Comments on: Remember to Feed the Birds http://chickensintheroad.com/living/remember-to-feed-the-birds/ Life in Ordinary Splendor Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:10:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kris http://chickensintheroad.com/living/remember-to-feed-the-birds/#comment-34139 Kris Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:26:05 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=4814#comment-34139 While you're making homemade vanilla, use some of those beans to make vanilla sugar! Recipes vary but scrape 1 bean in 2-4 cups of sugar, bury the bean in it and wait at least two weeks. Great in coffee. Sprinkle on cookies. Best use? Process the sugar into powdered sugar and sprinkle on French toast! While you’re making homemade vanilla, use some of those beans to make vanilla sugar! Recipes vary but scrape 1 bean in 2-4 cups of sugar, bury the bean in it and wait at least two weeks. Great in coffee. Sprinkle on cookies. Best use? Process the sugar into powdered sugar and sprinkle on French toast!

]]> By: Carla http://chickensintheroad.com/living/remember-to-feed-the-birds/#comment-34000 Carla Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:45:10 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=4814#comment-34000 OK, I had to jump in and throw in my 2 cents worth on the cheap Christmas gift ideas. When my children were in grade school, I usually managed to come up with some "home-made" type gift for their teachers. A few years back I did a memory jar. Take a large (and pretty) glass jar. Decorate it real pretty with the family name, "Smith family memories" (I used stickers cos I'm a scrapbook addict), tie a pretty bow around the top. And I included a pad of colorful spiral 5x5 size note pad I picked up at the office supply for a few dollars. I bought the glass jars at a craft store in the silk flower sections cos they were the perfect shape. Lemme see if I can send you a picture. If you will tell me how to send it to you, I'll send the ones that I made that year. The first one I ever made was for my family and at that time I only had a very tall spaghetti glass jar with a cork in the top. That worked great too. Then I wrote a cute poem instructing the family to record their memories and drop in the jar to read on New Years Eve. It's kinda like the gift that keeps on giving... you use it all year! My children loved it when they were younger. When their friends would come over, they would write "Sally was here on (date) and (whatever fun thing they did that day). Just remember to instruct the receiver to date the notes before dropping into the memory jar. It really is a blast to dump them all out on New Years Eve and read. I have a to-die for EASY cookie recipe that I am making to give this Christmas. Oh and there's always the POOP gifts... Last year I made hot chocolate mix and put in cute snowman containers. OK, I had to jump in and throw in my 2 cents worth on the cheap Christmas gift ideas. When my children were in grade school, I usually managed to come up with some “home-made” type gift for their teachers. A few years back I did a memory jar. Take a large (and pretty) glass jar. Decorate it real pretty with the family name, “Smith family memories” (I used stickers cos I’m a scrapbook addict), tie a pretty bow around the top. And I included a pad of colorful spiral 5×5 size note pad I picked up at the office supply for a few dollars. I bought the glass jars at a craft store in the silk flower sections cos they were the perfect shape. Lemme see if I can send you a picture. If you will tell me how to send it to you, I’ll send the ones that I made that year. The first one I ever made was for my family and at that time I only had a very tall spaghetti glass jar with a cork in the top. That worked great too. Then I wrote a cute poem instructing the family to record their memories and drop in the jar to read on New Years Eve. It’s kinda like the gift that keeps on giving… you use it all year! My children loved it when they were younger. When their friends would come over, they would write “Sally was here on (date) and (whatever fun thing they did that day). Just remember to instruct the receiver to date the notes before dropping into the memory jar. It really is a blast to dump them all out on New Years Eve and read.

I have a to-die for EASY cookie recipe that I am making to give this Christmas.

Oh and there’s always the POOP gifts…

Last year I made hot chocolate mix and put in cute snowman containers.

]]> By: greenbelle http://chickensintheroad.com/living/remember-to-feed-the-birds/#comment-33933 greenbelle Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:01:45 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=4814#comment-33933 Loving all these ideas! Several years ago, my family wanted to do a "make-it-yourself" Christmas and we liked to wrap the presents in fabric rather than paper that would just get thrown away. The recipient could then make something out of their "wrapping paper." Loving all these ideas! Several years ago, my family wanted to do a “make-it-yourself” Christmas and we liked to wrap the presents in fabric rather than paper that would just get thrown away. The recipient could then make something out of their “wrapping paper.”

]]> By: Kristin http://chickensintheroad.com/living/remember-to-feed-the-birds/#comment-33919 Kristin Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:36:26 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=4814#comment-33919 That dump cake sounds and looks amazing. I made dump cake a few times this summer, but I used the box and cans. I wonder if I can pull this off for the potluck tomorrow. Probably not, but I can probably get this together for the next one! Thanks!! That dump cake sounds and looks amazing. I made dump cake a few times this summer, but I used the box and cans. I wonder if I can pull this off for the potluck tomorrow. Probably not, but I can probably get this together for the next one!

Thanks!!

