Spring is Trying to Arrive

I can't believe this weather.  One week its above 70 degrees and the next it's 50 degrees.  I'm hauling my deck plants in and out of the house still in order to avoid frost damage.  Sheesh! 

From last summer

The goldfinches are donning their breeding plumage, at least some of them are.  I've had a lot of them all winter long and they all seem to have stuck around.   There's a pair of Eastern Towhees that appear to be about to nest in the area, too.  The Eastern Phoebes are working on a nest right now. 

Had a great trip to Florida for hubby to play in a bridge tournament and for me to spend time with my quilty friends.  We had our own mini retreat for a couple of days.  It was fabulous.

View from the coffee porch

Little guys trying to not be blown away 

I've been making some progress in my quilting studio but nothing to show you for it just yet.   Hopefully soon I'll have some pictures for you. 

Meanwhile, hope all of you are handling pollen season well.

Y'all take care

Mish Mash

We had one of these lovely sights this afternoon.  I scrambled to get the camera but the conditions changed so quickly that the colors had faded before I could get back upstairs.  This one is from a year or so ago but same location. 

The trees are beginning to have the faintest hint of green on them.  I bet within two weeks, they'll be totally different than now.  

Hubby and I went to a blues concert on Saturday night.  Saw Mac Arnold , an old time blues man who has played with all the greats over the years.  He's up there in age but he's still going.  His bandmates are fabulous musicians.  If you ever get the chance to hear them, jump on it. 

The goldfinches are singing up a storm outside my house these days and there's lots of them.  The pine siskins are heard occasionally but I figure they'll be all gone quickly.  It is that time again and I think some birds are migrating early this year. 

My quilting has been lagging for months now.  I'm actually working on a top but it is taking me far longer to get it finished than it should.  I just get distracted by anything and everything.  This is the original pattern. 

Original layout 

I didn't like the way that looked so I changed it up to this following. 

Final layout

I didn't have a background fabric that I liked and when I went shopping the local store didn't have what I wanted either.  I wound up getting the pale green and thought it would work fine.  However, not as good as I expected but once its finished and quilted I think somebody will enjoy it. 

Y'all take care 

Winter's Here

Winter's here in the mountains.  We're having snow today, lots of tiny snowflakes coming down steadily.  The ground is just about covered now.  We're expecting only a few inches from the whole system.  Due to the cold temperatures, it'll be sticking around for a while.  We aren't expecting temps above freezing for two or three days.

This from a week ago but soon to be again

I'm sitting here this morning watching the birds outside.  They never cease to amaze me.  There's juncos, sparrows, doves, wrens, goldfinches, white breasted nuthatches, chickadees and titmice regularly.  Others stop by as the mood strikes.  Such a peaceful scene. 

I'm trying to get back into my sewing and quilting.  Somehow its been very hard for me to get motivated to do it of late. 

Last year when the mountains got a dose of real winter in late February, I was in Hawaii and missed the whole thing.  Not so this year but that's okay.  We don't usually have anything severe and it'll pass  soon. 

Y'all take care

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....

The Farm Girl is gonna be hibernating today.  Even though the sun is shining, its still cold outside.  Now, cold is relevant, of course.   We've had two dustings of snow thus far this winter and there's a forecast for a mix of snow and rain later in the week.  We'll see.  Good thing I like being tucked inside my snug house.   Except.......tomorrow is the beginning of the winter birding session through a local college.  Thankfully, there will be a classroom gathering before we head off to a local spot to see what we can find.  Hey, the sun is supposed to be shining so it'll work.   It's been done before.  

Birding February 2011 near Wheeler Nat Wildlife Refuge.  Yeah, snow.  

Saw my first whooping cranes in the wild that day, so it was totally worth the effort. 

After procrastinating for months, I broke down and bought myself a new toy for my birthday/Christmas present.  Got a new lens for my camera.  Now, to learn how to use it properly.  Otherwise, it'll be an expensive paperweight!!

Hope everybody is doing well.  We're staying warm and trying to keep the birds fed, the little pigs! 

Y'all take care. 

I'm Still Alive

I'm still alive and kicking, I promise.  Just being lazy and the procrastinating like crazy.

Hope everybody has recovered from the holidays.    We spent them with the kids in Iowa and had a good visit.  Weather was good, too, and that's a wonderful thing.

View from the window

I went out a couple of days attempting to find two snowy owls that had been sighted locally.  Absolutely no luck.   Bummer.

Gotta run.  Got company coming in a bit and I still need to vacuum upstairs.

Y'all take care.

One Down, Two to Go

One visitor week down, two more to go.  My dear brother left early this morning after spending the week with us.  He jumped right in (as he is wont to do) and helped Hubby and me get a bunch of chores done.  

His truck was very handy in taking a load of debris down to the transfer station.  For us to take it would have required numerous loads and the dismantling of a large cabinet/bar.  

I actually had a list of things I wanted him to help me with and he obliged.  Got my swing put up at last.  Poor thing has been hauled all over the country.  

Hanging under the deck and outside my sewing studio. 

My Uncle Leonard made porch furniture for many years and this is one of his.  He made it in Alabama, shipped it to me in Las Vegas where it sat in the garage for years.  Then I hauled it to Florida where it got put on the porch of the garden house.  Now, it has moved to Georgia.

Brother and Hubby replaced some rotted boards in the walkway.  

New boards with one coat of stain

Then they tackled the edging for the flower bed on the slope.  It wasn't on the list, but.....

We're expecting our first temps around freezing tonight so I've been busy bringing some of my geraniums inside.  I don't know how they're going to do but we'll see.  There's one plant that will do fine and its special.  Was given to me many years ago by an older dear friend who was moving to Maryland as her health failed.  She has since passed away.  This plant is special to me and is gorgeous, to boot. 

Same plant but taken last year in Florida

It'll live inside now until all danger of frost is gone next spring.  

My salvia is still gorgeous.  The hummingbirds seem to have all gone south.  Haven't seen one since last Monday. 

This salvia is just outside my window and I love to sit here at my desk and watch the hummers enjoy it. 

I'll do my best to be back soon. 

Y'all take care.  

Busy Times Ahead

There's busy times ahead for our household.  

I'm off to a quilting retreat on Wednesday, leaving hubby at home to do his thing.  I'm sure he'll get his housekeeping hat on, too, even though he doesn't have to.  I'll be returning on Sunday and then my brother arrives on Monday.   It's his first time up here so it'll be interesting.  He's been in this area before and likes it.  I sure hope the weather cooperates.  There's been enough rain for a bit. 

Just two days after brother leaves, we have folks from Portland, Oregon arriving.  This will be their first trip to this part of the country and its been way too long since we saw them.  It's gorgeous where they live, of course, but its different here.

And, lastly, a couple of days after they leave, another couple from Florida is scheduled to arrive for a week long stay.  I think I'll be ready for a break by then.  

My perennials are winding down.  It won't be long before we have cold nights.  I'll also be emptying pots from the deck and/or bringing them inside soon, too.  I use clay pots and they can't withstand the thawing and freezing cycle if left outside.  I'll empty what I don't want to bring inside and store them out of the weather until spring.  

A few of my pots

I may not post here frequently, but I want all of you to know that I really do enjoy visiting your blogs and having you visit mine.

There've been a couple of new visitors and I really appreciate them.

Y'all take care.