What's in a Song?

So I joined a blogging DIY Dare to do it Yourself a couple weeks ago. It's 4 weeks of holiday DIY. I figured if nothing else, it was a great way for me to dig a little deeper into my creativity, which worked because it's in overdrive right now!! Each week there is a theme to go off of and the idea is to craft or DIY something awesome and post a pic. Here's a link to one of the hosts to see what other people are doing...http://decorandthedog.blogspot.com/

This week's theme is to Entertain. I thought of a bunch of creative ways to DIY something for my guests, my human guests that is. But what about the guest who inspire us everyday with their beautiful words in the form of song? I'm talking about our feathered friends of course!

This idea came to me the other day. Monday actually. I had opened the door to the house to let some fresh air come in as it was a GORGEOUS day out. I made lunch for Brooks and I and went down to the basement where he was organizing to tell him lunch was ready. When i came back upstairs, there was a small bird in the house! He flew around for a few minutes, perching on things on the high shelves in the dinning room and living room (it's an open floor plan) before making his way back outside.

After lunch i went down to the basement, where we had left those doors open as well since we were working (we live in the country so it's not like we'll get the unwelcome human visitor!). I went into our room down there, and perched on his computer was the same little bird. He scared the bajeezus out of me and i jumped several feet when he startled and flew out the door again. Laughing, i thought "Ok bird! Just because the door is open doesn't mean to come in!" But then i thought about this weeks theme. And inspiration hit!!

Here it is...a feeder for my little friends outside!

I know the holidays are all about family and friends! Which is what gets me through the holiday each year. I get stressed about how commercialized everything is nowadays and i am a broke, unemployed student. And after my grandmother passed away 14 years ago just before Christmas, it's been my least favorite holiday (we were very very close). But this year i am definitely feeling the Christmas spirit again in new and wonderful ways!! I've got this creative surge that i think has been hiding for way too long.

So it got me to thinking...we go to a lot of effort to entertain our families and friends at the holidays. We go to store after store after store to find the perfect gifts, wrappings, stocking stuffers and tasty feast ingredients. We get stuck in holiday traffic, fight for parking in packed lots, stand in insane lines in the stores and have to deal with rude sales people and even worse holiday shoppers trying to grab the last scarf on the rack. And at the end of the holiday, we're tired, exhausted, and cranky as we clean up the mess of it all and are relived that it's over. Some of us worry that the sweater we bought for Aunt Betty wasn't her taste, but she was just too nice to say anything. Or that the Batman toy we got for our nephew Jake, was something he already had, but was raised well enough not to say anything. At this point, we're wondering why the hell we go to all this trouble if what we give people they either don't like, don't need or already have. But wouldn't it be nice to know that someone out there is super appreciative of the gift you gave them, wholeheartedly without a forced smile? Something they need, want and will never return without our knowledge or re-gift next year? And something they'll use everyday and be so happy doing so!! (Sorry if this is sounding like a major downer...i've seen too many holiday movies and commercials...and been through this too many times!!) But that was the idea with this feeder. Birds don't care what color it is, where it came from (Goodwill actually!) or how much it cost (About a dollar!!). But it's something that will always fit them!! And even better...it's an entertaining piece! Because they come to dinner too!!

I found my cup and saucer at Goodwill. Each piece was 49 cents! And i already had E-6000 to adhere it together for stability!! I fill the cup part with water, and the saucer part with seeds or bits of bread. Mine are filled with sesame seed crackers and broken bits of rye crackers. And ya know what? It's perfect!!

I have a bit of a love for birds. I wrote about my view of my own life like that of a caged and now freed bird, a couple weeks ago on my blog. So i won't repeat myself. But i love that i can do something for them. They've given me a lot just by opening my eyes and ears to them. And now I've found a way to slightly repay them for the strength they've given to me.♥