Really Kinda Random

Welcome to Really Random Thursday!

I'm linking up with Cindy of Live a Colorful Life for her Really Random posts.  Hop on over to Cindy's blog to access more random posts.

Let's see.....where to begin?

Some of you may recall that a couple of weeks ago, I was not feeling well.  I actually took a sick day (something I rarely do!) and stayed home.  All day, I kept hearing this knocking noise.  I told Papa Pea about it, and we thought it must be a woodpecker.  We saw the little "peckerhead" (as Papa Pea likes to call him) the next day.  Later that day, Sweet Pea asked me if I saw the holes in our house.  I said, "What????!!!"  She showed me these holes on the trim outside her window.  Wow!  There were three spots on our house where the woodpecker had just drilled our trim.  Peckerhead is right!  Seriously not happy about this!  It's supposed to be in the 60s this weekend.  So, at least it will be warm enough for Papa Pea to patch all these holes.  Argh!

The other day, Papa Pea was walking down the stairs, and he commented again how much he liked my Which Witch's Boot quilt.  (Yes, it's still up, even though Halloween is over.)  I showed him this pattern, which is a brand new one from Crabapple Hill Studio.  I had so much fun with Which Witch's Boot, I wanted to do another already.  And when this new pattern came out, I knew I had to have it.  Isn't it great?!  It's called Dance by the Light of the Moon.

I liked the Inkwell fabric so much, I ordered the fabric kit, too.  It came tied up with this skeleton on it.  Sweet Pea absconded with the skeleton right away.

I got the thread kit, too.  More lovely Cosmo thread.  LOVE it!  I wish I could start on this right now.  But I am making myself wait until at least after the holidays.  I do enjoy thinking about starting it, though!

Like many of you, we had a really dry summer here.  Now that it's getting cold, our minds are turning toward ice skating and cross-country skiing.  I got new skis (and so did Papa Pea and Sweet Pea) for Christmas last year.  But we had so little snow, we never did get to use them.  We're hoping for more snow this year.  Also, we never got to ice skate on our lake, because it was never cold enough for the lake to freeze over!  What a weird winter!  As we thought about ice skating, I pondered, "I wonder if there's even any water in the lake so we'll be able to ice skate...."  The lake was so dry all summer, it pretty much disappeared.  But with the rains as of late, I wondered if it was coming back.  So, we hiked through the woods to go check it out.

Well, it wasn't good.  Where Papa Pea and Sweet Pea are hanging out used to be all under water.  We used to ice skate right where they are walking/sitting.  Usually the water is so high that the area to the left with the trees is an island.  The ground under us wasn't even boggy now.  There is one wet spot, where the people who own the property next to us started dredging out this portion of the lake.  (I think they wanted it deeper for fishing or something.)  But the DNR got on them and made them stop, we are told.  (There is no house on the lot next to us.  It is vacant land and for sale.  Wish we could afford to buy it!)  Anyway, this will make a nice place to skate, albeit small.

Here I am looking the other way across the lake.  All this is usually under water, too.  I mean, all fo it!  From where I'm standing all the way over to the trees!  Kind of sad, huh?!

In fact, if you go to this post, you can see where we skated across that big open area you see ahead of me in this photo.  (If you are looking for the completed quilt project from that post, you can find it here....just in case you were curious!)

Do you remember the movie Fried Green Tomatoes?  Remember how Idgie Threadgood told this story?

Idgie Threadgoode: One time, there this this lake
[pause]
Idgie Threadgoode: and uh, it was right outside of town. We used to go fishin' and swimmin' and canoein' in it, and uh
[sniffle]
Idgie Threadgoode: this one November this flock o'ducks came in and landed on that lake, and uh the tempurature dropped sp fast that the lake froze right there and then the ducks, they flew off ya see
[voice breaking]
Idgie Threadgoode: and took the lake with them
[small sob]
Idgie Threadgoode: and uh, now they say that lake is over in Georgia...
[quite]
Idgie Threadgoode: imagin' that.
[walks over to Ruth]
Idgie Threadgoode: [sobs and starts to cry]

That's all I could think about when I was looking at our lake (or lack thereof)!

But here's a more close-up shot of what I'm looking at.  Look carefully.  Do you see all the Canadian geese on the water (the black specks)?  And the swans?  This area behind our house is like a bird sanctuary.  We have so many wonderful birds out behind our place.  I love that about our location.  Some days, the sounds of the geese and other birds is amazing.  It's really very enjoyable.

Have a happy Thursday!  Don't forget, since it's Random Thursday, maybe you can find a random act of kindess to do today!

Until next time,

Comments

[Maggie Szafranski]

Wow! That Woody Woodpecker did a number on the house! Here's to hoping the water levels return so you can enjoy your cold weather activities!

[rebecca]

Try hanging a rubber/plastic snake by the peckerhead wood. It seems to deter them?

[Lynn]

Wow! That woodpecker really did some damage! We've had a woodpecker at our house too, but our house is brick. So far he hasn't done any damage, but I always try to go run him off if he starts pecking on the house.

[carolld]

I love birds and watching them, but those "peckers" can really do damage. I'm always shooing them away from my house. I hate snakes, even the thought of them, but maybe I'll give Lynn's idea a try. Love your new embroidery project. Looks like you have beautiful property. What fun watching all those birds.

[jenclair]

Woodpeckers - love/hate situation!

The new pattern, fabrics, and thread are lovely. Can't wait until you are able to get started.

Global warming is expensive in so many ways. I hope the portion of your lake that disappeared is making someone happy somewhere else--at least that image is less sad.

[terriaw]

Wow, those are some huge holes from a woodpecker! They can be a nuisance, can't they.

Your new embroidery project is so lovely and delicate looking.

What cool packaging for that fabric kit! I try that technique this summer with leaves - so fun. Happy day to you.

[Thimbleanna]

Yay -- another Really Random Post! Last winter was weird and the summer was awful so I'm thinking ... hold on to your hats! Maybe not, but fall did arrive a bit earlier than some other years. Hmmmm. Your embroidery projects looks like it will be perfect for those long winter evenings in Jan. and Feb.!

[Myra]

We had woodpeckers pecking holes in our house in Idaho. Can you guess how Shawn took care of them? : )

[liveacolorfullife]

You live in a really beautiful location. It will be interesting to see what the winter holds. Today is the first day of a cooling trend here. And it's kind of grey and cloudy--love it. Your new stitching project looks amazing!

[Donna]

Peckerhead did do a job on your house! We had one years ago and he was so annoying.
Love your new stitchery! I love Crabapple designs.
I sure hope the lake fills with water and ices over for y'all to skate on and hopefully have lots of snow to ski!
Hugs,
Donna

[Maureen]

Your trim!!! You said you wanted to change color, I don't think you meant change the whole thing! Darn peckerhead!

I was out on U last night and drove past the pond/lake and was so sadden! I was hoping our late rains would have brought it back. Pray we have a lot of snow to replenish the water tables. I also I know a family that would love to skate with sweet pea :)
And we didn't win the lotto to purchase the lot next to you ;)

[Carla]

I enjoyed seeing your woods and "lake/pond" with all of the birds. We have had such a drought also; crazy, huh! I sure hope that you get to use your skis and skates this winter. We have lots of woodpeckers, but so far, none that have pecked on our house. What kind of woodpecker is it?