Happy Valentine's Day

A Flashback to Valentine's Day 2004

London, England

Paris has the reputation for being a romantic city, but London, in February 2004 had many signs of floral romance!

Flower display at Liberty's

Window Box

Window Box

Window Box

Primroses

Squirrel in the Daffs

Flowers at Liberty's

My Heart is Broken

The first time I saw Notre Dame was in 1976 and I was a wide-eyed 17-year old.

I was awed and stunned by the size...

...the majesty...

...and the amazing details from ground level to...

...upon high.

I had the opportunity to visit again in 1979, 1984,

and 1986.

My most recent visit was with my mom in 2013 - the 850th anniversary of the cathedral.

Watching the news videos yesterday, it is hard to conceive all the has been lost.

Medieval stained glass windows.

Interior details...

...including Christ appearing to the holy women.

All that light... 

....all the work and all the faith expressed in glass... 

...and pigment - gone.

Hearts are broken in Paris, in France.

Hearts are broken worldwide.

Hummingbird Saturday

There are still lots of hummingbirds out and about.

When not at the feeders, they are close by 'guarding'.

The Rufous have a lovely mix of white, brown gray, and green. 

In morning light the colors are more muted.

I still seem to have mostly Rufous in the back and Anna's in the front.

Here's a rare sight - two Rufous at a feeder. 

This is far more usual - two Rufous fighting at the feeder!

I love how the tail feathers are splayed when they do battle.

While standing guard over the mudroom flowerbed, this Rufous nonetheless presented a more serene facade.

See the tiny dot of ruby feathers at the throat?

Amazingly some of these little birds migrate clear from northern Alaska to Mexico and back again.  I read that when they come north in the spring they fly along the west coast to get the earliest of spring flowers while they travel. Then in the fall, they head south along the edge of the Rocky Mountains where the alpine wildflowers provide them with nectar for their journey southward.

One year ago today I posted a recap on our highly successful campaign to raise money for the the UK charity, Tearfund.

Wonderful Woodpeckers - Part One

I've had a couple of questions about the hardware I use when stitching. I rarely ever use a hoop though I do have a couple of them.  I find that hoops make creases that all the steam ironing I can bare will not totally remove. Plus face it, most designs are squares or rectangles not circular.

So most of the time I stitch using Scroll Rods.  I bought mine many years ago at Michael's using a 40% off coupon. Then I bought some additional sets and pieces so I now have rods that vary in length from 6" to 22".  I also have three different sized bars to vary the width.

And as you can see, I have enough bars and rods and pegs that I can work on several projects at the same time - because that's how I roll! Using scrolls there are no creases. You can darn the fabric onto the rods, but I cheat and just use reams of masking tape and that works just fine.

I do use Q-Snaps as well. I have a couple of different sizes and they too can be reconfigured to make a rectangle if needed.  Yes, they do make creases, so I mostly use them for smaller, quicker projects to minimize that issue.

Some stitchers invest in a lap stand or table stand. If I worked on larger projects regularly I'd probably purchase one of those. 

I've neglected my Front Yard Birds lately and favored those in the Back Yard.

This post will rectify that oversight.

The Acorn Woodpeckers provide me with much amusement. I think the one in flight on the right looks like a Macy's Parade dirigible!  

My family of three is hanging out together.

Mama 

Papa

Mama and Papa

Baby Boy - note the red on his head is not as brightly colored as that of his parents. Plus he just looks fat and feathery still.

Baby Boy and Papa

Baby Boy and Papa

..and Mama hanging upside down because she's a woodpecker and she can!

And because they are woodpeckers - they talk almost constantly and continually and loudly.

This is Mama.

And I am excited to say that with this series of photos I had FOUR ACORN WOODPECKERS all together.

The female was in the tree.  

While the three guys were in the roadway nabbing bits of gravel.

I thought I must have four birds as I'd seen two males clear back in April, and then noted the young newly fledged male in July.  It took until mid-August before I saw the entire group out and about.

I often refer to the Acorns as Clown Birds.  

They are very amusing and entertaining birds!

One year ago today Mom and I were back home for our first full day.

Mom's Latest Stitch

Design - "Star Spangled Summer"

Designer - Heart in Hand

Fabric - Aida

Fibers - WDW - 2 strands

Started - 1 August 2014

Completed - 20 August 2014

My Mom has been stitching away this month.  She just finished stitching "Star Spangled Summer" by Heart in Hand. 

  

Sunny August days are often Lazy Days.

Though it does pay to be ever-vigilant!

I am enjoying the show the Western Wood Peewee puts on in the last evening - swooping and diving to catch insects then returning to the same perch only to sally forth once again. 

Not much of anyone sings in mid-August.

The exception seems to be the young Black-headed Grosbeaks.

My female Western Tanager came by again...

...as always it is just for a minute or two.
Long enough for me to see her, grab my camera and attempt a photo or two.  Then she's gone again.

Speaking of yellow birds...

On Tuesday morning my Wilson's Warbler came by for a short visit.

This bird is not much bigger than the Goldfinches and it does not stay still!

I think this is the best series of shots I'm ever going to get of this small bird.

The White-crowned Sparrows are back once again and it is pleasant to see these pretty little birds.

One a year ago today Mom and I once again found ourselves at Heathrow - this time with better results! I blogged a recap of lists of many of things we did during our three month adventure!