Since we were covered in ice this week, the birds were particularly interested in hanging out around our birdfeeders that day. Paul (WH) had fun trying out a great lens (macro lens, maybe?) on some of them. If you really like birds, you can click on the photos to make them even bigger.
The female Cardinal is named Ethel. She and her husband Fred have been hanging around our birdfeeders year-round for the past six years. They’re my favorites, and they’re the only birds that we (ok, I) have named.
Somehow this Robin seems out of place. I see more Robins in the spring and summer.
Our cats Gracie and Zoe love sitting on the window ledge, watching them. Or maybe they’re dreaming about catching them.
Today we’re welcoming a new batch of Loopy Groupies! I can’t believe how long it has been since I listed them. So long, in fact, that I’m doing half of them today and saving the other half for next week. And then I’m going to go to http://www.teuxdeux.com (where I keep my brain and my schedule) and put this task into my calendar so that I remember to blog them more frequently. I know you all like to see the names, because if I forget someone, you always email to let me know! So a warm welcome to our latest Loopy Groupies. We’re so glad to have you here!
Wendy in WA, Heather in MI, Susan in MI, Mary in OH, Michele in Canada, Noriko in Japan, Susan in NC, Fabienne in CA, Kim in IA, Donna in OK, Kerryn in Australia, Bethann in MO, Theresa in MO, Chanina in Israel, Andrea in MA, Karen in OR, Mai in WA, Sue in AK, Rena in MA, Melissa in MN, Melanie in NJ, Pamela in NM, Cindy in NV, Susan in IL, Barclay in NJ, Gaetane in Canada, Melissa in KY, Barbara in Australia, Barbara in KS, Dean in LA, Mette in MO, Erin in GA, Nancy in OR, Debra in OH, Necia in AR, Debora in GA, Jillian in NJ, Michelle in WA, Carrie in IA, Sandy in WI, Lisa in MA, Sue in CA, Mary in VA, Mel in FL, J.F. in MI, Susan in TX, Ruth in CO, Janine in the U.K., Christine in MI, Danielle in NY, Paula in KY, Debora in CA, Susan in CA, Kathy in AK, Karen in VA, Penny in NE, Karol in MO, Samantha in NC, Holly in NH, Christine in MA, Kelly in Canada, Dori in TN, Jennifer in NJ, Sara in CA, Calista in OK, Marietta in GA, Glennalee in IN, Rebecca in OH, Carol in NJ, Kay in WI, Terri in TX, Arlene in NY, Hinkmond in CA, Louise in CA, Diane in CA, Kimberly in SC, Laura in IL, Pamela in NY, Patricia in NJ, Fahy in MA, Jill in IA, Rosemary in MO, Michelle in OR, Judith in TN, Heather in GA, Marilyn in Canada, Judith in VA, Jill in MD, Dana in TN, Anna in Poland, Mya in CO, Jenifer in TX, Susan in IL, Celeste in Australia, Jessica in SD, Preita in CA, Virginia in NV, Nancy in OH, Glenda in WA, Debra in PA, Iris in OH, Clara in ME, Bettye in TX, Eilene in MD, Kathie in CA, Karen in VA, Vivian in Canada, Laura in HI, Ann in KS, Melissa in AR, Jennifer in SC, Meghan in NC, Melanie in IN, Kurt in CA, Rosemary in Australia, Cynthia in OR, Anne in the U.K., Caroline in TN, Melissa in SC, Amy in OH, Daniela in TN, Suzanne in OR, Teri in IL, Kym in TX, John in SC, Jane in KS, Alpha in NY, Teresa in WV, Sarah in NC, Laura in SC, Nina in CA, Cindy in PA, Maxine in Canada, Toni in WA, Chantel in IN, Joan in OH, Christina in CA, Hiromi in Japan, Nancy in MA, Shelly in WA, Katie in TX, Joann in CA, Lani in CA, Helen in Norway, Amy in KY, Jennifer in MD, Hollie in the military, Lorraine in VA, Candy in WI, Stephanie in D.C., Marcela in MI, Jeanett in TX, Mandy in MO, Janet in TX, Wendy in CO, Melissa in Canada, Kristina in NC, Mary in OR, Miranda in WI, Eevi in OR, Rachael in IL, Susan in NY, Heather in MO, Mary in CA, Sandy in MT, Nancy in VA, Bettie in MO, Valerie in NM, Debbie in KY, Mollilou in AR, Adrienne in IL, Shannon in CA, Jill in CT, Candace in NC, Kelley in CA, Jill in ME, Christine in WA, Candice in CA, Jennifer in Canada, Erica in Canada, Carol in VA, Courtney in WA, Kat in AK, Rosemary in CA, Kimberly in PA, Hope in NY, Elise in MA, Jan in CA, Tara in MN, Patricia in MA, Rosemary in Australia, Marcella in MD, Christine in MD, Suzanne in CT, Amy in CA, Michelle in Canada, Leslie in WI, Barbara in MI, Alice in FL, Anastasia in NH, Marianne in TN, Terri in OR, Davilyn in OH, Ann in NY, Therese in CT, Omar in Australia, Michelle in CA, Theresa in CA, Catherine in Norway, Robin in NJ, Megan in MO, Silvia in CA, Carol in OH, Ashley in NJ, Tara in GA, Erin in VA, Meg in FL, Elizabeth in VA, Beverly in MN, Sheri in KY, Adrienne in OR, Amy in OR, Teresa in CA, Kay in OK, Meagheen in NY, Rasa in OH, Gaye in CO, Jenna in TX, Emily in VA, Laura in Canada, Mary in IL, Dawn in ND, Jennifer in TX, Gwynne in NJ, Patty in CA, Julie in NY, Lynae in IL, Amanda in FL, Alexis in MA, Angela in FL, Claudia in Germany, Debra in IN, Janet in MI, Tamara in MO, Yuka in Japan, Sandra in NY, Jennifer in CA, Sara in NV, Tanya in ND, Martha in KY, Jennifer in KS, Gail in WI, Jamie in KS, Martina in Canada, Erin in Australia, and Rica in Norway.
