Time is Flying

Where does the time go???  Seems every time I turn around another week has gone by. 

My birding pals, Birdlady and Larry, spent a few days with me.  We had a wonderful time.  Every day was filled with birds.   It was so good to see them.  We wandered all over the place, up mountains and over mountains and over to Tennessee. 

We took a day and went over to Hiawassee National Wildlife Refuge which is northeast of Chattanooga, Tennessee.  There we saw thousands of sandhill cranes.  These are just a few.  

Sandhill Cranes, photo by Larry Goodman

In flight, photo by Larry Goodman

Sandhill crane, photo by Larry Goodman

Both of them were just astonished at the number of birds that come to my feeders every day.  

Mourning Dove, photo by Larry Goodman

Carolina Chickadee, photo by Larry Goodman

White breasted nuthatch, photo by Larry Goodman

Northern Cardinal, photo by Larry Goodman 

Another of our forays was up to Brasstown Bald in search of ruffed grouse.  We hit heavy fog on the way up the hill but punched right through the layer and found bright sunshine up top. 

Sunshine and Ice 

It was bitterly cold due to the brisk wind.  The sun tried valiantly to warm the air but with no success.  The birds had better sense than to be out and about on that morning, so after a short stop, we headed back to the warm car.  

Lovely scene, but brutal

The warm was melting the ice just enough that the brisk wind had the ice coming down constantly. 

I'll be out and about the next couple of weeks, so may not be checking in too often.  Meanwhile, Happy Valentine's Day to all of you. 

Y'all take care. 

Exploring

A couple of days ago I took a drive over to Franklin, NC to check out a couple of quilts shops.  You always want to know where the good ones are.  I visited A Stitch in Time where I bought a new book by Kim Brackett and a couple spools of thread. 

I've been browsing through the book and I'm finding several patterns that simply call to me.  I have a tendency to only make bed sized quilts.  I guess its a throwback to the fact that Mama only made utilitarian quilts for our beds.  I'd really like to make smaller lap quilts and throws, even some wall hangings.  I've got the perfect place for a hanging quilt rack and I'd really like some things to put there.  If you're a quilter, take a look at this book.  I think you'll like it. 

I also went to Deb's Cats and Quilts and I LOVE that store!  I'll definitely be visiting there again.  I found a batch of fabrics that just called to me and insisted on coming home with me. 

from Deb's Cats and Quilts

Black fabrics don't normally appeal to me but there's two of them in this bunch.  The one on the end has tiny, muted red flowers in it.  The other one has brighter colors. 

I've also been taking classes in a program called OASIS this winter.  It's a community outreach program through a local church and its huge.  There must be 200 or more folks in and out of the building on class day.   I'm taking beginning basket weaving which I absolutely love.  I've finished one basket and am well on the way to finishing another one.  Here's the first, called a napkin basket, but I'm using it to collect half square triangles down here in the QK (that's quilting kingdom).

napkin basket 

This basket still needs to be stained but that's a project for another day.  I'll wait until the market basket is finished and do both of them at one time.   

I'll definitely be signing up for more basket classes.  I am amazed at how much fun they are. 

I am also in a painting class/workshop.  Mostly we just gather and work on whatever we want.  We have a couple of "instructors" who are available to answer questions and help out, but mostly we're on our own.  I'm definitely not talented when it comes to painting but I've done one little piece that I'm okay with.  I think its going to my Birdlady friend, since the loves the picture that this is adapted from. 

I took the picture of the thrush on our trip to Texas in April of 2012 and she put it on the front of our trip photo book.  Looks like we'll be trekking to Texas again this year.  Yippee!!!!!  This will be four or five years in a row.  

My fireplace in the KQ has been so nice this winter.  I turn it on in the morning and get the place warmed up and then its usually off until the evening when the space cools down. 

Y'all take care. 

Bits and Pieces

Although I haven't shared much lately, I've been sewing a bit.  I pulled an unfinished project off the shelf and, after some procrastination, finally got my head wrapped around the method again and finished a quilt top.  I took a workshop with the designer of this pattern back in 2009 and its been sitting patiently since then. 

Bella Luna by Lisa Moore

Back in the summer I picked up a jelly roll from a local quilt shop to have something to work on while still in the RV and during our house hunt.  Never did start on it until we actually got into the house, but its now finished and I really like it. 

Floral Bouquet

It's always a joy when a project meets your expectations upon completion. 

Both of these are just tops at the moment but will be turned into real quilts.

I also completed my first wool applique project which is a small candle/table mat.  I learned a bunch on this project and it'll stand me in good stead on future projects.  

Hubby and I took a ride yesterday.  It was a gorgeous day and would have been a shame to stay home.  We explored some areas we had not been to before and stopped in Clayton, GA for lunch.  We happened upon a local and asked for suggestions as to where to have lunch.  After a minute's thought, she pointed across the street to the Universal Joint, a restaurant located in an old filling station/garage.  A great  place and the history of it was very apparent.  It is a very popular place too, as both the inside and the large outside patio were filled by the time we left.  We'd never been over there before and it is a really neat little town.  I can see that it would be a fun day trip with the girls.  There's a lake nearby called Rabun Lake but I've not been there yet, either.

