October Stitch October Flowers

Design - "Tabby Cat"

Designer - Homespun Elegance

Fabric - 28 count Sand Castle Jobelan

Fibers -  DMC 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 13 September 2014

Completed - 27 September 2014

For the Tuesday Garden Party even my latest stitching features some plants! 

The recent rain has meant that I can wait a bit before watering the flowerbeds.  

The plants seem renewed and invigorated by the rain water.

The nasturtium leaves collected drops of rain.

And the deer trimmed the plants to expose the flowers. 

I still need to water the Front Porch Plants. 

This fuchsia is loaded with blossoms and is a hummingbird magnet. 

Amazingly the foxgloves are still in bloom.

My violas are happy with the cooler temperatures.

They're big enough now I should move them to larger pots.

I have three clumps of Rudbeckia and though the deer and have pruned them hard two or three times, the plants have responded by branching out and rewarding me with tons of long-lasting flowers.

Grey Tabby and Grey Morning

Design - "Primitive Cat"

Chart - "Barn Cats"

Designer - The Prairie Schooler

Fabric - 28 count natural Norden linen

Fibers - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - September 2014

Completed 28 September 2014

I made a few changes as I stitched. I changed the color of the mouse from rust to light grey.  I added whiskers.  And I tweaked the pattern on the rug so that it filled the entire background in an even fashion.

We continue to have geese flying overhead in the early morning.

This group was rather disorganized and became an "I" rather than a "V".

But as it was a cold foggy morning, who can blame them for formation issues.

I can state with conviction that the Acorn Woodpeckers are totally at ease with my new feeder system. 

They work at the feeders on and off all day long.

Here's a female.

Originally I just had one peanut feeder.

Now that I have two peanut feeders I am wondering if I'll ever get more than two birds at a time.

The Scrub Jays and Steller's Jays have also given the feeder system their approval.

Meet and Greet

Parvati and the deer have a "Meet and Greet" several times a week now.

She talks to them, "Mmurr" she goes.

And a deer comes over to visit.

And Parvati decides it is too close for comfort.

We planted a small tree near this stump and cleared the area around the stump of rocks and debris. 

The deer notice the smallest of changes.

The fawns decided to play King of the Stump.  

I expect the bunnies have checked out the new tree too.

Tom-Cat has taken a renewed interest in the chipmunks.

As you can see they are not at all pleased to have him skulking about the woodpile. 

I stood guard while this chipmunk sounded the alarm.

Hummingbird Saturday - The Annas

On a rainy day this Anna took shelter under the Front Porch.

She was able to stand guard over her feeder and still stay dry. 

I continue to remind them that I do have three feeders - they could share!

But that does not seem to be their nature.

They must enjoy their battles and the flying acrobatics that take place.

I will leave the feeders up all fall and winter long as the Anna's are year around residents.

Friday Framed Finish

I absolutely had to get a couple of Cottage Garden Sampling's pretty monthly series framed.   

So here we go!

Designer - Cottage Garden Samplings

Design - "June's Honeysuckle"

Fabric - White Chocolate linen

Started - 17 September 2013

Finished - 5 January 2014

Framed - August 2014

A rather simple gold frame that picks up the colors in the bee skeps.

Speaking of color...

Before our rain Tuesday night and all day Wednesday, my sister went down to her garden and picked some dahlias.

Tom-Cat thought he was water-proof and spent much of Wednesday morning outside patrolling. I had to towel him off, but not before he shook like a dog!

After an ultra-dry summer it was nice to have grey skies and rain.

Droplets on the Acer.

And the Iris leaves.

And the Nasturtium.

Though I needed to put on a sweater, it was good to have some rain come our way.  

Not everyone agreed with me.

The cold and wet make it difficult for Turkey Vultures to fly.

Here's the second bouquet.

With over 1.5" of rain in 24 hours, it was timely that my sister 'saved' these blooms by picking them and bringing them inside.

Everyone admires a pretty bouquet!

Cats and Birds

 

 I am working away on a Prairie Schooler primitive cat.  I should have it done in the next day or two.

I decided to 'tidy up' the feeders at the front of the house. 

So I bought this pole system which supports four feeders plus an extra small 'bark butter' feeder. This is a good illustration of 'perfect placement' for a feeder.  It is placed close enough to the window so the birds will not fly into it.  The fountain has water to drink and bath. The plants in the back give shelter - a hiding place for ground feeders. The tree to the left provides protection and a place for waiting birds to perch.

I bought this pole system which supports four feeders plus an extra small 'bark butter' feeder.  I can change them around and bring others in as the seasons and eating habits of the birds change. This is the view from inside the house. While I can see these feeders sitting on the Front Porch, I probably watch them more often while inside the house.  

We had a small Sharp-shinned Hawk come by.

A very small hawk - see the Flicker to the right.

Same hawk with a Steller's Jay getting ready to run it off.

I know I said that I thought the Waxwings and mostly departed.

Turns out I was wrong and Tuesday they settled for a bit in the trees near the front of the house.

I was able to get quite close to the birds.

The light was not the best for photos.

I have to wonder how long they'll have their headquarters here. 

It's officially Autumn.

The first "V" of geese flew high overhead Tuesday morning heading south.