For the love of Birds

Hubby and I were always interested in birds, but didn’t really ever have the time to do much more than occasionally look at a bird and try to identify it in our Bird Field Guide. Life was busy and we were both working full time and there just wasn’t much time to indulge in a hobby.

We started building our retirement home on the Fleurieu Peninsula the year before we were due to semi-retire. When a friend told us about the area's local Birdwatching Club that he had joined, we listened intently. Here was something in which we were already interested, it was a healthy hobby walking out in the bush, and it was something that hubby and I could do and enjoy together. We had always hoped we could find an activity we would both enjoy, when we finally stopped working.

We moved into our retirement home and commuted to our jobs two days a week and began to enjoy our semi-retirement. The first thing we did was join the Birdwatching Club! The members warmly welcomed us and our fascination with Australia’s wonderful birdlife took off in leaps and bounds. It took us a whole year before we ‘got it all together’. We had to learn how to quickly adjust our binoculars, have a look at the size and shape of the bird, check out what colours it had, try to remember what shape its bill was, identify any unusual features, and take note of its habitat - all while the bird flitted quickly from branch to branch or flew by in great haste. 

Eventually we progressed until it became the most enjoyable hobby, one that we shared together, being amazed at the wonders of God’s creations in our beautiful Australian bush. Birdwatching enriched our lives immensely.

For many years, while we could still travel, our holidays were designed around where we might see different birds that we had not seen before! I still carry my binoculars with me when I go on my morning walk as there are quite often some not-so-common birds to be seen.

So our June Gentle Gems Hexies of the Month patterns are in deference to our love of birds - two stylized birds that look nothing like anything real, but that’s a stitcher’s ‘poetic licence’! These patterns will give you opportunity to play with a different stitch or two.

The patterns for these two Gentle Gems Hexies have been sent to all who have joined the 2021 Hexies of the Month programme. It’s not too late to join and it’s very reasonably priced, so hop over here for all the details.

Thank you to those who continue to ask or comment about my hubby. This week was a really good one! I feel that his medications are well adjusted now and he is settled, comfortable and content. It certainly makes life easier for me to know that he is happy and well cared for. Next time I will show you what I have been doing with my hands when I visit him.

Happy stitching!

Val