My sister sent me this puzzle recently with a note that she and my mom found it at a thrift store. They sat together, I presume on the floor, and counted the pieces twice to make sure they were all there. I saved the note. The image of the two of them counting puzzle pieces for me is so dear. This is the first big puzzle we have attempted since Ambrose started moving around a couple of years ago, and it felt like a turning point to be able to do a puzzle together with Jonny and the older kids. Granted, Ambrose did mess it up more than once and he lost one of the pieces that was so painstakingly accounted for, but overall, I think he’s learning to leave them alone. (This puzzle is called Banjo Recital and is by New York Puzzle Company. I can’t find it online or I’d link for you. It may have been discontinued?)
My bird obsession is still going strong. I feed the birds, watch the birds, and read books about birds. It’s a fun obsession. Something funny, is that I was introduced to Amy Tan, best known for her works of fiction, via her latest book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles. (Amazon links are affiliate links.) Having never read any of her other books, I decided I ought to read The Joy Luck Club before starting on her bird book. I found The Joy Luck Club to be sad, but I do enjoy Tan’s writing style.
(And if you like sparrows, this is a gorgeous reference guide full of information and great photos.)
I’m knitting a vest for Ambrose, and it feels slightly ambitious for the amount of time and mental space I have available right now as we get ready to begin our school year. However, I’ve made good progress since taking this photo and should be able to finish it in the next few weeks in plenty of time to start Elsie’s birthday sweater.
But, back to birds. Shortly after I started feeding them in my front garden, a pair of cardinals decided to raise a family in my arrowwood viburnum. (The 3 photos above were taken with my phone.)
It’s incredible how quickly they went from this stage…
To this one.
Now the babies are about as big as mom, but that doesn’t stop them from sitting next to her under the bird feeder emitting little pitiful peeps so that she will give them handouts.
After successfully finishing the banjo puzzle, we pulled out this mushroom puzzle that I must have gotten a few birthdays ago. While it’s beautiful, the puzzle pieces can fit in the wrong spots, making it somewhat challenging. The last time we attempted it we couldn’t even get the edges finished and ended up putting it away. This time, a friend was over and she started from the middle and that worked much better!
A friend of Lark’s requested a yellow headscarf recently, so I went goldenrod picking and dyed a headscarf for her and a couple of large ones that I will list in my shop eventually. Goldenrod makes the best yellows. Perfect for fall!
For the first year, we actually have more than a few figs on our fig trees. I had pretty much given up on them, so I am pretty excited!
There will also be indigo scarves in my shop soon…
New chicks! We’ve scaled way back on chickens, but added a dozen chicks recently to be sure we have enough eggs for our family next year!
(One of my favorite photos. )
p.s. I wanted to mention that Etsy has a relatively new program that refunds me a portion of my fees when you shop via the links I have here on the blog and on Instagram. (Most of you already do this.) Materials have gotten so expensive in recent years and that little refund helps! Also, it is so wonderful when you shop via my Amazon links on the blog. I used to fund this blog through advertising but I am no longer able to blog often enough for that to be feasible. Now I’m lucky if I make enough on Amazon each month to fund about half of my operating costs (web hosting etc.) Sorry to talk about that, but maybe some of you are interested to know how I “keep the lights on” here? Thanks for understanding and for supporting my efforts!
Ginny, I found your puzzle in my local store! Do you want me to pick it up for you?
It seems very biblical to wait on a fig tree to bear fruit!
I’ve always loved the birds – to feed and watch them and that led to my oldest son wanting to be an Ornithologist. He’s currently getting a Masters degree in Biology but still participated in bird counts and surveys. But through our homeschooling he found an online site called Ebird (through Cornell Univ) that allows you to enter your bird lists such as a yearly bird list or a life list. And he loves competition and so it was fun to challenge himself to get more birds each year. You can also enter lists by states/counties even (I think all of this is on eBird). It helps Cornell with migration info. He joined forums and people would talk about rare bird sightings and birders from all over try to go see them. It really is a hobby for any age. I’ve learned so much. He has a God given gift to identify birds through sound or even in flight. It amazes me because in flight the shadowing makes it difficult. I am hopeful that one day his job can be focused on birds where he is truly passionate about. Sorry for going on and on. I really wanted to share this for educational purposes if anyone has interests. Ginny- the puzzles are great!!
The puzzle is definitely from The Black Apple aka Emily Winfield. She has lovely puzzles and a few books as well. One of our favorites is Oddfellows Orphanage. She also had some adorable paper dolls available a few years ago. I believe she had a baby so she’s not doing much art anymore but you can find some on Amazon and through some Portland, Oregon based stores online.
Thank you Ginny for sharing the pictures of the baby birds. They are precious. Glad you are enjoying your book.
Joan
Hi Ginny, Thank You for the update. Those little birds are adorable. I hope to start knitting as soon as the weather gets cooler. Enjoy your reading.
Marilyn
Your Mom and Sister being so careful to be sure all the pieces were there made me smile. You know what I hate? I finally finished a puzzle started before my husband so suddenly passed away, so it’s was a year and a half in the finishing. Only to find one piece missing! Somehow in the moving from dining table to coffee table and back numerous time I lost a piece. It is gone! Hunted high and low but it’s been “borrowed” forever. So now I can’t even give the puzzle away. And I like to take a picture of my puzzles finished [I guess you do too!] and so there it is, with a piece right in the middle missing! I liked the comment the “perfectly imperfectness of family life”. So fitting especially with puzzle pieces.
Hi Ginny, maybe a Patreon page so we can support you and your work?
Hi Ginny,
So glad to have you drop in my email box. Thanks for mentioning how much it takes to do that. I am sorry I don’t think about it. I am so glad you spelled it out for me. I will be better at clicking on the links. It does not hurt ME and only helps YOU. I would not want you to disappear from my email box! Sending you love and prayers.
I always enjoy your blogs so much I have been reading for years and years. I have a question. Would you be so kind as to tell me what mordant you use with the cotton headscarves. I dye wool yarn with alum and cream of tartar but know it is different with cotton. I want to dye some napkins. If you would tell me I would be most appreciative. Thanks in advance.
Have a great fall.
Hi Bianca! I just emailed you!
Hi Ginny,
I love your blog and especially your pictures! The puzzle your Mom and sister sent to you reminds me of a tapestry…. So pretty. You have made me start borrowing puzzles from the local library, it’s so satisfying ☺️
Hi Ginny;
What a delightful post. Thank You for sharing the bird photos. Saturday we saw baby Sparrow birds. They are no bigger than a finger. The puzzle is beautiful.
Happy Knitting.
Marion
Hi Ginny,
Just a reader – never a commenter here but I have a couple things to share that we have in common. The missing piece – isn’t that just life?? Ha-ha! My family of 5 is grown but it just made me smile thinking about the perfectly imperfectness of family life. And we have a little grandson born the same month/year as Ambrose and I made him the Hobbit vest (with pocketses) this past spring! I picked it for these reasons: 1. The name!! How adorable is it? 2. The idea that I would finish it quickly since – no sleeves! 3. Not a huge investment of time/money if he wouldn’t wear it. And the cardinals! So so many this year! We have flocks and I’ve never seen flocks of cardinals or even nests for that matter. We had a nest in our dogwood tree.
I love all of this!!! Thanks for sharing all we have in common!
Lovely Ginny, I haven’t knit anything in ages, but it’s just not my season right now. I always enjoy seeing what you’re working on. Xx