That’s the first half. More next Friday. In the meantime, have a great weekend and get lots of knitting done. I picked out a sweater pattern and an Ultra Pima color and will start in on that. It would be nice if I’d stick with one project and get it done in a reasonable amount of time. Too much to hope for? What are you doing this weekend – anything fun?
Sheri warminguptoawhopping35degreesthisweekend.Heatwave!
Sheri, do you know how many Loopy Groupies there are in total? That would be an interesting statistic. Tens of thousands? I’m working on my Loopy Quarterly Challenge Dryad scarf this weekend.
Your WH should submit his photos to the Great Backyard Bird Count’s photo contest this year:
http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc
The count is coming up this month, too, if you like to watch birds. Maybe the cats can help count?
We are getting ready for yet another round of snow in MA… Seriously, we’ve run out of space to pile it! But, a snowstorm means more knitting! Woo Hoo! I’m starting the Fair Isle Bag from Beth Brown-Reinsel. I’ve had this one on my to do list for a couple of years and I’m finally jumping in!
Have a great weekend!
WOW, that’s a-lot of typing!!
Maybe you can list them by state and/or country and all names underneath. Just a thought.
I’m working on little bunnies for Easter this weekend. Need to make five.
I think I need to put “shoveling” in my teuxdeux list (scheduled for every two days at least!) More snow due here tomorrow, and Monday.
Love the photo of Ethel! Your birds look very well nourished and happy!
Sheri, love the photos, especially of Ethel. But then again I’m partial to cardinals 😉
I’m not partial to snow, though. Not anymore. I’m trying very hard not to think about the next two *ahem* snow events that are in the pipeline for us. I want spring!
Love the bird photos! The detail is amazing. I love how everyone is plump and round with tiny toothpick legs. They must be very well fed by you! I throw bread outside every weekend. I swear the birds wait for it. They start calling their friends before I am even back in the house!
I used to be a multi-project knitter and am trying to keep it down because I realized that I didn’t feel a sense of accomplishment because it took longer to finish them. So while I do have several projects going, I try to focus on one at a time. I’m working on a tedious stranded sweater that I can only work a couple of rows daily and I do have a mostly stockinette project that I work in public. When I have to knit gifts or charity items, I put other projects in the napping area until the gifts or charity items are done. So this doesn’t always work but, at least, I’m not working on 3 or 4 projects daily.
Really like the bird photos. They are so much fun to watch. Cardinals are my favorites, but we also have nuthatches, titmice, 2 kinds of woodpeckers, and juncoes among our regular visitors. One of the nuthatches will follow about a foot behind me when I go to fill the feeder – “talking” quietly. Probably saying, “What’s taking you so long – we’re hungry!” Finished the Tulip cardigan. Will be winding yarn for the Wrenna sweater.
Love the pix of Fred and Ethel- Cardinals are common here in OH (they are the state bird).
Poor Robin must have forgotten to fly south. I’m partial to them.
Knitting is busy-finishing 2 sweaters and working on socks. Can’t seem to stay on only one project. Need to have variable amounts of concentration needed depending on what else i am doing, Mindless, semi-mindless, pay attention. You know how that goes.
Oh yes-welcome new loopy groupies!
I loved your Robin picture. Up here (MI) they are usually our first sign of Spring. A great lift to the heart after all the dark clouds and sunless days.
Wouldn’t it be something to get all the Groupies together some day? If you stood us next to each other, how long do you think the Groupie line would be?
Have a great weekend!
Just wanted to comment on how pretty Ethel is!
Lovely birds. Thank you for feeding them. I bet as the cats watch, they twitch their tails. I miss having a cat or two…
I need to bundle up and refill our feeder-a twice a day job these days.
