May Trail Camera Photos - The Backyard

Who has been out and about?

California Quail

Gray Squirrel

Skunk

Raccoon

Deer

Button Buck

Spike in velvet

Bobcat

Daytime capture!

Bees and Branches

Design - "Bumblebee"

Designer - Country Cottage Needleworks

Fabric - 28 count Lakeside Patina linen

Fibers - Country Cottage - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 30 September 2012

Completed - 5 October 2012

Seems like I'm collecting photos of birds on branches again.

Male House Finch and newly-fledged youngster.

I like his sideways look.

Male Brown-headed Cowbird

On a branch as promised.

American Robin

Not a great photo - but a thrill to see a Nashville Warbler.

Bee Skep & Waxwings

Design - "Bee Ye Humble"

Designer - Pine Mountain Designs

Fabric - 32 count Wichelt linen

Fibers - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 4 June 2012

Completed - 7 June 2012

This kit came with a tuck pillow, creating an Instant Finish!  

Besides cross stitch, the design used Satin, Herringbone, and Double Leviathan stitches.

In keeping with the stitching color scheme...

... I present Cedar Waxwings.

I had a couple of birds come in fairly close...

...and stay for a while.

See the yellow-tipped tail feathers?

I don't think it is possible for them to take a bad photo.

To the right...

...and to the left.

Wednesday's Walk

It's a truly lovely day for a walk.

Look at that blue sky and the bright green of the Oregon White Oak.

Stunning!

Wild Honeysuckle

Douglas Fir new growth

Ninebark

Checkermallow

Cow's Parsnip

Nootka Rose

Blue Dick

Osier Dogwood

Miner's Lettuce

Thimbleberry

The Big Creek

Vine Maple

Western Columbine

Close-up

Wild Lupine

Bitter Cherry

Oak Galls

I feel refreshed and renewed!  How about you?

The House Wrens Set up Housekeeping

Design - "Keeper of the Bees"

Designer - Ewe & Eye & Friends

Fabric - 32 count Belfast Dirty Linen

Fibers - Anchor & Threadgatherer

Started - 24 April 2005

Completed - 7 August 2005

Framed - July 2010

I thought the simplicity / complexity of the border was most clever.  I liked it so much, that when it came time to have the piece framed, I decided it did not need a mat to provide separation - the border did that just fine.  

This piece tested me a bit - Threadgatherer Silks were used to create the four spiderweb rosettes - some turned out better than others. I came to the conclusion that it looked like nature - each flower a bit different than the others.  Lastly, I was most pleased with the frame.  I felt that the running floral pattern echoed the rambling flowers in the stitch.

Finally, after a couple of weeks of non-stop sing...

...the male House Wren has a mate.

He's up on the gutter, she's in the house.

Here she is!

He's been keeping a close watch.

I'm excited to watch them build a nest and raise a family.

June's Blog Header

Garden Grumble Cross Stitch Fumbles Birding Bumbles

June 2020 Blog Header

Row #1: The Prairie Schooler,"H is for Honey"; Homespun Elegance, "Bee Happy"; Homespun Elegance, "Bee Busy Bee Happy"; The Prairie Schooler, "A Prairie Year II" - "August"; Ewe & Eye & Friends, "Keeper of the Bees"; The Chartmakers, "Bee True".

Row #2: The Prairie Schooler, "June" - "Bee Skep"; Birds of a Feather, "No Bees No Honey". (Row 2 is just two designs kind of in the upper center of the collage).

Row #3: Bee Motif Egg Cups and Pitchers Purchased in England 2013 (also in the center of the collage).

Row #4: Examplars from the Heart, "The "B" Hive Sampler"; Ewe & Ewe & Friends, "Summer Hive";  The Sampler Girl, "Saturday Sampler #4 - Furnish'd with Bees";  Lizzie Kate, "A Bee C".

For this month's blog header I used pieces that I stitched while on vacation in 2013.  I also included the bee stitches that I've had framed.  

Here are some of my framed bee stitches.