OUR BIRD HAVEN IS A JOY

Our Bird Haven that we made on our deck is as beneficial to us as it is the birds. We have a close- up view all day long of them visiting the feeders. They are getting used to us moving about and don't fly off as quickly anymore. But many times we peek through the edge of the curtains so as not to alarm them.

    It's amazing how many birds will visit at one time. Can you count them? Click on the picture to enlarge it.


         (Click to enlarge and see if you found all of them. Look for the yellow stars)

                                We keep pen and paper nearby to write down the names of our bird visitors. It's fun to go back and see what bird visited on what day and when certain seeds or suet were offered.


 The field guides are kept by the window to look up the birds we don't know. These are the two we use the most.

We also have our bird chart hanging by the window, especially for people who visit. Before long they are trying to identify the birds themselves. Birding is contagious.

The birds visit the haven in all weather.

There are those who hang out and wait their turn.

sometimes on a nearby fence.

BUT there are others who come and partake of the birds' food. . . 
 but after all, they are living creatures too, I guess there IS room for all. 


The squirrels are quite brazen and and don't even care when we appear at the window.

They are fun to watch.

The hens have discovered good eating here too, and make their way up the deck from their coop

The Bird Haven has also been quite the entertainment for the kittens in the house. Each morning they sit atop a chest by the window and watch. Sometimes they peek through the curtains .

or sit in their bowls. I know, silly silly kittens!

Children LOVE the Bird Haven. Perhaps you would like to make one. You can see how we made it HERE. You can make one now, even if the ground is frozen where you live, just buy potting soil from the store.

Activities to do with the Bird Haven.
- keep a list of the birds that visit and the date

- notice their markings, beaks, what they eat and where they eat 

- look up the birds in a field guide and learn more about them

- take pictures of them
- draw them as you watch them, or from the pictures you take
- paint them with watercolors or use watercolor pencils
- make a bird book, telling what you know about each one or create a story
 - fill the feeders and add suet. We provide black oil sunflower seed, shelled peanuts, niger (thistle seed), saffllower seed, and suet.
- put out a very shallow dish of fresh water


Supplies:
-colored pencils ( we love Prismacolor)
-drawing paper, watercolor paper
-watercolors
-paintbrushes
- field guides on birds
- camera
- binoculars



A great activity for the Hands On Homeschool blog carnival.
happy day!

HAVE A NATURE HUNT

What child can pass up a scavenger hunt? 
It's a great activity to do when the cold winds blow and there is not much to do outside-so you may think! 
But don't let nature fool you; even though the area seems barren with empty trees, frozen ground and even snow, there is still much to discover. And children love to find things!

Some children like the cold more then others, but if a child is dressed in layers, with warm feet, head and hands, you will be the one coaxing them inside after a few hours.


A nature scavenger hunt is fun and a great game to look closer and focus in among the varied areas of the outdoors.  You can make the list of items that pertain to your area, things they can find where you live.

 Each child has a partner, and with a list, pencil and collection bag, they hurry off to find their treasures.
Our list:
~ a pine cone
~ a white stone
~ an acorn cap
~ a piece of bark
~ lichen
~ a berry
~ a colored leaf
~ an evergreen needle
~ a seed head
~ AND a bonus item*


With a snow covered ground, I would add :
~animal tracks
~ find a nest in a tree
~ a leaf still clinging to a branch from autumn
~find buds on the trees, etc.

*The bonus item is something special they find while exploring, that perhaps noone else has seen, that they can share with others.
Some examples of what they found:
~ a branch of thorns
~ sap from a pine tree collected on a stick

~ white downy feather from a duck

~ intricate seed pods

Once inside, we spread out our collections and the children share their bonus finds. Field 
guides and nature books are used to look up what we want to know more about. 

Some might draw what they found or just add to their nature collections.  

It's exciting to have a Nature Scavenger hunt in each season . We are always amazed at what we  find!


happy day!

FRIENDSHIP PUZZLE NECKLACE

A handmade friendship necklace  was made for three close friends.  


Supplies:
- three old puzzle pieces that fit together
- acrylic paint
- colored tissue paper
- acrylic varnish
- awl 
- cording

~Paint both sides of the puzzles pieces (Tip:  know which is the front; see how it will fit into the other pieces).


~Embellish the front of the pieces.  Layers of paint and strips of tissue paper were used here.


~ Cover with three coats of acrylic varnish and let dry between coats.


~Pierce a hole with an awl or very slender nail. (Tip: Put the pieces together and mark a dot at the top where the hole will go)


~Thread cording through and tie.


~Give to your friends. . .  with love.
This was lovingly made by my 12 yr old daughter for herself and two friends.


happy day!

{this moment}

"A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember." 
Inspiration from SouleMama:

                                                           happy day!

BLOG AWARD

Phyllis of All Things Beautiful passed this award along to me. 

Thank you . I am honored.

The requirements:
1. Specify three destinations to which you want to travel and write why.
2. Pass on if you wish, to as many or few as you wish.

1) San Diego

My older son and his fiancee live in San Diego and love the area. I haven't been out there yet and have heard it's a great place to live and visit . It would be great to be able to time my visit with Good Vibrations!


2) Missouri

My great uncle and aunt live in Missouri. They live in a small town where everyone knows everyone and they are all friends. They own a quilt shop and have the "borrowed" landscape of miles and miles of cornfields across the road. My Uncle Bud just celebrated his 80th birthday this year. I would like to take a drive with my two youngest children in the very near future and spend some time with them.

3) New Zealand

    Ever since the very talented and inspiring fiber artist, Marie, posted this picture on her blog, Softearth's World, I became totally enamored with New Zealand. It's magnificent! All those dots in the picture are sheep!  I would LOVE to go explore the countryside, and especially, visit with Marie.

There are many other places I would like to travel to, but these three destinations came instantly to mind.

I am passing this award to four terrific people:
- Suzan at Old Grey Mare
- Valarie at A Place Like This
- Beth at Acorn Pies
- Marie at Softearth's World

I just noticed I had included all three in another award here, but when people inspire you, they inspire you. . . what can I say?  :)




happy day!

ONE WORD WEDNESDAY

                       ~ bowling ~

(Please feel free to join in One Word Wednesday, just leave your link in the comments).

                                               happy day!

WORDS . . .and creativity tip

"Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love, and to work, and to play and to look up at the stars"
                                                             ~Henry van Dyke


Creativity tip: Attach felt to a chalkboard or wall and cut out shapes in different colored felt. Children love to play and arrange them .


                           happy day!