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Thursday, December 4, 2014

Day 2 - 12 Days of Christmas Celebration & Giveaway

Good morning dear friends!

I have so many tutorials in the works, I wasn't sure which one to share with you today.  The wind is blowing snow around here this evening, as I type this post.  It made me think of all the poor creatures out in this weather...brrr.....so I figured, what better way to celebrate giving than with a treat for the birds!

I love to feed the birds during the winter months.  I have several feeders hanging outside my kitchen, and on days when it isn't too cold, I'll open the window a crack to listen to the birds.  It seems that no matter what the weather, they always find something to sing about.  If only we, too, could be so joyous all the time.  They always bring to mind one of my favorite Bible verses:

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
Matthew 6:26

Here is how you can create a treat for our feathered friends...and with the addition of a red ribbon for hanging, it is very festive.

How to Make a Birdseed Wreath 


Supplies:
4 cups bird seed
(I find that birds prefer black oil sunflower seed to any other, but a mixture of seeds is fine too)

1/2 cup dried cranberries, raisins, chopped nuts (whatever you have on hand)
 
3/4 cup all purpose flour
 
1/2 cup water
 
3 T. corn syrup
 
1 package of plain gelatin
 
 cooking spray

Bundt pan or other mold with a hole in the center
 

Twine or heavy ribbon

Directions:
 
In a large bowl put 1/2 warm water and gelatin mix together and let the gelatin dissolve.

  Whisk in the corn syrup and flour to create a paste.

Add 4 cups of the bird seed, nuts and berries and stir well.

  Spray the bundt pan well with the cooking spray, then scoop the seed mixture into the
pan.

Once all the mixture is in the pan, using a spoon or your fingers, press the seed mixture into the pan and pack firmly


 Wait 24 hours, then flip the pan over onto plate or paper towel and life off.  Allow to dry for an additional 24-48 hours.

Cut a long length of jute, doubled over twice or heavy ribbon and run it through the hole in the middle.  Tie, leaving enough extra to hang on a branch, nail or hook.

Sit back and watch the birdies enjoy their Christmas treat. 

Have you seen yesterday's post?
If you read it, you will know that I am also having a giveaway to go along with my
Twelve Days of Christmas Celebration.
Here's how you can be entered to win:

1. Visit my blog each day
2. Make a Comment on each day's post and answer the question of the day.
3. Just to be clear...you must visit and comment every day to be entered...so go back and comment if you missed yesterday's post.

It's that simple!

Today's question is...

"What was the most favorite Christmas gift you received when you were a child?"
 

29 comments:

  1. Love that idea.
    CRAYONS!
    Woolie Christmas HUGS

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  2. My favorite gift was from my Dad, he built a canopy bed for my dolls. It was so large that I could crawl in for a nap too.

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  3. Dolls. I loved to get a new baby doll. I love your bird treat idea. I am going to make a few with my grandchildren.

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  4. Morning Wendy, love the birdseed wreath, I am going to make one for sure, love to feed the birdies.......my favorite Christmas present was a Thumbilina doll, oh how I loved her, I must have been a good girl that year. :) Blessings Francine.

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  5. That looks good enough to eat...for me, too! haha! My favorite gift was a shoe box wrapped in Christmas paper with art supplies. I kept my stuff in there for years! I still think it makes a fun gift! Sweet hugs, Diane

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  6. Snow??? I am so jealous. LOL! Always what ever baby doll I had chosen for Santa to bring. Each year my baby was my most wonderful gift. I would wake really early, see what Santa brought and then take my new baby back to bed with me. Will never forget the smell of a new plastic baby doll.
    Angela

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  7. My favorite gift was a dollhouse that my dad assembled and my mom decorated for me. The front door had a wreath that my grandma crocheted for it:)

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  8. I always liked Barbies. I got a cowgirl one year and she winked.The bird treat is a great project. The bible verse is one of my favorites to especially when worry sets in. Warm Blessings!~Amy

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  9. Thanks for the idea, Wendy! Ever observant me...just noticed you had a blog too.

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  10. My favorite gift was a bike. It was in the hallway outside my bedroom and I walked right past it and my sister had to direct me back to it.

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  11. Wendy, thank you so much for this wonderful recipe! We feed the birds here as well each winter and I can't wait to make them their own very special Christmas bird seed wreath :O) My favourite childhood toy that I received at Christmas was a Chatty Cathy doll. She stand out in my mind because I remember that she was nearly as tall as I was at the time! Thanks so much for your continuing generosity, Deb

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  12. Hi Wendy,
    We have loads of wood peckers here that we are feeding!
    My favorite toy as a child was the kitchen set my dad built for me. He used many spare parts from all the lumber and supplies he had when he built our house. I love that kitchen set and my kids have played with it too at thier house.
    Thanks for the fun memories you are invoking!
    Barb

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  13. A super-cool 10 speed bicycle. Unfortunately, only a few weeks later, it was stolen from our screened-in porch (so was my twin sister's).

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  14. Love the idea of leaving treats for the birds, we get more in the winter and keep the feeder filled. I think my most favorite gift was a yogi bear play set.

    Debbie

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  15. Hi,it was the beautiful Doll House my sister and I received from our Unlce+Aunt one Christmas>oh the hours of fun ! Thanks for sharing!

    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  16. Hi Wendy, I love tutorials and this one is awesome. thanks for sharing. My favorite childhood toy was a beauty salon doll, with all the accessories, and guess what I am a hairdresser. Hugs, Lecia

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  17. A farm set complete with animals and farm equpment. I was a tom boy. Janice

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  18. My favorite gift was a pony named Scout. I got to know him through a job I had in middle school. He was my favorite and I guess I talked about him enough that my mom surprised me with him for Christmas! We were poor so I'm pretty sure she talked my grandma into buying him for her. Sadly he passed away from cancer 8 months later, but we did have lots of fun together in the little time we had together. :)

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  19. My mom feeds the birds all year, I love to go watch them when I am at her house. I think the chickadees are my favorite, they are so cute!
    The favorite Christmas gift I ever got...that I can remember was a cradle my dad made for my baby dolls, I still have it!
    Be blessed,
    Cindi

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  20. A desk for my bedroom. I'm 46 & I still have it! I'm going to make this wreath with my daughters this weekend! Thank you for the fun idea.

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  21. As a military family we often relocated almost yearly and frequently just before the holidays. Not having grand parents and with no close relatives we were a little envious of those who received packages and company. Out of the blue came a package from New York to southern Calif. from a great aunt. In it was the most feminine crinoline under slip with lace and dainty pink roses! I wore it all day and then to bed and I'm sure if I could have I would have worn it to school! It is a gesture I'll never forget. Santa worked some magic that year!

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  22. Hi Wendy, I would have to say my favorite gift was when I finally received a big girls bike! I remember being the first one downstairs and screaming wildly when I saw it:)

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  23. I remember one year my two sisters & I each received snow saucers. They were lined up across the back of the couch when we came in to the room and we were SO excited! Had lots of fun that winter!

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  24. I got a miniature toy piano that I just loved.

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  25. I loved my Madame Alxander doll.

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  26. Love the wreath idea ")
    My favourite gift was a soft doll with a wardrobe of clothes from Santa (from Mom)

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  27. I wonder if I could do this on a smaller scale with my students... My favorite gifts were a metal large refrigerator and stove with play food and a Victorian doll house (pop out pieces and fit together) with a raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. Loved them!

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  28. A hot pink bicycle with a denim banana seat.

    Sandi
    sandraallen260@centurytel.net

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