Blogging from a cyber cafe on vacation! :)

Ok, so I was looking at that second Oriole, and thinking that it didn't match up with the pictures of the female orioles in the bird books. I determined that I had a young male oriole - a different bird than I had seen previously.

This afternoon I saw a female oriole for sure. She looked like the ones in the books - no hood on her head like the males do. The young male was in the tree at the same time. His belly isn't as orange as the first male oriole, and his head and wings aren't as black. So, in just a weeks time I've seen three different orioles. This is very exciting!

A pair of Baltimore Orioles!

I was sitting here reading email tonight when I looked up and saw an oriole at the grape jelly. I thought it didn't look as orange as I remember from the previous days, and when I took a closer look I saw that it was a female oriole. So, we might have a pair of them who visit us. I think that it is possible they have a nest nearby. If so, maybe we will see some young birds this summer as well! Won't that be cool!

I had a wonderful visit with one of my best friends yesterday. I gave away my first stitched card as a gift (not just as a card for an occasion).
She and her daughter got to see the oriole, who has become a regular visitor. She liked the filet lace pillow.
This morning I saw a hairy woodpecker as well as the oriole.

I spoke too soon! I was able to capture my orange friend at the deck. Check this one out!

After we saw the oriole on Saturday, I put out some orange halves for him to eat. I have put oranges out before, and usually only the house finches eat them. This afternoon I saw the male oriole having a snack at the orange. I wasn't able to get a picture since he is camera shy. My husband says I am stalking the birds, and maybe I am. I just want a nice picture. :)

Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

We saw our annual Baltimore Oriole last night! It was petty exciting.

Marybeth's Stitching

Marybeth's Stitching
Happy Weekend! Last night I made a pillow cover. Despite the fact that I really don't know what the heck I'm doing when it comes to actual sewing, I did a pretty good job.

I've been updating web pages here today, so check them all out!

Bird activity has been pretty slow after that big day we had last week. It seems that the White crowned sparrows have moved on. The Downey woodpecker is back more frequently.

I've gone on a grackle elimination campaign. I've moved the safflower seed into the feeder on the deck. I'll put some sunflower seed out in the yard. Maybe the cardinal will come up to the deck, the grackles won't spill so much millet seed, and everyone will be happier. We'll see how that plan works.

While working from home this morning, I saw THREE white crowned sparrows.
They are multiplying!

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

birding.com - Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Guess who flew onto my bird feeder this morning! Oh my gosh! I'm really excited about this one.

I thought I was getting obsessed about seeing new birds: I saw a bird that looked a little different on the deck this morning and immediately went to the bird book. As if, seeing two new kinds of birds this week, the return of the gold finches and three cardinals weren't enough! Then what do you know, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak lands on my deck! Woo-hoo!

Since I said the blog was about stitching, I thought I should write a minute about stitching. I'm still doing embroidery on paper. I stitched four cards while I was in Fargo, and then when I got home I made a birthday card. I'm now working on one last card before I pick up my fabric again for a while....
Also, my sister told me that she had bought a binder for some address information, and she was thinking about cutting down one of the cards I'd sent her to slip into the cover. I just made her a custom sized card for the binder. I completed it and need to get it in the mail... Maybe I'll be able to get that out today. Then I can post the picture.

Back to fabric!

It's been a busy birding morning here at my house. I saw two (2) White-crowned sparrows. Maybe they aren't just migrating through.

Also, the Gold finches have returned. They came in March for a while, and then I haven't seen them for weeks. This morning I saw three!

And the best of all! We have had a male cardinal hanging around this spring, and we were thrilled! Today I saw a female cardinal and was just delighted. Then I saw a second male cardinal! Three cardinals in the yard at the same time! Hooray!

We have two new birds visiting us. According to the books, they are migrating through, so I don't expect them to hang around long.
We've seen a White Crowned Sparrow and a Harris's Sparrow.

Pretty cool, eh? This has been a good year for birds.

Fargo

Greetings from Fargo. We are up here visiting with the in-laws. I went to Nordic Needle today and shopped till I dropped. I bought some tools to do the embroidery on paper. I thought that I could just use the pin like I'd been doing, but the tools make it so much easier. Now I'll all set. I have a few books, lots of card stock, and the right tools to punch holes. I'm just ready to go.