]]> By: NorseCookie http://chickensintheroad.com/living/remember-to-feed-the-birds/#comment-33918 NorseCookie Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:53:05 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=4814#comment-33918 I'll throw out my ideas for the year. I have inherited a huge stash of crafts and fabric, so I rarely have to buy supplies. Even so, I know the evil empire (Wal*Mart) has cottons for a buck a yard and large packs of embroidery floss for less than 5 bucks. *beaded eyeglass chain *dough enhancer (wonder where I got that fabulous idea...) :-) *wool coffee sleeves (makes takeout lattes a little greener) with silly embroideries to suit the recipients *reuseable square-bottomed grocery bags, also with silly embroideries (like quotes from "The Office" tv show) You can stitch them up in 20 minutes flat, no measuring or patterns or putzy stuff - look for the 'jordy bag' tutorial on Craftster.org. *caramel corn *homemade marshmallows (super easy recipe on the Martha Stewart site) *sugar cookies with royal icing *heirloom tomato seeds I saved from last summer *little potted ivy plants from cuttings Some things my friend and I have crafted together in the past: melted LP "candy dishes/plant pots"; bath salts/bombs;tea blends from the bulk aisle in the grocery store; fridg poetry using free promo magnets, magazines, and glue sticks; fleece scarves from the good old remnant bin Also: it's really really fun to melt records. Especially while sipping a merry beverage. :-) I’ll throw out my ideas for the year. I have inherited a huge stash of crafts and fabric, so I rarely have to buy supplies. Even so, I know the evil empire (Wal*Mart) has cottons for a buck a yard and large packs of embroidery floss for less than 5 bucks.

*beaded eyeglass chain
*dough enhancer (wonder where I got that fabulous idea…) :-)
*wool coffee sleeves (makes takeout lattes a little greener) with silly embroideries to suit the recipients
*reuseable square-bottomed grocery bags, also with silly embroideries (like quotes from “The Office” tv show) You can stitch them up in 20 minutes flat, no measuring or patterns or putzy stuff – look for the ‘jordy bag’ tutorial on Craftster.org.
*caramel corn
*homemade marshmallows (super easy recipe on the Martha Stewart site)
*sugar cookies with royal icing
*heirloom tomato seeds I saved from last summer
*little potted ivy plants from cuttings

Some things my friend and I have crafted together in the past: melted LP “candy dishes/plant pots”; bath salts/bombs;tea blends from the bulk aisle in the grocery store; fridg poetry using free promo magnets, magazines, and glue sticks; fleece scarves from the good old remnant bin

Also: it’s really really fun to melt records. Especially while sipping a merry beverage. :-)

]]> By: IowaDeb http://chickensintheroad.com/living/remember-to-feed-the-birds/#comment-33916 IowaDeb Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:01:13 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=4814#comment-33916 I have made Concrete stepping stones using the clear plant trays as a mold and added broken bits of ceramics and marbles. Also have Decoupaged on those cheap clear glass plates.The plates are a nice gift when paired with cookies. I have made Concrete stepping stones using the clear plant trays as a mold and added broken bits of ceramics and marbles. Also have Decoupaged on those cheap clear glass plates.The plates are a nice gift when paired with cookies.

]]> By: Peggy http://chickensintheroad.com/living/remember-to-feed-the-birds/#comment-33914 Peggy Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:06:12 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=4814#comment-33914 Wonderful ideas! Yours and the ones in the comments. So many creative people! I'm crocheting a few small items for friends, but now I am inspired to do more! Wonderful ideas! Yours and the ones in the comments. So many creative people! I’m crocheting a few small items for friends, but now I am inspired to do more!

]]> By: Donna http://chickensintheroad.com/living/remember-to-feed-the-birds/#comment-33911 Donna Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:04:38 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=4814#comment-33911 Suzanne, I think those are all wonderful gifts - I would love any one of them. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: You are so creative!!!! :guitar: Suzanne, I think those are all wonderful gifts – I would love any one of them. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: You are so creative!!!! :guitar:

]]> By: Susan Flemming http://chickensintheroad.com/living/remember-to-feed-the-birds/#comment-33910 Susan Flemming Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:32:57 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=4814#comment-33910 We're also having a mostly homemade Christmas this year. I love sewing so I've been using fabric and scraps from my stash to make the gifts. So far, I've made tea wallets and hankies and I've half finished sets of little felt Christmas mice. And if there's time... larger felt elves like the pair I made years ago that our children have been begging to have for their homes. One project I just completed today are puppets and a puppet theatre for my husband's grandson. I sewed the puppets together but they could just as easily have been carefully glued together. I can't post pictures of any of the other projects on my supermom blog in case one of our children sees it... but I did do a post about the puppets. http://supermomnocape.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/puppetsandpuppettheatr/ We’re also having a mostly homemade Christmas this year. I love sewing so I’ve been using fabric and scraps from my stash to make the gifts. So far, I’ve made tea wallets and hankies and I’ve half finished sets of little felt Christmas mice. And if there’s time… larger felt elves like the pair I made years ago that our children have been begging to have for their homes.

One project I just completed today are puppets and a puppet theatre for my husband’s grandson. I sewed the puppets together but they could just as easily have been carefully glued together. I can’t post pictures of any of the other projects on my supermom blog in case one of our children sees it… but I did do a post about the puppets.

http://supermomnocape.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/puppetsandpuppettheatr/

]]> By: Paulette http://chickensintheroad.com/living/remember-to-feed-the-birds/#comment-33909 Paulette Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:23:32 +0000 http://chickensintheroad.com/?p=4814#comment-33909 great ideas, thanks! great ideas, thanks!

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