We then headed on up to Franklin, NC and then back home via a different route along US 64.  Even with the trees being bare, it was a beautiful drive.  Can't wait to do it again once the foliage is back. 

Y'all take care. 

Christmas Bird Count

It's that time of the year again, time for the Christmas Bird Count.  This was my first outing and it really wasn't much different from any other birdwatching day except we started at 6:20 a.m. and didn't stop until 5 p.m., when it got so dark we couldn't see another bird!!  Oh, and the record keeping was more detailed.   I was elected to be the driver yesterday, so it was a little more taxing on me than the passengers.  

Our day started by getting up at 4:15 a.m. and heading out the door by 5:30.  It didn't take us as long to drive to the count location as we had anticipated.  Anyway, we got to our first stop in time to watch dawn break and to hear the birds start to wake up.  I can't  say we got to watch sunrise, because we didn't see the sun all day yesterday.

Common loons, winter plumage

We did, however, get some wonderful rain about midday.  I don't even remember when it rained last here and certainly enough to be measurable.    We were in and out of the car, trekking down paths and wandering in parks.  Our count was in a small town, but one with tons of trees and natural areas.   Didn't bother with photos to speak of because it was so dark..

After meeting up at the coordinator's home for a count tally and dinner, we drove back and I dropped the other girls off at about 9 p.m. and I was home by about 9:40 p.m.   Today, I'm a bit draggy, if you know what I mean.  

Brown Pelican on a dreary, dark day 

But, I get to do it again on Thursday when we will be surveying an area along the Choctawhatchee River.  It will be as isolated and wild as our trip yesterday was urban.  I'm looking forward to this one because I've never had a chance to explore that area before.  

Y'all take care.  

Trekking and Trying

I love to trek out into the hinterlands trying to find wildlife and birds.   Since moose are indigenous to Vermont, I figured I'd make an attempt to find one.  Hubby and I spent most of the day up in the wildlife refuge.  Didn't see one single moose!!!   We saw about five sets of fresh moose tracks, but not one moose!!   It had rained the night before, so we could easily tell the tracks were very fresh.   

We loved the day out, though.    We took a picnic lunch and something to drink and off we went.   Had our lunch on the tailgate of the truck.   After we left the refuge, we just went exploring the area.

Earlier in our stay, we went over to the Victory Bog which is the origination point of the Moose River which runs behind our campsite.  

This place reminds me so much of Alaska.  

We didn't walk any of the trails that were there, but that's another story. 

We have enjoyed our stay up here, but it has not been all sunshine and roses.  Hubby experienced some medical issues that resulted in an ambulance ride to the ER and then a couple of weeks of uncertainty and anxiety, including another visit to the ER.  Thankfully, he's doing very well now.  

We've also experienced some mechanical issues with the RV.  We suffered a burned out motor on the front awning, which is still under warranty.  Finally got the motor replaced, only to have that one promptly burn out too!   Turns out the manufacturer was supposed to send us a new switch at the same time, and they didn't.  So, it cost them another motor and the second time they sent the new switch.  So far, its working okay. 

Now, if we could just say the same for the awning over the slide outs.  The spring in it broke. We got it replaced and thought it was working fine.  However, Hubby was worrying whether it would wind up properly, so we did a test.  Didn't work.  The spring needs to be tightened up.  The repairman who has done all this work does a good job once he gets here, but getting him to show up is enough to make you pull your hair out.   Says he'll be here at 9 a.m. and you're lucky if he shows up that day at all!!   Heck, it might be two or three days later when he shows up.   He's the only game in town for on site repairs, though.   Try dealing with that kind of aggravation at the same time as Hubby is having health problems.  A very trying situation. 

Y'all take care.  

A Local Adventure to Arcadia Mill

Spring temperatures are definitely here but where are the sunny skies every day?  Sure has been a dreary time around here.  We'll get one day of sunshine and then three or four gray days. 


Yesterday I went up an open house at Arcadia Mills.  I had never been to the location before.   You can read all about the mill here.  Arcadia Mill   

A primary reason for going was to see two friends working on hooked rugs.  For a long time, I've wanted to learn rug making but didn't know anyone who could point me in the right direction.  I'm expecting to hear from them in the next day or so as to when a class will be held by Ms. J.  Can't wait!! 

Wonderful fibers

These same two ladies are part of a fiber group that meets monthly in downtown Pensacola Village, the historic section of town.  There are spinners, weavers, quilters, knitters and folks who crochet.  Actually, anyone who works with fibers in any way is welcome.   They've invited me to attend next time and join in the fun.  I may take them up on it, provided I can arrange to have a project to work on and that can be taken along easily. 


Crossing Pond Creek on the swinging bridge was an adventure, particularly when more than one person was on it at the same time.  

Swinging bridge over Pond Creek

I was amazed how many people didn't know what these winged creatures were.  Termites are very common here in the south, and at various times they come up out of the ground and swarm through the air.   This swarm was resting on a nearly rotted piece of debris.  

Swarmed Termites

  
These guys were likely warm in their period clothing.  Looked to be wool for a number of them.


All in all, it was a very enjoyable day. 


Y'all take care.