Li'l Flora Here, Li'l Fauna There

This little guy has been singin' his heart out everyday for at least a week now. He's been flyin' in and out of our firethorn bush, perchin' on a fence post and singin' like there's no tomorrow. Surely it's springtime in the South.
Speakin' of the South, the Confederate Violets are bloomin' now but only on the southern side of the house. Hmm...wonderin' if that has something to do with their name.
We have mourning doves all year long, a familiar sight for us. The tree is a sugar maple. No nest building yet, but the bluebirds continue to check on their lodging everyday. Seems to be okay with them.
I have a small collection of bird books, and one of my favorites is this old Field Book of Wild Birds and Their Music. The copyright is 1904. It's the only one I have that has musical notations along with the drawings of the birds. Finally, the creeping phlox is in full bloom.I should be doin' a little spring cleanin' now.
Have a super week, Y'all. :)

Happy Spring, Y'all

Spring is in full-swing here in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. The bluebirds have been scopin' out their new home on the fence post, and buds are openin' on most every tree and bush in the yard. Everything coming back to life after winter always seems that nature is testifying of our Saviour's resurrection and ours, too, someday.
Our Bartlett pear trees are just starting to bloom..thankfully, there are no freezes in the weather forecast for this week..here's hopin'.It's not that I'm havin' a hard time lettin' go of St. Patrick's Day..I just love this picture, so here. One of five of my Tea Time Doily workups. (Pattern in the sidebar.)I'm not going to bore you with all five of them..just three or four, maybe. A burgundy one paired with a Scalloped Waves Spa cloth in matching Sugar & Cream's Weathered Rose.
Yellow & Key Lime Pie colors , also Sugar & Cream.I thought I'd never finish the everlasting bathmat, but at long last, it's done. It's very simple, all garter stitch with a seed stitch band, a very classic look. The pattern is for double worsted yarn. Just click the link for the Classic Bathmat on the sidebar. ----->

Hope your springy days are the best ever!

Linking to The Art of Home Making Mondays

Gemstone Doily

Another worsted weight doily for under the china teapot or other dish. Your yarn choice will decide which gemstone you make. This one is an emerald. Red is a ruby, blue a sapphire, etc. Happy St. Patrick's Day...a little early.
Finished measurement: 9 inches in diameter

Materials: 1 ball worsted weight cotton yarn
Size G crochet hook

Abbreviations:
ch - chain
sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet
sl st - slip stitch
beg- beginning
rs - right side
sp - space

Ch 5, join with sl st in first ch.

Row 1: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc & ch 1) dc 1, ch 1(11 times in circle & over the free end.)
Join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg st. (12 dc in this round) (RS)

Row 2: Sl st in sp, ch 3, dc in same sp, ch 2, *dc 2 in next sp, , ch 2. Repeat from * around. Sl st in 3rd ch of beg st.

Row 3: Ch 3, dc in next dc, *dc 2 in ch2 sp, dc in next 2 dc. Repeat from * to last ch2 sp, dc 2 in sp. Sl st in beg ch.

Row 4: *Ch 2, sk1 dc, sl st in next dc. Repeat from * around. Sl st in beg st.

Row 5: Sl st in ch2 loop, ch 3, dc4, *skip next loop, dc 5 in next loop. Repeat from * around. Sl st in 3rd ch of beg st.

Row 6: Sl st in next 2 dc, ch 3, dc 4 in same st, ch 1, dc 1 between shells, ch 1, * 5 dc in 3rd dc of next shell, ch 1, dc 1 between shells, ch 1. Repeat from * around. Sl st in 3rd ch of beg st.

Row 7: Sl st in next 2 dc, sc in same st, ch 1, * dc 5 in dc, ch 1, sc in 3rd dc of shell, ch 1. Repeat from * around. Sl st in sc.

Row 8: Ch 3, dc 2 in same sc, *dc 5 in 3rd dc of next shell, dc 5 in sc. Repeat from * to last shell, dc 2 in sc as in beg st.

Row 9: *Dc between shells, ch 3, dc in same sp between shells, sl st in 3rd dc of next shell. Repeat from *around. Dc in sp between next shells, ch 3, dc in same sp. Sl st in 3rd dc (at base of beg ch).

Weave in ends. Block.
Copyright © 2009 Toni in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, All Rights Reserved

Tea Time Doily

A worsted weight doily to use as a hot pad under your china teapot or other dish.

Finished measurement: 9.5 inches in diameter

Materials: 1 ball worsted weight cotton yarn
Size G crochet hook

Abbreviations:
ch - chain
sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet
sl st - slip stitch
yo - yarn over
beg- beginning
rs - right side
sp - space

Cluster stitch in last round:
Yo, draw up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo, draw up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops, yo, draw through remaining 3 loops on hook, ch 2, yo, draw up loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook, yo, draw up loop, yo, draw through 2 loops, yo, draw through remaining 3 loops on hook.

