Bathing Blue Jay

Every summer, I make a special effort to keep plenty of fresh water in my yard for the local wildlife.  I do have a bird bath which is frequently used, but I also keep a few small dishes with fresh water for any little creatures who might be thirsty.  I recently filled the dishes on my deck with water and seed, a songbird mixture containing sunflower seeds and peanuts (which blue jays find irresistible) .  As I was watching a blue jay feast on the peanuts, the water must have been so appealing that he decided to jump right in for a bath.  Luckily, I had my camera nearby so I was able to capture some photos of this little cutie cooling off on a warm summer day.

Here he is with a belly full of peanuts, cocking his head to the side as if he was pondering the pool of water next to his lunch.

I thought he was going to take a drink, but instead he hopped right in.

Splash!

And here he is, all fluffed up and squeaky clean! Pretty handsome little guy, isn't he?

Birds aren't the only creatures who take advantage of the water I provide on hot days.  For the Wildlife Feeding Stations I featured in my last post, I made sure to design them so that generous humans could offer food AND water to the critters in their region.  A little squirrel has started visiting the one I kept for my own yard, and he made sure to gulp up plenty of water after he filled up on sunflower seeds.  Here he is, sipping away!

If you're interested in attracting little animals to your home, here's a link to a post I wrote a few years ago with tips on how to turn your space into a woodland wonderland.  And even if feeding the animals is not a responsibility you'd like to take on, I'm sure a little bowl of fresh water on a hot day would be much appreciated by your local wildlife.  

For all of my readers who are in the midst of summer right now, I'm wishing you lots of sunny days, ripe watermelon chilled in the fridge (my favorite summertime treat), and maybe a snowcone or two before the season is over!

Fall is My Happy Place

Every single year, I eagerly observe the trees waiting for it to visit.  I walk through the grocery store with a grin on my face as soon as the pumpkins arrive. I plot which scary movies I'll watch on Halloween, and I get all giddy with anticipation when I fill a massive bowl with candy and flip on the porch light.  I brew extra coffee on chilly mornings.  I light cinnamon candles. I utilize both the heater and the air conditioner within a 12 hour span because the warm sunshine gives way to cool nights.  And, of course, I keep my camera close by so I can document the beauty of my favorite season (but don't get too sure of yourself, autumn, I'm known to say that about spring as well).

















Apparently I also take fall portraits of my dog because she's super cute lounging in the leaves and I can't help it. What's your favorite season?

Prepare for Winter

According to one of the squirrels who visits the little feeding station on my deck, it's time to start gathering delicious treats to get you through a cold winter!



This guy was going a little crazy with the sunflower seeds on a recent chilly day. I've noticed they tend to do this when winter is on the way. Prepare your mittens, Oklahoma! In other crafty and winter-related news, I'm so happy that I learned how to crochet with the help of my talented friend Sherri.

I'm currently working on a scarf.



I've completed a few little scarflettes as well.



Do you crochet or knit? Both? Neither? I can officially say I know how to do both, and I think I prefer crochet.

Of Course I was a Squirrel for Halloween

As much as I love Halloween, I typically don't go all out for my costume each year. I might get a little more daring with my fashion choices and add a few fun accessories, but this year was different. I was scheduled to work on Halloween, and received an email saying that library employees were allowed to dress up in "tasteful costumes" and I decided to go for it. Since many people know about my obsession with squirrels, I thought it would be fun to take it to the next level.



And then I may have gotten a little carried away with my role as the squirrel girl...



Halloween may be over now, but the fall festivities are not. Tonight is the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival in downtown Tulsa. I'm debating whether I want to go out tonight or come home after work and curl up with the kitties and a book. The latter sounds very tempting, but looking through my photos from last year's festival is making it tough for me to decide!









While I enjoyed viewing all the shrines dedicated to beloved family members, this one really spoke to me because it's such a widespread issue. It's a shrine for those who have succumbed to addiction. So many brilliant people, yet none of them immune to their own excesses.





I am thoroughly enjoying the season right now. What is your favorite thing about fall?

How to Create a Backyard Habitat

You may have noticed by now that I am a big-time animal lover. I don't discriminate- pets of all kinds are precious to me, and I've also got a soft spot for wild critters. For many years now, I've been providing food and water for all the neighborhood animals who care to visit. I can't even tell you how much joy it brings me to have a yard full of wildlife chirping, singing, and happily flitting around with plenty of fresh water and bellies full of food. It's as simple as providing food and water, but I've got a few little tips in case you're interested in creating your own little wildlife haven.

