Friday, January 8, 2016

Further Woodpeckers and A Friday Framed Finish

Design - "September's Morning Glory"
Designer - Cottage Garden Samplings
Fabric - 32 count French Lace linen
Fibers - WDW, GAST, & DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads
Started - 10 August 2014
Completed - 31 August 2014

Framed - October 2015

My sister always grows morning glories which do come into their own in September, so this is a nice reminder of that time of transition. 

For the last two years I had a special bird show up on Christmas Day.
On December 25, 2014 I had a male Hairy Woodpecker come by for the first time in a couple of years.  On Christmas Day 2015 we watched this small male Downy Woodpecker while eating dinner.

Once again the Christmas bird was one I'd not had at the feeders in a couple of years.

I am hoping that he might drop by more frequently now that he has found the feeders.

The problem is that he is by far the smallest of the woodpeckers, and everyone else, including the Starlings can push him around. 

Still, I am hopeful. I've seen him a couple of more times since Christmas. 

The last four or five days this male Red-breasted Sapsucker has been hard at work on a tree by my Big Bird Feeder.

I picked a gnarly thickly barked second growth Douglas fir to work on.

The challenge does not seem to bother him the least.

He has been drilling away for hours at a time.

Here he is by one of his fresh holes.
Did you know that Anna's Hummingbirds drink from Sapsucker wells?

He does not talk much, just works away.

And is pretty tolerant of me!

13 comments:

cucki said...

Such a beautiful stitch..I love it..
And all your pictures are so cute xx

Sarah Poulsen said...

Love the sentiment of the stitchery and the picture of the sapsucker when he's all puffed out is my favorite!

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

Hi Beth,
love that morning glory cross stitch. I love growing a wall of morning glories in our back yard and how can you not love a flower with that name! Loved your woodpecker photos; I get the hairy and downy at my feeders as well. Don't get the seersucker here but what a treat to see him. We have the pileated woodpecker here and I was so lucky to grab a photo of him for a post recently. He is so large it is kind of thrilling to watch him. Happy stitching and snapping!

blue star stitcher said...

I grew morning glories one spring here, but they didn't survive our summer heat. I loved seeing the blooms in our garden though.

Amy said...

Gorgeous finish. My mom's morning glories and moonflowers suddenly started taking over her back porch in September. It was striking!

We get Hairy Woodpeckers around here, mostly in the spring, I think. And another one - the one that shows a flash of yellow when it flies? I see them of and on all year, it seems like.

Margaret said...

Love the framed finish! That sapsucker is a gorgeous dude. What's the advantage of having a red head?

Wanda said...

I still love that cross stitch series...will get to it oneday! We get the Downy woodpeckers daily throughout the summer and fall - they are adorable. The sapsucker is such a beautiful bird. You get such amazing pictures Beth.

Brigitte said...

A lovely piece that you framed. And a very interesting bird with his fire-red head.

Le trame della Galaverna said...

Wow I adore your stitching work
Colors are so beautiful

Carol said...

That is such a lovely framed finish, Beth--and so perfect for you! Great shots of the woodpeckers--I think I spotted a downy woodpecker out at our feeder just the other day :)

Anna van Schurman said...

I love the colors of the morning glories on that piece. Lovely framing choice!

Barb said...

That sapsucker is a beautiful bird. I love the framed piece and the words on the design. In fact, I love that whole series.

Maggee said...

As I read your post, I have seen two male Downy's, with a Pine Warbler... then they all left and now there is a female Downy eating... as it flurries here!! Since the weather is changing, there has been a LOT of birdie activity today! Wait--a Red-bellied just joined her! Yay! Great shots of the Sapsucker... quite different from the Yellow ones I have seen! I love the Morning Glories in your framed piece! Hugs!