Whoo-Whoo What To Do?

I mentioned earlier that I had three 'big' Owl projects line up.  Well here they are: Plum Street Samplers "Thirteen Owls", The Stitching Shed "Owl Sampler", and The Prairie Schooler "O". Yes, it's the 24th of the month and I've not started any of them.  I'm thinking I'll have some Owl carry-over into November.

I'm seeing some sun breaks between the rain showers.  Grab a coat and let's take a walk.    

This little Paperbark Maple is one of the prettiest trees on our property.  It has such a pleasing shape, interesting bark, and this time of year the leaves are glorious.

I have to mention the abundance of Blackberries one last time.

This is their 'swan-song'.  Many are being consumed by the critters - the deer love 'em as do many of the birds.  The wet, cold weather will end further production and of those that remain, many will mold and rot on the vine.  

The Vine Maple down by the Big Creek has dressed in its Autumn Finery.  I think the extra moisture it receives in this location helped stave off the stress that most of the other Vine Maple suffered from this year.  They went straight from green to brown.   

With the rain and the wind, Douglas Fir cones are scattered on the forest floor.

The Hazelnut catkins are visible.  It always surprises me to see them this time of year.  So much earlier than I would expect.

We've had enough rain that there are puddles and pools of of water in the Big Creek.  Soon there will be enough accumulated moisture that it can begin to flow once again.  I love the sound of moving water.

The Madrone are quite pretty now.  Like the Paperbark Maple, they too have wonderfully colored bark.  And they are lush with berries too.  Where are the birds?  I'd expect to see someone feasting on this bounty. 

I think this vignette is a precursor to Christmas.  The cheery orange-red honeysuckle berries and the green of the fir boughs - all we need is a dusting of frost!

Brr!  I'm cold.  The sky is dark with heavy gray clouds.  I think it's time to go back inside. 

Even When I Complain, In My Garden I Do Best

Chart - "A Sparrow's Song"

Design - "In My Garden"

Designer - With Thy Needle & Thread

Fabric - 40 count Sand Newcastle linen

Fibers - WDW - 1 strand over 2 threads

I made a couple of small changes to the pattern.  I changed the year from 1810 to 2012, and added my initials on the bottom left.

This is another pattern where the strength of the design shines clear with the use of only four colors: WDW's Palomino, Olive, Cappucino, and Light Khaki.  I love the soft colors used in this pallet.  The soft gentle tones remind me of this time of year when the garden is dieing back and readying for Winter.  

The annual drugery chore task of cleaning up for Winter is my most dreaded least favorite part of gardening.  I start stressing about it in September, and it rumbles around in my mind until I finally get down to it sometime in October.  This year I began my "Great Garden Clean Up" on October 17th.  I think as it turns out I'll have spent more hours fussing, and stewing, and planning, and worrying than the actual project will take.  The Back Patio took only two 90-minute sessions to finish. 

The Agaves are now tucked in to the right of the fireplace.  This side of the house faces the south and receives the most benefit from Winter sun.  It absorbs natural BTUs and retains them for hours after the sun sets. 

The Sedums appreciate that the Back Patio is often 3 to 5 degrees warmer than the north-facing Front Porch in the Winter time. 

As all the Sedums and Sempervivums are under the eves, they're safe from the threat of rot.  (In case you were wondering, the milk jugs contain water for our fountain and birdbaths).

I'll probably get a few more Pansies to put on this three-tiered plant stand.  The 'tube' on the white chair is where Tom-Cat sleeps on the nights he must be outside. 

I tucked the many Salvias and Agastaches into this nook.  The white plastic 'cage' stops the deer from eating the Dianthus and a few other 'tasty' plants.  All receive some protection from the wind on the east and north sides.  The walls on two sides also retain any heat generated by Winter sunshine.  If it does get 'extra' cold, then I toss some old blankets over the plants for the night.  I had over 90% survive last Winter in this location. 

After finishing the Back Patio, I began to dismantle the Front Porch.  The first load off: the birds, bunnies, bugs, and watering cans.

Saturday morning I brought in my 18 begonias.  I'll let them spend the Winter in an unheated storage room in my father's shop.  They'll go dormant, and I hope, the tubers will regenerate come Spring.

The first step was to cut them back hard to just a few leaves.   Those I expect to slowly wither and die back as the plants go dormant.  I ended up with a couple of large plastic trugs of blooms and foliage.

