A Lovely Weekend....and catnip

 Good morning!  We hope everyone had a good week.   I did not have a wonderful start to my week.  It was time for my monthly grooming session.  This first photo is me NOT coming out of the cat carrier at the vet's office.

 Mom told the vet and the vet tech that she should have named me Rizzo and not Emily.   I know I'm tiny but don't make the mistake in thinking that I won't defend myself if I feel threatened.   The vet tech was very afraid of me, I think.  I kept putting my teeth on her hand while she was trying to hold me still.  (Actually, the vet tech said it was more of a threat than an actual bite  --the Mom)
After they were done with my grooming, I gave the vet a head bop to show I wasn't a vengeful feline.   The vet then picked me up and gave me a cuddle!

photo from Catnip website

 Mom rewarded me with a catnip tea bag!  She bought three of them on Saturday when her Mom, our Grandmom, came to visit.  These are the best.   I love them!

 YAWN!  Hey guys.  It's me, Winston.  Is it Monday already!?  We had a pleasant weekend.  Our Grandmom came to visit from out of town.  They went out for breakfast...

 Mom splurged on a chai tea latte.   She likes to spoon up the cinnamon- y foam on the tiny spoon before she drinks her tea.  She says the price is ridiculously expensive, though.  This way, she really needs to make sure and enjoy it!  She and Grandmom went shopping and then came back to visit.
We got the catnip tea bags!  Our Grandmom bought her kitty, Pearl, a furminator!
Sunday was quiet.  Mom took a leisurely  walk...

 and she saw lots of pretty  flowers

 Someday she would love to visit a lavender farm.  There are a few here in Ontario, even!

 The park is such a relaxing place to take a walk.  Do you think Mom should buy me, Winston, a leash and collar?  We could walk together to the park and I could chase enjoy all the wildlife there.

Funny from Pinterest

A Rainy Canada Day

 Good morning felines!  It's Emily and I'm enjoying a nice siesta on the table.  Actually, I'm keeping Mom company.  I'm a very thoughtful feline   :)    As you may know we recently celebrated Canada Day.  Mom was also excited to have three days off!

 She made good use of her time by taking long walks.  Mom said when she took this photo all she saw at first was the flag.  MOM!  There are two woofies in this photo.  What gives?!

 Mom did all her chores and errands on Friday.  She even had a nice evening by going out for supper with some friends AND then some shopping at Chapters!

 You have no idea how much Mom enjoys that sort of thing.  Do you think I look scary in this photo?  Cuz I'm really just having a nice yawn.

 Perhaps Mom overdid it because after Friday she felt a little under the weather.  So she took it easy.  She went on a walk.  Then got caught in a thunderstorm!   Tee hee.  She was pretty wet by the time she got home.  She forgot to look at the weather forecast and notice the severe thunderstorm warning!  Whoops.
Anyway,  here is a pretty rose.

 A few strawberries as a Canada Day treat!

 Ominous thunderheads......

 Gosh Emily!  You do love to yammer on.  It's my turn now!  I think I look very dashing and debonair in this photo!  Note my alert whiskers and big eyes.  If I'm not careful, Mom is going to want to kiss my nose.  Cheeky thing.

 Even though she took it easy on her last two days off she did still have some walks.  To the courtyard garden.

Some pretty day lilies.

The courtyard garden again

Once we had that one thunderstorm, though, things mostly cleared up!
We made sure Mom tried to relax by binge watching on netflix.
But today...the vacation is over.  WE are glad to get her out of our hair for a while!

Getting Ready for the Holiday!

Good morning.   Emily speaking to you all from the comfort of the laundry basket!  There is nothing I enjoy more than the cozy warmth of clean clothes that are fresh from the dryer!  I hope everyone is doing well!  Are you keeping your humans in good health?   I have to tell you that Winston and I are having a rough time of it--in the last week our Mom has had a cold, complete with an ear ache!  (aren't you a bit middle aged to have ear aches, Mom?!), a sore foot and back, too.  It's no wonder that Winston and I are tuckered out and need a retreat!  We think we have her sorted out,though.  Phew.  She is exhausting! 
We have had lots of rain in our area.  There has even been some flooding nearby but, thankfully, not near us!

 Mom took this on her afternoon lunch break between rain showers!

I think she took this photo on her weekly walk to the grocery store!

Are there any Canadian felines out there?  Our Mom is excited about Canada Day coming up this Saturday, July 1st!  She is contemplating how to celebrate their 150th!  Perhaps she should have some poutine?

Photo from Pinterest

Photo from Pinterest

Or maybe she should have a Nanaimo Bar?
Goodness knows she shouldn't have both....and she hasn't had either in quite some time!

