Here we go! Design - "The Chicken Sampler" Designer - The Stitching Shed Fabric - 28 count Antique White Fibers - Anchor - 2 strands over 2 threads Started - 5 May 2012 Completed - 16 June 2012 I'm finished - I know have six colorful chickens in my coop.  This is such a bright and cheery piece.  It would be easy to personalize by changing the colors to suit the stitcher's taste. A had a nice, bright flock come by.  This is the most American Goldfinches I've seen thus far. They were hanging out... ...everywhere! I always think they look like Christmas lights ..read more

A lovely day for a walk! Serviceberry is in bloom Close-up Camas Meadow Rue unfurling Vine Maple Not sure what I caught here Vine Maple and my Big Creek bird watching chair Ash Willow O ak Yet more Vine Maple And blue bells...how did they get here ..read more

Design - Wee Chicken Designer - Heart in Hand Fabric - 30 count 18th Century Stone R & R linen Floss - GAST Started - 15 June 2010 Completed - 22 June 2010 I haven't had much woodpecker activity lately. So it was nice to see a male hairy woodpecker stop by. And also very pleased to have a male acorn woodpecker briefly stop in. I'm hoping the acorn woodpeckers become a regular thing. Eyes closed. Eyes open ..read more

 Design - 77919 (I'm calling it 'Polka Dot Egg Chicken') Pamphlet - "Spring Trend" Designer - Rico Designs Fabric - 26 count Golden Flax linen Fiber - Anchor floss Started - 11 September 2010 Completed - 12 September 2010 Having crows around has been interesting. This photo for example shows as turkey vulture in the upper left. In the lower right there are three birds. The middle bird is a raven, the other two are crows.  The crows were mobbing the raven and successfully drove it off. I think the crows are nest building. Nice to have a California scrub jay show up. Th ..read more

Lots and lots and lots of gray squirrels! Several chipmunks Bedded down A darling Douglas Squirrel Look how small it is compared to the gray squirrels. Hope you have a relaxing Saturday ..read more

Not much activity of late. Just one female Rufous to enjoy today.   ..read more

Part Two of our adventure. Mt Hood Balsamroot Parsley And a new-to-me bird! A Western King Bird! Monkeyflower The Gorge and Columbia River Serviceberry Larkspur Mt Hood Serviceberry And look closely! Can you see the Western Meadowlark? The Meadowlark is Oregon's state bird and they were singing and singing and singing. And I have to end with yet more Balsamroot. Our day's adventure was a perfect western daytrip / Waning family wandering. 450 miles total, eight counties, and 13 hours! We also drove past the R2 Ranch in Wasco and Jefferson Counties. It is 47 miles long ..read more

May Blog Header Revealed Garden Grumbles and Cross Stitch Fumbles May Blog Header I decided to keep on stitching birds in May, so my header reflects one of my obsessions. Below I've listed the designers, the charts and the designs names.  Rows are horizontal. Row #1: The Stitching Shed, "Cluck Cluck"; below that is The Prairie Schooler, "Trick or Treat" - "Owl"; "Birds of a Feather, "Happy as a Lark"; The Trilogy, "Happy Chirp Chirp Day", Elizabeth Spurlock, "Easy Cross Stitch Patterns a Day 2009" - "Black-capped Chickadee"; The Yankee Stit ..read more

On Saturday, April 20th my sister, mom, and I took a road trip. We drove 190 miles to the north and east to the Tom McCall Preserve near Mosier, Oregon. This amazing place abuts the southern edge of the Columbia Gorge. This is looking north across the Columbia River to the north side on Washington State.  Mountains everywhere... Mt Adams But the true reason to go in April is to take in the amazing displays of Arrowleaf  Balsamroot. My sister did a 3 mile hike (up the bluffs), and my mom and I did a 2.5 mile hike that was not as vertically challenging.  There were lots a ..read more

Design - "Gingham Bunny" Chart - "The Bunny Collection" Designer - JBW Designs Fabric - 28 count Antique White linen Started - 11 July 2010 Completed - 12 July 2010  Just a few American Goldfinches so far. I've not seen more than 4-6 at a time. I am hoping for larger numbers. The same with the Black-headed Grosbeaks. So far no more than two birds ..read more