Swifts

We went last night with a few friends to see several thousand Vaux's Swifts roost in the chimney of an elementary school in Portland. Every year, the birds circle and swarm around the chimney about an hour before sunseti the month of Septmber, and then all swoop into the chimney to roost after the sun has set. They make an incredible winged tornado and are tiny and aerodynamically-shaped, like swallows. A falcon dove into the middle of the swarm, was chased by the swifts, and then returned to make a kill and fly off. I wish I'd brought the camera, but here's someone else's:

I finished a hat for a friend's son, as his first birthday is coming up. I can't believe he might be walking by the time I see him over Christmas. The hat is make from Sidar Snuggly Baby Bamboo and is 80% bamboo, 20% wool. It's remarkably soft and buttery.

Perfectly nappish afternoon.