BUYING A BAG OF BIRDSEED IN OUR NECK OF THE WOODS THESE DAYS, IS PRETTY FRIGHTENING...  IN SOME STORES, I'VE NOTICED THE BAGS HAVE TRIPLED IN PRICE!  I HAVE A HARD TIME SPENDING $23. BEFORE TAX, ON A BAG THAT WILL LAST A WEEK AND HAS A LOT OF UNMEANINGFUL FILLERS MIXED IN!

YOU SEE, BIRD WATCHING, HAS BEEN A HUGE PART OF OUR LIVES FOR SO LONG...   I SEE OUR NUTHATCHES AND TITMOUSES ARE AROUND... SNOOPING, LOOKING, WONDERING...  AND THEN THEY FLY AWAY, SEEING THAT OUR FEEDERS ARE EMPTY!

LAST CHRISTMAS, MY MOM PICKED UP A VERY SWEET LITTLE "HOMEMADE BIRD FEED" BOOK, TITLED, "RECIPE BOOK FOR FEEDING WILD BIRDS," BY DEANA JAGER...  THUMBING THROUGH IT, I REALIZED I COULD MAKE OUR OWN TREATS FOR THE BIRDS...AT A VERY MINIMAL COST!  smile, wink, nod!  AND, IT'S A LOT OF FUN!  IN FACT, IT MADE ME SORT OF EXHALE AND SMILE, THINKING I WAS DOING SOMETHING REALLY GOOD!  KIND OF LIKE THE FEELING YOU GET WHEN YOU RECYCLE!

BELOW, I POSTED THE RECIPE... I HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT OUT OKAY.   YOU JUST BOIL THE WATER AND BUTTER (OR LARD),, REMOVE FROM HEAT AND LET COOL DOWN, THEN ADD THE PEANUT BUTTER AND FRUIT, AND THEN THE DRY CEREAL... (I WAS ABLE TO CLEAN MY CUPBOARDS- USING UP LEFTOVER CRACKERS, OLD STALE CEREAL, ETC.)  THEN, I SPRAYED A CUPCAKE PAN, AND POURED THE MIXTURE (VERY SOUPY) INTO THE TINS... STUCK IT IN THE FREEZER, THEN POPPED THEM OUT, WHEN THEY WERE FROZE.  I'M STORING THEM IN A ZIPLOCK BAG IN THE REFRIDGERATOR.  THE RECIPE IS HUGE!!!  NOT ONLY DID I MAKE THE CUPCAKES, BUT FILLED FOUR OTHER LARGER CONTAINERS, FROM THE RECYCLE BIN IN OUR BASEMENT!

YOU CAN IMAGINE OUR SUPRISE, WHEN WE FOUND OUR DOG LUCY, ON TOP OF THE KITCHEN TABLE, SITTING ON TOMMIE'S MATH PAPERS!  NO!!!!!  WE WOULD NEVER ALLOW ANY ANIMAL ON OUR KITCHEN TABLE!!!!  AND YES,  I DID WINDEX IT REAL GOOD, AFTERWARDS!  WE ARE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT GOT INTO HER THAT MORNING...BUT, WE SURE DO LOVE LUCY!  AND, YOU WOULD, TOO!

"Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses." -Alphonse Karr-

Posted by SchoolinRhome

What a great idea/recipe. Thanks for sharing and helping us all save money while enjoying birds this Winter!
Have a great weekend!
SchoolinRhome

Posted by lisaquing

We bought some birdseed the other day. Going to try feeding the birds again this year. It hasn't worked very well for us in the past.

Posted by Jen Unsell

I LOVE that birdseed muffin idea! Can't wait to do this with the kids. Thanks for sharing Ivy.

Posted by healthyhomeschool

Michele, I love this idea!! Yaaaay. We will certainly be trying this, and it will go along great with our study of The Raft.

Lynn