Saturday, April 30, 2016

The End of April

I was thrilled to see my first Western Pond Turtle the other day.

I've been stopping by the Quarry Pond every week or so, but no turtles until last week.

I am hoping there is more than one turtle.

In between showers, Parvati has been watching wildlife too.

She particularly enjoys watching bunnies...

...and gray squirrels.

But sometimes it is the simplest of things that will amuse her.

A poor stranded angle worm can do the trick.

After all, it wiggles!

Look at the mauled ears on this bunny.

I stand by my earlier statement, no bunny has 'whole' ears.

Every bunny has a notch or two in their ears.

Though..wait a minute.

You may be the exception to the rule.

I've had up to seven chipmunks greet me in the morning.

Four is the more usual number day in ad day out.

They eat standing up...

...or sitting down.

And some folks 'yell' at me to hurry up!

Friday, April 29, 2016

Two By Two

Design - "Birds" (Wee One)
Designer - Heart in Hand
Fabric - 32 count Summer Khaki linen
Fibers - GAST & WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads
Started - 11 May 2010
Completed - 12 May 2010

I've been working outside the past few days, so no new stitching to show off.
I thought I'd show off this stitch from 2010.

Ah, there's nothing like dozing in the early morning sunshine! 

It makes a nice change from always being on alert.

A male quail's work is never done.

Aren't they a cute couple?

On cooler mornings, the quail puff up to stay warm. 

Someone suggested I call them Rollie...

...and Pollie!


Thursday, April 28, 2016

Something for Everyone

Design - "Splish Splash!"
Designer - Sam Sarah Design Studios
Fabric - 32 count Ice Blue Belfast linen
Fibers - Crescent Colours - 2 strands over 2 threads
Started - 19 April 2016
Completed - 21 April 2016

I decided to have Bluebirds splashing away in my cross stitched birdbath.

On the birding front I've seen a Brown-headed Cowbird and a Brewer's Blackbird briefly in the backyard.  I was not able to get photos of either, but if you click on their names you can see what they look like.

I was really pleased to get a photo of my first female Rufous Hummingbird for the year.  Welcome back!  I'd begun to wonder if you were ever coming!  The males have been here for a month now.

I continue to see a male Lesser Goldfinch.

I am getting more and more American Goldfinches.  I counted 8 males and 4 females years day.

The Evening Grosbeaks are taking their own sweet time.

My largest flock at the feeders thus far has been 3 males and 2 females.

Here's a Year-Around Bird - a Black-capped Chickadee.

I finally got a photo that shows off just how pretty and blue the Tree Swallows are.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Wednesday Walk - Looking at Trees and Shrubs

We had well over 2" of rain this weekend, but now the skies of cleared.

Isn't the forest pretty.  I think rain freshens up everything. 

After a couple of rough years, I am pleased to see our Madrones (Arbutus menziesii) are blooming. They have wonderful red peeling bark so are interesting all year long.

Our native Pacific Dogwoods (Cornus nuttallii) are exploding with blooms this spring.

I cannot recall another year with so very many blossoms.

They are as floriferous as any hybrid. 

I love the red flowers of the Vine Maple (Acer circinatum).

The Ash trees are leafing out.

And the White Oaks are following along. 

This is the strong leader of a young Big Leaf Maple.  All that energy!

A Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum) unfurling...

This one is a bit further along.

Wonderful light capturing the Licorice Fern (Polypodium glycyrrhiza) high up in an Oak tree.  

I love old plants that have thrived for millions of years.
This is the Horsetail Scouring Rush (Equisetum hyemale).

And here are two other ancient plants. The brown ones are Common Horsetails (Equisetum arvense). The feathery green ones are Giant Horsetails (Equisetum telmatiea).  All three Horsetails thrive in damp areas.  I find them along side our largest creek. 

Come May the native Nootka Rose (Rosa Nutkana) will be in bloom.

We have lots of Western Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) blooming now.  Some people pronounce it as though it were spelled Sarviceberry.

I'm not sure what this is.  I'll have to go back and take another look.  Spring is advancing so quickly that next week we will have lots of new things to look at and admire.