OK…yes, this can be messy. But sometimes you just have to give in to the mess and let them have a little bit of fun. And kids absolutely LOVE this finger paint! In fact, they love it about as much as I love the best wrinkle cream…and that’s a whole lot!

Recipe:

3 Tablespoons Sugar
1/2 Cup Cornstarch
2 Cups Water
1/4 Cup Dish Washing Soap
2 drops Vanilla
Paper Cups
Food Coloring

Combine the sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan. Add the water slowly and stir constantly. Cook over medium heat for five minutes until it turns clear and thick. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely. Add the dish washing soap and stir well. Add the vanilla. Divide the goo into the paper cups and add the food coloring.

Let them at it! I promise it’s worth the mess.

ShareThis

Related posts

• No related posts.

There is a huge variety of bird food available. It can be hard to decide which to choose. This should help you select the right type of food for the birds you want to attract. Keep in mind your feeder style too.

Black-oil sunflower seed attracts the greatest variety of birds. It is small and thin-shelled and this makes it easy for small birds to handle and crack. Striped sunflower seeds are bigger with thicker seed coats.

Although sunflower seeds are the all-round favorite some birds prefer different foods.

Blackbirds like corn and doves like white millet or red milo. Doves are ground-feeders, though…so keep in mind that they need their food on the ground.

Watch the commercial seed mixes you may be tempted to buy, though. They are usually a blend of sunflower seeds and other less appealing “filler” such as millet, oats, wheat, flax, buckwheat seeds, and red milo.

These mixes may seem to be a bargain, but a lot may end up being wasted because the birds pick out the sunflower seeds and leave the rest. You may try making your own birdseed mix instead. Put about 25 pounds of black-oil sunflower seed, 10-pounds of white millet, and 10 pounds of cracked corn into a clean trash can. Stir with a broom handle and you’re good to go!

Remember to store your bird food carefully. If you buy a lot of seed it needs to be kept in a dry, cool place…safe from rodents. Check often for mold and throw out any seed that is questionable.

Chickadees, Titmice, Nuthatches: Sunflower, Safflower, Suet
Finches: Sunflower, Safflower, Millet, Niger
Cardinals, Grosbeaks: Sunflower, Safflower
Sparrows, Blackbirds: Sunflower, Corn, Millet
Jays: Sunflower, Corn, Milo, Suet
Woodpeckers: Sunflower, Suet
Orioles, Tanagers: Suet
Pigeons, Doves: Corn, Millet, Milo
Indigo Buntings: Sunflower, Millet, Niger

ShareThis

Related posts

• No related posts.

Do you have a bird feeder in your backyard? Bird watching is becoming more and more popular among Americans. Recent surveys show almost half the households in the US feed wild birds with birdfeeders in their yards.

It’s not hard to see why…feeding birds allows us to bring them close so we can see them better. They can bring entertainment and something interesting to focus on during a long, cold winter.

It’s not only good for us, though. By setting up a backyard bird feeder we can make birds’ lives easier, too. Winter can be especially hard for birds and finding food can be difficult during periods of extreme cold.

So…just what should you serve your birdie friends for dinner? And how would it be best served? There is a lot to choose from as far as food types and feeder types. It can be hard to choose what kind of food to serve and exactly how.

Today I have some basic info about feeder types that may help you decide what will best for you and your little feathered friends.

Tray or Platform Feeder:

This is any flat surface for spreading bird seed. Trays attract most species of wild birds, but the disadvantage is that they offer no protection against squirrels, chipmunks, or precipitation. Also the seed can become soiled by droppings from the birds. A roof will provide some protection from the weather. Be sure your tray feeder has drainage holes.

Hopper or House Feeder:

This is a platform feeder with walls and a roof. This feeder protects seeds against the weather, but not against squirrels. It keeps seed cleaner also. Hopper feeders attract most feeder birds. Hopper feeders can be mounted on a pole or hung from a hook or a branch.

Window Feeder:

This is usually made from clear plastic and suction-cupped to a window. This type of feeder attracts finches, sparrows, chickadees, and titmice and is nice because it allows close-up views of the birds as they feed.

Tube Feeder:

This is a hollow cylinder made of plastic with multiple feeding perches. Tube feeders keep seed clean and dry and they are somewhat more squirrel resistant. The birds attracted depend on the size of the perches under the feeding ports.

Thistle Feeder:

This is a special tube feeder with extra-small openings to dispense tiny thistle seeds. Thistle is also known as niger. These feeders attract finches mostly. Thistle “socks” (fine-mesh bags) can be hung for birds to cling to extract the seeds.

Suet Feeder:

This is a wire-mesh cage or plastic-mesh bag that holds suet. This type of feeder can be nailed or tied to a tree trunk or suspended.

Next: Choosing the best bird food

ShareThis

Related posts

• No related posts.

Just because our economy is in a recession and times are tough all over doesn’t mean that families should not enjoy the lovely season upon us. I love autumn and it would be such a shame to miss out on all of the fun activities that can be found to do during this time of the year. I’ve compiled a short list of some fun (yet frugal) activities that are readily available in most areas of the country. With just a little effort any of these suggestions would create a lovely excursion. Have fun!

1. Rake a leaf pile and jump in them.
2. Find a corn maze
3. Hike on a nature trail
4. Feed the ducks or geese
5. Do some fall baking — cookies, quick breads, pies, and more!
6. Go to an apple orchard or a pumpkin patch
7. Make a fall collage with leaves found on a walk
8. Leaf rubbings
9. Find a fall festival in your area — lots of cool activities!
10. Make a pinecone birdfeeder with peanut butter and birdseed
11. Go leaf peeping in your neighborhood
12. Roast pumpkin seeds
13. Plan a supper picnic.  This is a lovely idea, and so pleasant to sit under a tree, relaxing with a meal in the twilight.

ShareThis

Related posts

• No related posts.