It is Officially Autumn

Design - "Butternut Squash"

Chart - "Farmers' Market" #39

Designer - The Prairie Schooler

Fabric - 28 count Pearl linen

Floss - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 12 September 2012

Completed - 17 September 2012

I do not like to eat summer squash at all - but I do like most winter squash - acorn, butternut and delicata.

It is officially autumn in the natural world. Sunday evening when I went outside about 7:00pm to bring in my most distant bird feeder, I heard squawking and looked up to see skein after skein of geese all headed south with purpose.

They sounded different from Canada Geese - I think they were Greater White-front Geese.

They come up from Mexico and the Gulf Coast to breed in the northern tundra of Alaska and western Canada.

This time of year they make the long journey back south.

A Special Hummer to Share This Sunday

Photo by Charles Gates

On Thursday my mom and dad traveled 160 miles from Sunriver, Oregon to south eastern Oregon and the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. 

Why?

Because of this guy!

This is only the 3rd Broad-billed Hummingbird ever seen in Oregon according to the Oregon Bird Records Committee.

Photo by Vern Tunnell

The bird was first observed by a visitor on the 14th and remained at the refuge through the 19th. 

Photo by Vern Tunnell

They are year-around residents of central Mexico and travel north just into the southern most end of Arizona and New Mexico to breed.  This guy was hundreds of mils north of its normal range.  I'm so happy my Mom had the opportunity to see this special bird.

Have You Been Waiting?

Sorry to keep you waiting.  The day got away from me.

I'll leave you with a patient doe. 

Then End of the Week

Design - "Snappy Snow Pea"

Designer - Ewe & Eye & Friends

Fabric - 40 count Sandstone line

Fibers - GAST, WDW & Anchor - 1 strand over 2 threads

Started - 3 September 2012

Completed - 6 September 2012

I've had good woodpecker action this week. I've heard a Pileated several times, while most of the other woodpeckers have come to the feeders.

That includes this female Downy Woodpecker.

I've had Downies both in the front and back of the house.  Also a couple of Hairy Woodpeckers, though I did not manage any photos.

Can you see the two Red-breasted Sapsuckers?

Both were mature birds as is indicative by their bright red heads.

I did not manage any close-ups of the two birds together...

...but got some single shots of each.

It was close to dusk, so I'm pleased these photos turned out so well.

After a bit of a hiatus, a young male Acorn Woodpecker came by.

Note the blue eyes.

Bring your friends!

And I'm back getting some Flicker action.

This is a male...

...on a particularly rainy and windy day.

Big Veggies Big Birds

Design - "Wee Vegetables"

Designer - Heart in Hand

Fabric - 32 count Lambswool linen

Fibers - GAST

Started - 24 August 1998

Completed - 2 September 1998

All these years later, I still really like this stitch.

I continue to have a Cooper's Hawk hanging around constantly.

I've finally figure out that there are two Cooper's Hawks, so that's in part why it seems like there is always one around.

Wednesday afternoon, I had a Big visitor.

My raptor expert friends feel this is an immature Red-tailed Hawk.

Wednesday's Wet Walk

It has been a very odd September in western Oregon. Cooler and wetter than the past several years.  From Monday through Tuesday we had 2.5" of rain and it is raining today.  Onward! 

Teasel with a backdrop of blackberries.

This Hawthorn is loaded with berries.

Here's a close up.

The wet weather has been hard on the blackberries - they mold easily.

Hazel catkins

Big Leaf Maples are still green, but their seeds are ready to fly away.

Iris tenax and dark brown seeds pods - they've already burst open.

The result of lots of moisture - zillions of little plants/grasses have germinated. 

Verbascum

Lots of fruit on the crab apple this year. 

Poison oak turns pretty colors in the fall.

Douglas fir cone.

Oops - it's started to rain again - let's go back inside.