Sunday, February 03, 2013

Birthday fun, part 2!

First off, apologies for not keeping up with replying to comments and visiting blogs the last little bit! I promise to get my act together asap.

And today I found out that a black cat is living in our granary. I am sure I saw this kitty back in October, but he ran off when I got near him, and I didn't see him (her?) again until today, when he was under one of the birdfeeders, no doubt hungry and looking for a meal. I tracked his prints in the snow and indeed, like Emily before him, he has been going in and out of the granary. So I put out some food, went back 15 minutes later, and saw him in there! He scampered off but had already finished his meal. I put out some more grub and it disappeared too. I left out sardines for an evening snack. 

We'll see how this goes. He seems pretty shy but for now I will work on ensuring he is fed, and building him a shelter (perhaps like this) and I will get another heated water bowl like the one we have for the chickens. Worst case scenario, we could trap, neuter and vaccinate him and have a barn cat. Best case scenario... anyone want a pet cat? He is not anyone's lost pet. We live a kilometre from the closest house on a road of farms and I know my neighbours' cat collections. He's either barn cat offspring that has wandered, or he was dumped.

We shall see what happens! I will keep you posted.

Meanwhile, here's part two of my birthday fun in Montréal last Wednesday...


After the Biodome, we visited the Insectarium. I love this place. 


Unfortunately their beehive wasn't in operation. They have a glass-fronted demo hive, but I know from my experience working with the hive at the Natural History Museum in Halifax that those hives don't always thrive and need to be replaced. But as you can see above, Gordon found himself a bee anyway!


And check  out these amazing beetles...


Jewels of the insect world!


Oh look, a bee is eating my brains!

The Insectarium has a spectacular display of butterflies. Here are a couple for you...





And check out the way these moths camouflage themselves...


Incredible!

After the Insectarium, we visited the greenhouses at the adjoining Botanical Gardens.


Here's Gordon looking at a cinnamon tree, with a smiling Sri Lankan woman in the background!


They have an exquisite collection of orchids.


Great place to visit on a cold January day.


Finally, we had supper at Lola Rosa, a vegetarian restaurant near McGill University. We aren't vegetarians but neither do we eat tons of meat. Nice to have a good veg meal out!


I had this yummy quesadilla with cheese, avocado and a side of brown basmati rice and salad. It was really good!


Gordon had a tasty tomato pie.

The tables at the restaurants are actually old writing desks with a little drawer on either side. People write all kinds of notes and leave them in the drawers for others to read. It's amusing to read them while waiting for your meal to arrive. This one was hilarious...


Yes Faye, there should be cats. Cats and brownies!

Speaking of sweets, Gordon had key lime pie for dessert...



And I had pineapple-raspberry cheescake in a Mason jar. Extremely yummy!


And they gave me my dessert free because it was my birthday.

Next year, it's the half-century mark. I need a year to wrap my head around that!!

Please think good thoughts for the black kitty in our granary. We want him safe and looked after.




18 comments:

  1. Well, bees, flowers and good eats! I think you had a great birthday.
    As for the bog five-O? No problem. Been there ! Don't that so long ago I forget.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Perfect end to a perfect birthday! Good luck to black kitty, although I think he already hit the jackpot for strays.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Perfect, perfect birthday! Can't wait to see what Gordon surprises you with for next year's big bash!! XOXO

    ReplyDelete
  4. Now I shall forever be looking for someone called Faye who.....

    ReplyDelete
  5. That was one perfect birthday celebration. Those desserts look so yummie even accross the ocean! I am hungry already and it's only 8 a.m.....
    That letter from drawer is so nice and funny... and I agree.. there should be cats. There is a caffe' in Wien, Austria, that has cats...

    Good luck with the black kitty: I hope he thrives now that he has found you.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The chances aren't very good of my meeting Faye here in DC, but I'll keep my eyes and ears open.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great birthday! Loved all the photos including the scrumptious food! Insects always intrigue me so those were especially beautiful.

    The pillars in that place look like you are under a giant hosta!

    Sending good thoughts for little black kitty. I can feel your pain knowing he is out there in the cold.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The insectarium looked amazing (especially those beetles), and the food looked delicious. FUN!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love orchids... unfortunately I can't seem to keep them alive.
    The beetles are awesome. I've always wanted to see a collection like that, although I feel vaguely bad that they're all pinned to a board....
    Sounds like you had a wonderful birthday. :)
    Many Happy Returns! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank heaven you spotted the little black cat and found its hiding place. You probably saved its life! I took in a little cat under similar circumstances four years ago. It took a long time to gain her trust but she finally became our darling little Gracie.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great orchids!
    And really cool re the notes in the desk drawers. What a good idea! Did you leave one too?
    I'm glad you had such a good birthday Natalie. Jx

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm with Faye - the world needs more brownies and cats!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yup, cats make everything better! Cats are good. Brownies are good, too.
    Good luck with the black kitteh.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh, and I LOVE all those beautiful beetles! And the butterflies!

    ReplyDelete
  16. An amazing cake and many great photos but I liked the one of the huge bee sucking your brains out through your ear the best.

    Sorry :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I think you should look up Faye and give the Black Kitty to her!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love those beetles and butterflies.

    That note was so funny!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for all your comments, which I love to read!