Saturday, March 17, 2012

My Birthday Presents

I know I am behind on my posts, and I will catch up later, but I wanted to show you what I got for my birthday.

My ds2 got me this cute greenhouse.. it's all planted with zinnia, marigold and sunflower :)

And my wonderful husband brought me roses :)  I think I need to put more roses in the yard, I love them so much.


And I had a very special gift from God as well.  I have been hearing Sandhill Cranes for weeks, and have really wanted to see them.  I saw a couple flying in Sheboygan, but I hear them around the house all the time.  I was sitting in the living room, hearing the cranes and wishing I could see them, and I saw SIX !  That's 6 .. flying very low right over our backyard :)  It was amazing.  I was only able to get this very poor photo .. but the memory will remain with me :)

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Birding in WI

Well, I went to lunch with my dh and we went to a overlook of Lake Michigan that is near where he works in Mequon. We'd thought we'd see if we could find some ducks. 

 These were closest to us as we stood on top of the cliff, but I couldnt' identify them.  I had only brought my least powerful binoculars, and could have used the more powerful ones.
 These were even further out than the others.  Not sure what they are either.
It wasn't a total loss though.  The Lake was especially rich in colors .. from deep blue and turquoise with the tan being mixed up by the wind.  Very pretty.

After dropping dh back at work, I drove up to Port Washington and found South Beach Parking lot.  It's got a great view of the Peregrine nesting box, but I didn't see any peregrines today.
I did see a pair of Bufflehead ducks though.  They are new to me! :)  Very neat diving ducks.

These pictures are taken from a video on our HD camera.  I'm afraid they aren't very good, but atleast I was able to identify the Buffleheads from the stills I captured.  :)

At home today, I've seen a couple of birds as well.

Again, not great pictures.  I keep hearing the Cranes as well, but never see them.  I'm hopeful though, maybe I will see them someday soon.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Update . . .

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted.  I guess I've been busy! lol.

Last night dh & I went to a Bird Club meeting at Riveredge Nature Center in Saukville/Newburg, WI.  It was very nice.  We saw a presentation on the Peregrine Falcon and it's comeback in WI.  The presentation was given by Greg Septon of the Peregrine Falcon Recovery Program.  This is one link that talks about him and his work.  Here is another link by the WI public television talking about him as well.

This morning was the first Keepers At Home meeting at Alliance Community Bible Church.  I think for a first meeting, it went very well.  We are hopeful that the women who came today will invite a friend next time, and we'll have even more women to fellowship with.

Over the past week or two, I've done a few things.  Here are some pictures.

In February I had finished another quilt block for that Scrappy Celtic Knot "Three Cords" Quilt.

 I also was doing a cabled fingerless mitt pattern.  I decided I would adjust the cable pattern to make a baby hat as well.  Here are both pictures.

In March we had our first big wet snow.  Can you believe it?  We actually shoveled the driveway three times in less than 12 hours.  Here are some pictures from this time. Click on a photo to see them larger :)


Mourning Doves

These branches are very thin and the snow was very thick!

House Sparrow

I caught this goldfinch by accident as I was trying to photograph the sparrow behind it. 
Not a great picture, but a very interesting one! :)

Female House Sparrow
Finch


Slate Junco

Either a House or Purple Finch

Slate Junco


A ? Finch and a Goldfinch

Goldfinches
I love the layers to this photo. The shadow behind .. etc....

This bush was very interesting in the snow as well.

Mourning Doves a day or so after the snow.

These are baby hats I knit & crocheted.

Hats from NH & FH for the Grafton Hospital

Today, we had 60+ temperatures and a warm wind.  It was absolutely wonderful.  I wish I would have gotten out for a walk, but I suppose there's still time if I want to go here shortly.  The rain that was forecasted hasn't arrived yet, but I suppose it will eventually!  I opened the windows for the first time this year and look, Peaches was sniffing the air! :)
Sorry for all the photos .. but it is a Months worth of show and tell! :)