn't a cat, but I
could not resist sharing this photo
from our Mexico trip!


Now here's cat photo found online!
It's silly!
Have a great Feline Friday!
Thanks Mimi!
~~~~

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Thankful Thursday!! March 23, 2023


I am so thankful for our 2 week vacation
in Loreto, Baja Sur Mexico!
We had two weeks of relaxing, visiting
good friends, making more good friends
and having such a good time!


It was fascinating to see all the amazing
plants! So different from the rainy
Pacific Northwest! Look at this pretty
flowering plant, but LOOK OUT for 
those thorns! Possibly this plant developed
the thorns to protect itself?
Have a wonderful Thankful Thursday!
Thanks Brian!
~~~~

Sunday, March 19, 2023

Awww Monday! March 20, 2023


Our wonderful Lucy sitter/house keeper
just emailed me this photo of Lucy! 
We will be home tomorrow evening and
look forward to cuddling and sleeping with her!
Hugs to Lucy and Christine!

Friday, March 17, 2023

Feline Friday March 17, 2023



I know, I know these are obviously NOT cats!
However I cannot resist sharing these pups
that our friends just rescued!
We are still in Mexico and we stayed for a few days
with our friends who just adopted these cuties!
They have had all their vaccines so that next
month they can move with our friends 
to Vancouver Washington! They are only a few
months old and the mother was with
 them until just a few days ago.
 She has been adopted by another family!
I love how folks help and rescue animals down here!
Have a very happy weekend! 
Thanks Mimi for hosting Feline Friday!
~~~~

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Thankful Thursday March 16, 2023


So very thankful for my sweetheart of almost 
33 years of wedded bliss! 

 

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Wordless Wednesday! March 15, 2023


Lucy loves Christine who is staying in
our home with Lucy while we are in Mexico!
Have a great day everyone!
~~~~

Monday, March 13, 2023

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Awww Monday March 13, 2023


Live music from a young man
playing a special ukulele!
He is very talented and also a very
polite young man!
having a delicious dinner while he played
equally delicious music!

Thursday, March 09, 2023

Feline Friday March 10, 2023


This sweet but kind of scared kitty has
been convinced by me that is safe
to come and get a bite of kitty chow on
our front porch! So sweet!
Have a wonderful Feline Friday!
Feline Friday is now brought by
MessyMimi ! Thanks Mimi!
~~~~~

Thankful Thursday! March 9, 2023

 


Mission Of Our Lady of Loreto

Lovely cathedral in the center of town.

We are so thankful for being able to finally return to one of our favorite places in Mexico! And many thanks to Brian!

~~~~


Sunday, March 05, 2023

Happy Tuesday March 7, 2023


My sweetheart of over 32 years
celebrated his birthday on March 4th!
We celebrated it by going to our
favorite restaurant for dinner that night!
If you are ever in our neck of the woods....
You will not be disappointed!

 

Saturday, March 04, 2023

Awww Monday! March 6, 2023


Lucy is practicing flying!
She is such an awwsome kitty 
and we love her to pieces!
Next month she will be 14 years old!
Have a very Happy Awww Monday!
Thanks Sandee!
~~~~
 

Thursday, March 02, 2023

Feline Friday March 3, 2023




Zoe is the sweetest cat- we are taking care of her
while her mom has a short vacation in Hawaii!
Zoe is so lovable and cozy!


Have a wonderful Feline Friday and a 
splendid weekend! I know we will!
xoxoxo to all!
~~~~

Wednesday, March 01, 2023

Wordless Wednesday!! March 1, 2023


Coco Cabanas in Loreto, B.C.S. , Mexico
Enjoy your days wherever you are!
There will be a full moon there on March 7th!
The header photo of the waxing new moon
was taken by me on November 7, 2021 
at 5:53pm in Loreto and if I remember correctly 
you can see Venus up on the left. 
Thanks Sandee for Wordless Wednesday!
~~~~

Monday, February 27, 2023

Happy Tuesday February 28, 2023


And we all have had cats that we love!
Here's our always sweet Lucy!


Sleeping softly by the fire!
Have a very Happy Tuesday!

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Awww Monday! February 27, 2023


We have had an amazing snow fest
here in the Pacific Northwest!

The Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington area hasn’t seen this much snow all at once in 80 years. “This is a big deal,” said Tonja Fransen, a meteorologist at the local National Weather Service office. Portland International Airport recorded 10.8 inches Wednesday, beating out the 9.3 inches that fell on a January day in 1956. Since snowfall record-keeping at the airport began in 1939, the greatest snow accumulation over a day was 14.4 inches in 1943.


Needless to say I have been feeding the birds and squirrels plus the occasional rabbit with sunflower seeds and shelled peanuts! We can watch them from our dining room windows - as does Lucy our cat! It's a live nature show for all of us! 
~~~~

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Feline Friday! February 24, 2023


 Some cats do not mind the snow!
We got a lot of snow today-
so while we are out shoveling 
our friends cat is exploring! 
And our Lucy is rolling around in the catnip
warm and cozy in the house!


