Winter

DIY Bird Feeders

The weather turned chilly and we got some snow here in Southeast Saskatchewan, I hate to say it but… finally. For the middle of December, we have had unusually warm and dry weather. We got to making some bird feeders for all the birds taking up residence in our yard…

Despite the cats watching them from the windows, or maybe because they are only allowed to watch from the window.

DIY Bird Feeders

*This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.*

It is really simple, a fun little activity for kids to do, and then an excuse to get outside.

What you need:

2 packets of unflavored gelatin
2/3 cup water
2 cups bird seed

How to make DIY Bird Feeders

Mix the water and gelatin together, not over heat, until it dissolves. Once dissolves heat over medium heat, until it begins to simmer.

Mix in your bird seed.

Use cooking spray to coat the inside of your cookie cutters, then place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Spoon into the bird feeders, packing it down a bit to make sure you get it full.

*The pot and the bird food doesn’t get too hot, the bird food barely gets warm, making it great for kids to do. If you are worried about the heat of the pot, you can always transfer it to another bowl.

Once your cookie cutters are full take a piece of straw and place it where you will have the string going through your feeder to hang.

Place in the fridge for at least an hour to set. They will slide out of the cookie cutters easily, as will the straw.

String twine through the hole and hang it up in a tree, or more.

I got a picture! I am working on my photography skills, because what is the point of having a great camera if I’m not going to take great photos? I’m doing Project 365 on my own to get great photos. And here is a picture the bird feeder up close.

Hubby is now thinking we should do more for the rest of the yard.

Bird Feeders

Make some different shaped bird feeders for the birds visiting your backyard all year long.

Materials

2 packets of unflavored gelatin
2/3 cup water
2 cups bird seed

Tools

pot
cookie cutters

Instructions

Mix the water and gelatin together, not over heat, until it dissolves. Once dissolves heat over medium heat, until it begins to simmer.
Mix in your bird seed. Use cooking spray to coat the inside of your cookie cutters, then place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Spoon into the bird feeders, packing it down a bit to make sure you get it full.
*The pot and the bird food doesn't get too hot, the bird food barely gets warm, making it great for kids to do. If you are worried about the heat of the pot, you can always transfer it to another bowl.
Once your cookie cutters are full take a piece of straw and place it where you will have the string going through your feeder to hang. Place in the fridge for at least an hour to set.
They will slide out of the cookie cutters easily, as will the straw. String twine through the hole and hang it up in a tree, or more.

Keeping Active During the Winter

by Ashley Mullen Leave a Comment

First let me say Happy Family Day! It is observed in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Something I really like about Saskatchewan! Because who doesn’t need an extra day off in February?

Second, how active are you once the cold weather hits your area? I know for us we live in the house. We go from the house to the the vehicle to where ever it is we’re going and right back again. It is too cold out there for my butt. We find other ways to stay active. I workout (I’m trying to stick to it!), our girls are in some activities, and we do all of the following things too.

Keeping Active in Winter

Here are some great ways to keep your children active in the winter, even if you can’t get outside.

Dance. Yes, I’ve mentioned it numerous times before including in dealing with bored children. Dancing around the house takes no set up or take down time, everyone can do from the very young to the very old. Its just fun!

Skating. If you have access to a pond (completely frozen and safe) or a rink. Skating is a great workout for moms and dads trying to keep younger ones up on their feet. Did you know you can have your own skating rink, set it right up in your yard? I would LOVE to have one for my kids.

Sledding. While we don’t have a lot of opportunity for this one, it is really fun. A great lead into a nap or even bed time too. Walking up that hill multiple times is bound to tire little legs (and big ones) out.

Balloons. I don’t think there is anything like a balloon to get everyone moving. When you see a balloon floating towards you, you rarely let it drop to the floor, you instead, hit it back! Kids will do this until the balloon breaks, it is such fun!

