Tag Archives: birds

Cows, sheep, birds, and bunnies!

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We sometimes experienced cows and sheep on the road :-).
Highland “coos” are very cute, and docile. Unless you mess with them and we did not do that.

The sheep were white and everywhere we went outside of towns.

These fellows have been sheared. They look so different!

And this was new—brown sheep! Only saw them once.

I heard more birds than I saw. I’m pretty sure this is an Oyster Catcher.

Gulls are everywhere. More than one kind and Steve could tell them apart.

These are juvenile Jackdaws (I think). They were fuzzier than an adult. While we watched, one of the parents flew in with food 😊.

Most of the rabbits were cottontails but we did see this albino rabbit whose coat was textured. He looked huggable.

The rabbit was with these chickens. we didn’t see many chickens 🤷‍♀️.

The most exciting animal spotting for me were the Puffins!

We are at the Edinburgh airport, ready to fly through London Heathrow to Dallas. I’m out of sewing and knitting so will read one book, or listen to another book, and maybe doodle in a notebook. Lorna and I will have time to map out what to work on next.

I have loved every bit of this vacation. Scotland is a wonderful place filled with some of the nicest people I have ever encountered.

Show and tell… Steve’s Birds coming later this year

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Linda has all of the block of the month patterns because she’s my (not all the way retired) partner and special. These 4 blocks are in your future!

Greater Roadrunner

Linda is choosing the colors that she thinks the birds should be, whether they are that color in real life or not. I love them!

Scissortail Flycatcher
Carolina Chickadee
Great Blue Heron

Show and tell… Steve’s Birds

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Judy Ullman wrote to say that she is enjoying researching the birds and used a collage method on Mickey Lawler Skydyes fabric. Well done, Judy! You found a really creative way to use the patterns! Thank you for sharing and it will be fun to see what you come up with next :-).

Carolina Wren
Florida Scrub Jay

Show and tell…

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Gail Hansen, from Hervey Bay, Queensland, made this lovely quilt:

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She wrote:

I am a big fan of your designs – my favourite book being ‘The New Applique Sampler’ which I bought a few years ago and refer to constantly.  When earlier this year I saw your pattern for ‘Backyard Birds’ in my quilt group library I had to check it out.  In the process of planning this quilt I decided I should do Australian birds rather than American birds.  As I live in Queensland the birds I chose are all native to eastern Australia tho many are seen throughout the country. It is needleturn my favourite form of applique, hand and machine quilted.  I am extremely pleased with end result and thus prompted to send you a photo.

I love Gail’s quilt and I love the fact that she made it her own by drawing and appliqueing Australian birds. Congratulations, Gail!

Maui, last day(s)…

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On our last full day on Maui, we went birding. The guys are enthusiastic birders as is to be expected because they are biologists after all.

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Even though I am not even close to being a birder, I did take a very few nice bird pictures.

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Personally, I enjoyed the shape of this tree as much as I enjoyed the birds.

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We went to Makena Beach Park after birding where there were dangerous shore breaks. Enough so that we did not stay in the water long. Amanda is saying hello there, not asking for rescue :-).

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I was happy to catch some wave action in focus—manually!

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I took a few more “story” pictures. Please do tell me what you think. I have to turn in my homework tomorrow.

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PS—While walking down an alley to our hotel one night we saw this mailbox…

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I stopped, and stood in front, and contemplated the message and button…

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The ‘Oh try it, it won’t shock you’ pulled me in. Seriously, I’ll fall for just about anything, just ask my sons.

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I got a little wet. Luckily the camera was spared a drenching. Next time I see something like this, I’ll stand to the side when I press the button :-).

Chirping pillows…

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Susan (a blog reader) sent me this photo and I thought you all would enjoy seeing her first applique project!

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Susan wrote: “I took parts of your blocks (from Applique With Attitude) and arranged them to suit the shapes of my pillows. I began quilting about a year and a half ago and came across your website quite by accident…..a lucky accident for me! I like applique better than any handwork I have ever done. Thank you for inspiring me…..wish I had your eye for color.

Your work is amazingly bright and beautiful and cheerful, and your website is so easy to navigate and packed with helpful information.  Your tutorials got me off to a good start for the basics of needle turn applique (I “cheat” and use a toothpick.) [FYI—as I wrote to Susan, toothpicks are a great tool and it’s not cheating to use them. It’s just smart :-).]

The buttons on my pillows came from my grandmother’s button boxes,which were an old snuff can and an old baking powder can.  She’s been gone for many years, but she is still with me.  🙂

Thank you for your long-distance help, Susan”

I have to say that I do enjoy getting emails like this. Seriously, who wouldn’t? I’m not saying that to get you all to write to me. No, it’s more of a reminder that we should all, me included, send notes of gratitude. That said, here’s one from me, to you:

Thank you all for taking the time to read what I post. Honestly, it makes my day to know that you all actually do that. I work from home most of the time and our online community is a very nice part of my life. I’ll do my best to not get boring :-).

Have a lovely day…