Calling All Birds and Bird Watchers

Design - "Robin Snow Globe"

Chart - "Hiver"

Designer - Madame Chantilly

Fabric - 32 cnt R & R Foglifter linen

Fibers - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 8 February 2014

Completed - 9 February 2014

A couple of days ago I posted a 'tease' start photo of the above stitch. I thought it was amusing to stitching a snow globe while it was snowing outside!  I also decided that as the Great Backyard Bird Count starts on Friday, stitching a bird or two would be apropos. And this turns out to be a perfect memento of my UK 2013 trip.

Robin in the Temperate Glass House at Kew 

One of my true delights during my travels was seeing English Robins like the one above.

This year the Great Backyard Bird Count runs from Friday the 14th of February through Monday the 17th of February. And while I will not see any English Robins, I will probably be able to tally any number of American Robins. This will be my 4th year as a participant.

 I encourage everyone to pop over to the website and take a look. Whether you live in the city, the suburbs, or the country - any where in the world - you can participate.  You can observe the birds in your backyard, at local park or arboretum, on your walk to work. All it requires is one period of at least 15 minutes of avian observation.  You can send in observation tallies for one day, two days, three days, or all four days as your schedule and interest allows. There is a super explanatory video as well as a step by step guide.

Let me reassure you that you do not have to be an expert birder to take part.  After entering your address you will get a list of "likely birds" to help with identification.  You then watch for at least 15 minutes noting the highest number of each kind of bird you see during that time.  For example if during a 30 minute period I see 8 Robins, then later 12 Robins, and later still 15 Robins, I would note 15 Robins in my tally (not 35!). I know that three or four Followers intend to take part - give it a try!

Here's a recipe for chasing away the Winter Blues!

Head to a local plant nursery and marvel at all the primroses!

Ah primroses...

and hellebores...

and witch hazels...

and English daisies...

and anemones...

and violas!

Isn't that a recipe for Spring?

You Might Be Wondering Where I've Been - Sunday's Post

I'm stitching!  I'll tease you with this new start...more about it later this week. 

At 1:00pm Saturday afternoon we lost our cable and internet due to the ice storm. Then at 10:00pm Saturday night when we lost power so I've been Off the Grid and unable to post.

The freezing rain began falling Friday night and continued until Saturday afternoon.

The Quail liked it as they could skate along atop the icy surface rather than plowing through the deep snow.

The weight of the ice atop the snow had the branches of the Douglas fir trees dragging down.

It made some lovely ice sculptures too.

This is the candelabra (the top) of a young Pine tree.

Everything got an icy coating.

Most of the birds stayed away.  I had Starlings, Starlings, and yet more Starlings. 

Can you see the female California Quail? 

This young Maple tree was very pretty with its icy coat. The poor little birds could not sit on the branches. They'd light, then slide down as they could not get traction; just like cars on the icy road.

By late afternoon I did have a few Oregon Juncos.

And this female Flicker came by to do battle with the Starlings for possession of the suet feeder.

The freezing rain created miniature icycles.

Poor droopy Pine tree!

Thank goodness the Douglas fir trees just bend and bow and don't break.

Thus far we've only had one large branch come down.

Amazingly little tree damage.