Matryoshka Dolls for True Color Thursday

E brought these Matryoshka dollson her trip to Russia in the spring and brought them home from Taiwan for us to take care of for her. We always called them babushka dolls. She has two sets of them now. The other one came from a Russian store in Ancorage, Alaska, in 2002.

I think these colorful dolls have a nice Christmasy theme so here they are for True Color Thursday - color of the week Christmas colors.

Tribute to Fred for Remember Whensday

Fred Vasseur

1992 to December 17, 2009

Baby Fred, right after we brought him home from the pet store, with big sisters E and J.

Not the best photography below, but you get the picture!

Fred, fishing.

Older Fred, looking over the loot in his Christmas stocking.

I took this picture just a few weeks ago. He weighed five pounds.
Skin and bones, my dad would have said.

Fred died a sweet old cat, but he was not born that way, oh no. He was the fiestiest of all Freds. I can recall him jumping up the doorways, digging in his claws and sliding down. He left his mark on the doors and in our lives. He was the head of the pecking order. He did not like it one bit when Raleigh the dog joined us, and lived high overhead, on top of the cupboards. One evening he fell asleep close to the edge. He fell over the edge, thump on the range hood, thump on the oven and thump on the floor. Dazed and confused, but still very dignified, he walked away to lick his wounds.

As he grew older he slept more, and loved most of all to follow the rays of the sun. Sleeping outside on the porch one day was he, as far from the house as his tether would allow so it was very taut. I looked out and there were three birds sitting on his rope.

He was a beautiful cat with a lovely grey coat. It was sad to see him when all his fur fell out. This was after he had the hematoma in his ear and it turned into a cauliflower.

He was a great singer. We knew the end was near when he stopped purring.

And so, on December 17th, the music died. Gently Dr. Cook, who handled him over the years with humongous leather gloves, laid him to rest. He didn't even hiss this time at his patient doctor. He looked so small and dear, all wrapped up in a blanket. I gave him a final headrub and a kiss, and in the spring, when the snow melts and the ground thaws, he will lay to rest under the oak in the backyard.

Lighthouse for Ruby Tuesday

It appears the Brighton Lighthouse in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, is on the endangered list. There are talks of repairing it, but as Canada doesn't view it as historic, the proposals are for replacing the wood with vinyl siding and changing the cupola. Hopefully, city council will do its homework and repair it properly in its historic context. I took these two photos in late November.


Merry Christmas, everyone.

Cranberry for True Color Thursday

What better for cranberry color than cranberries. J picked these cranberries on Prince Edward Island. I played with the photos.

I made these two little coaster sized doilies and stuck them in Christmas cards for friends.

Toller's Remember Whensday

My Mom is busy baking cookies. (She let me lick out the bowl.) She told me to go ahead and post my Remember Whensday.

The first picture was taken when I was a pup, about one year old. My birthday is in December.

I always like opening the presents. Sometimes, I even like opening presents that don't say "Toller" on the label. I can't understand why they get so bothered about it. Like, do they think I can read?

Now what kind of present is that.  Red boots? Do you really think I want to walk down the road in front of all the other dogs wearing these things? I hate to sound ungrateful, but, well all you man dogs would feel the same as me I am sure. I certainly fought them when they put them on me, and I only had to wear them once. Thats why I chose this nut frame. Thats how I felt, like a nut.

The best part of Christmas is the snow. Here I am, a couple of years ago, looking longingly at my folks on the other side of the fence. I like to be where they are.  I remember that day. All they did was shovel. My eyes are sad, because no one wanted to throw my yellow ball. Usually they throw it for me though.

Thiswas last Christmas. Now this was a present to remember. I could hardly wait, although secretly, I was hoping it wasn't more boots. It wasn't. It was . . .

. . . a bunny. A Christmas bunny. A bunny who squeaked.

Santa Claus, if you read my blog, I don't want too much. A nice bone, and if you can find one, a duck that squeaks. After all, I am a duck toller. My Mom is making cookies. I'll tell her to save some for you. And also to put them up high, because I am an easily tempted toller, no matter how hard I try to be good.

Stanhope Provincial Park for Ruby Tuesday

In late November, I visited Prince Edward Island. J and I drove to Stanhope Provincial Park on a cold, rainy day. PEI is known for its red mud and so for today, my focus is on the red shoreline of Prince Edward Island.

These are photos of the beach taken from the top of the cliff looking down.

They talk about erosion that is eating away at the coastline of Prince Edward Island.

Here are the old parking lot lines. We parked back quite aways.

Just before getting back in the car, I took this photo of a dreary coastline. I sharpened it up a bit and I rather like it.

Aqua for True Color Thursday

Going back into last spring's archives, here is one of my favorite photos that I have taken. I took it at Victoria-by-the-Sea, Prince Edward Island: all ready and waiting for lobster.

Toller asked me to show you our next door neighbor. He said to tell you that although she is pretty, she is also very feisty and he fears that sometime she may bite his nose, so he keeps his distance. Sidney has lots of coats, but when I saw her wearing her aqua one I knew I had my photo of the week for TCT.

When Mr. Jay got dressed Sunday morning, he put on his blue/aqua striped tails in preparation for a truly New Brunswick winter day.