Thanks Mimi for Feline Friday!
Happy weekend everyone!
~~~~~

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Thankful Thursday February 23, 2023


Lucy cannot believe it is snowing!


Oodles of birds at our feeders!
Red and Yellow Shafted woodpeckers, 
Downy woodpeckers, Varied Thrushes 
and all sorts of Chickadees. The Starlings are
coming in now and we would just as soon
they fly back to England! They take over.
Anyhow- all of us are enjoying the snow
and the birds too! We need the snow on our
mountains and melted snow in our rivers
and creeks! We are thankful for all that we can get!
Have a lovely day and many thanks to Brian for               Thankful Thursday!!
*~*~*~*~*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Wordless Wednesday February 22, 2023


Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, Oregon
A place to come see and visit. 
~~~~

 

Happy Tuesday February 21, 2023


Yet another baby born and my quilt was
ready for him!  I get such a 
kick out of making a quilt for each 
child. I make then small enough so each
child can tote it around once they are walking
or even just crawling!  
Just today I finished another
quilt for a little boy who isn't yet here to 
give us smiles and laughter! 
I will share it once he is here! 
Hugs to everyone! 
~~~~

Sunday, February 19, 2023

Awww Monday! February 20, 2023


A cutie with Curious George!
Have a great week everyone!!
And Awww Thanks Sandee!
~~~~

Monday, February 13, 2023

Wordless Wednesday! February 15, 2023

 


Peaceful Loreto.
We will be there soon!
Thanks Sandee for Wordless Wednesday!
~~~~~

Happy Tuesday! February 14, 2023

Happy Valentines Day!!!! 


Enjoy your day with that special  friend!
~~~~~~~

Sunday, February 12, 2023

Awww Monday! February 13, 2023


From time to time yet another baby
will show up in our huge family!
They are all cutie pies and I will
be posting a few in my Awww Monday's posts!
Have a lovely week!
Thanks Sandee! 
~~~

Thursday, February 09, 2023

Feline Friday February 9, 2023

 All about Ocelots!

We watched this youtube movie about an ocelot- fascinating! It is definitely worth watching !!  


~~~~~


Tuesday, February 07, 2023

Wordless Wednesday February 8, 2023


 Crows are hardly ever wordless!
And I think they keep a watchful eye on us.
One of my favorite birds!
Have a lovely day!


~~~~

Happy Tuesday! February 7, 2023


Once again here is an awdorable
photo of one of my many Great Nieces!
She is a super happy girl and is
having a wonderful life with her
awdorable parents!
Cheers and have a great Happy Tuesday!
~~~~