Hello now from Winston!   Yes, we are trying to help Mom think of ways to celebrate the long weekend.  Though, to be honest, what she seems most excite about is the time off!  Our Mom wanted to share a few of these "Canadian Problems" she found on Pinterest.  She said they made her smile!

 It's true.  Our geese can be very grouchy!  Whenever Mom encounters them in the park she tries to give them a wide berth!

 The mosquitoes can be quite mean...not to mention the black flies!

 We hope that however you Canadian felines decide to celebrate that you enjoy the day!

Stormy Summer Weather

 Hello all!  It's Miss Emily.  I am very happy in this photo.  Mom moved our scratcher and I love the new location! 

I hogged it all to myself!  Do you see Winston on the floor?!  Ha!   He is going to have to wait a while before I decide to share.

 We have been having some very hot, humid weather again!  Phew! There were even some tornado warnings in nearby counties.   Sometimes our Mom, when she leaves for work, tells us "Guys, if the weather gets bad go into a small interior room.  Like the bathroom!  Stay away from the windows if there is bad weather." That last sentence is mostly for Winston.  When there is a bad storm he likes to run to the windows to see what all the commotion is about!

 After the storms, the sun comes back out, though.

 Good morning purrs from Winston.  Mom says she loves this photo of me even if it is a little dark.  This is how I look when Mom is on the computer and I want her attention.   It gets me what I want almost every time!
Yes, very hot.  Mom is making lots of homemade iced tea.   She says it is very simple and she gets to control the sugar.
Here is the recipe:

• 8 cups water
• 3 orange pekoe tea bags 
•  3/4 cup white sugar  
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• In a large saucepan, heat water to a rapid boil. Remove from heat and drop in the tea bags. Cover and let steep for 1 hour.
• In a large pitcher, combine the steeped tea and the sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved, then stir in lemon juice. Refrigerate until chilled.

  

  Photo from All Recipes.com

 Mom says she actually reduces the amount of sugar and experiments with different tea flavors.

 One of the nice things about the all the rain is that the flowers are blooming!  
A rain drenched peony....

and a daisy.
We hope everyone is staying comfortable and dry!

Winston and the Dog Days of Late Spring--How to Stay Chill

 Good Morning from Winston.  This is an older photo of me trying to stay cool.   Mom says it makes her smile every time she sees it!   Yes, it's very hot and humid out. The weather people have issued heat warnings and everything.
Besides the usual fans and a/c our Mom tries to make sure we stay comfortably cool.  She leaves out water.  Keeps the curtains closed.  She has even been known to gently wipe our fur with a cool, damp cloth.  Ha!  I would like to see her try that with Miss Emily!    What about you?  Does your human have any helpful hints to help us stay cool?

 This photo is from a walk home from work.   The sun is still out!  Mom says that is nice to NOT have to walk home in the dark.

 The purple Allium are blooming!

 Yes, it is me, Winston, again!  

 Mom at  the market.  She likes fresh herbs.  She was even thinking of maybe growing some herself.

 A beautiful tree .  Mom said she loves the sound of the wind rustling the leaves.
So...here is Emily!   I try to share our posts.  Not like Emily who sometimes hogs them!

 Emily performing a cooling, but convoluted, yoga pose.

A "Traumatic" Monday for Emily

 Hello kitties.  First off you need to know that this post is all about me...Emily.   Winston can have his turn next week.  You will completely understand why.  Mom took me to the vet's office this morning.  I still need to go in for a monthly grooming because I'm small, but I'm fierce too!
The horror started with Mom putting me in the carrier.

 Here is the carrier.  We are waiting for the cab.  Don't worry, kitties, I made sure Mom paid for her betrayal.  I scratched (her neck)and fought etc.  Then once I was finally inside the roomy carrier I meowed.  Wowzers!   Even I was impressed with my feline vocal stylings!
Mom didn't dare to take any photos of me in the office.  I was too fearsome.  The vet had to call in for reinforcements.  They did find 3 tiny knots.
When were done I ran into the carrier of my own free will!  Then Mom went out to the receptionist's desk to make another appointment for me.

 This handsome black kitty helped to ease a bit of the tension.  Mom thought he was cute.
Also--kitties--I'm starting to trust Mom a bit more.  I will allow her to brush around my head and my mane.  I'm getting better.  I don't know why I go all crazy kitty.

After we finally got home, I showed Mom I forgave her by headbopping her.  She picked me up and said , "Emily, how can I make this easier for you.  I feel bad that you are so frightened"
Then Mom let me sniff her snazzy new red shoes.  Kitties, I love Mom's shoes.  Only Mom puts these new shoes high up on a shelf when she isn't wearing them.  I love them a bit too much and she needs them for sore middle aged feets.