As February Comes to a Close

I watched TV - "The Academy Awards" and stitched away last night!

It was a nice evening.  I'm famous for watching only one movie or so a year, this year the movie happened to be "The King's Speech", so I rooted for Colin Firth. I stitched away until the program awarded the top three Oscars and that took my full attention.

As the Oscars came to a close, a storm began to move in.  Lots and lots of wind - gusting to 40 mph.  Now the rain has come and it is a quintessential Oregon day.  Gray, with lashes of rain - pounding on the roof and hitting the windows - strangely I find it comforting - cocooning weather!  It does not appear to bother the critters - I counted several Quail and three Gray

Squirrels.  

Sometimes the feeders are even more active than usual during inclement weather.

At least there is enough for everyone!  

A,B,C,D, and E

I was able to work on "Twin Hearts" a bit.  I very much am enjoying stitching this piece.  I think it will be a stunner when it is done. 

Yesterday morning was a cold one after all - 17F as the low.

So everyone was glad to see me - and the food - I figured they all needed fuel to keep their body temperatures up.

The Quail appeared pleased.

And the Steller's too!

It's Still February, Right?

What's up next? 

Well, it is still February and another heart called out my name. 

Batter up - "Wee Valentine" is at the plate!

After taking a short snow break yesterday, I thought I'd return to NW Garden Nursery - this time the trees are the stars.

Isn't this a wonderful bit of sculpture - I love the pruners in his pocket.

This Filbert was dripping with catkins.

This chartreuse pine glowed on a gray day.

This "ball" looks as thought it has hopped out into the middle of a path, "Please play with me!" 

A mature specimen tree - great structure in the garden.

Well I need to get outside and feed the birds - last night the low was to have been around 14F - extremely cold - the poor feather guys - and the bunnies and squirrels all need protein - I think today calls for some peanuts as a special treat!  

Snow Interruption

Design - "Tis Better to Give Than Receive"

Designer - La-D-Da

FAbric - 32 count R & R Foglifter

Fibers - WDW & GAST - two threads over two strands

Started - February 2011

Completed - 24 February 2011 

As this is our first snowfall of the winter, it does merit documenting!

Snowfall in the early morning...

Not everyone is thrilled with the turn of events.

Finches and Juncos in the thicket.

I love the delicate silhouette of the Cottonwood amongst the Douglas Fir.

A Junco

Further snow

A Blue Jay

Something for Everyone!

I titled this post "Something for Everyone" so I'm rambling a bit about cross stitch, plants, and THE WEATHER!

First up cross stitch: I was able to work on La-D-Da's "'Tis Better..." last night and I think I will finish it up today.  A very sweet stitch - lovely rich colors on a subtle gray linen.

Next up: THE WEATHER!

We are wimps here in western Oregon and school has been cancelled for a skiff of snow on the ground.  I thought all you northern tier folk would be most amused!

And now continuing my NW Garden Nursery tour...

Even the door on the house was cool and arty!

This blooming scrub was lovely.

I liked how the structure of plants was echoed 

with the garden hard-scape!

I am fond of silvery plants...

and shocking chartreuse plants too.

I loved this birdbath too!

Continuing Our Tour...

I managed to carve out a little time to work on Brightneedle's "Twin Hearts Sampler".  This has a most interesting color pallet - using copper and bronze and other "unvalentine" colors for the hearts - quite extraordinary really.

Keeping with the theme of Outdoor Wednesday, I'm going to share more photos from my visit to NW Garden Nursery.  The nursery is a few miles southwest of Eugene, Oregon - they have a great website and more information can be found there.  

The Aconites were blooming...

As were the Snowdrops...

Even the Trilliums had begun to unfurl their leaves!

I love the look of plants "erupting" from the earth.

And oh, the Cyclamen - several different varieties.

Not sure what this is, but it certainly is blasting out of the earth!  

Ernie and Marietta's garden had at least three kinds of Iris Reticulata.

See, I'm a sucker for Cyclamen! 

More Iris...

And a final Cyclamen - note this one has pale silver unmottled leaves.

Tomorrow I'll post pictures of some of the "structural" trees and shrubs in the garden.

A New Stitch - A Nursery Visit

I decided to take a "Heart-Break" (ha-ha!) and I've kitted up La-D-Da's "It's Better to Give Than Receive".  The linen is called Fog lifter - fitting for this time of year though Monday was a wonderfully beautiful day.  The two outdoor cats and I enjoyed the afternoon sunshine - we all got some Vitamin D basking on the back patio!

Monday's weather contrasted sharply with Saturday morning when my Mom, my Sister, and I drove out to NW Garden Nursery for their Hellebore sale.  It was a cold grey morning with a bitter wind. 

But the weather could not take away from the glorious plants!

Marietta and Ernie O'Byrne are amazing hybridizers and plants-people.

This is the perfect time of year to stop dreaming and begin planning this year's garden!

As a special treat they have a wonderful garden - open to the public when their nursery is open.

So on a cold, grey day we were able to walk around and enjoy the many jewel-toned hellebores... 

You can see why it is hard to pick just one plant!

There were other early spring bulbs in force like the snowdrops.

But the hellebores were the stars of the show!

We bought five!

Check out The Tuesday Garden Party at an Oregon Cottage.

Jami is celebrating her blog anniversary with a wonderful giveaway!

Stack of Hearts and Synchronized Squirrels

Design - "Stack of Hearts" (kit)

Designer - Heart in Hand

Fabric - 32 count Natural Belfast linen

Floss - WDW & GAST

Started - 19 February 2011

Completed - 19 February 2011 

A perfect one-day stitch-on-go project.


And now, a new Winter Olympic Sport!
It's very cost effective - a woodpile and a few sunflower seeds.
I bring you Synchronized Squirrels!

Dip and Grab...

Bring the seed to mouth...

Eat!