Valentine Decorations

I did put out a few items to celebrate Valentine's Day.

I got these three tin buckets as a gift.  I wish I'd taken a photo of the lovely yellow and red tulip bouquet. 

I have some fabric hearts.

Glass hearts and tins.

More fabric hearts. 

Here's the display with a couple of Emma Bridgewater heart items on the far right.

What are these three looking at?

Besides me!

They're looking at these three deer.

Yep we had six of them strolling around.

Blast From the Past

Design - "Twin Hearts"

Designer - Brightneedle

Fabric - 28 count Cream Cashel linen

Fibers - Anchor - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 18 February 2011

Completed - 14 March 2011

Pink, yellow, copper and chartreuse. Not colors I'd chose, but love how they look together.

One of my neighbors says she has Hairy Woodpeckers at her feeders.  Perhaps that is why I don't!  They are happy elsewhere and only come by to tap on a tree.

Thankfully the Flickers seem to find a welcome at my feeders. 

This group shot of the Acorn Woodpeckers amuses me.

Doesn't it look as though they are having a family confab of some sort? 

Junior, Mom, Dad, and Little Sister. 

This sideways branch is a favorite perch.

And apparently the birds have much to discuss with one another.

A male  

A female

Two females

Peanuts for all!

Fortunately they don't fight with one another.

I wonder how many peanut feeders I'd need to make them happy.

One More Valentine

Here's my latest start - "For Keeps" by The Trilogy.

And here's some photos of my Winter Reliable Regulars

A Towhee - I have anywhere from 5 to 8 waiting in the morning.

The Towhees are outnumbered by the Golden-crowned Sparrows. There are groups of 10-15 each morning.  

I sometimes see a House Finch or two eating with the Pine Siskins.

I thought the Pine Siskins were on the move, but no, there are still a few at the feeders each day.  I sometimes see a larger group in flight, but 7 or 8 birds is now the most at the feeders, and more often there are only one or two.

The Band-tailed Pigeons now number three - so far they've not come to the feeders which is great as they are uber-hogs! 

Wednesday Reflection

Design - "This is the Day"

Designer - La-D-Da

Fabric - 36 count Heritage Linen by Picture This Plus

Fibers - NPS - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 9 October 2009

Completed - 31 October 2009

My favorite of the Pslams - 118:24 and a good way to begin each day.

Many of my February mornings have begun with a group of geese flying overhead. 

The Black-capped Chickadees are early morning birds.

A peanut or two for a quick burst of energy!

No different than a powerbar for breakfast, right?

The temperature dropped 27F and the Chickadees put on their down coats. 

The Scrub Jays maintain that they are as comical and entertaining as the Steller's Jays and Acorn Woodpeckers.  What do you think?

And Here's Another One!

Design - "Be Mine"

Chart - "Valentines"

Designer - Brightneedle

Fabric - 30 count R & R Iced Cappuccino

Fibers - WDW & Anchor - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 22 February 2015

Completed - 23 February 2015

I had a small bit of 30 count Ice Cappuccino linen left, so I thought I'd use it to stitch "Be Mine".

It's Tuesday and the sun is shining.  It must be time for the Tuesday Garden Party.

I think the daffodils are at least three weeks ahead of a 'normal' year.

We had the perfect weather on Saturday for an outdoor project.  

My sister and I have been unhappy with part of the front flowerbed.  So we dug up most of the plants.   

We amended the soil and brought up the level and then replanted.

The witch hazel is now in the back with some tall Japanese iris.

The middle row has perennial fuchsias, a fern, and more iris.

The front has spring bulbs ad primroses.  

I think it looks much better!  

In the same front flowerbed further to the east, the hellebores reign supreme.

Again I think they are blooming far earlier this year.

Their nodding heads can make it difficult to see the pretty blossoms.

Besides working in the front flowerbed, I swept the front porch and brought over all my pots of spring bulbs. 

I have a mix of tulips, daffodils, and muscari.

If you look off to the left you can see the next Big Project!

Weeding the western end of the flowerbed - so many weeds it looks almost like a lawn!

Back to the bulbs.

The little pansies and violas have doubled in size. I think in a few more weeks I'll have lots of color from them as well.

Here's a new primrose - a recent purchase from Xera.

I'll leave you with an exuberant display of daffodils!

February Stitching and Birding

Design - "Be My Valentine"

Chart - "Valentines"

Designer - BrightNeedle

Fabric - 30 count R & R Iced Cappuccino

Fibers - WDW & Anchor - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 17 February 2015

Completed - 22 February 2015

While it took me several days to stitch this, it honestly would work up quickly in a couple of evenings.  I am now working on "Be Mine" another design from this chart. 

From the photos I post, you can be forgiven for thinking that the front feeders belong exclusively to the Acorn Woodpeckers. In fact the Jays, Juncos, Starlings, and Chickadees are all regulars there.

The Steller's Jays can be somewhat comical looking.

I often have four or more birds squabbling and squawking.

The Black-capped Chickadees come in for the hulled sunflower seeds, but also snatch peanuts. 

They take a peanut half to the small Maple tree. They wedge the nut in the crotch of two small branches and then peck away at the peanut and consume it. Pretty smart! 

I think this guy has some peanut crumbs on his bill.

Look at his left foot. It is tightly grasping a peanut. 

Yummy!