New Stitching Charts

I've been pretty good about not buying anything for the past several months, so I broke down and got six charts that called to me. Now I need to see if I have the necessary fabric.

The fog disappeared and lots of Lesser Goldfinches were on hand to greet the blue sky day.

Unlike American Goldfinches, the Lesser retain their bright colors all year long.

This year I have an unusually large number of the birds.

They literally brighten my day as do the many kind comments you readers leave on my blog. 

Up High

On Sunday my sister and a friend climb up out of the fog to the summit of Spencer's Butte (2058').

While the Willamette Valley was socked in, several of the Cascade mountains shown white and bright.  

This is Mount Jefferson.

It's 10,463' tall and about 77 miles NE of Eugene, Oregon.

Here are the Three Sisters - The North Sister (10,090'), Middle Sister (10,052), and South Sister (10,363').  They're about 65 miles to the east.  The Sisters' Wilderness Areas has become so crowded that beginning in 2020, they'll restrict the number of hikers per day.   

Closer to home Mt Pisgah (1060') poked up out of the fog...

...as did the television towers atop Blanton Heights (1360').

Off toward the west the Coast Range was fog-free.

The Willamette Valley thought remained foggy all day.

Better Late Than...

Design - "Flip-it January"

Designer - Lizzie Kate

Fabric - 28 count Country French Cafe Mocha linen

Fibers - GAST - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 8 January 2012

Completed - 11 January 2012

What a fun little piece.  I'm especially pleased with it as it has my three favorite Winter motifs: a cardinal, a mitten, and a snowman.

One of the reasons, I'm later posting this month is that I don't have anything "special" to share. 

In past years I've had a Yellow-rumped Warbler active in January.

Bits of yellow on the throat and under the wings...

And on the tail, hence the nickname of "butter butt!" 

Reporting In

This snowman's assembly is taking forever! 

I'm in a stitching funk, but I got a boost on Sunday when a Follower stopped by WBU and introduced herself.  She told me she's been following my blog for years and reads it every morning. Wow!  Out of the blue and so uplifting!  Thanks for taking the time to stop by and 'recharge' my batteries.

Hope these photos bring a smile to your face.

With mild winter weather, the chippies are out and about. 

Hoovering up sunflower seeds.

The result is Chipmunk Cheeks!

Such tiny, delicate paws.

They certainly make me smile.  

Sunday is Here

All my photos this week are of...

...an adult male Anna's.

He holds sway at the feeder...

...or watches nearby to make sure no one else partakes.

There's a hummingbird nest in southern California that is live now.

The female laid two eggs and they hatched about 8 day ago.

Take a look!

Basic Brown Bunny

Now most mornings...

...there's a bunny waiting for breakfast.

It sticks very close to the under brush. 

But is not scared of me.

One morning I had two bunnies.

The quail crowd around...

...but the bunny stand firm.

There is food for all.

Cross Stitch Archive

Design - "TaDa Snow Guy"

Designer - Amy Bruecken Designs

Fabric - 28 count WDW Peoria Purple

Fibers - WDW, GAST, Crescent Colors

Started - 24 January 2011

Completed - 31 January 2011

There is snow in Maine and New York and Ontario, Canada. But in western Oregon we are mild and I think we are not going to see any snow on the valley floor this winter.

A Gray Dayy

Design - "Snowman Two" - Be Jolly

Chart - Snowman Trilogy

Designer - Val's Stitchin Stuff

Fabric - 28 count Flax linen

Fibers - Crescent Colors and Wildflowers

Started - 17 January 2011

Completed - 22 January 2011

Gray days and low light...

Red-tailed Hawk

Northern Flicker

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Towhee

Wednesday's Wandering

We're wandering by a flock of Cackling Geese today. 

There was a pretty good sized group in this field.

They are smaller than Canada Geese with shorter necks.

They also sound different than Canada Geese.

Most of the birds were contentedly eating.

A few were watching...

...me.

When I got too close, they turned and walked away.