Ch 5, join with sl st in first ch.

Row 1: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc & ch 1) dc 1, ch 1(11 times in circle & over the free end.)
Join with sl st in 3rd ch of beg st. (12 dc in this round) (RS)

Row 2: Ch 3, dc 2 in ch 1 sp, dc in dc, ch 2, *dc in dc, dc 2 in ch 1 sp, dc in dc, ch 2, repeat from * around. Sl st in 3rd ch of beg st.

Row 3: Ch 3, dc in base of ch 3 just made, dc in ea of next 2 dc, dc 2 in next dc, ch 2, *dc 2 in next dc, dc in ea of next 2 dc, dc 2 in next dc, ch 2, repeat from * around. Sl st in 3rd ch of beg st.

Row 4: Ch 3, dc in next 5 dc, ch 3, sc in ch2 sp, ch 3, *dc in next 6 dc, ch 3, sc in ch3 sp, ch 3, repeat from * around. Sl st in 3rd ch of beg st.

Row 5: Ch 3, dc in next 5 dc, ch 3, [sc in ch3 sp, ch 3](2x), *dc in next 6 dc, ch 3, [sc in ch3 sp, ch3](2x), repeat from * around. Sl st in 3rd ch of beg st.

Row 6: Ch 3, dc in next 5 dc, ch 3, [sc in ch3 sp, ch 3](3x), *dc in next 6 dc, ch 3, [sc in ch3 sp, ch3](3x), repeat from * around. Sl st in 3rd ch of beg st.

Row 7: Sl st in dc, ch 3, dc in next 3 dc, ch 3, [sc in ch3 sp, ch3](4x), *skip 1 dc, dc in next 4 dc, ch 3, [sc in ch3 sp, ch 3](4x), repeat from * around. Sl st in 3rd ch of beg st.

Row 8: Sl st in dc, ch 3, dc in next dc, ch 3, [sc in ch3 sp, ch 3](2x), work popcorn st in 2nd ch of next ch3 sp, ch 3, [sc in ch3 sp, ch 3](2x), *skip 1 dc, dc in next 2 dc, ch 3, [sc in ch3 sp, ch 3](2x), work popcorn st in 2nd ch of next ch3 sp, repeat from * around. Sl st in 3rd ch of beg st.

Row 9: Sl st between 2 dc, ch 3, [sc in ch3 sp, ch 3](6x), *sc between 2 dc, ch 3, [sc in ch3 sp, ch3](6x), repeat from * around. Sl st in beg sl st.

Row 10: Sl st in ch3 sp, ch 1, sc in same ch3 sp, ch 3 *sc in ch3 sp, ch 3, work cluster stitch in 2nd sc from hook, ch 2, work cluster in next sc, ch 3, skip next loop, sc in next ch3 loop, [ch 3, sc in ch3 loop](3x), ch 3, repeat from * around to last cluster, work cluster stitch, ch 3, sc in 2nd ch3 loop, ch 3, sc in next loop, ch 3. Sl st in beg sc of round.
Weave in end. Block flat.

Copyright © 2009 Toni in the Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, All Rights Reserved

Cedar Waxwings

Recently, I was talking on the phone with a friend from church about birds, and she mentioned cedar waxwings. I didn't remember ever seein' any in person, but I was familiar with the bird from reading about them in my bird books. (You knows how I love birds.) Friend said they have a tree full of cedar waxwings, and that the birds like to eat hackberries. I have no hackberry tree. (Where can I get a tree like that I wondered, but little did I know.) Next day, what showed up at my birdbath? A. Cedar. Waxwing. It was very timid but it hung around determined to wait out the robins (that tried to discourage from getting a drink from "their" birdbath.) Soon the robins left, so the little waxwing drank and drank. Finally, it flew off, and I went pourin' through my books to be sure I was identifying it correctly. I was. After a little while it came back with a whole flock of cedar waxwing friends. My books say they are very sociable and live in flocks aside from the breeding season. I'm in bird heaven, I tell you, having spotted them here in my own yard and so soon after talking about them, but I still want a hackberry tree. ;) I took this picture of them at the birdbath to show you. Try to ignore the window screen and click for a big pic. They're cute as buttons.

I mentioned last week that I'd been knittin' and crochetin' a bit. I'm working on a couple of patterns, but the last row of this hot pad gave me a little trouble so that I'm not confident enough to share it, yet. I need someone(s) who crochets to proof the pattern for me, please. If you're interested, just email me at foothillsgsm at yahoo dot com with Crochet Hotpad in the subject line and I'll send it to you asap. Thanks!