Mystery Bird Identified!

My friend, Susan, who is a ninja net-surfer, has identified our mystery bird! It is a Townsend's Warbler and is commonly seen on the coasts of Oregon and California in winter. Here is a link to a better photo than mine of this beautiful bird. Isn't he a stunner? Thank you, Susan!

Well, it's another gray, rainy day here in northern California so I plan to stay inside as much as possible. I'm so lucky to be self-employed and able to work at home! The cats will do more of this:

Scout, sleeping on top of my sewing box.


And this:

Jack, having his bath on my sewing table. Wherever I am . . . that's where they want to be!

Warm Flannel for a Baby Quilt

My niece, Heather, is due to have her baby in March. Her baby shower is on the 9th so I've been busy working on a baby quilt for her. I found this adorable safari flannel fabric at the Patchwork Cat and also the stripes and green batik to go with it. Heather is using the safari theme and colors in her baby's nursery (they know it's a Boy) and so I think this quilt will fit right in.

This is the quilt in progress. I'm trying one of those "ragged" quilts where you clip the seams and then wash the quilt, letting the clipped seams fray. They are so cute when they are done! I can't wait to finish it and wash it. It works especially well with flannels and probaby chenille fabrics, too. As you can see it's a VERY simple pattern; just 9.5" squares so it's going together really quickly. And it's FUN!

Every time I get my sewing machine out I wonder why I don't do it more often....
That's Jack. He decided this folded up piece of warm & soft batting was the perfect place for a nap. Yep, he's really that color.

Asilomar - Pacific Grove, CA.

I spent a long weekend at Asilomar Conference Center at a scrapbooking get-together with a couple dozen other women, all friends. It was fantastic! Thx to Susan, who organizes this retreat every year -- this was our 10th year! Asilomar is right on the northern California coast so we also spent some time walking on the beach. The weather was absolutely gorgeous; warm and sunny. Unusual for this time of year! Needless to say we soaked it up.

On one of our walks between our scrapbooking workroom and the dining hall we spotted this interesting bird. At first I thought it was an American goldfinch, but looking closer we could see it wasn't. Still not sure what it is....I've looked through all my bird identification books and can't find one that totally matches this little guy. It has some characteristics of the Common Yellowthroat, Lesser Goldfinch, as well as American Goldfinches, even Orioles.....I just don't know. If any of you can identify this bird, please let me know!