Quiet Friday

Design - "Turkey on an Egg"

Designer - Bent Creek

Fabric - 28 count Flax linen

Fibers - WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 8 November 2012

Completed - 11 November 2012

There's that flax linen that I love so much again!

I generally don't join the frenzied crowds on Black Friday. I'd rather stay at home.  

Hard to see, but there's a Downy Woodpecker! 

I was pleased to see her working away in a Big Leaf Maple as she's not been to my feeders for a couple of weeks.

The Hairy Woodpeckers still are coming by.

The female...

...and the male.

Here's the male Acorn Woodpecker. He has quite a large spot of red atop his head.

He's all about my cylinder of mixed nuts.

A Flicker watched...

...and then decided to go for the peanuts.

This is the bird I most often see at the feeder.

On Tuesday morning I had two Flickers, but did not get a photo.

Not that this bird isn't photogenic!

Last year at this time I had oodles of Pine Siskins. So far no sign of them.  This may be a year where they stay further north and I do not see them.

A Trio of Turkeys

HAPPY THANKSGIVING



February 2016

My Mom's artistic efforts - 2nd grade 1947

My efforts - 1st grade - 1964

Wednesday Drive

We've been walking for several weeks now.

It's time to take a drive.

Let's head out east from Eugene...

Just past Pleasant Hill and Dexter is the Lowell covered bridge.

At its peak Oregon had over 450 covered bridges.  Now there are only 56, 13 of those are in Lane County. The Lowell Bridge was built in 1907 and was replaced with this bridge in 1945. My maternal grandmother lived in Lowell in the 1930's and talked about how scary it was to walk through this bridge at night. 

As the Willamette River finishes cascading down from the mountains in must then navigate Look Out Reservoir and Dexter Reservoir. The reservoirs are drawn down now awaiting winter rains and spring runoff.

We then travel through the Willamette and Deschutes National Forests as we climb up the Willamette Pass.  Parts of the pass have a grade of 6% or 7% so there are several 'runaway' ramps for semi-trucks to use if needed. 

The forest is overwhelmingly Douglas Fir.

The understory has native rhododendron which are lovely in the spring.

Here's the beginnings of a mini forest - three different kinds of trees plus a rhody off to the left.

I was not able to get a photo of Odell Lake, one of our pretty high cascade lakes, but did manage a photo or two of Diamond Peak.

Diamond Peak is 8,748 feet tall and was white with recent snow.

The summit of Willamette Pass is 5,128 and there was fresh snow on the hills and the side of the road.

On the eastern side of the pass, the forest and the scenery change.

The Cascade mountain volcanic activity becomes very obvious with piles of basalt and red pumice.   

The forest changes from fir to pine and the vistas become more expansive.

We had a nice day trip and hope that you enjoyed our trip from Eugene to Sunriver as well.

Blessings

Design - "Blessings" (Wee One)

Designer - Heart in Hand

Fabric - 32 count Flax linen

Fibers - GAST - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 6 November 2011

Completed - 11 November 2011

This is a finish from several years ago.  I must say that flax linen is one of my favorite colors.

We had a bit of a break from the rain.  Here's who came by.

Steller's Jay

Junco

Rufous Towhee (with scary red eyes!)

Female House Finch

A trio of House Finches

Another Start Before a Finish

As you can see I'm now stitchng away on Lizzie Kate's "In All Things Give Thanks". I changed the color of the pumpkin from what was charted - I'll share the details when I am able to post this as finished.

Today I have a mix of little birds and larger birds.

The Oregon Juncos are some of my little birds. I have several of them - 8 or so I think.  They stay together in a loose flock, but they bicker and squabble.

The Black-headed Chickadees also visit in small flocks.

They are much better manners and more cooperative.

They hang out together looking out for predators...

...and they take turns at the feeders, two or three at a time.

The California Quail are obviously larger birds.

They are also very cooperative.

Often one or more the the males will take perch to help look out over the rest of the flock. 

If they sound the alarm everyone runs and ducks for cover.

I wish I could get a photo to show you just how many birds I have right now.

I think I've counted as many as 52!

I think this pair is in the most preliminary stages of courting though they will not get serious about it until spring. 

You have to admit that she is pretty adorable!

Sunday Hummers

Padma and I want to thank all of you for your kind comments on our Friday Tiger Boy post.  While Parvati does not appear to miss her father or brother, Padma loved being part of a 'large litter of cats',  and he does miss his Tiger Companions.

A male Anna's atop a tree.

Glossy green back.

Dark throat and bright eyes.

Female Anna's

On the fence.

Green back and white breast

Ready for anything.

Front on

Picture perfect.