Some of the best things I’ve discovered this week.
Since the weather’s turned, indoor gardening is the best kind of gardening. 🙂
The best cup of tea/coffee/hot chocolate is always found in an unexpected coffee shop; especially when it’s raining outside and that coffee shop is warm and rustic and full of interesting people.
Now is the best time to start seeing the winter flocks returning to Vancouver. The sea birds are such a wonderful treat all winter long. These are Barrow’s Goldeneye.
The absolute best cat toy is a paper bag. Trust me on this. 🙂
The best plants for an autumn pergola are Virginia creepers. Is there anything as spectacular as these red curtains hanging down? (Note to self: Must build a pergola.)
Sharing with Nancy for Random Friday and don’t forget, giveaway draw for next Tuesday. 🙂
Pingback: 31 days of common magic |
Waiwai
Nice photos! It is nice to discover a nice coffee shop and have a nice cup of drink! Dropping by via UBC 🙂
Veronica
Hello Waiwai, thank you so much for visiting me. You have extremely cute children. 🙂
califbeachgal
I love these pictures and stories … I went back on your blog to see if I could read them for myself (there weren’t links all the way through it) and you are an incredibly writer and photographer! Those two aspects make for great blogs. You’re really keeping the topics interesting and passionate to you! Thank you….
Veronica
Gosh Carolyn, thank you so much. 🙂
Tina Fariss Barbour
I love the photos of your kitty and the paper bag! Kitties can have fun with the simplest of things.
I love cozy little coffee shops. And a hot drink inside while it’s pouring rain outside–soooo satisfying.
Those sea birds are so pretty! The markings on them are stunning.
Thank you so much for your kind comment on my blog. I really appreciate it. 🙂
Veronica
Hi Tina. My cats are crazy! The best thing is to sprinkle a pinch of catnip into the bag and then they can play for hours. I’m so glad your Sam is improving. 🙂
Buttons
Oh you are in Vancouver I am in Ontario dreaming of being in Vancouver in that coffee shop. Thank you for keeping my dream alive. Love your images. B
Veronica
Hello fellow Canadian blogger! Is Ontario feeling cold already? At least it’s probably dry compared to our rain. But I should be quiet because right now the sun is out. 🙂 Anytime you make your way out here to the west you are so very welcome to come round and say hi and I’ll take you to the warmest, loveliest coffee shop.
Ida P. Krause
Indoor gardening would be great except my cats tend to eat plants & since many are poisonous to cats I’ve given up on house plants inside. – Loved your kitty in the paper bag. Ours love them too. They also love it when boxes arrived that are packed with paper packing material – Playtime! Oh that Virginia Creeper is so gorgeous.
Veronica
I know Ida. I have to also be careful with the cats, although, the only plant they ever took a nibble of has been Chloe’s lucky bamboo. Actually, there are a couple of boxes under tables for the cats to jump into round here, and a couple baskets that they like to sharpen claws on. Silly cats. 🙂
ebbandflo (@pomomama)
Cats, paper bag-best medicine since chocolate
Veronica
Lol, so true Amanda, and less fattening. 🙂
dianecayton
Coffee shops are such nice places to spend time, either with a friend or alone. Sort of wraps it’s arms around you and lets you just sit and BE for a while.
Veronica
Absolutely Diane. 🙂 I love coffe shops with a warm, rustic atmosphere. You know, a little dark, a little shabby…not all bling and glitz and ultra modern. This one even has uneven floors.
Karen, Pixel Posts
That Virgina creeper is gorgeous! How wonderful to see all the Goldeneyes!
Veronica
I know Karen, Robert and I planed one in the garden in England, where we hope it’ll climb over the fence and up an old cherry tree. I’m missing it this year so have to get R to send me a photo. 🙂
Christie
So many wonderful things…the kitty in the bag is too cute and the Virginia Creeper is stunning!
Veronica
Thank you Christie, that cat really is a chocolate box cat. 🙂
Hootin' Ann
LOVE the kitty!!! [I have two that grace our lives here in Texas!!] And the Goldeneye photo…wow, I’m an avid birder so this image was a special treat for me.
Veronica
Are you really Ann? I love birds too. I’ll try to take some more photos for you. 🙂
Daryl
almost nothing is more fun to watch than a cat with a bag or box!
