Just saw a Pileated Woodpecker!

Can I be really dorky and tell you how excited I was this morning to see a Pileated Woodpecker?? We see woodpeckers in our backyard frequently, but they are usually Downy Woodpeckers or Hairy Woodpeckers. I saw this flash of red in the woods behind our house, and I was like, is that a woodpecker? So, I went and looked it up in our copy of Birds of Maine, and wow. Big as a crow, 16-19″. And then it came up to our tree in our backyard and J got to see it too! It’s HUGE! We looked it up on the Cornell Lab website after he flew away, and I love how you can hear the calls on the website. I had heard it when K and I were waiting for the bus earlier and had wondered what it was.

Speaking of birds, have you done your spring cleaning on your bird feeders? I guess birds can get a variation of salmonella and it can pass when the birds congregate at bird feeders, usually in the spring. They are seeing a higher incidence of it here in Maine this year. Our nyger seed feeder on our deck is almost empty, so I am going to take the opportunity to clean it with a bleach solution before refilling it.

Seeds and Spring — and my 100th post!

I should probably do something special for my 100th post, but what am I talking about instead? My seeds! I got my Johnny’s order today and I’m so happy and excited. I can’t wait to start planting! Unfortunately the peas that I wanted were all out of stock. Boo! I should have ordered earlier. And my substitute is back-ordered but should arrive next week. They are going straight into the ground as soon as they arrive!

We’ve got sugar snap peas, snow peas, pole beans, bush beans, zucchini, yellow squash, a variety of lettuces include arugula (yum!), cukes, and four types of tomatoes. The hubby also ordered sunchokes that we are going to plant out along the power line when they arrive in the fall. If you’ve never had sunchokes (or Jerusalem artichokes as they are also called), you should try them. They are little tubers, and their look like big sunflowers. Tasty.

Looking at my itemized list here, I just realized that I totally forgot to order the herbs! Doh! I will have to rectify that tomorrow. I also picked up this very nice-looking compost crock for our countertop. We are currently using a stainless bowl, and I’d like my bowl back.

Have you read this far? I think a 100th post calls for something special, like a……GIVEAWAY! But what should I giveaway? What are you coveting that I can make you? Let me know! Birthday crown, baby blanket, free fabric, gnomes??????

For the Easter baskets

I was hoping to make some cloth napkins and some crayon/paper book cover type things for the boys’ Easter baskets, but they aren’t done yet. So I guess we’ll see what I get done tonight at my Saturday Night Crafty Club! However, I did make some wool eggs (wet felted in the washing machine with needle felted details) and I needle felted some cute little guys to go inside. I still want to do a blanket stitch around the opening of the eggs which I’ll do tonight. I’m not really happy with the penguin, but it was the first time I had ever made a needle felted little figure and I did it without instructions or a pattern so I guess considering that, he came out alright. I’m sure my son won’t mind!

In case anyone is wondering, they are the size of the small plastic Easter eggs, and I wrapped six layers of wool around the eggs (alternating directions for each layer).

Score at the salvage store

I stopped by our friendly, local salvage store this morning to see if they had anything for a backing of a small quilt that I’m doing. Well, I couldn’t really find what I was looking for, but of course, I found a bunch of other things!

Two Young Street by Prints Charming! And they had the rockets!! And for only $2.99/yard.

I am thinking I might use the rocket fabric to make a valance for the boy’s room. I’m not sure, that would probably mean that I should paint that room, which I probably should do anyway, but I just hate to paint! I also found some cute Michael Miller garden glory which is a thicker home dec weight fabric, and some Michael Miller Sailor Symbols which I thought would make cute napkins for the boys. No idea what I’m going to do with the Garden Glory, I just thought it was fun.