Crafts for your kids. How is this active? Simple do a craft with your children, just try it. You, Momma, will not get to sit down. They need something else, you have to go get it. They “think” they need help, so you’re moving around from child to child.

We dance, they skate (I walk), we toss balloons around, and I do pull Gauge in his sled.

How do you keep your family active in the cold Winter months?

Cold and Flu Season – My 8 Essentials

by Ashley Mullen Leave a Comment

Winter is just that time of year when the germs are out in full force, everyone is staying in out of the cold, hanging around the library together and germs spread quickly. Cold and flu season coming means I am stocking up on our cold essentials, because someone will get one, and our flu essentials just in case.

Cold and Flu Season

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I like to be prepared ahead of time for cold and flu season, with three kids there is a really good chance someone is going to get sick at some point. Moms take note, self care is so important even when your kids are sick, if not more important during this time to try and stay healthy yourself.

These are my essentials for a cold, as well as my flu essentials when our family starts sniffling and sneezing, and feeling down.

Tissues

From the time Austin had her first cold (at very young) I started buying Puffs Plus Lotion. I won’t go back to cheaper tissues. When we have colds we try to get some Puffs Plus Lotion with Vicks.

Honey

From sore throats to coughs. The moment I feel a sore throat coming on I start drinking hot water with honey and lemon. It soothes and helps heal. I use honey in a hot cup of tea to add a little soothing sweetness to it.

Vicks VapoRub

Oh how I love thee! I think Vicks VapoRub is part of the reason our kids don’t seem to get as sicks as we do. I coat their feet each night at the first sign of a cold. If Austin starts sneezing, coughing, or complaining of a sore throat, they all get their feet coated.

Hot Water

Hot shower or bath. Nothing soothes a sore, achy body like more water. The steam also helps open airways and sinuses.

Rest

Take naps, lay back on the couch. Movie day with the family might just slow your younger ones down enough for you to rest.

Soup

Whether you have fresh or canned, I find goes down the easiest. I’m not big on cooking while I’m sick, and no one should be eating food I’ve prepared while sneezing, coughing and my nose dripping.

Tylenol

Taking Tylenol can help to relieve sinus pressure headaches, and aches and pains. All the things that can keep you from getting the rest that you need to feel better.

Your Pillow

Simply raising your pillow can help a lot. Sleeping prompted up a bit with pillows can help you breathe a little easier and help with coughing. I usually sleep on the couch sitting up when I’m sick.

Gravol

I keep a box of children’s and adult Gravol in our house at all times. Vomiting and diarrhea take a lot out of person and a lot out of the parents trying to help their little ones feel better when they have the flu.

Let’s not forget that hand washing can help reduce the spread of germs in the first place.

P.S. I also love my Neti Pot! I just bought this one this afternoon as mine disappeared during our last move. I find a sinus cold never lasts as long when I use it.

Recommended Essential Products for the Flu

Simple to Make Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

by Ashley Mullen Leave a Comment

Have you ever made something you saw online, in a magazine, or a cookbook and, even though you made it, didn’t expect it taste good? Well. This was it for me. This was it for all of us. Bacon Cheeseburger Soup. I love bacon, I like hamburgers, but cheeseburgers… not my thing. But this soup, this soup is my thing.

Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.

Did I mention how simple it is to make this?

What you need:

1 diced onion
3 cloves of minced garlic
2 carrots, shredded.
1 lb ground beef
2 tsp parsley
2 tsp basil
4-5 potatoes, diced
3 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup flour
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

How to make this Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

Start by simmering 1 diced onion, 3 cloves of minced garlic, 2 carrots shredded. Add in a pound of ground beef and 2 tsp parsley and 2 tsp of basil.

Cook until the burger is brown and cooked. I use my large pot, the one I’ll have my soup in, just to save on dirty dishes.

While that is cooking, cut up 4-5 potatoes. I dice mine small, think bite size for young kids.

