Scrappy Bargello, and a Welcome Visitor

I've recently heard that Bonnie Hunter's  Scrappy Bargello are "everywhere" -- It's time for me to make another one - they are fun and excellent scrap user, as well as a charming Linus/kids quilt..  Here is one block - I've made 16, heading for 24, but I ran out of that spring-y green plaid.  An order was placed on line for 2 possibilities, and when my order arrived, the blue/green plaid on the right was chosen.  It's gonna work!  Today I'm getting the rows together.

Guess who/what is baaaaaaccccckkkkkk!  8-))   For months, we've been noticing a pile of poop ( LOL ) under one of the evergreens but could never find the roosting culprit until today.  Perhaps this is our pooper! Do you see him?  My goodness he's almost invisible this time of year, wearing whitish plumage. 

He didn't even open his eyes to look at us - such a bold little thing.  If you don't remember my stories of his and his family's visit last year, he is a Screech Owl.

We still have a bit of snow, temps are mid 40s, but more snow is expected tonight.  Stay warm, little Screech Owl!

Screech Owl, Video.

I am possibly the only one left who is not tired of looking at these little creatures.  Learning how to download my short video onto YouTube and then finding it again to insert into this blog post, is a major accomplishment! 

He/she really IS almost this close!  Hope they return for keeps.  At last count, there were 5 of them.

Unexpected Blessings

We finally upgraded our $19.95 tacky bird bath (14 years old!) with this pretty green choice.  Even after 2-3 weeks, the birds are highly suspicious, and have not used it heavily.  I am disappointed!

On our beautiful Mother's Day, I had just finished basting a quilt in the garage.  DH was still putting the tables away.  As I walked into the house, I looked back at the birdbath, hoping some birds had finally lost fear of the bigger and better birdbath.  Uhhh, what is that in the bath???  That  ... thing ... a small branch? a gopher? a small cat?  It took me a minute to realize -- my gosh -- it's a little screech owl, in the middle of the day, in the middle of the bird bath, just having a good ole splashing time, while all the robins, sparrows, finches and blackbirds, were having a chirping conniption.  (Naturally this event happened while the camera needed recharging!!!) 

 This must be one of the same pair we saw earlier this spring, (same photo)-- perhaps he likes my little back yard.  DH walked closer to him, and even with less than 20 ft of space between them, his presence  didn't concern the owl in the least.  Finally, after his 10 minute bath, he flew into the spruce tree for another half hour of preening, and occasional snapping, all the while, the other birds were definitely voicing their objections!  Finally, he flew off to wherever little screech owls go in the middle of the day.

This owl is so small, so dainty, and just plain stunning in his coloration - I can't help think of him as a natural jewel on this beautiful Mother's Day. What an unexpected blessing!

I Googled and was surprised that our "special event" is not at all unusual!  Who knew?

A Surprise Visitor

DH called me at work and asked me to come home - he said we had a visitor.  Huh???  We weren't expecting anyone but he was adamant.  Home is only 3 1/2 blocks from my office and it was time to leave work anyway, so I checked my hair, lipstick, washed my hands and headed home, driving first by the front of our house to see whose car was there -- uhhh -- no car.  No car around the back of the house either. 

Here is our visitor!  A very small owl - and he's just looking back at us, occasionally clacking his beak in threats, not at all moving except for his eyes.  He's about 8 inches tall.  Hey, what's that in the upper right?  Yes, a SECOND little owl -- which surprised DH as well - he had missed the 2nd one completely.  We think they are Screech Owls.  They were not at all disturbed by our presence -- less than 6 ft. from their perch.    Feathers match the tree trunk so perfectly, the owls almost disappear.  While we were watching, one made the softest quivering, purring sound,

I've never seen one here, but occasionally in the fall, when sitting outside at dusk, we see a shadow of something swoop by - we know it's owls, but never actually see them. 

It's comforting to know there is still some wildlife in my little back yard.