Happy Easter

Happy Easter

Easter 1962

My, but was I ever the well-dressed little girl!

New coat, new dress, and new purse. 

Easter Ideas

Cut flowers...

Easter Baskets

Lilies

Traditional Easter Lilies

Ducklings and Bunnies

Peeps - nifty colors too!

My personal favorite!

And for dessert...

Easter Egg Cake

Mini Cakes

Cupcakes

And yet more cupcakes.

As Easter Approaches

Design - "Tiny Chick"

Chart -"Soft Boiled" #272

Designer - The Cricket Collection

Fabric - 30 count unknown yellow linen

Fibers - DMC 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - March 2013

Completed - 26 March 2013

I now find that I stitched three of these chicks a few years ago...

Design - "Which Came First?" - freebie

Designer - The Cricket Collection

Fabric - Antique lavender linen

Started - 16 March 2009

Completed - 22 March 2009

This design was a older freebie from the Cricket Collection.  I decided to stitch it three times - in a row - to make three "egg chicks".  Generally I have no confidence in my choices of linen or fibers, but this time I actually went out on a limb.  I chose the linen and the spring-time DMC colors to stitch.  To tie it together I used the three primary colors in each of the three eggs chicks as accents colors in a 2nd egg.  Thus the chick on the left is green with lavender accents, the middle chick is blue with green accents, and the far right chick is lavender with blue accents.

I am still awaiting the return of the Goldfinches.  In the meantime, a couple of small Pine Siskins are coming to my feeders.

Speaking of "feeders"!

I set out peanuts as well as sunflower seeds... 

It would appear that sunflower seeds win over peanuts.

 I noticed this guy has a small notch out of his right ear.

And he has an extreme case of Chipmunk Cheeks!

The Return of the Swallows and Daffodils

Well, I've kitted up Cottage Garden Sampling's "March's Daffodil" and have begun to stitch it.  This design has the most complex border yet.  Good fun! 

We've had some gray, drizzly days of late.  Days like this are made for Cat Nap Afternoons.

One of my favorite signs of Spring is the return of the Violet-green Swallows.  They are amazing fliers.  Their Summer breeding ground stretches along the west coast from Alaska to northern Mexico.  In mid-October they migrate south to Mexico and Central America.  Think of the stories these small birds could tell. 

Our Violet-green Swallows return in mid-March.  Though they will not nest for several weeks yet, they do check out the local real estate. 

And they are already "paired up" when they arrive.

They never, ever land on the ground, or the bird feeders.  They do, however, like to perch along the eaves of the roof. 

There they groom and watch out over their intended home.

Thus far I've seen six or eight of the birds intermittently.

Later in the Spring they will begin nest building in the many bird houses we have hanging around the house and shop.  

For now though, they are "Just Looking".

Hippitty Hop and So We Walk

Design - "Hippitty Hop"

Chart - "Little Cuties" Volume 1 

Designer - Val's Stuff

Fabric - 30 count unknown blue linen

Fibers - DMC, GAST & WDW -2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 20 March 2013

Completed - 22 March 2013

Isn't that fat, little chick button just the cutest thing?

We had a bit of rain in the last 24 hours, but it has ended now.  There's no reason that we can't go outside and have a look about...

This lichen is dotted with rain drops.

Look at the swollen buds on the Big Leaf Maple!

More raindrops...

Last week I teased that the blooms of the Grand Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum grande) would provide visual proof of why it is a member of the Forget-me-not family. Here's the proof!  

An early bloom on one of the many wild Strawberries.

This is a patch of Clover worthy of St. Patrick's Day!

The small Western Trilliums (Trillium Ovatum) are beginning to bloom.

A waterfall of Indian Plum / Osoberry (Oemleria cerasiformis).  Oh but they are a lovely sight, lighting up the forest on a gray day.

The willow catkins are a lovely shade of green - Scuppernog maybe? 

The Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium) is budded up.

This plant has Oregon school colors.  Is it shouting out "Go Ducks!" for the Sweet 16 Oregon / Louisville basketball game tomorrow?

There's the status of the Pacific Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa).  If it never bloomed, it would still be worthy of note - the serrated leaves are so pretty.

Large False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum racemosum).  It will sport a pretty spray of blossoms at the end of the stalk.

Speaking of pretty white blossoms...

There are two kinds of small wilding trees blooming now.

One is leafing out and has tan / brown bark...

...the other has reddish bark and no leaves as of yet.

Look at these bright green leaves on the Pacific Ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus).  It took me a while to figure this one out. I suffer from Season Indentification Disorder - I can recognize a plant or shrub in the Summer, but not in the Winter or early Spring!

I hadn't expect to see the Corn Lilies (Veratrum californicum) already.  They grow in the deep, boggy shade and really light up the dark, wet areas.  

We have two of three kinds of wild Lupine.  The leaves are easily recognizable. 

Patience! 

While the leaves of the Lamb's Tongue / Oregon Fawn Lilies (Erythronium oregonum) are just emerging, it will be a few weeks yet before they begin to bloom (if the deer don't eat them first).

Lots of signs of Spring out there by the end of March.  I hope you enjoyed today's walk.