A Mystery Revealed

Post-snow now, and the bunnies are out and about again.

I think they have such wonderful faces.

I know some people have cats and an Indoor pet rabbit...

...but I just can't imagine my crew accepting a bunny companion.

This is my best picture so far of a Varied Thrush.  I've only ever seen one bird, so I'm left wondering how many there might be.

And here's the Mystery Bird - Revealed!

Back on March 16th I posted a shot of a bird silhouette up in a tree.  I invited people to "Guess What Bird".  Several people took me up - Mourning Dove was the favorite answer.  The correct answer is: Band-Tailed Pigeon.  They are large birds with a white collar, and a yellow beak and feet.  We've now had sightings of 3, 5, and 7.  Come mid-Spring our group will swell to 50 or more.  I don't really like them - they are absolute PIGS at the bird feeder and can clean out a large feeder in 15 minutes or so, not allowing any other species a chance to feed. 

I'm going to end with a special thanks to the line crews of Lane Electric Cooperative.  They've been working 18 hours on / 6 hours off since the snow storm began on Wednesday morning.  Amazing dedication to a very dangerous job!

Powerless

As of 7:30pm Friday evening we were still without power.  In fact, the downed-line situation along our road looked worse than two days ago.  There were downed lines out on the road when we came home Friday evening - so we reported that to the power company.  Maybe that will move us up a bit in priority.

By Friday afternoon the snow was off the trees and roof of the house. 

The sun shined brightly on the Back Patio.  Tom-Cat and Parvati (both suffering from Cabin Fever) took advantage of the warm weather.  Ironically it was warmer outside, than inside!

While the snow is gone from the valley floor, it lingers at our elevation - especially on north-facing hillsides.

The Quail made an appearance Friday afternoon.

They said, "This is so wrong!  We are California Quail!  Not Mountain Quail!"

I think the birds have fared pretty well during the snow.

Better really than we have.  I'm beginning to get grumpy.  Today it was too cold to stitch.  The temperature in the room with the fireplace fluctuated between 53F to 60F.  Here's hoping the power is restored today!

UPDATE: Power Restored 8:30am Saturday morning!!!

  

Another Snow Day

Based on our weather, I should be stitching mittens!

I did work a bit on A Needle and Fred's "Three Hearts".  I was able to complete the second square Tuesday - before the snow and power loss.

Daylight Thursday morning - a bit of snow during the night refreshed the trees.  My fifteen year old nephew is loving this - no school Wednesday or Thursday and Spring Break begins on Monday.  What more could a boy wish for?

Not so happy - this Hummingbird!

Do you think he could look anymore fierce or upset?

I am keeping the nectar feeders full and frost-free!

Mr. Flicker came to eat on the suet.  I'm sure he's burning extra calories in this cold weather.

I was able to capture a couple of nice pictures of Chickadees.

They impatiently awaited newly-filled bird feeders while perched atop young Douglas Fir leaders.

And up in a small fir tree - this handsome California Quail. 

He called out to his other covey members -

"Food has arrived!  Food has arrived!"

His top-knot should have a curl to it, but it has gotten soaked and matted together, and so appears straight.

I know everyone else is basking in 70F-80F temperatures.  So, enjoy my snow!

Be Careful What You Wish For!

I'm late, I'm late, I'm very late posting today.

 I've started The Trilogy's "Happy Bunny Bunny Day".  I've got all the various borders finished.  On to the alphabet and the bunny.  I stitched all of this without the benefit of electricity.  I now have a profound respect for all those 19th century young girls who stitched their samplers in the cold (blowing on their hands to warm them between stitches!)

Okay, here's all the news!  I awoke at 4:50am on Wednesday morning to a heavy snowfall (+7 inches!).  I got up and showered, and posted my blog.  That turned out to be providential, as by 6:30am we'd lost power and cable.

No heat - No Internet! 

As of 11:30am Thursday that remains unchanged.  The latest news from our electricity utility is that power may not be restored until sometime Friday.  Fortunately we do have a fireplace, and more importantly a portable generator.  The generator allows us to have lights, flush the toilets, and keep the refrigerator cold.

