Sunday's Hummers

Not much activity of late.

Just one female Rufous to enjoy today.

 

Saturday's Critters

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!

Wasco Walk - Part Two

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 and up to 22 miles wide in places. Amazing!

May's Blog Header

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 Stitcher, "An Ostentation of Peacocks".

Row #2: The Cricket Collection, "Soft Boiled" - "Tiny Chick";  The Drawn Thread, "For the Birds"; The Prairie Schooler, "As the Crow Flies" - "Sow Four Seeds"; Ewe and Eye and Friends, "Peacock Spot Sampler". 

Row #3: Bent Creek, "Leaves"; Sisters and Best Friends, "Just Cross Stitch 2005 Ornament Issue" - "On the First Day of Christmas"; The Cricket Collection, "Eggs...etera" - "Painted Egg"; Praiseworthy Stitches, "Winter Bird Delight"; La-D-Da, "Tis Better to Give Than Receive"; Heart in Hand, "Birds".  

Wasco Walk - Part One

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 and lots of wildflowers.

A wild parsley of some sort.

A new wildflower for me.

Large-Flower Triteia

And always one was aware of the past volcanic activity.

Layers and layers and layers of balsalt.

The Mighty Columbia River

Lupine

More Balsamroot

Mt Hood

Stay tuned for Part Two!

Pops of Color

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.