Christmas Eve

It's probably no surprise that we have several bird themed trees. 

The owl tree

Miniature Hallmark bird ornaments

Hallmark "The Beauty of Birds" series ornament tree.

Blue Grosbeak

Hummingbird and Cardinal

Cockatiel 

Trees

Snowmen salt & pepper

Forest of trees in the dining room

Dining room table

Now I'm off to do some baking!

A Bit of Seasonal Decorating

This is a quieter Christmas in many ways including the amount of decorating.

Lighted bannister

Kitchen towel

Spatulas

Nativities

More nativities

The full display

You Never Know

Design - "Reindeer"

Chart - "Christmas Past" #51

Designer - The Prairie Schooler

Fabric - 32 count Black Zweigart linen

Fibers - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 21 December 2012

Completed - 26 December 2012

The black linen was challenging, but I like the effect.  The reindeer appears to be floating across a dark moonlit night sky. 

If you can make time to be outside for 20-30 minutes day after day, eventually you are rewarded with the unexpected. Friday morning about 11:00am I decided to take a break and went outside. I expect to find nuthatches working in an oak tree, but instead...

  

...though they never made a sound, something made me look up... 

A group of around 20 White Pelicans swooped and soared and floated overhead. 

Such a gift to watch these stately birds.  Notice their wings - the tips are slightly tilted which helps their graceful flight.

Close up for a moments. 

Then off to the south they flew.

Lesson: Pause with the busyness of daily life.  Quiet your mind.  Be still and wait.

Watch and listen.  You will be rewarded time and time again. 

Reindeer and Woodpeckers

Design - "New England Reindeer Sampler"

Designer - Elizabeth's Garden

Fabric - 36 count Creme Brulee R & R linen

Fibers -Needlepoint Silks - 1 stand over 2 threads

Started - 30 December 2011

Completed - 24 January 2012 

A few woodpeckers

Male Downy

Male Acorn

See all the holes in the tree? 

Male Flicker

Sunday's Hummers

Anna's - always interesting - always welcome!

 

Saturday's Critters

A chipmunk...

Breakfast

And just a Gray  Squirrel.

I typed just a gray squirrel, but upon research a bit, I've found that the Western Gray Squirrel is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the Willamette Valley.  

Western gray squirrels occupy oak woodlands, oak savannas, and mixed oak-pine-fir woodlands. They prefer older oak trees with large limbs and continuous canopy cover to facilitate movement. Major threats include habitat loss, alteration, and fragmentation. Vegetation changes due to fire suppression and residential and urban development are among these impacts. Populations may also be adversely affected by road mortality and damage control efforts. **

State conservation actions: Work with private landowners to maintain and restore oak and mixed oak-pine-fir woodlands, especially large patches. Work with landowners experiencing damage to trap/relocate squirrels. Maintain continuous canopy within 200 feet of nest sites. Maintain or plant mast species, such as Oregon white oak and California hazel. Maintain older trees with large limbs. **

We do have a large mixed woodlands, so are doing the right thing!

** Information taken fom Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife website.