Checking In

Look who's checking in this morning!

It's Johnson doing her Happy Otter impression!

Johnson and Charlie have settled into their new living situation with cat-like ease.  They have an array of M*S catnip mice, a new cat- carrier, and have claimed the master room bed as their own.  I don't think they could be happier! 

My Cat Crew is happy to report that the chipmunks have returned!

Chipmunk TV is one of their favorite channels.

I keep a look out for the elusive Gray Jays.

So far just Scrubs and Steller's.  

My California Quail enjoyed a spot of sunshine yesterday. 

They are smart birds - always on the lookout for hawks and other predators.

I was surprised to see my Bushtits in the backyard yesterday.

I think they might have come to the feeders there, but I startled them.

As I am typing away this morning, I am listening to the Flickers' Spring Serenade!  One of them is pounding away on the roof above my head. Ah, spring!

Still have lots of Juncos at the feeders.  Two days ago a hawk swooped in and snatched at one.  I couldn't tell if it was successful or not, but I can tell you it was so FAST!

I know Red-winged Blackbirds are considered to be rather common, mundane birds.  But I don't see them very often on our property. 

Yesterday a pair of young males came to have a meal at the suet feeder.

They hung around for about 30 minutes.

You can see the very beginnings of a Red Wing developing on this fellow.

Such a pretty melodic song the birds sing.

Are you ready for the weekend?  I am!

What To Do?

 

I still haven't come up with a stitching theme for March.

I am going to the month to catch up and finish some of my larger stitches

Then, I'm thinking maybe Spring Flowers? 

Hey, I DID IT!

Kinda' anyway.

I think I got some reasonable shots of my resident Bushtits.

They came by as I was filling up the front feeders in the late afternoon. 

They don't seem bothered by my presence.

  

I admire their ability to grasp hold sideways or upside down.

There were somewhere between 9 and 11 birds.

Tiny fat bodies with a really long tail feathers.

I think this might be the best photo thus far.

It Was Sunny Now It Is Raining

I've had "Whimsical Heart" by Ewe & Eye & Friends on the back burner for a while.  I picked it up yesterday and worked on it; stitching the heart and the leaves.  I am going to stitch all the flowers then lastly the 'holes' in the heart.  I asked for other color options than the suggested DMC 310.  I will review them when all else has been stitched so I can best see how they might 'play' with the other colors.  Thanks much to everyone who took the time to offer suggestions.

Tuesday was a truly lovely 'out of season' day.

I watched a couple of skeins of geese as they honked their way north.

I think the birds celebrated the lovely day in their own fashion.

Some took the time to stretch their wings and bag a few rays!

Really a bird that only a mother could love!

Did you know that a Turkey Vulture can turn its head 180 degrees?

The Acorn Woodpeckers used the nice day to work on their granary tree.   

I think my newest bird feeder is a small success.

The small birds - juncos, chickadees, and finches all seem to like it.

Finally, more Mourning Doves!  I had a pair at the feeders and while there, they were busy talking to others (who I could not see) that responded in kind.

Nobody, but nobody enjoys a sunny day like a cat!

Hmmmm...what's got the two tigers' attention?

(Clue: look to the right of the photo at the edge of the grass.)

Really, really got their attention?

A bunny!

(I made sure no lives were lost!)

It began raining late Tuesday evening, so the Great Orange Hunters have retreated inside for a couple of days.

Spring is Busting Out All Over

Design - "Follow Your Heart"

Designer - Ewe & Eye & Friends

Fabric - 36 count Summer Khaki Edinborough linen

Fibers - GAST & WDW - 1 strand over 2 threads

Started - 23 February 2014

Completed - 28 February 2014 

The heart was charted with black 'speckles' - I changed them to WDW's "Bordeaux'.

Song Sparrow

It's a day worth singing about!  It's 66f so there's no need for anything more than the lightest of sweaters.  Let's take a walk.

I found a new Pussy Willow!

This shrub is leafing out.

The Big Creek is roaring along.

And look at the change in the Osoberries (Indian Plums) in just one week's time!

They've leafed out and begun to bloom!  As I said they are the first native shrub to flower in the spring. 

I've been hearing a chorus of frogs the last few days, so I walked over to the Quarry Pond to take a look.  While the frogs all hopped into the water before I could take a picture, the Tadpoles didn't seem to mind being photographed.  I think all of these are invasive Bullfrogs rather than any of our native frogs.

And look who is back after a winter's rest!  The turtles were soaking up the sun.

Many of the bog plants are shooting up.

Camas (Camassia quamash) and...

...the vibrantly green poisonous Corn Lily (Veratrum viride).

One week later I was able top figure out last week's 'Mystery Plant'.

It was a Small Flowered Trillium (Trillium parviflorum).  There are dozens of them scattered in the shade of the forest floor.

Many of the Trilliums are scattered along the banks of our portion of the Big Creek. They like shade and moisture.

So does Licorice ferns. You can see the cinnamon colored dots that are the spores of the plant.

The first mottled leaves of the Oregon Fawn Lily (Erythronium oregonum) are up.  My family has always called them Lamb's Tongues.

The Grand Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum grande) is growing apace!

So here's a new "Mystery Flower'.  What a tiny sweet little thing. 

We'll end the walk with a sweet smelling surprise!

A wild violet!

Looking at my blog posts from 2013, the spring flowers are about two week's earlier this year than they were last year!