I finished a hat and ruffly scarf (knit) and am trying to get a sweater done (crochet) by Monday.
My latest TLE package arrived and I am opening it when I have tea this afternoon. Then the luxury of deciding what to make with the Riveting…
A lovely fiber weekend is what I am planning.
We had a Blackbird sheltering on our front porch this week. He left quite a mess, but I can’t begrudge him a warm spot. 🙂
You just changed my life with that link to teuxdeux. I can’t believe I didn’t know about it. But my problem with Google Calendar is that i think in terms of to-do lists, rather than timelines. I’m so excited to have a “calendar” set up that way! Thanks, Sheri!
The birds are fantastic! You are so blessed to have them in your yard.
I have decided to finish a crocheted ripple blanket I started months ago!
Yay, there I am! I was beginning to think you’d forgotten me. =) (Heather in GA)
The bird pictures are beautiful.
No idea what I’m working on, but I’ll be under a blanket as I do it. Brrrrr!
I am going to a first birthday party for a 54 year old man tonight. “What” yousay? Our friend had a stroke one year ago today and is celebrating the first birthday of his second life. We are so glad to be able to celebrate this with him! He is one of my husband’s fishing buddies, so we decided that Dr. Seuss’s One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish would be the perfect gift. I will also be cleaning my house this weekend, because it desperately needs it, especially since my son moved back home with his black lab, who is bound and determinerd to cover my house in black fur.
Love those bird pics! I’m so glad there are people who actually CAN take pics that good. Occasionally I get a “happy accident”, but usually mine just look like I’m trying too hard and failing miserably.
This weekend, my on-line knitting group is having a regional meet-up. Driving up to South Haven, Michigan, tomorrow morning, driving home on Sunday. I will be working on my challenge project (which I’m designing, so it doesn’t really have a name yet, but it’s green).
Otherwise, cleaning. Lots of cleaning. Stay warm!!
We have a couple of cardinal families that like to hang out in our yard too. Their names are Homer and Marge.
Hope to make progress in cleaning out the back room, blocking a wrap or two, making some soup and knitting.
I was wondering, does joining Club Loopy count as an order for Loopy Groupie purposes? Does the groupie surprise come with the first month’s order? (serves me right for making Club Loopy my 6th purchase! Lol).
This weekend I’m working on my first stranded knitting project! So scary and so awkward for the time being. And of course I masochistically picked something with four colors. Eep!
I love Fred and Ethel – especially with my first grandson (Little Ricky) coming in March! You must have shrubs with berries on them for the Robin to be hanging around your place – I used to have a firethorn shrub that they picked clean every winter. Have to work tomorrow.
SO many new groupies – and so many international groupies – awesome!!
I LOVE wild birds and wonder how they make it in the cold, ice and snow tiny as they are. It would be neat to see someone dye yarn in the colors of wild birds (cardinals, woodpeckers, blue jays, robins, etc. Happy weekend!! 🙂
Awesome bird pictures
Wow, a robin! When Mother was alive and living in SE Iowa, we would pass the news when we saw the first robin here in Louisiana (usually around January 29). We haven’t seen one yet this year! Of course, we’ve had our own share of cold and ice here.
I LOVE cardinals, and we just don’t have them in California. When I was in St. Louis last week (thanks again for taking such good care of me!) I was thrilled when I saw them at the birdfeeder in my Aunt Lydia’s backyard. I’m sure she thought I was nuts 🙂
Love cardinals! My Grandmother used to feed the birds and was always really happy when she had cardinals at the feeder! Not too many weekend plans – I got conned into teaching a bunch of people at work how to knit a sweater. So, planning on knitting to keep ahead of them!
Love the bird pics. My cats love to watch the birds at the feeder. Gosh they eat and eat. My DH says that is the cats TV. When they are all lined up on sun porch looking out the windows.The four of them are funny to watch. Great weekend to knit, with more snow coming . Don’t know where will put it. Have a great weekend. Hugs
On Sunday hubby and I are going to help the Orphan Foundation pack up the red scarves and lots of other goodies for the February care packages. Two hours of absolute chaos and fun!
And hopefully I’ll finish the kitchen set I’m working on for a friend, as a housewarming present. She moved into her new house in May last year!
We have a pair of cardinals at our feeder. I haven’t named them (yet), but, I talk to them. Ok, I guess I have, not very original, it’s Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal. Mr. is at the feeder more than Mrs. He is often there or in the nearby pussywillow bush in the morning, and lately when I get home from work. Last weekend, I was talking to him as I walked to the garage. Our neighbor was out with his dog and laughed at me when he heard me. I never said I wasn’t crazy!
That cardinal is adorable.
This weekend? There was a little sleet, but no snow, so I’m happy to report I will not be shoveling! Somehow, that doesn’t seem to make my teuxdeux list any shorter. There may be scarf knitting this evening.
Beautiful bird photos! And wow! All that snow and cold. Is that typical of where you live?