Fortunately my Instant Garden Composter was at hand.

By the time she finished up there was not a leaf or petal left.

We have a Winner! Suze (comment #6) is the winner of "The Painted Garden" by Mary Woodin.  Suze you need to contact me to provide a mailing address.  You can do so by clicking "View my Complete Profile" under "About Me" on the right-hand side of the blog. That will take you to "Contact Me" and "Email" where you can reach me off-line.   



An Owl and Other Birds

Design - "O is for Owl" (freebie)

Designer - Erica Michaels

Fabric - 32 count Clay Belfast linen

Fibers - Rainbow Gallery: Mandarin Floss, Splendor, and Petite Treasure Braid

Started - 15 October 2012

Completed - 17 October 2012

I like the oblong rice stitch used for the owl's breast - I think he looks like he is wearing an argyle sweater.

Erica Michaels has most generously provided over 50 free charts on the Rainbow Gallery website.  Click here to take a look.  Odds are you'll kind something you like! 

I was pleased Saturday evening to hear a couple of Great Horned Owls "Who-whooing" as the sun set and the moon rose in the sky.  I've not heard them for several months now, and I do enjoy listening to their conversations.

Here are some other birds I've heard and seen in the last week or so.

I first heard this gal working away in an Oak tree down by Dorothy's creek.  

She's a Downy Woodpecker and apparently she also likes Blackberries.  Who knew?

I first became aware of this "V" of geese as their calls to each other interrupted the morning chorus of the smaller birds.  I can't help but wonder if the geese argue over directions.  "No Harry, I think we should be flying 5 degrees more north-northeast."  "Are we there yet?"  "Will we stop at the Finley Wildlife Refuge like last year?" 

The Robins have returned with the Autumn rain.  I counted over 20 of them in the backyard on Friday.

The California Quail are spending more time in the backyard as of late.  

While they do scratch about under the bird feeders, they spend most of the time tucked back near the edge of the berm.

It's a wise precaution based on the continued presence of a Sharp-shinned Hawk of two.

I want to thank everyone for their kind words and comments on Friday's post.  I have a winner for Saturday's Garden Cookbook giveaway.  I'll post the winner's name tomorrow.  Stay tuned!

October at the Farmers' Market

As you can see, the weather here has changed.  Autumn gray skies, cooler temperatures, and plenty of pumpkins have arrived at the Farmers' Market.  Still there was a good crowd of shoppers and lots of color to admire. 

Let's start off by admiring the Asian pears.

This is something else I admired and bought to take home!   

The colors of the peppers were surpassed only by...

...the lovely Autumn bouquets.

My sister and I had Chinook salmon for dinner the other night.  I'd bought it several weeks ago at the Market and frozen it for future use.  Oh, but it was wonderful and flavorful!  I thus was inspired to buy another pound or two for future meals. 

Potatoes

Oh look!  Yet more French pastries!  I bought a couple of the Chocolate-Hazelnut "thingies" on the bottom tier.

I think the white pumpkins were my favorites...

...though this selection of gourds and squash made it hard to choose! 



300 Followers Celebration

Three hundred Followers - wow!

I think that calls for a Celebration.

This blogs has three over-arching themes: Gardening, Cross Stitching, and Nature.

First off: The Garden Celebration Give-away.

I am delighted to give away a copy of "The Painted Garden Cookbook" by Mary Woodin.

It has a super collection of 120 recipes and is further embellished with Mary's lovely watercolor paintings.  

To enter this giveaway, just leave a comment on this post by 11:59pm Sunday Pacific Daylight Savings Time.    



Framed Friday Finish

Even though I blog on the World Wide Web, I'm still a pretty private person.

I don't often write about myself and I've only ever vaguely aluded to the fact that I am a Big C. Survivor.  As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the U.S., I decided that others 'out there' might take comfort from knowing that at some point cancer, rather than being The Story of Your Life, becomes little more than A Historical Footnote. 

After surgeries in February and March of 2006, I stitched "Bloom" by SamSarah in May of the same year when I began my first round of chemotherapy.  I decided back then that I needed something bright and positive to focus on, and this stitch fit the bill.

In July of 2012, as a way to commemorate my renewed health the last 5+ years, I took piece into be be framed. 

Every once in a while I still need a reminder to "Bloom" and this provides it nicely.