Veronica
Unless you sprinkle a pinch of catnip into said bag or box. That’s what I did. 🙂
Beth
i wonder if you ever lose your cat – she/he loves to hide … maybe jump on you when you are not watching. love the duck shot. neat view. ( :
Veronica
I do sometimes Beth…lol. Milo, the little black boy, loves to burrow under quilts on the bed and so you always have to watch out where you sit.
Nancy @ A Rural Journal
Your cat is adorable! So happy you joined us this week Veronica!
Veronica
HI Nancy, thanks for hosting. 🙂 Morgan is a real chocolate box cat; she’s just so pretty with her long anemone whiskers and boxing glove paws. 🙂
abrianna
Your fluffy paper bag kitty is so sweet.
I have seen those ducks before, Now I know their name.
Virgina Creeper is gorgeous. I would love to have some here, but it is probably too hot for it to survive here.
Veronica
Hi Abrianna, Thank you so much. I wonder if it’s too hot where you are for Virginia creeper. It seems to be a Florida native so you might be fine…unless you live in Arizona or some other desert place. 🙂
Rose
I do not know where to begin…first, that shot in that booth is soooo appealing. I love the virginia creeper shot…and so true about a paper bag. Specially for some cats. I happen to currently have the most curious cats I have ever in my life seen….oh, and I tell everyone that I think likes cats to google the term ‘Simon’s cat’ and then click the button for youtube…if you have not seen them, you will enjoy them. Or at least I am almost sure you will. Cat Man Do is one of our cats to a ‘t’…if I didn’t know better, I would think most of the videos were about our cats.
Veronica
So checking that video out now Rose 🙂 Thank you.
vastlycurious.com
Just love the brilliant red creepers !
Veronica
Me too! Can’t wait till mine here in Van turns. The one we planted in our garden in E is in its first season but R says it’s getting beautifully red. 🙂
vastlycurious.com
That photo is still stuck in my brain! : )
Veronica
It’s a good one! Those were handmade lanterns being ready for the Illuminati Festival In Vancouver. 🙂
Sharon
Oh, I love those bobbing birds. And you’re right — my cats love bags and boxes. They must think we bring these into our homes solely for their entertainment 🙂
Veronica
Lol, I believe that they do. 🙂 Bags and boxes. Morgan even has a thing for the reusable cloth bags.
Evalina
Veronica, you are getting some brownie points! I fell in love with you Virginia Creepers, did some research and discovered that it can grow on the north! Can you guess what I’ll be planting?
Veronica
Hey! That’s terrific. It’s a really beautiful plant, and, in the winter, you can take some of the vines and make a beautiful wreath. 🙂
nina bille (@ThoughtsImages)
Hi Veronica,
Having a cat must be so much fun! Those pictures are just adorable! The red fall leaves, and the birds in the lake … lovely sceneries of autum! Enjou the inside gardening – and take more snapshots of your sweet and curious cat 🙂
Nina
Veronica
Hi Nina, thank you so much. I’m sure that many more cat photos are coming. I don’t know how it happens but those two are always getting in front of my camera…lol.
dawnsrays
Your indoor plants are lovely and healthy. We don’t have a lot of direct sunlight pouring into our home so I have to cram all my indoor plants into one area of the house! it’s like a jungle come winter, lol
Finding hidden gems to dine at is the best!
I love to watch flocks of birds–its one of my favorite things.
My cats enjoy a box more than anything but a paper bag is always a second runner up.
Those trailing vines of leaves don’t even look real! that red is eye popping.
Gorgeous finds this week!
~Dawn
Veronica
Thank you so much Dawn. The plants look healthy right now because I just brought them in from the outside, (where I ignore them for 6 months). It’s a bit of a strongest survive rule here. 🙂
Roberta
We have two cats that love to burrow too. They are fun and entertaining to watch! Lovely photos!
Veronica
Do you Roberta? That must be fun. Do you also have to watch where you sit? Milo is terrible for masquerading as pillow. 🙂
sugandha
I love the pics of your cat with paper bag. Plus the part about discovering a good coffee
Veronica
She’s hilarious! I do have a secret though, I did sprinkle a little pinch of catnip in there. 🙂
Sara v
Ah, the wide-eyed catnip kitty–thought I recognized that look–love those red curtains and the ducks!! I want them all–they are so unreal, and beautiful–those kinds of ducks look like someone painted them using stencils–so cool
🙂
Veronica
Lol, catnip cats are so funny. 🙂 Actually, I have a collection of antique duck decoys and they do look painted. I never realised that. 🙂