Featherstone Quiltworks

Yesterday we spent cleaning son Rob’s rental side of his double bungalow.  I thought I wouldn’t be able to move today, but I actually feel pretty good!  And major bummer:  I forgot to take my camera, so you will just have to imagine a little two-bedroom place, nice and clean and fresh smelling!  He took us to Matt’s Bar for dinner and we had their famous Juicy Lucys.  Mm-mmm good!  Monday night, and it was packed.  Before we left, the line waiting for a table was well out the door, spilling out onto the sidewalk.  A VERY popular spot.

This red-winged blackbird thought he should get in on the finch seed buffet:

If he gets to be too big of a pest, I’ll just snip off that bit of a branch he is standing on.  The house finches (or maybe it’s just one) have been regulars this past week.

And I love it when the birds clean up after themselves.  This chipping sparrow was gleaning the leftovers that fall down into the river rock below:

Well, that’s it for now.  I’m going to head downstairs and finish the quilting on my Out of the Bag quilt.  I’ll post a photo later.  I was asked yesterday how I was quilting it.  I’m using a Golden Threads Panto, Cascade, by Keryn Emmerson. 

Have a terrific Tuesday!

–Sue

Here are two Texas bird pictures.  The pelicans always fascinate me:

And another favorite, a Northern Shoveler:

Click here to get to the give-away post.  You can enter the drawing once per day this week — drawing on Saturday.  Be sure and make your entry HERE!

–Sue

Last week at the birding center, this cute little Least Grebe entertained me for a long time.  When I take bird photos, I always have my camera set to take multiple (up to four) exposures if I hold the shutter button down.  You never know what the birds are going to do when they are already in motion.  This little guy didn’t disappoint me.  You would never guess how long his neck is!

Enjoy whatever you’re doing today, and don’t forget to take time to s-t-r-e-t-c-h!

–Sue

Monday I made the short trip to both Paradise Pond and the Leonabelle Turnbull birding center.  It’s always a surprise to see what birds are there — or aren’t there.  Last week Paradise Pond was teeming with Great Blue Herons, Black-Crowned Night Herons, and Ibises.  This week there were turtles.  Lots and lots of turtles.  It was a warm sunny day, and anywhere there was the slightest bit of a log protruding out of the water, there were more turtles!  In case you’re interested, these are Red-Eared Sliders.  In the third picture, you will see the tell-tale red marking on the turtle’s head.  The largest ones are pretty close to the size of a dinner plate.

Then I made the 2-minute drive to the birding center.  No big birds at all.  From a far distance, I did see three of the Showy Egrets, and I saw one Tri-Colored Heron, also a little too far away.  Lots and lots of ducks, just like last week.  It was a calmer day, however, and with the bright sunshine, a lot of the ducks were taking a floating nap, like this Green-Winged Teal:

We sometimes see Moor Hens, but they are usually walking along the shoreline, in and out of weeds, and I haven’t been very successful in getting a good picture.  Today this guy was having a nice swim:

And a picture of a Northern Shoveler:

The water was so much more calm this week, it made for some nice reflections.  The next time I go, the weather, the birds, and the water will all be different.  It’s always an adventure!

–Sue