Deer Deer Monday

Design - "Uncle Sam"

Chart - "Seasonal Mementos III"

Designer - Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin

Fabric - 32 count Sandstone linen

Fibers - GAST & DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 24July 2014

Completed - 27 July 2014

I changed GAST "Mulberry" to "Cranberry" as I found the original color far too orange/brown for my tastes. 

On my walk earlier last week, I startled a group of five deer including a doe with twin fawns.

A curious young buck held ground for a moment to give me a once over.

Then he too dashed off.  When I headed up the driveway the doe and bedded down in a meadow with the twins and I startled them all over again. My sister said that young family was bedded down in our backyard Thursday night.

We have three young bucks at the moment. 

They are all in velvet.

The dandelions are very popular with the deer and the bunnies.

This doe seems to find something or someone amusing! 

Here's the third buck with just the littlest of nubbins!

After getting this post ready for publication Sunday afternoon, look who showed up Sunday evening!

Yep, the doe and the twins.

What's the one fawn looking at you ask?

Quail - very curious about the quail.

The twins are pretty good-sized. 

The spots have faded a bit, but they are still adorable.

Time for an afternoon nap!  Sounds like a good plan to me!

One year ago today Mom and I visited the Courtauld Gallery.

Neighborhood Growers' Market

Yesterday my sister and I finally got around to visiting the small Growers' Market that is at our grange about a mile from our house.  

Though small, it was well attended and we visited with several neighbors.

Pygmy goats - oh so cute.

I thought my sister might well leave with one!

There were 3 or 4 small vendors selling produce.

And some interesting artisans like this one who makes hummingbirds and dragonflies out of horse shoes.

I thought my sister should buy this apron.

It looks like her cat-crew modeled for the fabric.

And you know I checked out this booth very carefully!

Hope you are having a super weekend.

One year ago today Mom and I visited Oxford.

Hummingbird Saturday

July is a wonderful time for hummingbirds.

Lots to eat... 

Lots to fight over!

They are little birds with BIG personalities!

So many different looks too as they groom and chatter.

Fat and fluffy.

Slim and sleek.

Always ready to do battle.

Never truly at rest.

Continually looking...

...and looking some more.

This is about as close as two birds ever get.

Size comparison - Rufous Hummingbird and White-crowned Sparrow.

Two battling blurs of birds!

Watching atop the newly planted Japanese Maple.

The Oriental Lilies also make nice observation posts!

One year ago today Mom and I visited the ancestral home of the Churchill family - Blenheim! 

Friday Finish With a Flourish!

Design - "Liberty"
Chart - "Liberty Angel"
Designer - Heart in Hand
Fabric - 32 count Natural Light linen
Fibers - GAST - 2 strands over 2 threads
Started - 22 July 2014
Completed 23 July 2014

The Evening Grosbeaks continue to delight me!

Here's a fledgling peering down at a couple of guys...begging!

Success!

The first of the Goldfinch babies are just now showing up.

And the baby Scrub Jays squawk like nobody's business!

Thursday evening a tiny bright yellow bird came by.

My choices are Wilson's Warbler or Yellow Warbler.

I'm going with the new bird - a female Yellow Warbler.

We had dinner the other evening at a neighbor's.  They are higher up still (than we are) and have stunning views. 

My favorite vista includes the south side of Spencer's Butte.  

Their property is home to several mature Madrone.

Madrone love dry exposed hillsides.

I think their peeling orange-red bark is stunning.

Close look.

Closer still.

Isn't the Madrone perfectly sited to help frame the stunning view?

One year ago today Mom and I took the train north to Cheshire to attend the RHS Tatton Park Flower Show.