Wednesday's Walk Around the House

Rainy weather has precluding me venturing very far, but I did walk around the house looking for early signs of spring. Here's what I found...

This Scabiosa "Flutter Deep Blue" looks ready for spring. 

This is some sort of small funky early spring bulb my sister bought years ago.  It has spread and spread.

Iris

Wild currant has bright red buds. 

Witch hazel

Muscari "Valerie Finnis"

Daffodil "Jamestown NY"

Primroses

Look!  There's a cluster of buds. 

Another Witch hazel.

This Bleeding Heart looks other-worldly as it erupts.

Speaking of erupting!  This is Trillium "Volcano". 

Snowdrops

Hellobore

Another Hellebore

Wild Columbine

Hydrangea

Daffodils and pink buds on a Daphne.

Another Currant - this one will be white.

Clematis

And yet more daffodils!

We Might Get a Flurry

Here's how "It is Snowing Somewhere" is coming along.  The photo does not  do the fabric color justice - it is a much richer blue.  We might even get a flurry on Thursday...

Now you'll have to indulge me with my Warbler Obsession. 

This series of photos is from Sunday afternoon.

He came by for a bit despite the pouring rain.

I feel like the yellow atop his head was especially noticeable.

He has become much more aggressive. When he first showed up the Juncos would drive him off, now he defends the bark butter on the post and makes the Juncos scatter. 

Guarding his food. 

I think you have to admit that he is a pretty little bird.

Yea, I Started Another One

With two basketball games last week, I needed a little piece I could work on before the game, during time outs and half time.  So here's Lizzie Kate's "A Little Snow".  I made really good progress on the snow Saturday evening as the Oregon Ducks managed to hold off UCLA for a win!

An extremely rainy Sunday did not keep the California Quail away.

A fairly large group emerged from the protection of the brush...

...and made a mad dash for the sunflower seeds I scattered for them. 

The males are strutting their stuff.

Lots are already paired up. 

See?

There's a lot of competition for the remaining females.

Sunday's Hummers

I've had a couple of male Anna's this past week, but have not managed any photos of them.

Lots of rain this week, lots of sulking birds!

I try to take the feeders in each week, clean them, and put out fresh nectar. 

The birds have been using the feeders as cold rainy weather makes it much harder to find insects to eat. 

I'd love to figure out where one of these beauties builds a nest this spring.

Saturday's Critters

I'm a bit embarrassed - I have next to nothing to share today.

Just one gray squirrel...

...and one doe.

Friday's Feathered Fancies

Design - "Snow Gazer" (kit)
Designer - Heart in Hand
Fabric - 32 count Clay Belfast
Fibers - GAST
Started - 21 December 2010
Completed - 24 December 2010

Snowball fight anyone?

The woodpeckers have felt a bit left out with all my focus on the 

Yellow-rumped Warbler this month.

So as a reward for my inattention, when I did look out and up Monday afternoon, it was to see a Red-breasted Sapsucker at work.

Here's a closer look...

...and closer still.  

I think the bird is watching me watch it. 

Pretty obvious as to why it is named Red-breasted.

Sapsucker are the one area woodpecker where the males and females look the same.

Carry on!

The male Hairy continues to show up.  

I spied a male Acorn Woodpecker on a young pine tree.

He was there for a while before flying to the peanut feeder.

Here he is!  I did see the female Acorn Woodpecker, but did not manage any photos of her.

And I'll end with a photo of a fat male Northern Flicker.

The Downy Woodpeckers and Pileated Woodpeckers were AWOL.