Primrose Tuesday

I finished "February's Primrose" the 2nd in a new series by Cottage Garden Samplings. 

Design - "February's Primrose"

Designer - Cottage Garden Samplings

Fabric - 32 count White Chocolate linen

Fibers - DMC, GAST, & WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 13 March 2013

Completed - 20March 2013

Another fun border - who knew borders could be fun?  I like the crown and key motifs.  Plus an appropriate sentiment for February.  The colors used for the flowers are lovely - my photo does not do them justice. 

And speaking of primroses...It's time for another Garden Party over at An Oregon Cottage. 

I think this primrose looks rather like the ones I just stitched!

It rained recently and splashed dirt on these lovely primrose blossoms.  This one is such a pretty color, I wanted to share - dirt and all. 

  

Here are the three Belarina primroses I over-wintered.

From left to right: Cobalt Blue, Cream, and Buttermilk Yellow. 

I also over-wintered this Cowslip primrose (primula veris).  I remember the first time I ever saw them growing wild: It was late May along a lake outside of Dublin, Ireland.

Lots of daffodils coming into bloom.

This is kind of a mash of tulips, muscari, and daffodils.

Doesn't that make you smile?

I can see these outside my craft room widow.

We have two daphne - one on each side of the steps to the Front Porch.  The large shrubs are blooming and wafting fragrance. 

My trillium progress report - isn't this going to be a stunner?

Podophyllum are such funny plants. They certainly add interest to a shaded area. 

I bought a small native wild Bleeding Heart (dicentra) last summer.  It is coming back strong and twice as big.

This tray of cyclamen and pansies as performed for months on end now.  I planted the pots in October and tucked them in a west facing nook under the eaves.  Though they've looked rather sad on very cold mornings, they've recovered by each afternoon.  A lot of bang for the buck.

The hummingbirds are most pleased that this currant is now in bloom.

That's my Tuesday Garden Report. 

Bunnies, Bunnies, Bunnies

Chart - "Soft Boiled" #272

Design - "Tiny Bunny"

Designer - The Cricket Collection

Fabric - 30 count pink unknown linen

Fibers - DMC - 2 strands over 2 threads

Started - 22 March 2013

Completed - 23 March 2013

Does this work as an Easter stitch?  I think so.

Let's continue the bunny theme...

As Easter approaches...

...there are bunnies...

...everywhere!

Now that the grass is greening up...

...they've taken to hanging out along the edge of the berm in the backyard.  

While the near-sighted cats don't seem to see them most of the time...

...I do worry and have mandated that the cats can't be outside unsupervised.

As Tom-Cat thinks he is Elmer Fudd ("Kill the Rabbit!") this is a necessary precaution!

Sparkles in the Morning

Friday night about 11:00pm under the light of a 3/4 moon, a skein of geese flew low overhead.  I could hear them honking as I lay warm in my bed. The cold moon slowly gave way to a morning that dawned cold and frosty.

Do you suppose really cold grass tastes like Iceberg lettuce?

Just a thought.

We haven't had a real hard frost like this in a while.

The cold air did not stop this Song Sparrow from greeting the morning with a merry tune. 

Frost rimed the new leaves in the Blackberry vines.

It made for puffy Juncos.

Even with the cold, Spring advances ever along - see the buds?

It's still Fur Coat Weather!

Snoopy Does

Mornings continue to be cold and frosty.

Even the hawks ruffle their feathers against the cold.

Thursday morning this doe decided to check out the cats.

She walked right up on the Back Patio...

...and corralled Parvati under a white plastic chair.

Parvati did not take kindly to this intrusion.  She spat and hissed, but the doe did not seem to care.  Padma hunkered next to the kitchen door, hoping someone would let him inside away from the Big Monster. 

Score - Deer 1 Cats 0

By late afternoon temperatures are warmer and everyone comes out to enjoy the sunshine.

The Mourning Doves are most active in the early morning and the late afternoon.

Hop and Hum

"Hippitty Hop" is going to be my first Easter stitch.  I say first as I might get one or two more worked into my rotation. 

Solomon an Indoor Cat, gets to spend a bit of time outside.  He is very, very taken with birds and thus requires supervision.  There are Juncos in that Daphne - can you tell? 

I don't worry about the cats and Hummingbirds this time of year.

There's not much in bloom, so the Hummers stick to my feeders and insects.

They are very territorial are rarely share the feeders.

I have one at each end of the Front Porch.

So you'd think I could have two birds anyway, one at each feeder.  But not for long as one will run off the other.

The morning light was just right to add a glint to the ruby neck feathers.

I think we were basking in the sunshine.

The green feathers too had an iridescent sheen to them.

Today and One Year Ago

Here's my progress on "February's Primrose".  The flowers are quite lovely.  Now to stitch the sentiment.  "March's Daffodil" arrived in the mail, but I find I need to order the fabric.

One year ago today March's Daffodils were buried under 8" of snow.

It's hard to believe that a year ago I woke up to this landscape.  It is highly unusual to have a snow this late in Winter.  It was probably a once-in-a-lifetime event. 

This week we've had a mix of sunny and gray days.

One afternoon as the cats and I sat on the Back Patio watching the world, a Sharp-shined Hawk suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Boom! 

He struck at a little Junco and the feathers flew.

I was sure the bird was dinner, but amazingly it escaped and was able to fly away.

Ala Marjolien Bastin, I decided to collect a few of the feathers - Tom-Cat helped me. There were black feathers, black and white feathers, and white feathers.

My neighbors have a Hummingbird feeder just outside their front window.  Here's a Rufous at the feeder. 

We now have three Turkey Vultures hanging around.  I can see this snag from the window of the Craft Room as I sit at my computer.

This was an Equal Opportunity Tree.  Three Vultures and two Hummingbirds.  Can you find the Hummers? 

The Evening Grosbeaks have been AWOL for a couple of weeks.  I was glad to see three guys and a gal at the Big Birdfeeder.