Who Knows What Today Will Bring...

I have lots of Valentine appropriate charts...

...and kits too!  

Possibly more than I can stitch for the next several Februarys.

Let's take a small Bird Break...

Cuz...we have some really, really cute bunnies!

The other day I counted five of them!

Big bunnies and smaller bunnies.

I told Elmer Fudd Tom-Cat that "Every Bunny has to eat!  Not everyone has to eat a bunny!"

This mother and child are around almost every morning.

And back to the birds...

I bought a new bird feeder.  

Already I have lots of action from both kinds of Chickadees.

See what I mean?

And the House Finches flocked to it.  I think it is a hit! 

I wrote this post Wednesday evening.  Our weather forecast changed dramatically yesterday with the possibility of 3"-7" of snow beginning early Thursday morning; and thus the title of today's post.  

In Honor of This Amazing Winter Weather

Chart - "Old Man Winter"

Designer - Val's Stuff

Fabric - 30 count WDW Peoria Purple

Fibers - Crescent Colours & DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 27 January 2014

Completed - 3 February 2014

I wish there was better contrast with the color of the hat and that of the scarf.  The photo shows them as very different, mine are much more muted. I know that most of you are fervently hoping that Old Man Winter is finally waving good-bye!

Though the Bushtits don't stay long, they stick to a schedule so I am able to see them 2 or 3 times a day. 

They are such cute little birds.

And they have a very distinctive voice - they chatter to one another non-stop.  I now recognize their calls and can hear them as they fly to the feeders from the stands of young fir trees.  Take a listen to a 'typical voice' and you'll hear why I can instantly tell when these small birds are in the area.

Yesterday evening we had dozens and dozens of Robins.

They waited in the fir trees until almost dusk.  They then landed all around the house, and worked the mowed areas in search of worms. I hope, like the Robins, you too enjoyed a delicious dinner! 

Passionate Pink!

My first Valentine stitch of the month is on linen that POPS!

Lakeside Thistle Pink - boy is it very Barbie-doll Bright.

Saturday morning the skies were full of honking.

Skein after skein of geese flew over head.

Hundreds of them - all headed north. 

We've had really weird weather on the west coast - maybe they are migrating back to breeding grounds much earlier than usual.

The Woodpecker population though has remained static.

My little Downy remains active at the suet feeder. I did see him yesterday in the backyard. He actually lit onto one of the sunflower seed bird feeders and ate there for a bit. I hadn't seen him use those feeders before.  

The Acorn Woodpecker are my Peanut Hogs!

They are also the most dominate birds - the jays scatter when the Acorns fly on in.

I counted six Flickers yesterday.  Two at the suet feeders and four working away on the ground.

It's going to get very cold here again.  I need to go outside and move a bunch of my plants back into the garage...again! That's the wonderful thing about gardening - each year is presents a unique set of problems difficulties challenges!

Extending Warm Wishes to All

Chart - "Christmas Ornaments"

Design - "Warm Wishes"

Designer - Barbara Ana Designs

Fabric - 32 count Mushroom Lugana

Fibers - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 31 January 2014

Completed - 1 February 2014

Yep, I snuck in one more snowman.  At least he is greeting everyone with warm wishes!

Saturday and Sunday were pretty good days for bird watching!

There was lots of action on the Front Porch and Back Patio.

I mentioned that I'd been seeing several Chestnut-backed Chickadees at the feeders.  This photo has both kinds so you can compare. The Black-capped Chickadee is on the left, the Chestnut-backed Chickadee is on the right. 

A Chestnut-backed Chickadee with wing extended.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee - front on

Chestnut-backed Chickadee - side profile

It pays to have bird baths as well as feeders.  Some birds aren't interested in seed, nuts, or suet, but will still stop by for a drink or bath. 

I lucked out on Sunday and happened to be watching as a male Varied Thrush came by for a drink.

He chose the bird bath sited the furthest from the house, so the photo quality is not all it could be.  Nonetheless, you can see what a pretty and distinctive bird he is! 

Spring Is Coming

We had a rather pretty sunrise Saturday.

The sun is still so very low to the south as it rises that first the distant hills are bathed in daylight...

...then the rays of the sun finally reach 'our trees'.

Saturday morning we got an added bonus - a rainbow!

As January ended and February began, the first signs of spring appeared. 

In the front flowerbed lots of things are popping up.

Snowdrops...

A hellebore

Further hellebores...

Daffodils...

On the Front Porch my pansies have recovered from our December Deep Freeze and are blooming once again. 

Several of the bulbs I planted in pots are making their presence known.

Crocus...

Tulips and crocus...

More pansies...

Cyclamen and pansies...

There's nothing more cheerful than pansies.

The forecast now shows three days of very low nighttime temperatures mid-week.  I just 'restocked' my greenhouse and set out the agaves last Sunday.  Now I have to decide whether to take a chance and leave the plants where they are, or get my garden cart and move them back into the garage once again.  Grrrrr!!!  

A New Month A New Header

Garden Grumbles, Cross Stitch Fumbles & Birding Bumbles

February 2014 Blog Header

Row #1: Heart in Hand, "Monthly Markings - February"; Val's Stuff, "Be Mine"; Heart in Hand, "Hearts"; The Little Stitcher, "Give Love" (freebie).

Row #2: Ewe & Eye & Friends, "Purple Heart"; The Twisted Thread, "Gingham Hearts"; SamSarah, "Baubles - H is for Heart"; Shakespeare's Peddler, "Love" (kit).

Row #3: Heart in Hand, "2007 Collector's Heart"; Ewe & Eye & Friends, "Be Mine Valentine"; Heart in Hand, "February Wool Whimsey"; Stone & Thread, "Love Grows". 

Rather amazingly I stitched all 12 items in the header in February of 2013.