January Jabber

Another month has whizzed by already. Must be enjoying myself for time to speed like it does! 

Except for one day and evening of gale force winds, our winter has been fairly gentle -- so far. I've only used the snowblower twice this season. The last time a shovel would have sufficed.

Ellie Mae keeping tabs on the outside world.

 

Ellie Mae and I have been watching our winter bird life. Me, admiring and wishing them well. Can't vouch for her thoughts.

The Eastern Screech Owl has been using the roost box every so often. A safe hideout from hawks, crows and jays as well as a larder for storing food. No doubt it has different hunting territories that it cycles though and when it is here, the smaller birds certainly protest. 

Eastern Screech owl in my homemade roost box.

 

After dark a few nights ago, I watched it perched on a mountain ash tree branch, scanning the snow for signs of mice. My Canon camera barely had enough light to capture his/her silhouette. Surprised my camera captured the little owl at all as it really was quite dark out.

My little friend starting his/her night shift.

 

The lower the temperature dips, the more demand on my suet feeders. I make my own blocks by melting lard and stirring in peanut butter and a small handful of cornmeal.

Tanking up on high fat nourishment.

 

These guys look like they are playing 'teeter-totter'.

 

Beside keeping myself entertained with television, internet, piano practice and phone gabs, I've been doing some sewing. I'm making good progress with repairing worn fabrics on my heritage quilt. Some of the blocks have all frayed so I've made 9 patch flimsies (although with flannelette plus an under pad, they are not so flimsy). I'm pleased with how they turned out and the continued overall style of the original design.

A patch of new material forming a nine-patch block.

 

Also, using an old apron as a pattern, I made a new one, with more generous pockets. Lots of room to stash eye glasses, cell phone, seed packets, clothes pegs, etc.

Making a pattern from an old apron.

My filing system. Reading specs on left side, distance ones on right.