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An end ..... and a beginning

As I was leaving for daily trip to the Village yesterday I found chickadee huddled in an explosion of fluff on the kitchen window sill.  Finches quite often do this and I assume it is to rest and warm.

When I returned the chickadee was on the ground and responded feebly to my touch.  I warmed it in my hands and then put it on a soft cloth in a box in the kitchen.

Across the hours it made no further movement.

 

 

 

This morning there was no life left.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It did not seem fitting to bury it in earth so I put its body in the cedar hedge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This tree is part of the morning stroll.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is beginning to bloom. 

 

Flower .... 'dancing to its own tune'

I saw a number of golfers out on one of the local golf courses on this next-to-last day of the year and was reminded of the boast that "you can golf year-round here".

Which then reminded me that when I had been in Victoria for a few years I realized I saw flowers blooming year round.  So I decided to be alert and verify this.  Which I did.  For an entire year.  And I did not have to 'ignore' wind or the occasional snow as golfers likely do.  Flowers were a'peeping even when that white stuff fell. 

Many flowers are 'out of sync', as is this black-eyed susan in the Art Gallery of Victoria's garden.

As are the dandelions just up the street.  And a snap dragon in a pot.  And some calendula.

I mentioned this to a native Victorian who shrugged and said,  "Oh, they're just confused."

Well, their confusion is a delight to me!

 

Banded crow

Project pouches

I'm wanting a case to hold darts and was strolling old posts for ideas.  Came across this ....   Hmmmm

A kangaroo mom toting her baby around came to mind when I was making these so that's why they are called pouches. 

They work well for transporting small works in progress;  the addition of the buttons at the three corners offer a base so they will stand on a surface and act like a basket when not doing duty as a bag;  they can hang from shoulder or wrist and give access to the WIP so it can be W'ed upon while standing in line or walking or watching the kids at the playground or at the
market .......

This pair of socks is ready to go traveling.

The green and amber are knit from handspun wool in the yin yang technique.

The brown one is from the felted sleeve of a thrift store sweater.

When not on a journey they look nice on a wall and can be functional also.

Made quite small they can be a medicine pouch or for keys or perfect for anyone knitting miniature objects. 

This one was knit from tundra wool  and felted in the washing machine.

Folding a page of the Sunday comics into different size squares and then into the shape of the bag gives an idea of how big or small square to knit or felt or cut.

Essentially what it is is a square with one corner turned into the center and the two adjacent corners folded in to meet the edges of the first fold, the last corner folded down in back to form the loop through which to pass the strap.

Here they are in a larger size made from clear plastic and a translucent vinyl meant to line drawers.

December 25

Merry Christmas!

It is still dark out but I expect when daylight occurs this little bird will make an appearance.  It has been coming to the niger feeder for a week or so - the first bird to do so although the feeder has been up for ages.  I think it is a finch but need this verified.  It often sits and fluffs its feathers and closes its eyes.  As it was doing atop the feeder yesterday.  I was at kitchen table looking at it through the window, taking its picture to show some people who will know what kind it is, thinking what a meditative bird it seemed to be when it suddenly opened its eyes, turned its head, and looked at me.  We shared a moment.

(PS  It is a finch - a pine siskin)

 

There are roses blooming in gardens in Victoria in December.