I titled this post 'Be Careful What You Wish For' and it is a truism.  I wanted / wished for a 'Real Snow' - substantial inches and something that would hang around longer than 10:00am!  Well, I got it!  I forgot to wish that the power remain on, darn it.

Parvati, rightly so, decided that this was a good "Stay Indoors and Observe the Outdoors Day".

I tromped out in the snow to fill the bird feeders.  It took a while for the larger birds, like the Mourning Doves to appear.

The Juncoes, the House Finches, and the Pine Siskins were the first birds at the feeders.

There was nothing I could do for this Robin - all his worms were under inches of snow.

My Hairy Woodpecker did come to the peanut feeder.

She did not look pleased with the snow.

This was one of the prettier displays.  A snow-covered Big Leaf Maple - complete with bird finials!

Pretty, pretty, pretty! 

Even without power, it's very pretty!



A Saturday Drive

Next up on my stitching agenda The Trilogy's "Happy Bunny Bunny Day". I decided to do something Springish in nature and I love the pink floral buttons which augment this design.

Okay - I know almost the entire USA has been basking in sunshine and warm temperatures, while we in the Pacific NW shiver with rain, hail, snow and cold temperatures.  Because the weather has been so unremittingly ugly lately, there's no Wednesday Walk this week.

Let's take a Saturday drive instead! 

Yep, there was snow in them-there hills when we began our drive north to rural Junction City, OR.

On the valley floor, some signs of spring: Green, green fields!  

And did I mention this was a 'Daffodil Drive'.

It's so refreshing to see daffodils on a gray mid-March day.

I had to include this gal!  I think she needs a good orthodontist!  

Still more daffs... 

Ferguson Road - a narrow, rural road.  

Slow down - turkeys in the road!  And we are courting so playing no attention to traffic. 

Further daffs...

This time of year, flocks of sheep are brought down to fields in the Willamette Valley for lambing season.  As we drove north we saw two turkey vultures in a field of sheep (a sign of someone's demise).  That was not unusual, but their companion at the dinner table was:  A Bald Eagle!  I was not able to get a photo from our car, but someone else did - here's the link to their photograph.  Bald Eagles also winter here, so it is not unusual to see one. 

On our trip homewe saw another Bald Eagle.  This one was perched in a tree overlooking a pond and watching the fishermen - hoping for a handout!

I hope you enjoyed our drive - next week we'll take a walk - weather permitting!

The First Day of Spring

Design - "Sampling Easter"

Designer - Lizzie Kate

Fabric - 30 count WDW Parchment linen

Fibers - WDW & GAST - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 12 March 2012

Completed - 19 March 2012 

I remain enamored of the periwinkle alphabet.  As straight-forward as this stitch was, it entailed frogging.  I stitching the top row of the three eggs as three across (and increased their size from there) instead of two across; and I misplaced the letter "A" by one thread.  I must be in need of remedial lessons in chart reading and counting.  Notice the daffodil in the lower right corner?  That's the theme of today's post!  

Spring began March 20th at 1:14am EDT.  Hurray for Spring!

This time of year, gardening is still mostly about inspiration and planning.

Let's join the Tuesday Garden Party over at an Oregon Cottage.

On Saturday my sister and I headed off to the Long Tom Grange Daffodil Festival outside of Junction City, OR.

 

First up - this is a whimsical (one of a kind!) water feature.

The Grange also had lots of spring bulbs potted up for sale.

I liked how these were displayed in a old wooden wheel barrow.  That would be pretty in a rustic country garden setting.

Oh Spring color!  Lots of inspiration there! 

I've said it before, I'll say it again - there is something about the plant combination of yellow and blue - it gets me every time.

One of the vendors had a metal forge and constructed these tulips and daffodils. 

Here's another "take home" idea - I love this motif of wheel barrow, chicken and shovel.

The Grange had a small display of Spring Inspired quilts.  This was my favorite.

Don't forget to enjoy Spring inside too!  We bought three generous bunches of daffodils for just $9.