A Blue Bird Summer

While visiting the Fairhope, AL  Arts & Craft Show several years ago, 

I bought this metal roofed Blue Bird house.

Sadly several years went by with no visiting Blue Birds. I thought it a lost cause, so I enlarged the hole slightly to allow other birds to use it. But still no interest......that is until we moved to Maryland.

 I had moved the house close to the backdoor to discourage any birds from using it because the house was soon to be packed into a box - we were moving again.

                 Days before our move, a beautiful bright blue male did the house hunting
                                                   before the female set up house.

I watched only for a very short time before I quickly cleaned out the nest and moved the house inside. 

Such a shame after waiting for years.

Our new backyard. Setting up the bird house was one of the first things I did.

But there wasn't a Blue Bird in New York that was interested! 

Eventually a Chickadee family did set up house and we watched the comings and goings of the very busy parents all summer.

So this Spring I changed my strategy ....I purchased another house and moved the now Chickadee house to another location. 

A wild turkey group would often casually walk by as we finally saw some Blue Bird activity.

 A family moved in :) 

 (there is a very handy space below the roof that I can slip my mobile phone into for a photo)

It was so fun to watch the very busy parents.

 I didn't want to disturb them often, so the next time I looked at the four little babies they already had all their feathers.

We were away for a few days and on our return I found an empty nest.

 But soon after the babies fledged, we would see the family visit our yard - the male would perch on the highest tip and the babies would take the lower branches.

It was several weeks later when we were very surprised to see more activity at the house.

By the time I tip-toed up for a photo I found four more babies newly hatched.

                                                                 they grew quickly

and were soon fledged.

I  found three of them huddled together in a nearby branch and was able to watch the male come and go with insects for awhile until a big Blue Jay came along and scattered them....

they went in every direction.

                                             We kept watch on the tip of the big tree again, 

                                          seeing a couple of them only briefly once or twice.

Next spring we will watch again.

(the gold coloured tree in the background was actually green during the day, but the pollen caught the low evening light and would turn a brilliant gold)

Summer projects - The Unfinished Pile

                                   I have had a long break from blogging, but I haven't been idle.

                                                 It has been a busy summer of unfinished projects.

                                                    My sister should recognize this pile!
                                        - how many years ago did I shop for flannels while in NZ?

                                I returned to the States with hundreds of little squares and triangles...
                                 all measured, cut, and stored into little plastic baggies by Mandy.
                                                 
                                     I finally pulled them out and matched the lights with the darks,

                                                             and began the design process. 
                                         No longer liking anything about the fabrics or colours :( - so dated!!

 It wasn't long before I had them spread out on our fancy design wall  bed and was swapping out this one, for that one. I even invited a quilter friend over to get her opinion.

The top was put together

                                                  then stretched out on the floor and layered.
                                                  Floor space was tight, rugs needed to be moved.

The whole time I am asking myself why didn't I do

 this when we lived in the house with miles of floors.

The real quilting began

I added the binding.

and "Stars In My Eyes" was soon finished

I then pulled together some tiny scraps to make a label

and there it is. I kind of like it now, I am having trouble seeing the stars, 

but never mind. I hope it will keep Christopher warm and cozy this winter.

One project down,

and up next another from the unfinished pile.....

thread, binding, quilt top and backing all ready to go.

Does anyone recognize this quilt top?

Snowy Days

I gave up on the 6" ruler, time to get out the big guns!

some new snowshoes became necessary!

                                                       I was soon out making snow art.

We like to attract some local wildlife

Chester really isn't in the mood to go out.

A frozen Finger Lake

                                             and a movie theater is back there somewhere

                                                     A Fun evening at an outdoor Ice Bar

                                           Time to leave all this behind for some fun in the sun.