VARIETY
For starters, it helps to set up multiple food and water sources to accommodate a variety of animals. Some birds prefer to feed in the trees, while others are ground feeders. And although I have seen squirrels in my birdbath before, I like to provide little dishes full of food and water on my deck where my four-legged friends can easily reach them.



SEED
Sunflower seeds are the favorite of many bird enthusiasts. Almost all seed-eating birds love them, and squirrels do too. If you purchase a cheaper seed variety, such as millet, many birds will throw it aside looking for the good stuff. To avoid waste and attract a wide variety of beautiful birds (sparrows, cardinals, mourning doves, finches, chickadees, blue jays), pure sunflower seeds or a mix with a high percentage or sunflower seeds will be your best bet.



SUET
An effective yet thrifty way to feed birds is to purchase a suet feeder. The feeder itself is shaped like a small cage and is very inexpensive, and the suet cakes typically cost about a dollar apiece. These high-energy cakes are a great way to keep your birds healthy in the winter, and they also attract woodpeckers! Although ground-feeding birds will be left out, suet feeders would be a good starting point for someone wanting to try their hand at attracting birds to their home.



WATER
If you enjoy seeing birds wildly splashing around in puddles, setting up a bird bath would most likely bring a smile to your face on a daily basis. One thing to remember if you have a birdbath is that a few stones at the bottom of the birdbath will allow birds of all sizes to drink and bathe. Even the tiniest of birds will be able to find a spot that is not too deep. Place your bird bath a good distance away from any trees or hedges so that birds can drink and play freely without the fear of something hiding nearby, waiting to attack.



CONSISTENCY
If you plan to attract wild animals to your home, be aware that they will come to depend on it as a food source so you should refill the feeders as soon as possible once they're empty. If it becomes a reliable feeding ground, the birds will introduce their young to your home as a safe place to get their grub on.



REWARDS
I can promise you one thing: If you provide food and water for local animals, they WILL hang out near your home. It doesn't matter if you live on a farm or in an apartment, if you've got even a tiny slice of outdoor space to call your own, you can enjoy the company of feathered and furry friends. You never know what kind of animals will show up. The birdseed I buy has sunflower seeds, peanuts, and berries, and I've often noticed a little bunny enjoying breakfast with the birds!



Even when I lived in a third floor apartment, I had an abundance of creatures on my balcony at any given time. If you want to know more about my adventures with these little friends of mine, click here to view past posts and you will see that it's been an enjoyable part of my life for many years now. What kind of wild animals would you most enjoy having around?

This project is linked up with other fun tutorials here!

My Squirrely Visitors

It's been awhile since my squirrel friends have made an appearance on my blog, so I thought I'd gather some photos to show you what their typical visit looks like.

First they jump onto the railing of my deck, where I leave little cups of food and water for them.



Being the nervous creatures they are, my squirrels usually look around to make sure the coast is clear before jumping onto the deck.



Before too long, they head toward the bowl of seeds and dig in.



I don't know if you've ever seen the look on a squirrel's face when he's got his little paws full of delicious sunflower seeds, but I would call it a look of satisfaction.



I've also added a new nature-themed item to my shop. I'm pretty excited about these. I can personally attest to how much cheer they will add to your home.


Mushroom Garden- Maintenance Free Mini Terrarium

There are some things in life that are simple, yet uplifting. For me, seeing an adorable woodland creature filling its little cheeks with plenty of food right on my back porch is one of them. What's a surefire way to make YOU smile?

My First Craft Swap

In my last post, I gave you a tour of my backyard and showed you how much I'm inspired by nature. The little creatures bring me endless happiness, and one animal that has been bringing me joy for years now is the squirrel. The real squirrels that come to my house have sparked an addiction in me- I've started to collect squirrel figurines and artwork to bring a little bit of their quirky ways into my home. When Jessy, my blog buddy from Apparently Jessy, contacted me about participating in a swap with her, I happily agreed but I had no idea what she had in store for me. Today, I will show you what a great job she did of pegging my personality, style, and interests.

Jessy told me that she had a tote bag idea in mind, and I was very excited about that because I had seen her work before on her blog and her Flickr page. Her unique style of tote bags have always appealed to me with their elaborate stitching and customized scenes. When I received my package on Christmas Eve, I was thrilled to discover that the scene she had sewn onto the middle of my bag was a sweet little squirrel!


