Hi Y’all!
We are grateful that you have blessed us with your sweet presence. Grab that beverage and a seat as we chat about feathered friends today.
Do you love to watch and feed your wild feathered bird friends? Do they look at you hungry when the bird feeder is empty? We have the perfect solution for you and your feathered friends! You’ll want to try this healthy recipe for those birds and the kicker is………It’s very simple and quick to make.
Here in Michigan it is February and normally we have really cold (freezing) weather. We have been so blessed with receiving some beautifully warm days here and there in Michigan; about 30-50 degrees Fahrenheit, just enough to give us a peek at spring. We are starting to see more and more birds gracing us with their sweet chattering and plumage.
Soon, Wiebke will be checking her cool Hummingbird radar on the computer to find out where in the United States the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds are week-by-week:http://www.learner.org/jnorth/humm/index.html. She likes to see when they will make their way here to Michigan. Both her and her husband are avid bird watchers and enjoy finding sightings of the different birds.
For me – I like birds. They’re okay. I mainly like the colorful ones, but I am by no means a bird watcher other than when they get in my way when I am driving and end up in the grill of my car (sorry Wiebke). Speaking of that – Does anyone else have this problem – For some reason whenever I get into a car I seriously think birds that want to commit suicide band together and decide I look like a good target and work to fly into the road right in front of my car (gross).
I do have to say that my favorite bird is the Robin. It has been a longstanding Michigandering folklore that when they start migrating back – we can start anticipating spring around the corner. (Picture an accent – From Wiebke: “Actually, according to ornithologists – professional bird experts – the Red-winged Blackbirds are the REAL sign spring is here to stay. Some Robins don’t even leave Michigan if it is a warmer winter, or if they do migrate, they don’t migrate too far”). Even if her professional bird experts are right it is still the Robins Michiganders rely on for signs of spring (Even though shes been here for years she’s originally from South Africa anyway and she is still a Michigander in training).
So let’s celebrate those birds (Wiebke calls them feathered friends), that stuck it out through the winter and those who will soon migrate here! We decided to treat them to some healthy birdseed – the bonus……..they can double as an ornament while they feed the birds. You get two beautiful visuals for the work of one!
This recipe is so easy and only takes 5 ingredients. Just a note of caution though……… When Wiebke and I were filming we had a guest on site and we talked too much and too long…… and the blessed birdseed mix was much more difficult to put into the molds and didnt’ want to stick together. We recommend that you leave the talking until done with this recipe. Also,mix the recipe all at once and put into molds immediately to insure success!
Mix together the flour, water, gelatin and corn syrup in a large mixing bowl. Stir until well-combined.
Next add the birdseed to the mixture, blend until well coated. We put half in and mix then added the other half.
Spray the insides of your mold(s) with cooking spray, and spoon birdseed mixture into each mold. Pack it down and smooth it out, using the bottom of the measuring cup.
If you want to hang them like a Christmas ornament try using a drinking straw to make a hole through top part of each birdseed mold, making sure it goes all the way through. Wiebke got her’s to work – I did not. You may want to try something a little bit more sturdy.
Leave the birdseed mixture in the molds for two to three hours.
Then, remove the straws (or whatever you decided to use in anything) and lay them out on a sheet of waxed paper. Gently remove the hardened ornaments from the mold, and place them upside down on the wax paper.
Allow them to dry for at least two to three more hours, or overnight.
When they have dried, cut the ribbon and carefully put it through the hole, making a loop and tying a knot. I just went ahead and wrapped the string around the whole thing…seemed to work pretty good for me. We also put a couple of them in empty bird suet holders. Those worked awesomely.
When you have completed this project please comment and let us know how things turned out. You can also post on our Facebook page (icon floating around somewhere) and post your project as we’d love to see it!
To watch the tutorial on how to do it please click our video here or watch it below.
To watch more of our videos check out our YouTube channel “TheHard Hat Belles” or you click The Hard Hat Belles here to go directly there. Once there like and subscribe to receive notifications of the latest video releases.
If you have any comments about how your birdseed ornaments turned out or other ideas for us to try, please let us know below in the comments. We’d love to hear from you – truly.
Love & Hugs,
Denine & Wiebke
