Build Your Nest Here! X

Spring is here!  :D  I'm so excited!  Springtime's new life and birds and colors and blossoms and planning for a garden are some of the only things that can penetrate my darkness even a little these days.  So I'm throwing what energy I have into enjoying it.

I have a whole list of projects for birding and gardening I've been wanting to work on that, to me, say, "Yay Spring!"  This is the first I've gotten to (just hung yesterday), a little happy welcome to the birdies.

For some time now I have been seeing blog posts, pins. and DIY tutorials on offering nesting materials to birds looking to nest-build.  I love this idea, cause I am a huge birding fan and just adore those who nest in and visit my feeders.  I kinda took a little from each source and came up with my own thing.

MY MATERIALS:

*cat fur (been collecting for a while now)

*feathers naturally lost from my budgies

*small fabric scraps (Color is an eye-catcher!)

*little pieces of smooth hemp twine (frayed hemp can endanger toes and feet)

*bits from nature- dried leaves left from fall, small twigs, and dried moss

*empty suet cage

CAUTION: I kept all pieces of string-like material under 6".  I avoided using string/thread except for a tiny piece here and there, and made sure it wasn't tangled.  When all knotted or bound together, thread can catch in birdy feet and cause serious harm.  :/  I played it a little more cautious than the articles I read suggested, just to be safe!

INSTRUCTIONS: 

*Mix all of your goodies together- whee!

*Fit into cage, and close it up well.  

*Look for a place outdoors to hang it, preferably where birds will see it in their everyday travels.  Here is where using some brightly-colored fabric scraps is helpful! 

*Hang in a secure place.

*Watch birdies visit to nab fancy bits for their nests!  Maybe later in the Spring you'll even see a nearby nest with spots of color from your contribution!

Here are links to the articles I mainly used:
"Offer Nesting Materials For Birds" from Empress of Dirt
"Other Ways to Attract Birds" from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
"The First Day of Spring" from Juniper Moon Farm

I'd love to hear about your experiences with this!  I'll update on mine (hopefully I'll have some).

Vote for Sophie!

My beautiful kitty Sophie is in a photo contest on Facebook! :) Voting ends in just a few days on March 22nd. Please follow this link, look for this picture, and click the "vote" icon in the corner. Sophie thanks you in advance (and me, too)!   =^..^=   Meow!

Give A Little Love

Sharing this inspiring video about kindness and its impact in the everyday world as my first post in some time.  Give a little love... it's just that easy.  :)
 

Quote of the Week: Balance

Sadness gives depth. Happiness gives height. Sadness gives roots. Happiness gives branches. Happiness is like a tree going into the sky, and sadness is like the roots going down into the womb of the earth. Both are needed, and the higher a tree goes, the deeper it goes, simultaneously. The bigger the tree, the bigger will be its roots. In fact, it is always in proportion. That's its balance.

~ Osho


I am seeking more balance...

Button Swap Blog Hop!

I'm super excited to be participating in The Button Swap Blog Hop hosted by Sweet bead Studio! I've been paired up with someone to swap buttons with, and am very lucky to be matched with Kalaya Steede, talented metalsmith and jewelry artisan and teacher. :) Kalaya has posted a *hint* of what she is sending me in the form of a blurred photo on her blog, so I am doing the same here! I have chosen a selection from my vintage button collection to inspire Kalaya. The photo gives a tiny hint, but not enough to ruin the surprise.

What happens next? We each receive our packages of surprise, hand-chosen buttons from our partners and must then create a brand new project featuring them. I've got something in mind, but I am waiting for my buttons from Kalaya (she handmade them!) to inspire me, and will see what happens. :)

Stay tuned, and in the meantime, check out Kalaya's beautiful works!