Invisible Woman

we've missed you, Chicago Botanic Garden

Sixteen years was far too long to be away from the Chicago Botanic Garden. But we finally squeezed in a visit yesterday morning -- a side trip to our whirlwind weekend in Evanston, where we lived long ago in our pre-kids days. The weather was perfect, the garden was more spectacular than ever, and I even spotted a few favorite birds. You can see my short CBG Flickr slideshow here, or click through the photo set yourself here.

Now I remember why I used to visit the garden often when we lived in Chicagoland. What an amazing and beautiful pIace.

 

through my window: little mystery man

 
Around midday, I noticed an unusual silhouette out the screened back window.

 
It was a hummingbird, perched just outside, atop a small dead fig tree on the patio.

 
From the back door, it appeared to be a young male, maybe a Black-chinned?

 
He flew closer for a better view. His throat patch is purple, but I still can't what he is for sure.

Well, he's definitely handsome.

 

hummingbird morning at Boyce Thompson

Migration season is underway, and the hummingbird 
nectar feeders at Boyce Thompson Arboretum are busy! Here's a link to my Flickr slideshow from this morning's visit, or you can click through the set here.

clouds in my brain

 

That's how I feel now, not having a clear view to my next project.

Could make some more new pillows, though I'd rather do another wall hanging, or maybe even find the courage to take on a nap-size quilt.

 But I can't conjure a design for any of the above. Frustrating. My last two project ideas fell into place pretty quickly, and now -- nada. Hate when this happens. Maybe I'll have to resort to rerun projects until the brain clouds dissipate.

For now, I'll share a few more recently-seen scenes from around the house.

 

Yesterday, a mini-quail in the feed saucer.

 
This morning, a female hummingbird on alert.

 
And this afternoon, a spy at the front window.

When creativity fails, I'm thankful I can grab my trusty camera and take photos.

 

through my window: on the fence

Dad & the quail kids, late this afternoon.

 

seen around the house

 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

ta-da! part 2

  

My first two Kaffe shots & stripes pillows are done, and I'm thrilled with how they turned out.

 

You could say they're another variation on their pillow cousins (here, here & here) that I made two years ago. Yikes, how time flies!

 

I especially love the added dimension the variegated quilting threads give to the shot cotton solids. Again, thanks to Victoria, whose Flickr photo inspired me to give them a try in my work.

Now, time to figure what my next project will be.

 

through my window: Gila goofiness

The view from my computer about an hour ago, at peak sun time:

 

A female Gila woodpecker arrived...

made some funny faces... 

 

took a few good long drinks...

 
performed some show-off acrobatics...

 
and checked for trouble overhead before departing.
 

through my window: breakfast with the Q's

 
Guess who stopped by for breakfast this morning?

 
A quail family... Papa, Mama, and this little one. They even found the secret stash of sunflower seed I scattered on the windowsill outside my desk.

 

Then, after about 15 minutes of sampling our entryway buffet, they wandered off next door.

Sunday colors

Late this morning, when the light was just right outside the front window, we had a couple of colorful visitors...

 
through the window, a Costa's male, sitting on his feeder guardpost aloe...

  
and then another male, either immature Costa's or Black-chinned, who snuck to the feeder when the previous guy wasn't looking.

 

And tonight, a wondrous pink sunset sky behind the fiery orange Mexican Bird of Paradise flowers.