Unplugged Birds
Monday, April 28, 2008
I had a hard time with this week's Unplugged Project theme - birds. Not because it was a hard topic, but because my perfectionism really got the best of me this week. I think it is because I've been stressed about our house situation and stuff I need to get done at work, but I became obsessed with finding the "best" way to feed the birds. Paige loves birds, and I figured she'd love to feed them. Seeing as we made Cheerio Feeders a couple of weeks ago for our Unplugged Project, I wanted to do something different. I spent most of the week looking online for different bird treat recipes that would be easy enough to create with a toddler/preschooler. The best one seemed to be the pine cone bird feeder, but it isn't really the right season for that. Another suggested putting peanut butter and birdseed on a stale bagel and hanging it up outside. Our bagels weren't stale, but we had some stale bread, so I finally decided to try this one, and yesterday we made our own version - peanut butter and birdseed on a sub roll. Paige always gets so excited when I talk about feeding the birds, and was calling these "bird sandwiches."
The one problem that I had with these is that I couldn't seem to keep Paige from licking the peanut butter off of the knife - even when there was birdseed on it! I kept telling her that it was for the birds, but she kept picking at the "sandwiches" too! LOL
My pictures came out horrible this week. And yes, she's in her Ariel jammies! :)
I managed to poke a hole through a few of the pieces of bread with a straw and hung them up with yarn, but one just kept breaking, so I put it on the railing of the deck. This morning I noticed it was gone. Roland said that when he left for work this morning there was a bird walking around near our cars with a big hunk of bread hanging out of his mouth. So I guess they were a hit with Paige and the birds! I feel bad that I almost didn't get a project done this week because I was having such a hard time picking one thing to do. I think the birds are glad I finally decided on something though. I really need to try and relax a little more - I keep stressing myself out about fun things!
April 28, 2008 at 11:46 PM
I need to do the unplugged projects! It is always helpful having a reason to give the kids for not watching TV. "Mom, can I watch something?" "Not right now." "Why not?!?" "Um, because."
BTW-thanks for the nice comment!
April 29, 2008 at 6:28 AM
You should join the next Unplugged Project! This week's theme is green! :)
April 29, 2008 at 8:59 AM
You should definetly relax some because that was a great project.
April 29, 2008 at 10:26 AM
I had covered our stale gingerbread house with PB and birdseed after christmas and that was fun but my daughter kept tasting the seeds!
You can use sugar cones (ice cream cones) to make good hanging ones too.
April 29, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Looks like a great project. And you are not the only one stressing yourself out over fun!
April 29, 2008 at 2:05 PM
Your daughter looks adorable in her Ariel pajamas. BTW, I am stressing out over the green project. I just can't think of anything fun for my son to do that is green.
Maybe we can make green slime. : )
April 29, 2008 at 5:43 PM
I think the "bird sandwich" idea was a fine one! Funny about your daughter and the seeds though.
By the way, I am having my own perfectionist predicament at the moment and will probably write a post about it one of these days. Perfectionism can be absolutely paralyzing can't it?!
April 29, 2008 at 10:26 PM
I received you other email, and replied. Did it come through this time? Sorry about the email troubles. I'm not sure what is going on!
i however, did get your address and will be mailing your prize later this week!
May 1, 2008 at 1:15 AM
I can *totally* relate to the perfectionist thing! I am trying very hard to relax -- I notice my older daughter leaning toward the same tendencies. :) My girls would love to make bird "sandwiches." Simple and fun, and apparently tasty, too!
May 1, 2008 at 6:34 AM
Heather #1 - I know I need to relax, but I don't know how. My friend Michelle keeps saying, "are you stressing out over something that's supposed to be fun again?"
Heather #2 - I LOVE the idea of a birdseed gingerbread house! I'll have to keep that idea in mind. Paige would love it.
Mom Unplugged - perfectionism can be paralyzing. Sometimes I don't get anything done because I can't do it "right" so why do it. Or I can't do it all, so why do it. Lately I've had to tell myself, "something is better than nothing" and keep repeating it so that I actually get something done.
Thank you all for the nice comments on our bird sandwiches. Paige has already asked to make them again. This morning she saw a bird while I was putting her in the car and she said, "I love birds." She really does, and has since she was a baby.
Now I challenge all of you to try a green project this week! :)