The Geese Flew South Last Night

Something woke me in the dark of night last night. I didn't know if it was early or late. As I lay there I could hear the sound of geese flying over the house - very low - circling around and around. The sound would get louder as they circled near the house - and then a little fainter as they got further away. Then back over the house - they repeated this over and over - calling to each other - getting themselves organized. Soon it was a constant sound, the circle of geese so big now that there was no break in the circle.

There are ponds in our neighborhood - just a few houses away and past some trees. All spring and summer we've watched the Canada Geese as they hatched their babies and raised them.


There are dozens of goose families that live in the ponds, and they are fairly small ponds. There is a very large lake about 1/4 of a mile away and even more geese there.

Some years we've missed seeing the goslings - but this year we would turn down toward the ponds almost every time we came home - and I always had my camera ready.

The babies were so cute - scuttling about, always close to mama and papa goose. . .

They grow quickly - there is a lot to be accomplished in a gosling's life in a very short time . . .

Soon they are teenagers and ready to do a little exploring on their own . . .

But still stay close to their family . . .

All grown up - there must be over a hundred geese that live on these small ponds . . .

Lying in bed listening to the chatter of the Canada Geese circling around and around I thought of other geese in other places. Where ever we have lived, we've always had the geese nearby.

This is one of my favorite pictures of a goose - in a river in N. California - we would stay in a small cabin on the river and there were always geese there.

I loved the geese in the fields near our house in N. CA - they would fly in on cool mornings and spend the day eating and talking, then fly out in the evenings to the river.

Later in the season the parents will fly with the family over to a river or a bigger lake and begin to teach the youngsters to swim in formation - training for when they will fly south for the winter. One time in N. CA, Don came rushing into the house with news that the geese were on the river. We jumped in the car, with camera of course, and zipped to the river. There, below us, swimming under the bridge, were families of Canada Geese, all swimming in the familiar V formation - back and forth , up and down. This is good training for learning the messages and flight patterns that they will follow when migrating.

Before long last night, the sound of the geese overhead became more intense, the circle smaller and smaller and then I could tell that the geese were lifting higher into the air, still circling but their voices became fainter and fainter, until all I could hear was the familiar sound of a V of geese - flying off to the south. I listened until I could hear them no more.

I've been lucky enough to watch this kind of preparation for migration two other times. Once was in N. CA. I was sitting at my sewing machine - which overlooked a meadow in back of our house.

This is the meadow - with some blue jays at the feeder. After living in NW WA for almost 10 years I had forgotten how brown the fields get in CA before the rains come in the winter.

As I sat at my sewing machine I would often look out over the meadow - watching a big white horse that loved to graze on the hillside, or seeing a coyote dancing on his hind feet on the hillside. One day something caught my eye - a whirling sort of motion at the base of the hillside in the meadow, just to the right of those trees. I grabbed the binoculars and watched in amazement as hundreds of Goldfinches circled around and around, making ever smaller circles as they spun.

As I watched - the entire flock, consisting of hundreds and hundreds of the tiny birds, began to slowly move higher and higher in the sky until they were out of sight. I was stunned, watching the birds forming into their flock to fly south. They did it with seeming ease, as they circled about they never bumped into each other, each bird knowing just what to do.

The flock was too far away to get a good picture - even with the telephoto lens I had on my camera at that time, but the sight is etched forever in my mind, hundreds of birds preparing to make the long flight to their winter home.

Another event was at the North Fork of the Nooksack River here in Washington. The bald eagles gather there from December to February to feast on the fish in the river. We often take trips up there just to see the eagles - and of course we count all the eagles we spot on each trip. Sometimes there are a hundred, sometimes just a dozen or so.

One day in late February a few years ago we saw the eagles circling up over the fields across from the river. I began counting and lost track at about 200 - and when dizziness set in from watching them swirl and trying to count. They circled for about 20 minutes and then the entire flock drifted off to the north as they spread out to their nesting grounds.

In my excitement at seeing that many eagles in one spot I forgot about my camera and didn't start taking pictures until the eagles were almost too far away to get a good shot. They circled over the fields, and at the same time the cyclone of birds moved slowly away from us - still circling.

We watched until the last of the eagles were out of sight - a breathtaking day for sure.

Then last night I looked at the clock on the bed table. It was 12:05 - the geese had begun their cirlcing preparations at almost exactly midnight. It was a magical time. I'm so glad I sleep with window open, I might not have heard them if it was closed.