Sunday, February 05, 2023

Awww Monday February 6, 2023


 Darling little girl is 7 months old now!
Born in France but now back home in Vancouver WA!
It's so fun to see how strong she already is! 
Have a great Awww Monday!
Thanks Sandee!
~~~~

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Thankful Thursday January 26, 2023




 As I promised in yesterday's blog post that I would share the     Butternut Squash Gnocci  recipe and so here it is!          Butternut Squash Gnocci

Ingredients:

1 butternut squash about 1.5 pounds equaling 2 cups cooked           2 large eggs beaten, 1/2 tsp salt, black pepper and 1.5 cups flour. I use unbleached all purpose flour and 2 large eggs beaten  1 stick of unsalted butter, 12-18 fresh sage leaves, and grated Parmesan cheese. 

  

Pre-heat oven to 350F, cut in half lengthwise, place the squash on parchment paper with just a bit of olive oiled brushed on squash. Bake for approximately 60 minutes. I usually check after 45 minutes to see if the squash is done. If a fork can easily penetrate it is ready. Let the squash cool enough so that you can handle it easily. Scoop out the seeds and then scoop out all of the squash and place in a mixing bowl. Using a fork smash the squash until it is smooth with no lumps, stir into the squash the 2 eggs. Once that is well mixed stir in the salt and pepper and then the flour.    Once that is done using a large pan such a Dutch Baby and fill with enough water to use for poaching the gnoccis. Bring the salted water to a boil and spooning about a tablespoon or a bit more of the squash mixture and using your fingers scoop it into the boiling water. Continue scooping the mixture in until the pan is full- about 10-15 gnoccis at a time. Once the water is boiling again and the gnoccis rise to to the surface then poach exactly  for 2 minutes and remove them carefully one at time- I use a small strainer. Place the gnoccis on a cooling rack. Continue poaching the rest of the mixture until all gnoccis have been poached. Let them cool and drain. I usually put a folded dish cloth under the rack to keep things tidy. Meanwhile melt the butter in a good size frying pan,  brown it just a bit and add then the fresh sage leaves turning them often until they are crisp but not burnt! Remove them from the pan and once the gnoccis have cooled down and aren't wet- only damp- then place the gnoccis in the pan with the brown butter and turning when they are browned. Once they are browned on both sides, place them in everyone's pasta bowls with the sage leaves and parmesan!

Many many thanks to Brian for Thankful Thursday!

Buon appetito!

           



Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Wordless Wednesday January 25, 2023



I took these two photos back in March of 2022.
Our good friends who live close by are lucky
to have such a beautiful Camellia in their backyard!
Here's a closeup!
Have a great day always! 
Thanks Sandee!!!



PS My header is of Butternut Squash Gnocci!
I discovered this recipe and I will be sharing
it on Brians Thankful Thursdays  blog!

Friday, January 20, 2023

Awww Monday! January 23, 2023

 


Once again our family is growing!
This little guy is quite the cutie and
he is enjoying his quilt! 
I sure had fun making it too!
Our nieces and nephews are beginning 
to have babies of their own- so now I am not just 
Aunt Kathe....but Aunt Kathe the Great! 
Hahahah. Have a happy and awesome day!
~~~~~ 

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Feline Friday! and Friendly Fill-ins! January 20. 2023


Jaguars are the third largest cat in the world — after the tiger and lion — and the biggest in the Americas. They can grow up to 170cm long, not including their impressive tails, but their size can vary a lot between regions depending on the size of the local prey.
Black jaguars live alone, marking their large territories with their scat and by leaving distinctive claw markings on trees. They can kill just about any type of prey they encounter but prefer large animals such as capybaras, alligators, deer and armadillos.
Obviously these cats are NOT pussycats!
However.....
Jaguar populations are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Deforestation and poaching are just a couple of the threats contributing to their decline. The black jaguar’s range once spanned from the southern United States down to the tip of South America. However they have been virtually eliminated from half of their historic range.

Many thanks to MessyMimi who is now hosting Feline Friday! 


~~~~
Friendly Fill-ins!

Here are the Friendly Fill-Ins for tomorrow. Ellen of
 15 and Meowing   came up with the first two and her
 co-host, Lorianne of Four-Legged Furballs 
came up with second two.

1. _____________________makes me feel old.
2. ____________________makes me feel young.
3. Recently, _________ came in very handy.
4. I think that _________ is the most useless __

Here are my fill-ins:
1. Looking in the mirror in the early morning makes me feel old.
2. Dancing with my sweet husband makes me feel young.
3. Recently, my saving boxes came in very handy.
4. I think that worrying is the most useless emotion.

Have a wonderful weekend!
~~~~~~

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Thankful Thursday January 19, 2023


The rain may drive us all a bit bonkers, 
but it is a gift from Mother Nature and
I am thankful for all the rain as it nurtures 
our trees, bushes and flowers along with
giving us water to save and share with the 
birds and assorted mammals that live 
along with us. The deer, birds, squirrels, racoons,
possums and other animals flourish with the water.
Our French friends have taught me about 
saving water in large containers such as 
plastic garbage cans or large buckets.
They have the gutters from the house directly
filling up all the many large containers in their
backyard and over the rainy winter they
harvest so much rain! So much that
in the summer when they are not home I and
the neighbors use buckets of water to care for all 
of the trees, bushes and flowers that need attention. 
What a brilliant idea! We will be doing this also.
It makes total sense! 
Thanks Brian for Thankful Thursday!

~~~~~


 

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Monday, January 16, 2023

Happy Tuesday January 17, 2023


Sleeping in a cozy dog sandwich!
Thanks to Woodsterman !!!
Have a wonderful day- everyday!
~~~~~