Weekly Wanderings!

 

This week went by fast and we got out to enjoy some nice weather and a few rainy days. I have been working on my quilt and hopefully, it will be finished next week.

We got out to the island for a walk around the lighthouse after the rain stopped, so it was a nice way to get out and walk on the road and stay out of the wet grass. Always beautiful views and lots of birds.

We also went to the beach a few times, but the tide was always high, so not as much to find, just cool walks on the beach.

Even with high tide, walking along the edge, I find a few things that get thrown up. A large piece of pottery was a big find, it even has the rounded handle on it. I am thinking it was a bean pot.

At home, my feathered friends are alway a delight to see and the bunnies are out more this season.

And the local turkeys showed up and showing off their brood, quite a few this year.

And today we had the boys for the afternoon. We took them on our boats to a little island in the local cove. They loved being able to swim and a picnic on the beach. It was too windy to go to the point, but we were able to paddle a bit in the inner coves to show them the wildlife. Alex found out why you don't lean over in a boat, he and Bill went over, sure wish I had a photo of that, lol.

The kids came over for dinner and finished staining our porch, so now I can do the finish work and put it all back together. I hope you all had a nice week and enjoy the holiday weekend.

Friday Finish!

 I finally finished my blocks by Suzy's Sitcom. I started the blocks, years ago and never finished the rest. When she offered them up again, I did one more and made it into a wall hanging. I like having something that is longer and narrow, to add to a side wall. I hung it on the hooks to get a photo, so I can hang it later, when I decide where to put it.

Another thing I was working on, a puzzle. I have gotten some new puzzles and winter is a nice time to work on them. This one was 1000 pieces, so it took me 4 days of working a bit at a time, on and off during the day. I find it relaxing and once I do one, I can donate them to the local nursing home.

We finally seem to have gotten winter, but at the wrong time. The birds are extra hungry with the snow and cold, so the feeder has been busy. Here are a few of my snowy visitors. The metal bird is a solar feeder, so it lights up at night. I got it for decoration, I really don't want bird poo, all over it.

This Bluejay is a pig, I let him take a few and then chase him off, otherwise he will eat all the peanuts.

The Carolina Wren is coming back again, I think they were hiding out this winter.

We have had more Black-capped Chickadees this year. They tend to get pushed out, by the larger birds. I have the feeder on the porch, so I put out a bit at a time, that way they all get a turn, at different times of the day.

Today we got to spend some time on the island and did a little beach collecting. At one beach, I spotted this Red-tailed hawk. He was on the Osprey nest, scanning the fields for mice.

And this is what I found on the beaches. We came when the tide was coming back in, so the regular collectors got what was on the main beach, I found mine by scanning the incoming tide. The large green piece, was in the water, which is why I wear rubber boots.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend and enjoys some time outside. Or if you are snowed in, time to work on some new projects.

Friday finish!

 It seems I did a lot this week and got nothing done. I did take down my Valentines decorations and started with Easter. I am trying to cut down on the amount I put up, so things don't look so cluttered, but I know I will end up making a few new things.

I am working on getting some quilts ready to quilt, lots that need to be finished. I also had some new paint markers to test and found out, they are just markers, no acrylic markers, so I had to redo them, with the better markers. Not as good, as when I use paint, and I rushed them, but a lot easier and less messier.

They do look better in person, the fresh gloss, makes them look worse.

Last weekend we took a ride, no luck with birding, but we enjoyed the views and a stop at the Westerly lighthouse.

On Sunday we took a ride to the fish hatchery in Connecticut. I heard there have been eagle sightings there. We got a nice walk in and as I was getting ready to leave, I saw a black bird in the sky. Thinking it was just another vulture, I wasn't quick enough to get great shots.

I caught him as he flew over head. Then he landed on a telephone pole, way up on a hill and then he was joined by his mate. They were too far to get a close up and a river between us, so I couldn't get closer. It was still wonderful to finally find one.

We also saw a lot of other birds in the bushes, most were too busy to sit still and too shy, to let me get close. I think the first are Hairy Woodpeckers, the middle is a  Chipping Sparrow and the last is a Northern Mockingbird.

The Hatchery has a nice walk along the river and into fields, so we will have to go back to that area again. I hope you all had a nice week and get to enjoy getting outside and exploring your area.

Friday Finishes!

 

This week I have been busy, being Lazy. I spent more time working on projects for fun and got a few new things made for the boys. The first finish are a pair of pillows with Balsam filling. I love having some for the house and giving them as gifts, nice for those who don't have a real tree.

The design is by Robin of Bird in the Hand Primitives. She offered this as a free design years ago and again on her Facebook page. It is a fun design to do and would be fun in punch needle too.

I also dabbled a bit with needle felting. I bought a pack of cookie cutters and used them to form a base for some little ornaments. I do find it easier to free hand but it is fun to try the cutters to get started.

I saw a cute little reindeer and wanted to try one for the boys. Mine did not come out the same, and this photo does make it look funny, but it is cute in person. I have a variety of wool roving and some is harder to work with. I think it would have been easier if I didn't use a scratchy wool.

And on nice days we spend our time at the beaches. Not as much glass lately, but just walking along the beach is enough.

This area has another beach we visit, beautiful views of the bay and Newport.

