Thursday, June 26, 2014

Summer Solstice Stitch

 

Design - "Litha: Summer Solstice" (freebie)
Designer - The Primitive Hare
Fabric - 25 count Vintage Country Mocha Lugana
Fibers - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads
Started - 22 June 2014
Completed - 23 June 2014

Isn't that just the greatest bee stitch ever? True height of summer warm colors and an interesting design.  If you want to stitch it, here's the link. I've now stitched all three of 2014 freebie designs.  They make a charming series.

We've nice weather once again and lots of birds out and about.

"What's up?," says the Rufous Hummingbird. 

"Up? Well we are certainly up high," say my father and son Acorn Woodpeckers.

Father Acorn is territorial and runs off my Red-breasted Sapsuckers.  I cannot figure out why as they do not compete for food.  The Acorns obviously harvest acorns as well as eat at my suet and peanut feeders.  The Sapsuckers drill wells in live trees for sap.  The two birds are both cavity-nesters, but the Acorns are well established in that area and truly have more competition from the aggressive Starlings than anyone else.

Nonetheless, the Acorn chased off this pretty Sapsucker.

Speaking of pretty birds, I have another, new blurry photo of my Wilson's Warbler to share.  I heard him when I took my Wednesday walk, and the good news is that while I saw one bird, I heard two warblers!

I don't know how many male Flickers I have, but I see them everywhere.
On the ground...

...on the roof...

...and at the peanut feeder.
See the pretty orange shafted tail feathers?

This photo shows all the many different feather patterns.
The back stripes with orange edge, the white rump feathers, the zebra tail feathers, the black top / orange bottom tail feathers, and the polka-dot belly feathers.

Here's another couple with pretty feather patterns.
Mr. and Mrs. Quail.

Stretch

Scratch

Puff and Shake!

These newlyweds are still childless. I've had a couple more very brief sightings of quail babies.  So quick and unexpected that I do not as yet have photos to share.  I hope to 'capture' a chick or two in the next few days.

We have our sign up warning folks to be on the look-out! 

One year ago today Mom and I took a ride on the London Eye and I blogged about our visit to Rye the previous day.

10 comments:

Melissa said...

This bee stitch is wonderful. I have saved the freebie to stitch another day.

I love seeing quail families. They are so adorable but it is true that it's hard to see them. I'm glad you put up a sign on the road.

Barb said...

The wip is cute. Great job so far.

Catherine said...

Such a great stitch! Love the sign to help the quail!

Margaret said...

Great bird pics as always. Love the baby quail sign. And I love your new stitch! How come I haven't seen this one before? I love it!

Barb said...

That Warbler is so pretty. Your new stitch is great. It does speak of summer.

Cindy's Stitching said...

Love the bee stitches. You really get some nice bird pictures.

Wanda said...

Hi Beth, Your bee stitches are lovely! I've saved today's freebie as well.
What magnificent pictures! The rufous hummingbird is gorgeous; the flickers are stunning and the quail are absolutely beautiful! I hope one day I get to see a sapsucker. The Wilson's warbler is so cute.

Green Bean said...

You are so lucky that you have quail! We are in Northern California but an urban area and don't have those any more. :( I go visit my parents in Napa Valley and they had a full bunch of baby quail - but the neighbors cat picked off the babies one by one!

I love all the photos - especially the warbler. That's how I feel when I get a rare visitor. Hurry, grab the camera, zoom in, get the best shot you can but mine are usually blurry and then the bird is gone! Great blog!

Maggee said...

Great finish! Love your sign for the protection of the baby quail! It truly IS amazing how many different feathers the flickers have--wow!

Melanie said...

Very cute finish! And thank you for the link. :)
I'm still struggling to finish the same PS freebie I've been working on for like 2 months now. Just been doing too much knitting to fit in a lot of stitching.