Clockwise from top: Handmade squirrel tote bag, vintage mushroom salt and pepper shakers, handmade ornaments, star hair ties, cupcake magnet, and a pouch to match the tote bag.

The amount of detail was so impressive. He has a precious face, and he is surrounded by a sprinkling of acorns, flowers and leaves.



She made me a matching zipper pouch to go inside, and I was so excited when I saw that it was personalized with the name of my business and my blog. I now have my very own Hollyrocks pouch!



And then there was this lovely cupcake magnet, which does a great job of adding a bit of sweetness to my kitchen. It also makes me think of all the yummy cupcakes Jessy posts on her blog.



She also sent these adorable mushroom salt and pepper shakers. I collect mushrooms, so this set definitely found a loving home.



Still remaining within the color scheme, Jessy made a set of felt ornaments. I just love this design!



I could not wait to load up my new bag with my things and carry it around town.



Now that I have personally tested Jessy's bags, I can vouch for their quality and comfort. I am VERY picky when it comes to purses. I have pretty strong opinions on an ideal size, the type of closure, inner pockets, the length of the straps, etc. Not only is this bag a complete work of art, it is also very functional and it appeased my picky ways.

To summarize my very first swap with a fellow crafter, this was a really fun, memorable experience. I was enchanted by the idea of these items traveling from the other side of the globe to my little home here in Oklahoma. The day I received the package was all smiles and giggles, and I would eagerly accept if another similar opportunity floated my way. Thank you so much, Jessy, for sending me a package full of happiness!

Nature Girl

Hello and Happy New Year, my friends! There is something right in my backyard that brings me great joy, and I'm hoping to share a little bit of it with you. I am a total nature girl at heart, so I was thrilled when we bought a house with a backyard full of trees. If you've been following my blog for a while, you have probably seen some of the things I did to draw animals to my balcony when I lived in an apartment. Now that I've got all these trees, the possibilities have really expanded. We hadn't lived here for very long at all before I started hanging feeders from the limbs. I am happy to say that our yard has quickly become a major hot spot for all kinds of wild critters. I often joke that a Disney movie lies just beyond my kitchen window, and now I've got some proof to back up that statement.

Here's a short video to show what kind of action goes down in our trees. If
you look closely, you will see doves, sparrows, cardinals, and a very creative squirrel.



The squirrels eat the food spilled by the birds, but they also like to run up the pole of the shepherd's hook to shake down more when the supply on the ground runs low. Clever little things, aren't they? I know a lot of people consider squirrels a nuisance, but I always want animals to feel safe and welcomed here. I make sure they have plenty to eat and drink, and they have started to rely on my yard as a food source. They visit our place all year round, rain or shine.



Anytime I'm near a window facing this area, I like to stay for a moment and watch all the creatures eat, flitter around, bathe, and perch in the trees. I find a lot of my inspiration from this little piece of nature..



This Blue Jay Bookmark was completely inspired by the actual blue jays which eat right out of a cup of seed I have on the deck. Doesn't this guy have the cutest little beak?



My space reminds me of a tiny, contained forest. It's only 1/4 acre of land, nestled firmly into a suburban neighborhood. But we've got a wall of trees surrounding our backyard, and everything seems quite perfect in this one little spot of the world.



When I applied this concept to my work, this was the result:
The Enchanted Forest In A Jar Pendant.



And then of course there are these guys...



Since all of these things I make are so close to my heart, it is not unusual for me to make extras so that I can keep some for myself and list some in my shop. This was definitely the case with the Glitter Acorn Necklace I recently listed.



In fact, I ended up making one of each color to keep.



My backyard really comes in handy when it's time to photograph my items too.



The tree limbs worked out perfectly for photographing the acorn necklaces, and I actually used the birdbath as a backdrop too. I read that birds are more likely to use a birdbath when there are stones inside to draw them to the water and to provide many different depths for birds of all sizes. I was trying to achieve the look of a crystal-clear stream, but now you know the truth- it's my birdbath!



I truely love the inside of our house and the various nooks and crannies where I make myself comfortable, but I think this little outdoor world is my absolute favorite part of our home. Which part of your dwelling are you particularly fond of?

P.S. I recently participated in my very first swap with a blogger I completely adore. She perfectly grasped my personality overall, including my love of nature. Watch for my next post to see the magical things I received in my package from down under!