Anniversary

Yesterday was our 46th Anniversary - and what a fabulous day. First I went to the sew-in at Anacortes (more about that later) and Don stayed home and did housework and mowed the lawn (is he well trained or what?) Linda, from Fiber Fabrications and I left at 8 for the monthly sew-in in Anacortes, a bright and sunny day. We had a fabulous time, how could you not have a fabulous time with Linda, she is such fun!!! After a day of feasting and sewing and laughing and shopping I was back home by 4:30 and it was time to celebrate our anniversary. For dinner, we picked the Oboe Cafe, in the Best Western Hotel. A great choice. We had never been there before but had heard great things.

The Oboe is softly decorated and softly lit, and all evening they played the most wonderful Oboe Music . . .

The Oboe features local food and it was all delicious and excellently prepared.

Starting with a pretty glass of ice water . . .

Don ordered a large steak - with mashed potatoes and asparagus - ok - so he didn't order the asparagus (you know him so well) but it came with his dinner and I got to eat it. It was lightly grilled - to perfection!!!

I had Alaska Halibut and Chips (you can see I've already snitched his asparagus) . . .

The meals were all served in large bowls, even the steak.

The servings were huge - here is what was left after I ate the fish - and many of the fries. They were delicious - and much too plentiful . . . I didn't get a picture of Don's plate after he was finished - but he only ate half the potatoes and half the steak. Very generous servings.

Then, because it was our anniversary, dessert was on the house.

Don's cheescake before - well sort of before - he'd already eaten the strawberry and some of the cheesecake. The cheesecake is made by a local company, Chuckanut Cheesecake Company.

Don's dessert after . . .

My banana split before - well almost before. I swear it was the size of Rhode Island . . . and made with local Mallard's Ice Cream.

My dessert after . . . it was delicious, but I can't eat a dessert the size of Rhode Island . . .

This was my gift to Don - a mug with a collage of photos of the boys . . .

Just outside the window by our table was a waterfall and fountain, Herons in a pond . . .

You can see the top of the waterfall behind the stairs. It is all so beautiful.

We had a fabulous time celebrating together.

Sneak Peek of Contest Quilt

Thank you to all that emailed asking where I'd been. I've been here, just a little busy. It's only been 2 1/2 weeks, but I sure do appreciate your interest and concern. As you know - I'm entering a quilt in a national contest - and I've been busy working on that. I showed you a peek at the colors in my last post - but I've switched those about a little and taken the darker ones out. I like the way it is coming along.

I have to have it hand quilted (since I don't machine quilt - and only one person can work on the quilt) before Dec. 18 - I think I can make it.

Here are some peeks at the work in progress.


And one more . . .

And one last one - some wrinkly hearts - first order of business today is to press the hearts - and then . . .

to be continued . . .

Slow Poke Quilters

I was over at Sunny's blog and found Slow Poke Quilters, over at Momma Made This. I like the concept - because that is how I quilt. I love the process, all the details along the way, and of course, the finished product eventually. Be sure to click on both blogs and enjoy the fun and companionship of Slow Poke Quilting. You can also click the Slow Poke Quilters icon on the right sdie of my blog to get there. Join the fun - and make quilts without pressure. I started a new quilt today - it is for a contest and it is going to be fun. Lots of pretty colors, three different blocks, all variations of the log cabin block, which, if you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that I've fallen in love with.

My watermelon quilt was a log cabin quilt,

and the quilts I made for our grandsons were planet log cabins.

I really like the precision of the block, once the strips are all cut to size. One hint here, if you are cutting log cabin strips and want them to not stretch when stitching, cut them the length of the fabric and not across with width. There is less stretch to the length and it gives a firmer log cabin - and more accurate. These are the color combinations that I have picked - a light and a dark of each color. I think I'll replace the pinks with ones that have more contrast. I have the beginning strips cuts - 2 1/2" wide - and now to cut the lengths for each block. I am going to hand quilt this quilt - more fun and slow poke - but I love it. What are you working on, slow poke or otherwise?

Afternoon at the lake

This afternoon we went to Lake Padden - a city park surrounding a lake - with no private buildings or residences on the lake. It is one of our favorite spots.

View from where we sat . . .

Lots of kayaks and canoes on the lake today . . .

Some ducks came to visit . . .

They were very friendly . . .

Goodbye ducks . . .

The other side of the little cove . . .

Looking out at the lake . . .

It was a fabulous afternoon!