Christmas Day ~ Lisa & B's, Etters, PA

Love these girls!

Christmas Eve ~ The Doman's, Lancaster, PA

Christmas gifts

I have had fun using my Bernina 200 for some embroidery projects to make wallhangings for Christmas gifts for friends this year.  It has excited me to start working on projects that I have left go far to long.  I made 3 variations of the long wallhanging and 4 of the A Very Merry Christmas wallhanging.  All were well received.

My Yard ~ Sharp-shinned Hawk

This Sharp-shinned Hawk came by this morning for a visit.  No birds taken on this trip.

My Yard ~ Blue Jays

Finally, the Blue Jay found the peanut feeder!

December Visitors ~ Backyard Birds

American Robin

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Carolina Wren

My Yard ~ Monarch Caterpillars ~ An Unexpected December Find

I have had both Monarch and Black Swallowtail caterpillars in December before but this year it has been cold and very, very windy.  The winds started in November so I really thought all of the cats would be long IE not able to survive but doing yard work a few days ago I found 2 cats.  Since there was little milkweed left in the front yard I relocated them to some in the back yard.

Art4Mail JOY Swap

Our challenge was to spell out J O Y using our fabric postcards so that they could be set together like a triptych to be displayed.  The cards had to be done as a portrait view.  Above is the set of postcards I received.  I just love them.  Below is my set of 3 cards spelling out JOY that I mailed to Vicky in Canada.

Donation Quilts ~ "Omaha" Block

My online quilting group is having anther retreat next summer.  This retreat will be in Omaha, NE in June.  One of the members picks a block out that is simple to piece but when combined with others will look good in scrap quilts.  This years block is actually part similar to a 1/4 of the disappearing 9 patch design.  Last week I cut out all the parts so I could make the blocks and out some tops together. So far I have made 5 tops and plan a few more.  These ops bring my total to 36 donation quilts for Wrap-A-Smile this year.  Next step to get the tops quilted & bound.

Art4Mail ~ Christmas Mug Rugs

This year I decided to participate in a mug rug swap.  Miriam, my swap partner from Ireland told me she uses her mug rugs as small wallhangings so I made her an 11" by 14" actual wallhanging.  I love the Santa Mug Rug she made for me.  I hope she likes her Christmas Stocking.  The stocking is faced so you can place candy canes or similar in it.

My Yard ~ Monarch eclosed

Monarch seen just eclosed while going for the mail 12/3

Monarch placed in protected area to pump up wings, winds 20-30 mph, 48 F, partly sunny 12/3

Monarch feeding on Zinna 12/4

Monarch feeding on Zinna 12/6

My Yard ~ White-breasted Nuthatch

My Yard ~ Black Swallowtail Chrysalis

Working in the yard today doing some more clean up and came across these 2 Black Swallowtail chrysalis.  That makes 18 BS chrysalis that are overwintering here.  I hope they all overwinter and eclose next May.

Stone Harbor Point ~ Snow Bunting

Heard there were a flock of about 30 Snow BUntings at the SH Point so decided to check them out in hopes of getting closer looks at them.  Happy to report they were only 25 feet away playing in the dunes.  They sure do dart around, never standing still for long so you can capture an image of them.

My Gardens ~Mid November Butterflies

Today's temps were in the high 60's with lots of sun which was great but the winds were 15-20 which probably kept the numbers of butterflies down but still a respectable numbers of species at 8 and another 3 species of caterpillars.

American Lady Butterfly

Common Buckeye Butterfly

Fiery Skipper - Female

Eclosed Monarch Butterfly today

Sachem Skippers

Variegated Fritillary Butterfly

My Yard ~ Monarch Butterfly

This Monarch arrived sometime on or before October 20 when it was tagged in my yard.  It's still here today which is a month later.  It's worn and ratty but hanging on.  Unfortunately the weather forecast over the next few days is against it's further survival. 

Conowingo Dam, MD

Moon over Conowingo Dam

I was able to spend a few nice hours today at Conowingo Dam watching the birds most notably Bald Eagles along with Double-crested Cormorants, Black Vultures and more.  It's been 3 years since I'd been there and I found it very crowded with lots of photographers.  There were also fisherman including the one pictured who was catching and releasing the fish he caught.

Bald Eagle

Catching & releasing