Get Back on Track

I need to get back on track and get stitching again.  Last year in my "Optimistic Stitching Plans for 2019" I could see myself stitching one of these birds every month - or at least one every couple of months. Now i'm approaching the 6th month of the year without even one finish in this series.

Back to the backyard birds...

The Starling are beyond annoying so I've changed up how I'm presenting suet.

I want the little Downy Woodpeckers to be happy.

I brought out an upside down suet feeder.

I've only had one Starling figure it out, but both the Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers are okay with it.

I've also left up one 'regular' suet feeder for the Flickers and Acorn Woodpeckers - though this shows a Downy using it. 

Hairy on the left - Downy on the right.

This is the most disheveled and dirty woodpecker I've ever seen.  I don't know why the female Hairy Woodpecker's feathers are dingy and messed up. She probably has a story to tell. 

This young male Acorn Woodpecker is quite dashing.

Feathers all clean and glossy.

Red and orange and gray and taupe and black.

Stripes and solids and polka dots.

There's a lot going on with the feathers of a male Flicker!

Parvati's Birthday

Design - "Love My Cat" Snippet

Designer - Lizzie Kate

Fabric - 28 count Wichelt Lambswool linen

Floss - WDW & GAST & DMC

Started - 15 June 2001

Completed - 1 July 2001

In honor of Parvati Patel I'm featuring a cat cross stitch.

Today is Parvati's 18th birthday.

She and her 4 siblings were born in my closet.

Solomon, Padma, and Parvati - 6 months old and fascinated by the noise the Mixmaster made.

Parvati and Padma - the twins.

One of Parvati's many close encounters with deer.

Giving us a knowing look.

Late afternoon sunshine. 


On the hunt.


She's skinnier and more rumpled at age 18.
Happy birthday Par-par! 

Wednesday's Walk

No severe weather here.

Let's take a walk.

Using natives in a flowerbed - Osier dogwood, native bleeding heart and native columbine.

A pale pink hawthorn.

Flax

Hazelnuts developing.

Ocean Spary

Fuzzy Cat's Ears.

Meadow Checkermallow

Blue Dick ( Brodiaea)

Vine Maple

Nooka Rose

Close up

Osier Dogwood

Water is still flowing in the Big Creek.

Flash Back Springtime Stitch

Design - "Rendered By"

Designer - Little By Little

Fabric - 36 count Light Espresso R & R linen

Fibers - DMC

Started - 31 May 2010

Completed - 24 June 2010

I simplified the border, messed with the alphabet, added the year, and my initials.

The Lesser and American Goldfinches provide outdoor decorations when they gather.

This is a young Lesser Goldfinch.

The female American Goldfinches are gathering nesting material.

But they drop it on the ground as they fly away.

They'll begin nesting in mid-June.

A trio of newly fledged House Finches.

I still have a couple of Evening Grosbeak.

The guy.

The gal.

Memorial Day

A reminder of why we have the day off from work. 

The Males Rock It

I saw a female Anna's come to the feeder with nesting material which she then proceeded to drop in order to have a quick drink.  They aren't around much yet, still preoccupied with nesting. 

The guys though hang out.

I certainly enjoy this lovely Rufous male.

And to provide some contrast, here's one of my two male Anna's.

Have a bright and shiny weekend everyone!

The Critters

A couple of interesting critters this week. 

Of course there were chipmunks.

And a gray squirrel...

...or two.

And the usual multiple bunny sightings...

like these.

But on Wednesday night, I looked out at dusk to see this guy in the back yard.

A great big skunk!  He/she stayed around for about 30 minutes. Looking for mice and voles and eating sunflower seeds.

This is not by back yard, but a neighbors.

Late last week she reported a bent pole.

Then early this week She email these photos.

I think it is the same sow and cub that we saw on out trail camera in April.

The large cub in front, mama following behind. 

Bear on the lawn and crossing the driveway!