Going to the Birds

A dear friend of mine asked me yesterday to send her some pictures of what I have been working on lately. One might could say that my life is "going to the birds" here recently. I have been stitching a new set of blocks that have birds in each one of them. I also think they look like Kaliescope pictures or even Mandala type art.




Now just have to figure out how I want to place them in a quilt and what fabrics to use. Lately, I have been using very vibrant colors because I have so wanted Spring to get here. Thanks goodness it has finally arrived, but we did have quite a bit of snow fall just the other day.




I am so happy the snow melts quickly once the winds start to blow and the sun comes out again. Does make for interesting driving down our mud pit though.



Also, people have been delivering vases of dafodils to the residents of the nursing home and personal care where I work. I love seeing this bright yellow around and the flowers make wonderful conversation pieces to get everyone talking to each other.

Enjoy your Spring and I hope it doesn't fly by too quickly!!

A Bird's Home

At the local Farmer's Market there is a new vendor this year and I simply love her items. I have never seen any birdhouses shaped or painted like these before. They are too cute to put outside to weather and fade in my opinion. I haven't purchased one yet because I haven't decided which one is my favorite. My daughter has her favorite in mind and she also says there is one of the dogs that has "sad" eyes that she likes.



All I know is the person that creates the shape of these has a creative vision and the painting is one of the best -- a true artist.




The name of this booth -- Lakeside Decoys by Jim & Chris Linn-Hatcher, http:/www.lakesidedecoys.com out of Helena, MT

Spring Chickadees

Oh, how I would love to hear the birds chirp right now!

Winter is seeming like forever here in Montana these days. Plugging in the van to ensure a start when turning the ignition key, brushing the snow off the windows, frozen ice on the windshield wiper blades, and watching every step you take. Then, just like out of no where down you go whether it be forwards or backwards . . . an instant feeling of defeat.



Since the birdies don't seem to be in the near future, I decided to stitch some to work on a colorful quilt top. Maybe I will get it put together by the time green grass and green leaves and sunshine appear around here.



Until then, I may just have to go and purchase some fresh cut flowers for the dining table -- those always perk me up!! Hope you will do the same if you are beginning to feel the way I am these days.

Ornament Stitching

I have been stitching for a few weeks on a panel of little cute birdies to make into ornaments to sell at a local Christmas show this year. Here are some I have put together.

I am planning on doing more ornaments with different miniature pictures on them and have started stitching those in just the past couple of days. There are three girls at a group home I have been working at that have asked me to stitch them a little something so you will be seeing it here shortly. I just have to keep my fingers busy while doing some overnight shifts at the group homes. The little projects also make me feel like I am getting something completed faster.

Kite Flying

Today, the boys (Wynston and Avery) went kite flying with Uncle Robert and myself. Even though it was COOL outside we braved it as the winds were just right to lift the kites almost immediately.



Avery concluded the outing by saying, "It was fun, but my toes got a little cold".

Visit with Nature

Yesterday, the boys and I had the privilege of going on a fishing outing to Lewis & Clark State Park and Fish Hatchery with a group from Eagle Mount.



Eagle Mount Great Falls provides new adventures for very special individuals. Infants, youth, adults and seniors with disabilities can explore recreation based on their abilities. Their smiles are priceless as they realize dreams do come true.






It was a pleasant day and there were many smiles to go around. My youngest, Avery, tried his hand at fishing for a while and then wanted to explore or just "hang out". I left Wynston (soon to be 12) with the Eagle Mount crew and he had fun learning about fishing and is now talking about going again and working with the staff person from Eagle Mount to learn more to help volunteer on fishing trips.




Avery was thrilled to feed the fish at the fish hatchery from a 5 cent feeding machine. He kept telling me that "you are the best mom ever" for bringing him to this place.

I kept wishing I had better photography equipment to capture the birds on the water, but I think I didn't do too bad with my digital camera as I am providing this picture of what I was enamoured with:

Peacock Beauty

Peacock full span, originally uploaded by pixilpame.

All fanned out and looking pretty!

The male peafowl, or peacock, has long been known and valued for its brilliant tail feathers. The bright spots on it are known as "eyes", and inspired the Greek myth that Hera placed the hundred eyes of her slain giant Argus on the tail of her favorite bird.

Indian Peafowl is iridescent blue-green or blue in the head, neck and breast. The back, or scapular, feathers are vermiculated in black and white, while the primaries are orange-chestnut. The so-called "tail" of the peacock, also termed the "train," is not the tail quill feathers but highly elongated upper tail feather coverts. It is mostly bronze-green, with a series of eyes that are best seen when the train is fanned. The actual tail feathers are short and grey-coloured and can be seen from behind when a peacock's train is fanned in a courtship display. During the molting season, the males shed their stunning train feathers and reveal the unassuming grey-coloured tail which is normally hidden from view beneath the train. Both species have a crest atop the head which is also present in the females.

The female peacock is duller in comparison. It is mostly brown, with pale underparts and some green iridescence in the neck, and lacks the long upper tail feather coverts of the male.

The plumage of the peacock, and the peahen's preference for its exorbitance, is a classical example of sexual selection and especially the handicap principle. However, in recent years scientific research has shown that the size and brilliance of a male's plumage does not meaningfully correlate with his mating success nor his health, and that instead the key factor for attracting females is the vocalizations made prior to mating.

Peacock Applique Quilt Block

I have totally fallen in love with this quilt block. I will be making it this week!

Some months ago, I was scouring the internet looking for a quilt block pattern of a peacock. I have always loved this bird. One's childlike cry even caused me to get locked out of my aunt's house on a snowy day when I first moved to Montana years ago. Let's just say I am glad the neighbors were friendly and kept me warm, because my relatives were gone when I got locked out of their place.

I have definitely decided to follow this very creative artist blog site and see what else she comes up with. Her link is here for the peacock story: http://www.lemontreetales.com/lemon_tree_tales/2009/01/peacock-quilt-applique.html

Truly beautiful and inspiring to me!!! Many thanks Lemon Tree Tales.

At the Duck Pond

The kids and I visited the duck pond at Gibson Park for the first time today with a bag of old buns. The boys had a splendid time and left saying they wanted to return really soon. I made that happen rather quickly as I loaded them and their dad up after dinner for the excursion repeated. I had found another loaf of bread in the bottom of the refrigerator under the meat crisper.







Also, I had been told that people come out on Wednesday evenings for music performances at the same park. The turn out was great and everyone enjoyed the music played.



We took Fred to see the flower garden and arch. He thought it was lovely but allergies and an asthma attack took over and coughing from Fred played along with the music. So much so that at times people were looking and staring like "what is this sick man doing out and about."







All in all it was a nice evening to be out and about. Next time, however; one will remember to check and see if the inhaler is packed along for the trip.

Hummingbird Sachet

Recently I commented on a blog I follow about an article titled "Get Excited, Make Something". Since I was one of the first 5 to respond, I received this beautiful hand-made hummingbird sachet made by Tommye, the author of .

It is very sweet and I have it on my craft table to admire. It is too cute to place in a drawer.



Thanks Tommye -- I have a smile on my face right now!