Saturday's Critters

All squirrels this week.

Here's an Eastern Gray Squirrel.

Though smaller than the Western grays, it is the alpha squirrel.

Here's a Western Gray.

And another one.

Yep, four squirrels.

I counted five western and one eastern all together!

Spring Icons

Design - "Snowdrop Placemat"

Designer - Marjolein Bastin

Fabric - 28 count Light Mocha Cashel

Fibers - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started -  11 March 2014

Completed - 19 March 2014

  

A Turkey Vulture is a reliable sign of spring.

There are now often two birds soaring overheard.

The Juncos appear to be pairing up.

And the female Annas are hard at work constructing their nests.

I am awaiting the return of the Rufous Hummingbirds and the swallows and the Evening Grosbeaks and...goodness!  There's much to look forward to!

Wacky Woodpeckers

Design - "Fair Daffodil"

Designer - Blackbird Designs

Fabric - R & R 18th Century Rook linen

Fibers - GAST - 2 strands over 2 threads

Sentiment - 1 strand over 1 thread

Started - May 2011

Completed - 10 March 2014 

There are daffodils in bloom everywhere.

And spring behaviors with birds too.

I heard the manic call of a Pileated Woodpecker and got to watch as it flew overhead.

A small female Downy Woodpecker was busy.

Her potential partner was active in the backyard.

I saw three, maybe four Acorn Woodpeckers.

Here are two females.

Elsewhere I saw two birds in conflict - were they both males?

Wednesday's Walk - Spring is in the Air

 

Spring is in the air - the first crocus.

Primrose

Daffodil  

Snowdrops

Hellebore

Wood Violet

Daffodil

Crocus

Currant

Daffodil

Daffodil

Oregon Fawn Lilies

Little Flowers Little Birds

"Spring Violets" by Hands to Work is the final piece I had framed this past summer.

Design - "Spring Violets"

Designer - Hands to Work

Fabric - 40 count R & R Inkspot Black

Fibers -

Started - 1 January 2007

Completed - 15 February 2009

The 40 count R & R Inkspot Black linen proved to be very challenging.  The dark fabric, combined with the small count, was tough on my 50+ year old eyes. And now eyes are even older - probably could not stitch this.

Here it is framed!

We are having spring-like weather. 

Sunny with temps in the upper 50s / low 60s!

The Bushtits are happy.

Here's a size comparison with a Junco.

And an outdoor Christmas bulb. 

Munch on little bird!

March's Blog Header

Garden Grumbles & Cross Stitch Fumbles March Blog Header

Horizontal rows...

Row #1: Hands to Work, "Spring Violets"; Blackbird Designs, "Fair Daffodil", Marjolein Bastin, "Snowdrop Placemat";  Cedar Hill, "Sweet Violets"; Heart in Hand, "D is for Daffodil".

Row #2: Cedar Hill, "Bouquet for March"; then skip over two - Cottage Garden Samplings, "March's Daffodil"; Sam Sarah Design Studio, "First Day of Spring".  

Row #3: Sam Sarah, "V is for Violets"; Blackbird Designs, "March of the Daffodils" - "Spring's Arrival"; The Primitive Hare, "Awakening"; The Drawn Thread, "A Year of Flowers" - "March"; Blackbird Designs, "Love is in the Air" - "February's Violet"; Cedar Hills, "February's Bouquet".

Row #4: The Little Stitcher, "Snowdrop"; Chessie and Me, "Botanical Garden Sampler".