A GERKIN IN THE GARDEN and more goodies in the store

Do you all remember my “Snow Bird” from last year?  Well my Anna’s Hummingbird is still hanging around but this time with his wife and brood of 2 chicks from this year.  As the temps have been falling I need to really keep on top of making sure his feeder is not freezing solid and he has adequate shelter close to the feeder.

Another frigid morning (18 degrees) for my Annas Hummingbird

This little fella sits on a vinyl coated wire all day about 2 feet from the feeder or on the Japanese Maple a few feet from my front door.  He never ventures far from the house which I’m sure radiates a bit of heat and cuts the wind.

Hummingbirds have a unique way of keeping warm or conserving their energy – at night, or any time they cannot get enough food to fuel themselves – they go into torpor – a state in which their metabolic rate is only one-fifteenth that of normal sleep….very much like hibernation.

I can walk right up to him in the early morning without him moving a muscle.  I call these beautiful Anna’s humming birds my “tree pickles” or “gerkins” because they are shaped and colored just like one!

My frozen hummingbird feeder

Last night I forgot to bring the feeder in….The red popsicle needed thawing.  When I brought it  back out, 2 hummies buzzed me and landed on the feeder while I was still hanging it up.  I hope I can get Steve to get a photo of them doing that tomorrow!!!  I told my friend today I want to get them each a little match box complete with blankie and hot water bottle for Xmas to sleep in!!

As I write at 6:30 PM the temp is 24 and heading down to a  near record low for Portland this time of year. Brrrrrrr you would never know I was born and raised in Minnesota!  My friends are all laughing at me I’m sure…but keep in mind I only own unlined raincoats  not a single sweater.   I had to really dig to find those photography gloves I bought for Chengdu 2 years ago.   Geeze have I turned into a wimp

Picture 94

So what does one do on a cold week to keep warm???? Created fused glass and finish up some batiks!!

This yummy card and print was inspired by a dog we bred years ago…actually he is Megs litter brother Ike!!   Thank you Bonnie for letting me use his stately likeness to do this rich colored batik

CLICK ABOVE TO FIND THE CARDS AT ZAZZLE
Picture 95
CLICK PHOTO ABOVE TO FIND GICLEE ART PRINTS
FRAMED OR UNFRAMED AT IMAGEKIND
CLICK PHOTO TO READ MORE ABOUT THIS “ADOPTED” HANDBAG!
AND ONE OF YOU WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO NAB THIS ONE OFF
THE WEBSITE BEFORE I GOT THIS BLOG POST DONE!!  MORE
PANDA AND CHOW HANDBAGS IN MY ONE OF A KIND BATIKS
ARE ON THE WAY THIS WEEK… AS WELL AS A GORGEOUS CHOW
BATIK BLOUSE!!
More items will be posted on the GRAFFITI JEWELRY website this week.
REMINDER THAT YOU CAN FIND ALL OF MY SITES WHERE I HAVE ITEMS
FOR PURCHASE ABOVE AT THE “SHOP GRAFFITI…click” link at the top of the blog

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About Sandra Miller

My name is Sandra Miller and I love to ART. I enjoy my studio and home in beautiful Portland Oregon with my husband Steve and our charming Finnish Lapphund dog named Ihana