Frosty Morning - Plants

Wednesday morning the low temperature was a frosty 20F and Thursday morning we had a low of 24F.

The Ali-Baba fountain was coated with ice, but still burbling along.

In fact everything was rimed with frost.

It made for a pretty morning...

Almost as pretty as a snowfall.

Last year's weeds had a structural clarity when outlined with frost.

As did the blackberry canes...

...and Hazel brush...

...and willows.

As the sun rose slowly in the sky, the frost-covered grass began to sparkle.

A lovely, if brisk start to a new day.

A New Visitor

 Design - "Pin Keep Box"

Chart - "Joy to the World"

Designer - Lizzie Kate

Fabric - 32 count natural linen

Fibers - Crescent Colours, GAST, and WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 31 December 2012

Completed - 3 January 2013

This is the last of the reindeer for a while.  Really liked to use of color in this design - Ye Olde Gold, Bluecoat Red, and Licorice Red are standouts.

I know I just subjected you to entertained you with a series of water bird photos the last couple of days.

But PAdma has decreed - the bird photos continue!

On a cold, sunny Wednesday afternoon the cats and I were entertained by this unusual visitor.

We had a Black Phoebe stop by.

He is a fly catcher who likes areas with slow moving water.  Only 10 years ago this small bird never strayed north of California.  Now it drifts into the southern Willamette Valley regularly. 

The Phoebe liked the ridge-line of the house roof.

He sang merrily to us in the Winter sunshine.

A Wetland's Walk - Part 2

Lately, I've had mittens on my mind.

I think this Shepherd's Bush kit is calling my name...

I hope you are bundled up and ready to continue our Wetland's Walk.

Egrets are such cool birds - lovely in flight...

..and painting-worthy on the ground.

The Delta Ponds appear to be a wonderful place for these large (39") fishermen.

Egrets are wading birds and are patient in their pursuit of a fishy dinner.

We were fortunate to be able to observe them in flight and on the ground.

This copse of yellow willow served to brighten our walk. 

Here is a Bufflehead, a terrible name for an attractive small duck.  This guy was the speed boat of the ducks - cruising along at a rapid speed, then diving for dinner.

And this is a Northern Shoveler.  A duck only a mother could love!  Smaller than the Mallards, it too is a dabbling duck.

The large broad bill is characteristic on both males and females.

A patch of Snowberries.

This bird has the worst name yet - an American Coot.

I think it is rather handsome with its charcoal gray body, black head, and ivory beak.

Some of the shrubs along the shore line were already budding.

I saved the best, or the biggest anyway for last.

Everywhere we turned there were Great Blue Herons.

They stand 4 feet tall and have a wing span of 6 feet! 

While they are fishing birds, Herons will eat anything they can spear with their beak, including rodents.

As we returned to our car, this Heron patiently posed for us.

He allowed us to get closer...

..and closer still!

Thank you - you are well-named.  You are a Great Blue Heron!

A Wetland's Walk - Part 1

Design - "Joy"

Chart - "Flora McSample 2011 Christmas Ornaments"

Designer - Lizzie Kate

Fabric - 32 count Wichelt Milk Chocolate Linen

Fibers - WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 30 December 2012

Completed - 30 December 2012

There's going to be a bit of Reindeer Theme Spillage over into 2013.  This was a perfect stitch for an evening watching "Mama Mia".

On Monday morning my mother, sister and I took a Watery Walk around the Delta Ponds.  Grab your scarf and mittens and join us. 

The 150 acre site is the result of gravel mining along the edge of the Willamette River in the 1950's. In the last few years the city has worked hard to restore the wetlands, and to create an oasis of quiet amidst busy roads and condominiums. In 2005 a notch was cut in the levy allowing the Willamette River and the ponds to flow into one another once again. 

75,000 genetically local trees, shrubs, sedges and rushes were planted between 2006 and 2011 to create habitat. While much work still needs to be done, there is a very nice pathway and the birds we observed seem most content.  New Year's Eve morning was cold and brisk - our walk invigorating.

The Canada Geese were all tucked in for a mid-morning nap.

Or perhaps they were just cold!

This is a Pied-Billed Grebe.

A knowledgeable Birder identified it for us, otherwise it would have remained a Mystery Bird.  It's a small bird, only 13" long and a diver.

The ponds were edged with lots of red barked shrubs.  This may be Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea).

As well as the Canada Geese, there were many Mallard couples out and about. 

There is something inherently amusing about Mallards don't you agree?

I think this is the breach in the levy which now allows a small artery of the Willamette River to flow through the ponds.  It helps to keep the waters fresh and clean, and provides food of an aquatic nature for the many birds.

If there are Basic Brown Birds in the Duck World, then the Gadwalls qualify.  The male is in the front, the female in the back.  They are dabbling ducks who forage on the water's surface for plant material. 

We also saw several Double-crested Cormorants.

This one is performing the Cormorant Caracole!

Singly...

...and in groups.

Their bright yellow bills and size make them easy to identify.  They dive for small fish - very successfully.  

I have yet more bird photos to share and will post Part Two tomorrow.  Please come back to continue on with our Wetland's Walk. 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

I thought I'd share a card and envelope my great-grandparents received for the holidays 90 years ago back in December of 1923.