And during the week I enjoy sitting on the porch and watching my feathered friends. This is the brother and sister of the adult pair, I guess they decided to stay. The yard photo was enhanced a bit, but it was beautiful with the setting sun, beaming down on the tops of the trees. This week will be busy, cleaning and cooking, for Thanksgiving. I hope you all have a wonderful week and holiday.

Friday Finish and weekly friends!

 

This week I finished a piece I was working on, a design by Cheri Saffiote. It is fun to do Christmas throughout the year and I will have lots of gifts for next year. I do plan on selling some things this year, so I need to organize what I have and what will sell.

This piece was done with colored pencils and DMC floss, then I used a bit of glitter floss in each design element to add a pop. I am not sure what the black line by the glove is, but it doesn't belong.

And what is not showing is the edging along the outer border. I did a feather stitch in red and love how it looks on the piece.

Last weekend we took a drive to the ocean and sat at the breakaway. Of course the seagulls were abundant, there are several restaurants in the area, so lots of scraps. They are the same seagull, the darker one is the younger one.

And I always have fun watching the common Eiders, they are great fishermen. The female has a catch and the males are white and black, the other is the younger male.

And we got to watch the seal as it swam in, as the tide was going out. Someday I will get a close up of some seals.

And another thing to enjoy on the docks is, boats, and ferries. Someday I would love to do some art pieces of the fishing boats. I cheated and added a blue sky, not much sun lately.

On the way home, I spotted a few hawks. Bill drives and I saw Hawk and sometimes he actually hears me and stops, lol. This guy was closer, but when I opened the window to shoot, he took off, so I was able to catch him further in the field, high up in a tree. This is a Red Shouldered Hawk.

No sun but lots of snow lately and more today. I enjoy seeing all the birds who come in the snow, they seem to be more active when it is snowing.

And a few sit in the trees, too shy to come to the feeder when I am around. The chickadees are the friendliest, they sit and chatter at me.

And a visitor who is not allowed on the porch, but I let him sit for a photo. I have food in the other feeders that they are allowed to have, but they know there are peanuts upstairs.

And last but not least, time with the boys. Mom and dad were car shopping so the boys spent the day with us. Too cold to go out, so we had fun playing at home. Of course Bean wanted everyone to play with him, he is such an attention hog.

I hope you all had a good week and staying warm. It won't be long before Spring is here, I can't wait.

The week before Christmas

 I thought I would do an extra post this week, since we will be busy for the next few days and I may just put up some photos on Friday. I had some nice time out this week and started making masks for my niece who works at a vet's office.

I wish I had known they were all woman there, I wanted to get fabrics that anyone could wear and not too bright. The store had some beautiful fabrics for ladies, but she seems pleased with the ones I made up, so I will be working on more, so everyone has one.

We also got out for some rides and nature viewing. There are more Great Blue Herons this year and they stay during the winter. I spotted this guy in the marsh and just as I got out to get a shot, he flew further away, so I wasn't able to get a good close up.

At another area, I spotted two more, in a marsh. They look small since they are resting, but they are the same size as the ones above.

We sat at the Breeze way and watched the boats go by, and was treated to this seal, who popped up for a few minutes to lounge on his back. I always seem to spot them when they are moving away. 

And the most fun was watching these Common Eiders. They were fishing and the seagull was following them around. He tried with all his might to steal a crab, one had caught, but he was no match for the Eider.

And we got home in time to watch the boys go sledding, at the nearby school.  They loved sledding and it was a joy to see them having so much fun.

And at home, I am enjoying my feathered friends. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas, and are able to spend it with family. May you be filled with the peace and love of the holiday spirt.

Friday Finish and Fun!

 

This week I had more energy so I worked on some new masks. I had gotten some fun kids halloween fabrics so wanted to use them up, so I did a few for now and next week I will use up the fabrics. I saw a notice for someone looking for larger men's sizes so I let the local group page know that I had some and got a request from a lady who works at the school near me. She will stop by Monday to get hers and I will give her the extra kid masks so she can give them out to kids who need them. 

I like the 3D style, it is not hard to make, but the sides are thicker and I am trying to figure out how much I can trip to make them neater and easier to sew. The owl fabric was from Joannes, not as thick as the quilters cotton, I get from the shop. A fat quarter makes two adult and two kid's masks.

We got to get out and enjoy some time with the boys this weekend. We took them to a new place, Fort Shantuck in Connecticut, part of the Mohegan reservation. The park is free and has a pond with walks around the grounds. 

The boys loved exploring and we had a picnic by the pond.

The pond is filled with ducks and wildlife, a nice place to walk and relax at.

On Sunday we had a rest day, and lucked out with a spot with views of the bay. Bean gets to go with us and loved playing in the water and I even found some nice glass, hiding under the rocks.

At home I have been enjoying the birds and was surprised when I spotted this guy watching for mice near the kayak rack. It is a juvenile Cooper's hawk.

I love having the suet on the porch, the Downy Woodpeckers love it and are getting used to me, sitting there. This is the male, I have two males and two females that visit.

And here is a female, you can see her feet and why they can climb up and down trees so well. I hope you enjoyed seeing a bit of my week and I hope that you are all safe and healthy and enjoy visiting places in your own area.