RIP - Our Mr Poole

Gone today - gone too soon - only 6 years

His story

Waiting and Dreaming: Suncatcher

As we wait today for a nasty winter storm with lots of snow,
We recall just last weekend as the sun shone down,
Dreaming of endless sunny days
and flowers,
endless flowers.

The most gorgeous (and huge) Hyacinths EVER,
from Cat Wrangler.

This photo came out blurry and was going to delete it.
Applied watercolor effect
and what a lovely surprise.
Aren't I talented? ;)

Summer - in Spring

This week has been amazing - so very warm, even hot. 

A veritable heatwave.

Trees are budding, and our neighbour's forsythia is actually in bloom! The residents of Maple Grove Gardens wonder if they slept through the end of winter and even spring.

But I heard no complaints as the solarium was opened up, windows taken down, a few plants placed for some green - and the favourite spots were chosen. 

Eating al fresco in March!? 

Unheard of - but most delightful.

 

 Manitou finds the perfect combination of sun and shade.

Mr. Poole got so hot in the sun I was almost worried.

But cats know what feels good!

 Tristan bypassed stopping to smell the roses...

And decided to investigate what was in my coffee mug!

Photos have a somewhat dreamy, fuzzy effect as they were taken with the camera on my tablet - not great, but quite acceptable.

We are enjoying all this while it lasts,

as the sky is darkening as I write, and soon it will rain, 

and the temperature will drop.

Heralding Spring

Whilst Amaryllis are definitely a festive season treat, many continue to bloom through winter and into spring,and they give me that much needed boost during the cold and snowy months....Here is the delightful Apricot Parfait 

Santiago - hot and zesty!

Spotlight - delicate and picoteed...


A very short-scaped Lady Jane:there must be a problem inside the bulb since the scapes were only a sad 2 inches tall! But the blooms were huge and gorgeous.


A fluffy and handsome Manitou!!

Garden window parade of beauties.

Cybister variety: Bogota - very exotic - the anthers are spectacularly long - and red.

4th scape on the charming Charmeur!Four scapes are really rare - three is usually amazing enough.
Apricot Parfait bathing in the afternoon sun.



This basket was going to the basement...Can't let a good basket go to waste thinks Mr. Poole, and no matter how many shots I took, he refused to open his eyes.Don't worry - I didn't take too many.


Santiago. I really love this one.
Tending the amaryllis every day gives me the feel of a little gardening:checking the health of the bulb, removing dry bits, and of course the endless rotation as they lean toward the light. The spent bloomers also go a little "backstage" while the blooming plants take center stage at the "window garden". This past weekend we received over 25 cm of snow - so having these blooms are extra special with that backdrop of a winter wonderland.

And we close with the ever lovely Apple Blossom.
Thanks to all who have commented on previous posts, and sorry for delay in posting them - I kind of forgot.

Harrumph!

"Yes - it is definitely autumn", ponders Mr. Poole, surrounded by the evidence - "and we all know what is soon to follow - I don't want to think about it!"

Updates - Spring at Maple Grove Gardens

The Collaring of the Cats

As an update to the dreaded visit by our local SPCA, we were given 48 hours to collar, with tags, all our cats. And since we really did not want to find out what the "or else" might be, off we went to find suitable collars and get replacement tags for those that had been lost long ago. Now, anyone who has cats, probably is well aware of this next great challenge - especially for those that have never ever worn a collar before. Here is how it all panned out:

- Tristan the White was first - his reaction typical: "Oh my God, what have you done to me - I can't stand - I can't walk - ack! I am crippled!" Then, he disappeared for about 15 minutes, returned without the collar, and with somewhat of a smug look on his face - "ah, that's better" - he seemed to convey. You see, these are the safe "breakaway" collars - and that's exactly what he did - quite skillfully and in record time! Maybe we should nickname him Houdini!?

- Manitou, the Caramel - well, he's had a collar before, and whilst he really would prefer to remain "au naturel" - it is still on.

- Chaiyka, the Tabby&white, sports a red one, and seems to be rather accustomed to it - a bit tricky at first, but now no problem

- Mr. Poole, the black - like Chaiyka, it was a rough start, but now he's ok with it

As for the 2 "illegals" - Bandito and Longfellow - they are my sister's cats that I look after every now and then ;) Both have collars, no tags though. I will have to append something to make them look "legal".

