Little Winter Visitor

The last time over at the beach, we were looking for Nelson's sparrows which had been sited there.  We had seen them before, but they are quite uncommon and we couldn't pass up the chance to go looking for one so close to home.  

This is the little guy that was causing all the excitement.  I didn't get very good pictures but it was fun trying.  We saw eight of them which was a real treat.   The only time we get to see them here along our coast is in winter.  

Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrow

You never know what you are going to see.  You can count on shorebirds of some sort though.  

These little guys were so busy along the waterline.  They never seemed to stop more than a second or two. 

Sanderlings

It appears that a shell is caught on the middle bird's right leg.  Hopefully, it came off.  

And, we couldn't make a trip over without noting the lovely wildflowers that were blooming.  

And my pals are ever on the lookout for the next bird. 

She with the spotting scope and he with his trusty camera.

I'll be away for a few days.  Meanwhile, 

Y'all take care.  

Love and Frustration

I think I am falling in love again -- with my old Kodak camera.  I pulled it out a couple of days ago and stuck some new batteries in it.  It still works like a champ.  It's the first digital camera I had and its been around since 2003 I believe.  It's smaller then the Nikon DSLR that I have and, thus, much easier to carry along wherever I go. 

I'm working on a signature quilt block and you'd think one measly block would be a snap.  Wrong!!   I used EQ7 to print out the cutting directions for the block, but no sewing instruction.  How hard could it be, right?  I've made a few quilts in my time, I can do this.   

Oh, me, how wrong I was!  It's not obvious in this picture, but that mitered corner looks awful!!!  Yes, I have taken it apart, recut the blue fabric and redone it.  To no avail.  And we won't even talk about that point not matching up.  I can live with that one, but that rumply corner will not work.  The bad thing is that I was given only a 10 inch square of the white muslin which MUST be used for the signature portion of the block.  Now that I've whacked it up, I have to find either find another pattern that I can use the remaining white fabric in, or yell for help in fixing that corner.  

It hurt my heart to cut a two inch square out of those nine fabrics to make the center, but it looks so pretty!! 

And since I've cut my pretties, I want to use them!! 

Y'all take care. 

Changes on the Homefront

I am trying so hard to make some changes in the decor at our house.  We've been here fourteen years today and its time.    A lot of the big pieces came into the marriage from DH and his late wife and they are more formal than what I would prefer.  However, the practical girl that I am can't always see replacing expensive pieces of good furniture just because they don't fit my preferred decor.  At least not yet.   However, it is tiring to look at after so many years and I'll make small changes as I can.   Given my druthers, I'd ditch a lot of them and start over!!  The city boy and the farm girl definitely have differing ideas. 

Last week I went out for the day and came home with some beautiful colored canning jars to go along with the single one I had from Mama.  Today, I shuffled the mirror over to the side and put up this display using the jars, my wonderful fat pine cone, branches from the yard and a bird's nest.  I rounded up the picture from another room.  Oh, the bird's nest is sitting on the top of that blue vase on the right, with some ivy behind it.   What do you think? 

We have a pine tree in our yard that produces the most gorgeous pine cones.  They can be nearly a foot tall and I love them.  Of course, they would knock you out if they fell on your head while green!!!  

Y'all take care. 

Birds on My Mind

Haven't seen a hummingbird in nearly a week now, so I've taken down two of the feeders.  I refilled one feeder and put it back up in case there's a straggler coming through.  Besides, the house finches like the nectar too.  

I've moved the safflower seed feeder to the edge of the patio so that we can see the birds from inside.  And, what a sight it has been.  It is besieged by mourning doves, cardinals, titmice, chickadees, Carolina wrens and the finches.  Even a bluebird will stop by on occasion.  Thankfully, the squirrels don't care for safflower seeds, so they pretty much leave that feeder alone. 

Well, I HAD some pictures of the squirrels on the back patio, along with the wren but they have disappeared.  I was working yesterday to learn how to put a watermark on my pictures when I want, and I likely deleted them by mistake.   

It's always interesting at this time of year to see who will stop in on the migration.  This guy visits regularly because he's a resident of the area. 

Cooper's Hawk

A couple of weeks ago, a juvenile red shouldered hawk was chasing  two squirrels round and round the oak tree trunk.  Needless to say, he was unsuccessful in his attempt to catch them.  I think they realized he was a juvi too, or they would have disappeared in a flash.  No way to get a camera to record that one, but it was priceless to see him trying to maneuver around that tree.

I also heard the first owl of the season a few nights ago.  Sounded like there were two, or maybe three, great horned owls behind our house.  I love the sound of their voices.    You've seen this 

picture before, but they're not easy to come by, so it'll just have to do.  

Y'all take care. 

Leaves for Leontien

Over the past couple of years, I have been blessed to have contact with a lovely lady named Leontien.  She embodies the strength and grace that I so admire.  She is battling a very aggressive form of melanoma, and I ask all who read this to send up prayers to your God for peace and strength and faith, not only for Leontien, but for her loving and steadfast husband, and family. 

For you, sweet Leontien, words can't say how much you mean to me.

Y'all take care.  

I just cannot seem to get the link to work, but for more thoughts and wishes for our friend, go to http://www.aruraljournal.com/p/october-is-national-breast-cancer-month.html

Going Wandering

I've been remiss in taking pictures here of late, so I thought I'd share some of the pictures from our trip to DeSoto State Park in northeastern Alabama last September.  Somehow, I never got to them before. 

One day, we decided to go for a little walk.  Figured it'd take 45 minutes or so and then back.  Somewhere along the way, however, we missed a signpost and wound up on a trek of over two hours!   Lovely scenery along the way, though, so who's going to complain?  

I found all these colors and textures to be just fascinating.  Oh, and all these photos are straight out of the camera.  No adjusting or fussing with any processing software.  

I had to laugh right out loud when I saw this one.  Somebody has a sense of humor.  Now, who but a park ranger out to mark a trail would just happen to have a can of orange spray paint with them?  Perfect knot to turn into a pumpkin.  

"I love to go a-wandering, 
Along the mountain track, 
And as I go, I love to sing, 
My knapsack on my back."

(Now, get that lyric out of your head, okay?)  :)

Y'all take care. 

Yard Wanderings

I wandered around outside yesterday to see what was happening in my poor yard.  There's not much going on, other than unwanted grasses and weeds growing everywhere!!!   We have been inundated with chamber bitter since Hurricane Ivan blew through here in 2004.  There's some kind of grass that has shown up in the last two or three years and it has spread extensively this year.

The fun thing I did see, though, is a bloom on a cutting that I'd put in a jar to root.  I've had success with rooting like this before, but never a bloom.  The bud must have been set before I cut the sprout off the tree. 

The colors and texture of foliage can be every bit as beautiful to me as flowers. 

Variegated lacecap hydrangea

Shell ginger 

I'm off to a quilting retreat tomorrow.  It should be a fun time, what with over 60 quilters getting together to do what we do best.  Notice I'm not saying exactly what that might be!!

Y'all take care.