I’ve got a thing for owls that started long before owls got to be quite so trendy. Real owls keep cropping up at every critical juncture in my life. They appear on rooftops, on chimneys, and high up in an ancient oak at the park on the end of my street. When I lived in Brisbane, a whole family of Tawny Frogmouth owls lived for months in a tree on my walking route and I saw them daily. Eventually they flew away – one by one. I watched for them for months afterwards to no avail and then I flew away too – back to Canada.
In my new neighbourhood a large barred owl keeps making an appearance. One night when I was out running it swooped down from the crest of a roof and flew directly over my head – mere feet above me – so close I could feel the whoosh of air with its almost silent wing beat. Sometimes months pass before it reappears. For several nights last winter it sat in a tall tree on the river edge – calling patiently to an owl who answered from the distance but never appeared.
At the end of this past summer I went canoeing in Killarney Provincial Park in Northern Ontario. I spent the night before the trip alone in a waterside cabin on the Spanish River where I listened first to the haunting lullaby of loons on the river and then as the loons went silent – an owl, very close by, started hooting and called until I finally fell asleep – some time well into the middle of the night. I didn’t want that incredibly beautiful night to end.
For the past couple of years, I’ve made these felt owls and hung them on a twig tree. Originally I made them for Christmas but when the holidays ended I just couldn’t pack them up. So I left them out and made various seasonal owls throughout the year – red ones for Valentine’s day, purple ones for Easter, orange and black ones for Hallowe’en. And as fast as I make them – I give them away. This year I’m making serious black owls.
When my daughter texted me from Quebec City the other day – she asked me what I was doing. “Owling,” I replied – I’m a one-word texter because I’m really bad at it. “I wish I was owling,” she answered. I had a million other things I should have been doing but somehow the owls had taken precedence over everything – even deadlines.
So here, in case you love owls as much as I do, is my recipe for owls. Happy owling!
Felt Owls
felt
embroidery floss
buttons for eyes
fiberfill stuffing
Cut two owls as per pattern below. Dimensions are roughly 2 1/2 inches across by 3 1/4 inches tall. Using a large needle and embroidery floss, stitch the eyes onto one of the owl pieces, and then add the beak and feathers. Blanket stitch the two pieces of felt together – until you have about an inch left un-stitched – then stuff lightly and continue stitching. Using the same embroidery floss, make a loop for the top.
♥ Jam Tart ♥ 
Who? Who? Who?
What a hoot!
Quite a hoot. Watch for owls coming your way soon.
There’s not much meat on an owl. They are boney!
I’m fattening a couple up for you….
I have one of Lindy’s owls, and they are a lovely Christmas ornament. It looks very wise, even though its eyes are green buttons.
That particular owl just happened to be one of my favourites – I’m glad he’s in good hands! xo
Thank you Llndy…………susan xxoxox
Tyerman.jpgSusan Tyerman
Sales Representative
Sutton Group-Masters Realty Inc
1650 Bath Rd
Kingston, ON K7M 4X6
Cell: (613) 329-1077
i think that is a wise old owl idea…….not to forget relaxing!
Thank you!
susan
Tis a wise idea – owling. I’ll make sure you get one this Christmas. xo
I think this recipe is my fave thus far…. LOVE my Lindy owl, I look at it everyday and I smile…..
That makes me happy Jennifer! xo
These are darling;my husband has a real ‘thing’ for owls…we have all sorts of them in brass, ceramic, pictures,(a lamp), you name it.We, too, watched an owl family,(Great Horned) where we lived before here,(In Colorado). Also,once we were way up in the mountains and a heard a soft whoosh beside my head.It was a Snowy owl.It has come to swoop in on ground squirrels I was feeding; it had not seen me until it was on me.The owl was way out of its usual territory, but I heard reports that others had also seen it, or another, at in the same area.
I haven’t seen one here, but I stepped outside about 2 months ago and heard a distinct “WHOO!” in a tree right next to my driveway.I’m keeping my eye out!
Oh my – I just love this! That whoosh is incredible isn’t it? Something you never forget. I feel a great infusion of happiness and awe whenever I see or hear an owl – magical beautiful creatures.
I think your little owls are very sweet on their twig tree. i also love owls,,,must be a teacher thing. I’ve written some owl stories on my blog…allegories? satirical?….they are about Wizzy the Owl. (Wizzy’s Big Adventure, Wisdom For Wizzy, Judge Wizzy etc.)
check out my Wizzy the Owl stories on my blog sometime!
I will do that!
So cute – love these owls! XOXO
We live in the Mojave Desert but have about 100 trees on our property, so it seems that all the owls in the area live roost in our trees. When my grandmother was alive and living with us, our favorite time of day was the evening when we’d sit on the porch and watch the 10 or so owls fly and dive against the light of the sunset. Simple and spectacular.
WOW – now I really want to visit the Mojave Desert. I don’t think there would be anything more magical than watching ten owls flying and diving against the sunset. Amazing!!