Tough Week

 

Design - "TaDa Snow Guy"

Designer - Amy Bruecken Designs

Fabric - 28 count WDW Peoria Purple

Fibers - WDW, GAST, Crescent Colors

Started - 24 January 2011

Completed - 31 January 2011

It has been an extremely tough week for the United States.  I generally do not mention what is happening on the national stage, but this past week has been so extreme, that I cannot ignore it. I would hope it is clear where I stand on the integrity of our elections and the peaceful transition of power. 'Nuf said.

 Thank goodness for birds.

Especially fat, round, little cute ones. 

The Bushtits swarmed the feeders in the front of the house. 

Including a peanut feeder, which I've not observed before. 

That's the great thing about birds - even if you are seeing the same birds over and over again, you still have the opportunity to observe a new behavior or pattern. 

This was a cold, frosty morning. 

I like the long, delicate legs of the bird on the side of the feeder. 

A quizzical look. 

Picture postcard perfect! 

Friday's Framed Finish

Design - "Bee Happy or Bee Quiet"

Designer - Amy Bruecken Designs

Fabric - 30 count WDW Straw linen

Fibers - GAST & WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 10 June 2016

Completed - 25 June 2016

I changed this design a bit.  I omitted the section that said 'Or Bee Quiet"

and brought up the bottom border. As Krayola Kris noted these are wingless bees. I figure maybe they are big fat bees with their wings tucked in. 

Framed - September 2018

I really like to mint green frame.

Friday Wrap Up

Design - "Silent Night"

Designer - Amy Bruecken Designs

Fabric - 25 count Rustic linen

Fibers - GAST, WDW, and DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 5 December 2011

Completed - 6 December 2011

Still no new stitching to share - sorry!

The Ravens are still in the area.  I see them a couple of times a week.

The House Finches are my 'main' feeder birds at present.

As there are no Cardinals in Oregon, I have to make do with the male House Finches for my spot of red in the winter.

Here's another regular - a Rufous Towhee.

I counted 6 of these birds the other day.

Can you tell it was a cold morning?

Not to forget Steller's Jays!  I have anywhere between 4-9 of these characters at a time.  They are very amusing to watch and to listen. They are great mimics and have a wide range of calls and sounds that they make.   

Bee Happy Because of Beautiful Birds

Design - "Bee Happy or Bee Quiet"

Designer - Amy Bruecken Designs

Fabric - 30 count WDW Straw linen

Fibers - GAST & WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 10 June 2016

Completed - 25 June 2016

I changed this design a bit.  I omitted the section that said 'Or Bee Quiet"

and brought up the bottom border. As Krayola Kris noted these are wingless bees. I figure maybe they are big fat bees with their wings tucked in. 

I have lots of reasons to "Bee Happy".  Let me share some with you.

Cedar Waxwing

Female Black-headed Grosbeak and Cedar Waxwing

Willow Flycatcher

Male Lesser Goldfinch

Male Black-headed Grosbeak

American Goldfinches and a Lesser Goldfinch

Black-capped Chickadee

A baby California Quail

A Bushtit

Towhee

Female Evening Grosbeaks

Male American Goldfinch

Male Western Tanager 

Lots and lots of reasons to be happy and sing a glad song!

Great Bird, Greater Bird, Greatest Bird

I am working right along on "Bee Happy".  I think I will be able to share a finish with you next week.

When I'm not stitching, I am outside gardening or reading and watching birds.

This past week I've had a couple of New Birds. 

First up, a female Yellow Warbler.

She is a bit larger than the American Goldfinches.

The male is much more brightly colored.

I think she is rather sweet.

Then last Friday, this bird's singing caught my attention and I found it!

It flew in closer to my Big Birdfeeder.

It took some doing, but I figured out that it is a first year male Bullock's Oriole.

A new-to-me bird and a new yard bird!

While they eat insects and fruit and nectar, this one was checking out my feeders.

Wahoo!

The black throat and black line through the eye helped to ID the bird.

And oh, how it sang! You can listen to it's Typical Voice here.

The bird is supposed to like cottonwoods along side streams which we certainly have.

It was rather thrilling to see this bird.

And here was my final surprise.  

Yesterday a mature male Bullock's Oriole flew in for just long enough for me to snap off one good photo.  You can see that he has a black back and black atop his head as well as the black throat and eye line.  He is far more orange-yellow than the younger male bird.  Pretty exciting.  I am now wondering if there might be a nest down near the creek.