Looking out the window one morning this past week, I spotted a deer crossing the driveway. This one is obviously pregnant, so I am looking forward to seeing a little spotted fawn in a few weeks.
Sitting on the veranda one day, I was enjoying the cool mountain air, reading a book while sitting in one of the rocking chairs. I almost missed the wild turkey mom crossing the meadow towards the driveway with 7 baby turkeys. I quickly jumped up to get the camera with a long lens, and waited for her to bring them out of the azaleas. A few minutes later, one little one skittered across the road, with her following. Another baby was under her feet.
Two more came running as she reached the edge of the forest next to the driveway.
Then the last three came running after. So cute. All of them were making tiny little cheeping sounds.
This bird landed on a pole nearby while I still had the camera ready. I have no idea what it is. If you know, put it in the comments.
The female cardinal has been a regular visitor to the bird feeder.
A blue jay pokes around on the ground for seeds.
The lobelia continues to bloom profusely. I just adore this plant.
The pregnant deer came back a few days later, this time with another one. The second one seems younger, and not pregnant.
The bear came back again, shaking the pole with the bird feeder to get it to spill seeds on the ground. This is the third time in a week, so we took the feeder down. The birds are unhappy, but it will stay down for at least 2 weeks. Hopefully, the bear will decide there is no more food here and move on.
The quilt show was Friday and Saturday. In the spirit of not buying fabric, I spent my shopping budget on magazines and buttons. Lately I have been interested in learning new techniques and doing more art style quilts and smaller pieces. I hope these quilting magazines will inspire me.
I got three books on art quilting, too. I looked through these on Saturday, and I will definitely be trying the techniques in Threadplay by Libby Lehman (Amazon link to see the whole synopsis). Art Quilts at Play and the Art Quilt Workbook are both by by Jane Davila and Elin Waterston. All of these are older books, readily available on used book sites.
I have this Stonehenge ombre piece of fabric that looks like pale blue sky with deeper blue mountains. I think doing some quilting to define the mountains and adding some thread painting might be interesting. The idea isn’t fully developed in my mind yet, but it’s a place to start.
This coming week will be light on obligations and meetings, so I am hoping for some quality sewing and crafting time. What are your plans for the week?
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From My Carolina Home 
Hi, great pictures! Those turkey babies are so cute! I’m thinking the bird is question is some kind of flycatcher? Thanks for your post, glad the bear didn’t tear up your feeder!
It was good to see you at the quilt show and stock up on your great stamped cards! I hope the bear stays away!
We had a bear wander through a few years ago, but apparently our seed shells werent appetizing as it never came back. Today is the last day of our show. On Friday I overheard a vendor comment that sales were better 2 years ago. I stopped by the booths & spent my budget. You can’t go wrong with the Quilting Arts mags you found. Tons of inspriation there!
Some sweet pictures as usual 🙂 The second doe is possibly a daughter of the pregnant one. I love fawn season, they’re so cute! I copied the unknown bird picture into google lens, and google thinks it’s an Eastern Phoebe. I’m woefully misinformed on bird species and have to rely on technology (and hope it’s right!).
Hi Carole!
I’ve never seen turkey babies before today! Probably a one in a million-photo catching the turkey mama facing her little ones.
Thread Play by Libby Lehman is an excellent book. I took a class from Libby years ago. I still have the thread painted wall-hanging started in her class. Her book is part of my quilt reference library.
Going to be busy with the quilting business this week. Hoping to sneak in some gardening!
Jo Anne
I love seeing the baby turkeys – how fun! Glad you enjoyed the quilt show, too. It will be fun to see what kind of art quilts you’re inspired to make. That piece of blue fabric is sure pretty! I’m not sure about that bird you want to identify, but I looked up the eastern phoebe that a previous commenter mentioned, and it could definitely be one.
What a terrific week for wildlife in your yard! That silly bear needs to find another place to eat! I look forward to seeing what you create. I’m sure you will get a lot of inspiration from your book & magazine purchases.
your weekly “visiting friends” account is abundant!! spring is here, and it seems you are hosting a virtual wildlife sanctuary! how wonderful !!! (smart bear, but good move on your part to remove the feeder)
I see a townscape (church with steeple, etc.} or a cityscape using some of your blue fabric as a background ala Grandma Moses. Would be fun to do. Carolyn Howard
I love seeing spotted fawns. There are bears in our county, but fortunately we have not seen one on our trail cams! Enjoy your week, Carole.
Lovely pictures. We had a squirrel raiding our squirrel buster so we had to take it down too. Hopefully it will forget to check again.
Your photos are marvelous, as always.
Always enjoy seeing the animals and birds. They always look so healthy!
The Quilting Arts magazines you will enjoy and glean lots of information from. My most favourite magazine and never missed a copy in past years which I read cover to cover. Had to stop getting them – ran out of storage!! Them and all the other books as well. You will find yourself running off to your studio with your head bristling with new ideas!
Mary :))
It’s an Eastern phoebe. Solitary birds here near Myrtle Beach too.
You don’t need to go on a nature hike ever! You’ve got it all in your own back yard and it’s wonderful. I’ll be eager to see your Stonehenge Blue piece!
That fabric lends itself to so many things….it will be fun to watch. Today I saw a hummingbird at my regular bird feeder, for a very brief instant. It is fun watching the wildlife…but I am glad not to have bears on the island!
I hope you will get to see the baby fawn when it comes. Good to take the feeder down for a little bit. I normally do not put feed out in the spring/summer as I assume (maybe wrongly) that the birds can find plenty but right now I had so much excess seed from winter that I filled up two of the feeders and the birds are coming here still.
Yes, indeed, it’s an Eastern Phoebe. We have them at our house and they LOVE to nest around your house. We have to cover the tops of the porch fans and even the trim above the door. We used to let them nest but they really attracted LARGE black snakes. They have a beautiful “phoebe” call.