Unexpected Gifts

Design - "Humble Gratitude"

Designer - 4 My Boys

Fabric - 32 count Flax linen 

Fibers - WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 13 November 2010

Completed - 20 November 2010

As you can see I stitched this several years ago. I am trying to spend a moment each morning in quiet reflection. A theme of humble gratitude works well as a way of beginning the day grounded and centered.

And sometimes the day grants one an unexpected gift or two!

Here's my Unexpected Gift #1.

After a couple of weeks hiatus, I had a couple of American Goldfinches show up yesterday afternoon.

This may well be the last time I see them until April 2017.

And here's Unexpected Gift #2.

Can you see him?

It's a Hermit Thrush!  A new bird for me.

It looks very similar to a Swainson's Thrush so it was hard to ID for sure.

If that darned blackberry leaf was out of the way I could see the reddish tail feathers which would help tremendously.  

I think the reddish/rust color that I can see just to the left of the leaf helps to ID it as a Hermit Thrush. 

It's a member of the same bird family as the American Robin. It summers in the Rockies and in Canada, but winters along the Pacific coast, most of Mexico, and the southern US. it likes the edges or openings in forest understories which is where I saw it. An unassuming bird and a much appreciated gift!   

With Humble Gratitude and a Tired Body

Design - "Humble Gratitude"

Designer - 4 My Boys

Fabric - 32 count Flax linen 

Fibers - WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 13 November 2010

Completed - 20 November 2010

I'm pleased with this finish.  I think I will display on the mantel through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

I do have a Thankful Heart - just like the pumpkin!

I think this makes for a nice harvesty display.

The "Tired Body" part of this posting's title refers to all the pick-up / clean-up work I accomplished Friday morning.  It takes a WEATHER EVENT to get me motivated! I've mentioned our weather is to get colder soon, with temperatures in the mid-20's by early next week. 

Chip is storing sunflower seeds for the winter

That meant that I could not delay any longer.  So I spent from 9:00am-1:00pm yesterday putting the back patio to rights. The morning started out cold - but bright and clear.  It quickly deteriorated and became grey and windy - and still cold with stinging rain-showers - nice!

A Steller's Jay watched whilst I toiled!

I picked up all the plants in pots after determining whether or not they were cold-hardy.  I felt so guilty trimming the salvias whilst an Anna's Hummingbird darted around.  

Chip is too darned cute! 

But the first frost will kill all the blooms, and the plants stand a much better chance of surviving the winter if they are cut back - sorry hummingbirds!  The entire project took about twice as long as I'd thought it would.  But then all my projects are like that - I'm great at under-estimating both the time and the effort involved - thus: one tired body!

Papa Quail also observed my efforts - can you see him on the curve of the blackberry cane?

My plan for this weekend is to attack the plants on the front porch. I know I will feel so much better once I have Summer finally put to bed.  

  

A Bit of Progress

It's become one of those weeks when I've not been able to snatch much stitching time.  I did manage to sit down to stitch Wednesday evening for about an hour...otherwise...life got in the way, I guess.

I do think that I must have one of the very last blooming annual sunflowers in Lane County, Oregon.  This one is a volunteer, and while small, is quite healthy.   

My mushroom lesson:  from close observation I can state that the ones on the left and the right are the same variety - they are just in different stages of the mushroom life-cycle.

It's Mid-June. No Wait; It's Mid-November!

I've only stitched a bit on "Humble Gratitude" - and now, posting this picture, I can see I need to work on the tail of the burgundy heart as it has come untethered...oops!

The weather in this part of the world has been remarkable, if only because we've yet to have a killing frost.  So I'm celebrating Outdoor Wednesday with an update on all the fuchsias I still have still blooming their little hearts out! 

I'm lazy and did not look at the tags for names...but love this deep purple fellow.

And these two floozies look like something from mid-June not mid-November - at least in this hemisphere!

This shy fellow is darling in its simplicity.

  

This one is Barbie-doll pink!

And these are such elegant little earring blossoms...

Not a fuchsias, but this begonia refuses to give up the ghost!

I need to get a move-on as the weather forecast is now calling for a chance of snow-showers this weekend.  If that does not put a move in my get-along, then nothing will!

Plaid Pumpkin - I've been Framed

Design - "Plaid "Pumpkin"

Designer - For My Boys

Chart - "Pumpkins Three for Thee"

Fabric - 32 count Vintage linen

Floss - DMC

Started - 13 September 2004

Completed - 26 September 2004

Framed - August 2010

I mentioned in an earlier post that in August I'd had five autumnal cross stitch pieces taken in to be framed.  Well, this is the 2nd in the series.  I messed up and did not scan it before taking it to the shop to be framed. So this is the best shot I have.

Anyway, that aside, I'm really pleased with how "Plaid Pumpkin" looks after being stretched and framed. 

The young woman who works on stitched pieces shows great respect - there is never a wave or pucker when she readies a piece to be framed.

Sometimes the simplest of repetitive patterns can be very striking.

The gold frame has lots of interesting details.

I chose not to use a mat with this; figuring the cross stitched border defined the piece clearly and created breathing room between the pattern and the frame.

And in the kitchen garden...

the zinnias try to find daylight between the tomatoes and the winter squash.

From the Cross Stitch Archives - Pumpkins

"Plaid Pumpkin"

Designer - For My Boys

Chart - Pumpkins Three for Thee

Fabric - 11" x 11" 32 count Vintage Linen

Began - 13 September 2004

Finished - 26 September 2004

Awesome colors - all three designs are worthy of stitching!