One Sheet Wonder set

Here are a group of cards I sent off in my first batch of cards to OWH.

I used Seongsook's tutorial to create them. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Bird Nerd Adventures

I'll start this new post segment by revisiting my last birding trip.  This trip was a last minute one planned because of a discussion about the Red-cockaded Woodpecker colony that has been established in a southern section of the Talladega National Forest.  In order to have the best possibility of sighting these endangered birds, we met at 4:15am to take an hour ride to the area where the birds were.  It was an absolutely beautiful country drive in the fog and early morning light. 

(photos courtesy of my wonderful husband) 

Bird List for the day: (S=saw, H=heard)

Red-cockaded Woodpecker - S

Indigo Bunting - S,H

Eastern Wood Pewee - S,H

Eastern Bluebird - S,H

American Robin - S,H

Summer Tanager (female) - S,H

Pine Warbler - S,H

American Goldfinch - S,H

American Kestrel - S,H

Red-eyed Vireo - S,H

White-eyed Vireo - S,H

Blue-headed Vireo - S

Scarlet Tanager (male) - S,H

Carolina Chickadee - S,H

Tufted Titmouse - S,H

Northern Cardinal - S,H

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - S,H

Black-throated Green Warbler - S

Black-and-White Warbler - S

Brown-headed Nuthatch - S,H

Northern Flicker - S,H

Downy Woodpecker - S,H

Prairie Warbler - H

Blue Grosbeak - H

Definately one of the best birding trips I've been on since joining the Birmingham Audubon Society.  I highly recommend you join your local Audubon Society and get out and enjoy nature!

Foto Friday

Just a quick post this week.  With preparing to go to FL for a friends baby shower and the recent natural disasters here in the state, I haven't been able to post stuff.  I'll share my baby shower gifts and mom's birthday card next week. 

What a difference a week makes! The baby Finches are growing so fast!  The parents are making fewer trips to the nest, at least I've been seeing them less and less there.  Can't wait to see them begging for food from their parents at our bird feeders.

Foto Friday

Our House Finch nest has 4 little ones!

Foto Friday

A House Finch has built a nest on our front porch!  Momma is laying on about 5 or 6 eggs.  Can't wait to watch those babies grow!  The cats just love watching her through the windows.

Baby Shower Gifts

A quick post for you. As always, its been a busy week!

I needed to make a baby shower gift for a coworker, so I thought I'd try my hand at making applique onesies. I think they turned out pretty good for my first time. Just some heat and bond and a run thru the sewing machine.

I'm not sure where I got the patterns but owl and bird silhouettes are easily found in the interwebs.  I had a really cute squirrel, but it was a bit to big for the onesie. 

I found a cute bird bag in the dollar bins at Michael's and used my sewn Owl card. 

Southern Snow and a few Owl Odds and Ends

Its rare here in the south to get any accumulation of snow.  We usually only get a semi-decent amount once per winter, but this winter has been extraordinary for us. We've had several occasions of snow, but this past weekend we had a good amount, especially in the park.  Our house didn't see very much:

Looking out from the upper deck.

But the Park was just beautiful!

At TreeTop Nature Trail

Gazebo between Enclosure 5 & 6

This was taken on 2-13 of what I always call the "paddle boat lake".  The sun was out and the temperatures were climbing fast which made the snow melt even faster.

Looking into the woods at the Alabama Wildlife Center.

I was able to get some great shots of the birds at the feeder.

American Goldfinchs

This Eastern Phoebe was hanging out all day gleaning something off of the Sumac pods.  I finally got her while she was on a break.  One of my favorite baby birds.

Carolina Chickadee

Dark-eyed Junco

Lucky for the above birds, this gal was at TreeTop Nature Trail.

I had just finished feeding the raptors at TreeTop and headed to my car when I spotted this girl fly to a perch in this pine tree.  I zoomed in as faaaaaarrr as I could and steadied the camera as much as I could (it was cold and I was a bit shivery).  A Cooper's Hawk in adult plumage!

I have a few Owly goodies for ya.  I was on a hair accessory hunt to complete my ensamble for Wild About Chocolate and stopped in Forever 21.  Oh how many Owl accessories they had!!  Most of it was gold, which is not my thang, but they did have a few pieces in silver. 

I was going to get this necklace

But I could wear this one more easily (not being in the least fashionable to wear the prior)

and it was a bit cheaper .

Its a good thing the store didn't have this bag, because I woulda gotten it too and I really don't need it.

They didn't have this shirt in my size, thank goodness.  I'm really trying to save and pay off some stuff. Gosh its so hard!

There were a few other stores that had Owls in their accessories...Claires, Wet Seal so be on the lookout cause they're everywhere!

Not-quite-Owly Monday

So I've decided that today will actually be Birdy Monday.  In addition to my obsession of all things Owl, I also am very much obsessed with all things Birdy.  I submit to you some birdy goodness for this week!

(and also Barn Owl updates to get your owl fix in)

I just love Charlie Harper's artwork.  The humor, whimsy and personal interpretation of birds and wildlife just speaks to me.  I got this little book a few years ago and it sits on the living room coffee table for guests to enjoy.

And if you're in the market for a good birding field guide, I highly recommend the Sibley Field Guides.  I'm partial to the Eastern guide since, well, thats where I live.  The illustrations and variations in plumage are fantastic.

I was checking out Macy's after receiving an email and I found these Sconces. I hope I can talk Mr. Owl into these to replace the broken ones on the front porch.

 

Now its time for something completely different.

Well not COMPLETELY, but still.

The Barn Owl babies are doing soooooooo good! They are very angry anytime you pull their leftovers or feed them, which is PERFECT because that means I did my job correctly thus far.  They really look like Barn Owls now...almost all of their down is gone. And I'm still going with both of them being males.

This is the youngest...he's doing his "No, no's" (Read Wesley the Owl for a full discription)  Typical threatening Barn Owl behavior.  They shake there heads back and forth along the ground. 

They'll be going outside next week (when the weather is a bit warmer).  Soon they'll be flying around the flight cage and we'll be giving them live prey and they'll probably be release early February!

Barbed Wire Barn Owl is getting better and better.  The wound seems to be getting smaller and the tissue is coming in nicely.  And look at those pin feathers!

As almost everyone knows, its COOOOLLLDD! Like snow in Florida cold.  All they hype they were building for the snow we were supposed to get here in Alabama didn't amount to much. 

I hear its still pretty icy and snow is still on the ground in my home (and neighboring) state, Georgia

(GO DAWGS!).  So all my friends and family...be careful over there!

And hopefully I will get the motivation to start some sewing (with my fancy new bright Otte light!) and some organizing projects in the next few weeks.