Beehive and Blue Sky

Design - "August Bee" - Monthly Animal Series

Designer - Nikyscreations

Fabric -30 count R & R Espresso linen

Fibers - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 5 August 2016

Completed -7 August 2016

Up high in a blue, blue sky...

It's one of the Ravens!

I enjoyed watching a female Hairy Woodpecker.

She worked away eating suet and Bark Butter.

With all the Black-headed Grosbeaks around, it is easy to overlook a similar looking bird - an American Robin.

What a beauty!

A male American Goldfinch still in his courting colors.

First Walk in August

It's a pleasant August morning.  Let's go for a walk.

There is more going on than I expected.

Pearly Everlasting  

Cascara

Teasel 

Queen Anne's Lace

Bull Thistle in bloom

The seed heads 

Cow's Parsnip seed heads

Bright red berries

Berries of False Solomon's Seal 

Chalk white berries

Columbia Lily Seed heads

As a kid, I used to strip these seeds of the plant and use them as 'food' for my tea parties.

This looks like a hank of skunk's fur 

Snowberries 

Blackberries

Oxalis

Early signs of fall  Vine Maple

Leaves on the bottom have an orange cast

Leaves on the top are redder. 

See you next week!

Watermelon and Elderberry

Design - "Watermellon"

Chart - "123 August"

Designer - Curtis Boehringer

Fabric - 32 count Antique White Jobelan

Fibers - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 4 August 2016

Completed - 5 August 2016 

I am over-run with young Black-headed Grosbeaks.

They've all fledged and are hanging out together.

I cannot tell the adult females from the kids.

Many of the adult male Black-headed Grosbeaks have already headed south.

I only see one or two instead of six of seven.

The Red Elderberry is a huge attraction.  The Grosbeaks consume the berries long before they ever ripen.

August's Blog Header

Garden Grumbles and Cross Stitch Fumbles August 2017 Blog Header

Rows from left to right as follows:

Row #1: Curtis Boehringer, "123 August" - "August"; Hands on Designs, "A Year in Chalk - August"; Nikycreations, "Monthly Animal Series - August"; Heart in Hand, "Monthly Markings - August"; Heart in Hand, "Monthly Journal - August".

Row #2: Heart in Hand, "Monthly Mania - August"; Lizzie Kate, "Yearbook - August"; Curtis Boehringer, "123 August" - "Watermellon".

Row #3: Lizzie Kate, "August Stamp"; The Prairie Schooler, "A Prairie Year" - "August"; Sam Sarah Designs, "Baubles - August"; Lizzie Kate, "August".

Row #4: The Bent Creek, "August Rings"; Lizzie Kate, "A Bit of

Sunday's Hummers

I had two Anna's sharing one of my small feeders.

That's always cause for celebration.

Sometimes in the evening, when everyone needs to 'top off' before resting for the night, there's a detente...  

...and peace prevails.

I'll end with a couple of photos of a male Annas.

Next week I'll try to include some Rufous photos.

Saturday's Critters

It has been pretty bucolic in the backyard.

Fawn #1

Fawn #2

Brush Bunny and California Ground Squirrel

Thumper and Bambi

Eating together

Harmony reigns

In the heat of the afternoon, a California Ground Squirrel found some shade among my plants.

Looking around

Down for the count!

Stay cool everyone!