Friday Was Frosty

The morning low Friday was 24F.  

As the sun rose through the trees, the world was white and sparkling.

The moon was reluctant to leave...

The hazelnut brush showed an alabaster hue.

The chocolate bracken ferns were coated with frost-white ganache.

The sunlight danced....

...and everything shimmered.

The gold-crowned sparrows...

...and the juncos were the first visitors to the feeders.

This song sparrow lived up to its name. 

It greeted the new day with an effervescent melody.

Another Day of Sunshine

Yep, another new stitch started.  I love the colors!

It's Lizzie Kate's "Let it Snow". 

No snow or cold around here.  

We enjoyed a second day of warm January sunshine.

My covey of California Quail marched by.

I counted 31 birds!

As for the Anna's Hummingbirds, I know I have two as I saw them fighting over the best seat in the house - at the nectar feeder. 

My Yellow-rumped Warbler dallied at a suet feeder.

Again, he appears to be a solo bird.

I think it is strange just how many 'solos' birds there are hanging out this time of year. 

This Warbler, my Black Phoebe, the male Downy Woodpecker, and the female Varied Thrush I saw earlier this week.

I will tell you there's no shortage of Jays!  The Scrub Jays and the Stellar's Jays talked and talked and talked and talked all day long.  I am amazed at the amount of birds 'talking' during the deep winter.  The Chickadees, the Juncos, the Towhees, the House Finches, the Quail, and the Song Sparrows all chatter.  And I always hear the Bushtits and the Black Phoebe before I find them.

Fighting the Fog

The fog returned for much of Wednesday. I battled it by stitching on Barbara Ana's "Warm Winter Welcome".    

I am fortunate as crows do not hang out here.  I do see them in the morning and afternoon as they fly into town and back to their rookery.

It's much nicer to have the smaller birds like the Song Sparrows...

...and Oregon Juncos...

...and Black-capped Chickadees.

My Acorn Woodpeckers were at the peanut feeder after being AWOL for a couple of days.  This is the female...

...and here's the male.

They took turns with the Downy Woodpecker.

My female Flicker...

...decided to use my new suet feeder.  See how the tail-prop wooden segment beneath the food helps her to stay balanced?  

Blue Sky Winter's Day

Design - "Winter Gingham"

Designer - Twisted Thread

Fabric - 28 count cream / natural Gingham linen

Fibers - GAST - 1 strand over 1 thread

Started - 18 January 2014

Completed - 19 January 2014

I am a fan of blue and brown together, so this little stitch just hit the spot. Usually I find stitching over one to be a nerve-wracking experience, but somehow when I stitch over one using gingham, it goes quickly and easily.

Finally, finally, finally!  The fog finally lifted Tuesday afternoon.

I wasn't the only one who was pleased to have some sunshine.

Besides the cats, I think the birds were pleased too.

My Yellow-rumped Warbler showed up.

As did my Black Phoebe.

He hung around for about an hour singing merrily the entire time.

I keep hoping some other Phoebes will join him, but so far he has been solo.

And look who else made an appearance for the first time this Winter... 

A female Varied Thrush!

My little flock of Bushtits came back too.

The Bushtits and the Varied Thrush showed up at the same time.  I hardly knew which direction to point my camera.

Sunshine = Great Birding Day! 

A Flash of Color A Flash of Talons

Design - "Baby It's Cold Outside" (Snowbelles)

Designer - Lizzie Kate

Fabric - 28 count Amber linen

Fibers - Crescent Colours, GAST, & WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 12 January 2014

Completed - 16 January 2014 

No Cardinals, but this male House Finch did provide me with a welcome pop of color on yet another foggy day.

He was kind enough to pose quietly for a while so I was able to get a series of shots...

...before he flew away.

The big surprise Monday was finding this Sharp-shinned Hawk perched on the edge of our large birdbath.  I wish the photos were better but I shot through a window screen and a wire deer fence so there are lines and it is blurry.  Oh well, you get the idea...The hawk was very close to the house and window!

July in January

 

I decided to battle the gray fog and work on Cottage Garden Sampling's "July's Delphinium". As you can see it has lots of bright cheerful colors.

I was able to make a good start on the border.

I think I've mentioned before that we have Robins around the entire year.

In January a nice group of the birds appear first thing in the morning, and then again at dusk.  With the fog and low light they are difficult to photograph.

There were 8 birds in the Big Leaf Maple - I think they roosted there for the night.  

They do provide a nice jolt of color with their rust orange breasts.

Sunday evening I counted 20 birds in the backyard.

They are so funny to watch. They listen intently - they can hear earthworms plowing in the ground.

This one has its head cocked the better to hear worms at work!

They are never visitors at the feeders, instead work the yards for worms and other insects.  In past years I've had a Varied Thrush or two hanging out with the Robins.  No sign of any Thrushes yet this year. 

The Robins do use my bird baths though and enjoy splashing about.