Grosbeak Babies

Fact:
There's nothing cuter than a baby, unless it is multiple cute babies!
The Grosbeak babies have fledged.

The first of the babies made an appearance Wednesday evening.

Notice the less than perfect haircut - feathers stitcking straight up.

Though as big as their parents, the babies still beg... 

...successfully!

We had more baby action Thursday and Friday. 

The babies can fly just fine, but tend to flit - one landed on my father's chest Wednesday night...

...another perched on me Thursday morning. 

This one has quite a bit of yellow and might be a young male.

This one has a Mohawk feather-cut.

The babies like to perch atop the feeders...and yell at their parents.

Time and again, it is the fathers who are feeding the fledglings.

All the babies look like female Grosbeaks - I assume that some are males and will get the more vibrant coloring as they grow and age.

"Dad - dad - dad!  I'm hungry!" 

I think we have at least three babies - here are two awaiting a handout.

Do you have baby critters where you are?

A Friday Finish!

Design - Sadie Stuart "Summer Bee Sampler"

Designer - Sam Sarah Design Studio

Fabric - 28 count WDW Blue Jeans Gingham

Fibers - GAST Simply Shaker Colors - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 15 June 2012

Completed - 27 June 2012

Well I just LOVED stitching this from start to finish.  

I changed it a bit and stitched my name instead of Sadie's, and changed the date to 2012.  The instructions were wonderful - including creating the chenille flowers - a cake-walk!

We are bounding with bunnies lately.

Look at the bottom left of the wood pile - there's a bunny! 

This little guy.

Doesn't he look like something out of a story book? 

Peter Rabbit perhaps? 

The Chipmunks demanded "Equal Cute Photo Time"...

So we will oblige them.

And now back to our regularly scheduled Bunny programming...

It appears the right side is the best profile...

...for this bunny anyway.

Blue Sky Dance

Another Bee Hive!

Design - "Sewing Bees" - Pin Cushion

Designer - Schoolroom Samplings

FaAbric - 28 count natural linen

Fibers - DMC & Needle Necessities - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 24 June 2012

Completed - 25 June 2012

Wednesday the sun shone and the cats were happy!

Lots of good Bird Watching.

Father Swallow stood guard outside his family's birdhouse. 

A pretty day calls for a Junco Dance!

I thought it looked as though he was dancing...

I told the cats they'd best get moving as a Turkey Vulture was checking them out.

I did see a family of Quail Wednesday while bird watching with Tom-Cat.  I didn't have my camera and they were quite far away.  There may have been as many as a dozen babies.  

This Quail Couple has no children.

High atop a Large Leaf Maple, this pretty little bird caught my eye.

I stumbled across a Robin's nest and got 'bombed' by the parents.

They were engaged in bringing back food for the babies and did not like me so close to their nest site.

I think the Hummingbird joined the Junco in a Blue Sky Dance.

Hope you are able to dance a Blue Sky Dance today.  

Stitching and Strolling

My fabric arrived, so I've kitted up "Banded Bee Skep".  Each band of the hive is a different stitch, so this should be interesting (and challenging) to work on.

I don't know how Wednesday rolled around so quickly once again.  Fortunately the rain has ended, so there is no need for wellies and brollies today. 

Let's walk! 

It's late June and the Daisies are a dominate force in the meadows. 

I have a soft spot for grasses too - it is amazing how many different kinds there are - each with a unique seed head.

And we can't pick Blackberries in August unless they bloom in June.

Our wilding apple tree has set some fruit.

High up on a sunny bank I found this aptly named wildflower.  It is called Oregon Sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum).  It grows in many habitats, most often in dry lands with sandy or rocky soils.  It's on dry, rocky soil here.    

The Pacific Ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus) is about done blooming.  I like the contrast of the red spent blossoms with the white.

In contrast with the Ninebark, Douglas' Spiraea (Spiraea douglasii) is just now coming into bloom. 

I was surprise to see the bright blue of a Bachelor's Button (Centaurea cyanus) happily growing in the ditch along side the road.  Though it is considered a noxious weed, I like it!

The cherry trees are setting fruit - I'm finding pits already near some of the bird baths.

I found another nice group of Blue Dicks (Dichelostemma capitatum) in one of our meadows.

There's a new crop of Oak Apple Galls too.  The gall wasps have been busy this Spring.  You can read more about Galls in this post.

I've saved the best for last.  I found a group of over a dozen Columbia Lilies (Lilium columbianum).  They are a wonderfully bright orange tiger lily.  The deer love to eat them, so it's rare to see them in bloom.  Sharp eyes will notice this plant is surrounded by Poison Oak!  I think of lilies as sun-lovers, but these plants were in deep shade.

That's it for today's walk - our next walk will take place in July - wow! 

Bee Happy

I have a couple of small finishes to share today.

Design - "Sewing Bees" - Needlecase

Designer - Schoolroom Samplings

Fabric - 28 count natural linen

Fibers - DMC & Needle Necessities - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 23 June 2012

Completed - 23 June 2012

Design - "Sewing Bees" - Thimble Holder

Designer - Schoolroom Samplings

Fabric - 28 count natural linen

Fibers - DMC & Needle Necessities - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 23 June 2012

Completed - 23 June 2012

Yesterday was a cold, rainy day - far more like early April than mid-June.  The cats were most displeased with the weather, while I was confined to Pacing on the Front Porch. 

So for this week's Tuesday Garden Party I'll share Front Porch Photos.  The Front Porch is north-facing and shaded.  As you can see it is protected from deer with a small wire fence and the strategic placement of chairs on the steps.

The Porch is 29 feet long by 7 feet wide.  I've loaded it with 176 container plants - Fuchsias, Begonias, Ferns, Hostas, and Coleus.  This is the long side of the porch.

This is the shorter side.

Even though it is shaded, the bees find the plants there.

Here are some of my Coleus.

And another of my bees.

Some of my dozens of Fuchsias.

Yet another bee.

I have Mosses and Baby's Tears.

Begonias...

and more Begonias.

A little bee skep.

Ferns and Hostas thrive on the Front Porch.

Even on a rainy day it is possible to Bee Happy! 

I hope you and your garden are content today.