Bird's Nest Enhancers

For years we raised livestock...Saanen dairy goats, horse and pony and a calf here and there.  Naturally in the spring these animals would shed their winter coats in preparation for the long hot summer.  Many nights were spent combing and grooming the animals, including our dog and cats, in order to assist them in refining their summer attire.  As spring progressed it was always a delight to look up and see how the birds had used this soft material to line their nests. 

 

We have a phoebe that nests in our barn's loafing shed each year.  She faithfully weaves  animal hair inside of her nest to prepare a soft, warm environment for her eggs.  What a marvel it is to see the craftsmanship and ingenuity of these birds! 

It is amazing!

Picture source:  http://eastgwillimburywow.blogspot.com/2013/04/eastern-phoebewild-bird.html

 

 

This is a nest we found in our yard after a wind storm that has a lining of goat hair.

 

Here's a fun activity for your family to try from the book Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:  Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share by Becky Baxa (available in paper back and Kindle edition from Amazon.com)

NEST ENHANCERS 

Lay out short pieces of colorful yarn somewhere in your yard.

Ideas for yarn containers/placement:

        Place the yarn in an empty plastic fruit container (from the produce department or any other
        plastic container) or fill an unused suet cage and set it on top of a post or picnic table. 

       You could hang it on an iron shepherds hook that is not quite ready for your hanging flower
        planter.  

       Yarn could be placed in a mesh bag (like oranges or potatoes come in from the grocery store) and
       hang it from a tree branch.

      Decorate a bush or small tree by draping colorful pieces of yarn over the branches.


Tip:  make sure the yarn is placed high enough away from predators and somewhere where the birds
           feel safe.

Photo Source:  http://www.fiberfarm.com/2011/03/the-first-day-of-spring

                                                 

 As time progresses, become nature observers and watch for evidence that the birds

have used your donation in their nest building efforts. 

 

Watch the yarn... is it disappearing or becoming frayed? 

 

Watch birds nesting behaviors to see where nests are being built.  Then, carefully and respectfully sneak a peek to see the masterpieces that have been built!

Photo source:  http://cache.lionbrand.com/Newsletters/29178.html


What other signs of Spring can you find?  Go on a Spring Scavenger Hunt!
Explore and Have FUN!
 

 

            

            

Source:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky Baxa

Available from http://www.Amazon.com

in both Kindle and Paperback versions

 

Yarn Dolls

We visited a town festival where they had wonderful "old-fashioned" toy stations. 

The stations were just packed with kids having fun.  So much for the "old-fashioned" part!

I stood in line and impatiently waited my turn, for after all, age isn't always

determined by the chronological number.

When at last I stood at the front of the line I tried my hand at making a yarn doll. 

My companions waited patiently off to the side and knew it was pointless

to try to force me to miss this opportunity.

I followed instructions, but hurried as the children in line behind me were pressing

close with anticipation.  (yes, I was the only adult in line.)

It was a very simple process and quite easy.  Wrapping yarn around a piece of cardboard, cutting yarn and tying knots were all the skills you needed.

 

Below are my results.

What fun - and how easy- it was to create a doll from scraps of yarn!

So, I came home and investigated some simple instructions for you to follow so you can make your own dolls.  Imagine the different colors, color combinations, features and sizes you could make.  Whole families with a mom, dad and different size kids.  Could you even make a dog, cat or horse? 

There was no sense in "reinventing the wheel".  So for directions, follow the web site below

and before you know it you will be playing with your very own unique doll!

 

http://www.redheart.com/blog/make-your-own-yarn-doll-easy-enough-kids

These dolls are great for traveling or tucking in a purse/pocket.

Why not try your hand at this and send me a picture of your dolls?

Sewing Cards

As the holidays approach, it brings to mind an exciting activity to do with old greeting cards

or those beautiful calendars once the year is over.

 

Lace-Up or Sewing Cards

 

Materials Needed:

 

1.  Greeting cards, old calendar pictures glued onto cardboard, food box panels

2.  hole punch

3.  yarn, cording or a long shoe lace

4.  scissors

5.  tape (masking or scotch) - not needed if a shoe lace is used

6.  glue if you need to mount a picture on cardboard

 

Select a picture from the front of an old card, a cardboard food box or a calendar picture that has been mounted on cardboard (cardboard from a food box can be used for this).  If the calendar is on stiff paper, mounting is not necessary.

 

Use a hole punch to make holes around the outside edge about 1/2 inch apart from each other and a quarter of an inch inside the outside edge.

 

If using yarn or cording, wrap masking or packing tape around the ends to make it stiff. Then it can be easily laced through the holes.

 

Take a shoelace or yarn to lace up the picture. You can go over the edge or lace it with an up and down stitch.

 

 

 

  

This activity develops fine motor skills.

 

Happy Sewing!

 

 

 

 

This Blog Post is inspired from the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa

If you would like more fun ideas to share with your children

(that do not require batteries or electronics )

you can purchase this 180 page book,

full of color photos,

for $21.95

from Amazon.com

Or

from the gift shop at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO,

Silver Dollar City General Store in Branson, MO.

This book can also be checked out of the following libraries:

Scenic Regional Library - Pacific, MO

First Christian Church - Washington, MO

Hawaii State Library - Honolulu, HI

Story City Public Library - Story City, IA

Ellsworth Public Library - Ellsworth, ME

Ludington Public Library - Ludington, MI