I must say that all this has rattled us. We feel we are being watched, and we don't know by whom. Which of those smiling neighbors is it? Or is it the non-smiling ones? We try not to let the gang out all in one herd, but sometimes that is hard. And it doesn't help when at any given time, there are 4 cats on the porch - and they aren't even mine! Even the next door neighbor's cat - just a shared driveway away - comes when the "dinner gong" (aka can opener) is sounded. Good grief!

Anyway - dreadful heat wave at the moment, and the cats are much in favor of us installing an air-conditioner - finally! I for one seem to be less and less tolerant of this heat as the years go by.
Even lounging about outside seems to give little relief to the furred ones.


Tristan and Chaiyka nap together....pre-collars


Some lovely shots of our regular visitor, Ping-Pong - so elegant, slightly oriental-looking and sleek.......and no collar!









The Reverend relaxes and strikes a pose....




Mr. Poole, at the other end of the table, makes sure The Rev stays in line... "I'm watching you".... ahem...I don't think The Rev looks too frightened! By the way - someone put his white flea collar back on again...but as of last week, it is off once more. Hmm....

Spring flowers - now just a memory....


Ping-Pong plays.....



My first daylily (Middendorfii) - a very early variety and the flowers stay open for 2 days not the usual one...






I love, LOVE, to see things sprout and grow!

Snowed In - and Out Sick

Our part of Quebec recently received close to 80 cm. of snow! That's an overwhelming, walloping amount that came down in just 24 hours. Digging out from the back porch was a huge, huge job in itself. The city was pretty much shut down, and people stayed home from work, kids from school. Some doctors and others were transported to their work on snowmobiles. On the verge of being sick with a bad cold or flu - I was tucked safe inside watching it all. Below is an example of how I have been spending my last 2 days, and feel free to break out into Paul McCartney's "Ebony (Mr. Poole) and Ivory (Tristan)".... (and yes, I am under there, somewhere...when it comes to "prime real-estate" like human laps, even sworn enemies call a truce :)



Today, I am officially sick, but I hope the worst is over. When I am sick, I get even more blue than usual - dwelling and wallowing over all sorts of things. I think if it were not for my cats, I'd just stay in bed. They kind of force me to "get with it". I was awoken today (very late) with the beautiful white Tristan perched on my shoulder, which he never does, peering down at me, as if to say, "oye, you down there - you ok?" As soon as he realized I was indeed still alive, he hopped down. I do believe he was genuinely concerned.



"Me and my shadow".... (Manitou and Mr. Poole)



And to close, another sunny amaryllis shot.

One Month...and on...

The one-month date has come and gone, and Chesney is still gone/vanished. People around me try to console and say that he probably got picked up by someone who fell in love with him etc etc. I try not to dwell on the darker possibilities, but they are there, and always will be unless I find out for sure, and it doesn't look like I will. I wonder why fate would have sent me this gift, to console me for the sudden untimely loss of Timmy last fall, only to take Chesney the same way - suddenly? Cruel. A shadow has been cast over this spring and summer season.

But life goes on (*sigh* - I sometimes hate that silly, trite expression), and I have others than need my care and love. I also have an enormous garden, and lots to plant as I write, and some days it seems like a looming chore rather than a pleasure. But I love the cats and the plants too much to let any be ignored, so on I go.






This piece of salvage was intended for my various gardening pots and accessories, but as you can see, the fluffy ones, Manitou and Mr. Poole, think it really serves a much better purpose. In the third picture, Manitou seems to be thinking: "hmm, this place needs a paint job!" (Is anyone listening? IT DOES!!) Mr. Poole looks like he's thinking: "Hey, no one told me these were bunk-beds!"




Tristan reposes and recovers near the warmth of the brick border. He was recently diagnosed with an abscess on his back. Not the worst we have ever seen, but still nasty business: squeezing, draining etc...but he took it all very well indeed. Next to him is my latest purchase for the garden: a lovely garden wagon: it is very handy and attractive too!


Regular visitor, sometimes called "Mooch", Rascal relaxes on the cedar bench.




And last but not least, New solarium furniture! Here we see Angel and Longfellow obviously approving of the long-awaited purchase. The day the set arrived, Angel was the first to hop onto the the couch and sprawl at full length, so elegant her black against the vivid red. The old white wicker set had been with us since the house purchase in 1994, and was quite worn. It was not shabby chic anymore, just shabby!

Thank you to everyone who sent me their good thoughts for Chesney - I really, really appreciate it. Maybe we can keep it up for a little longer?