Once your burger is thoroughly cooked, add in the potatoes, and three cups of chicken stock. It will just come to the stop of everything in your pot. Just. Bring to a boil on medium-high then reduce the temperature to medium-low.

Cook the potatoes, until very tender. While the potatoes are cooking, shred two cups of cheddar cheese.

Once the potatoes are thoroughly cooked, turn off the heat, add in the butter and flour mixture and give it a good stir. This will thicken up the soup a lot.

Then add your shredded cheese and half a cup of bacon bits. Stir, stir, stir. And serve.

Everyone of us loves this soup. Austin wasn’t finished eating her first bowl when she was asking me to pack it for her lunch the next day. There was barely enough left for her. Even picky, barely eats supper Brookland loves this, and has second helpings.

Hope you enjoy this as much as we did!

Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

This bacon cheeseburger soup is amazing. Thick and hearty, stick to your ribs, warm up up from the outside, perfect for cool days.

Ingredients

1 diced onion
3 cloves of minced garlic
2 carrots, shredded.
1 lb ground beef
2 tsp parsley
2 tsp basil
4-5 potatoes, diced
3 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup flour
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions

Start by simmering 1 diced onion, 3 cloves of minced garlic, 2 carrots shredded. Add in a pound of ground beef and 2 tsp parsley and 2 tsp of basil.
Cook until the burger is brown and cooked.
Once your burger is thoroughly cooked, add in the potatoes, and three cups of chicken stock. Cook the potatoes, until very tender.
Take 1/4 cup of butter or margarine, melt over medium heat, and add in 1/4 cup of flour, stirring to mix completely.
Once the potatoes are thoroughly cooked, turn off the heat, add in the butter and flour mixture and give it a good stir. This will thicken up the soup a lot. Then add your shredded cheese and half a cup of bacon bits.
Stir, stir, stir. Then serve.

Walking Water Experiment

by Ashley Mullen Leave a Comment

On cold days, or days that you are stuck inside, there is nothing better to do than to do some science experiments. Baking too, but then I’d eat more than I should, but then, don’t we all? This walking water science experiment really got my kids attention when I told them what we were going to do. Getting their attention is half the battle most time, so the rest was easy.

*This post contains affiliate links, see my disclosure policy for more information.*

What you need:

glass jars
food coloring
paper towel
water

How to make a Walking Water Science Experiment

Grab three clear glasses or jars, as long as you can see through them and see what the color of the water is through them, you’re good to go. Fill two glasses with colored water – primary colors work great because then you’re adding some extra education in there. We just used a few drops of blue and a few of yellow food color.

I took two pieces of paper towel, folded it twice length wise, we have the select a size paper towel. You don’t need a huge amount to make this work. Loop your folded piece of paper towel over one glass with colored water into the empty jar.

What’s happening:

It will only take a few minutes to see that something is happening. The paper towel will first get wet, and then you will slowly begin to see the color.

Walking water science experiment - color being filtered

In no time at all there will be colored water in the once empty glass. And if you choice the right colors you and your children will see the colors mixing.

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We then did it again with shorter pieces of paper towel, just because we can, and I wanted the girls to be able to see the water dripping down. Experiment. Do it as many times as you’d like. Have a chain or circle of glasses going at the same time.

This is so simple, and my girls, 5 years and 3 years, loved watching it. They pulled chairs up to the counters and watched every drop. Great chance to learn how water travels. Mixing colors.

What Happened:

The water appears to defy gravity, but it in reality it moves because of a process called capillary action. The adhesive forces between the water and the paper towel are stronger than the cohesive forces inside the water.

As a result, the water travels up and across the paper towel out of one glass and into another.

Walking Water Science Experiment

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Walking Water Science Experiment

Materials

Water
food color

Tools

Clear jars
paper towel

Instructions

Fill half your jars about half way with water.
Add food color of choice to water.
Piece jar with water next to an empty jar.
Fold pieces of paper towel lengthwise. Place the folded piece of paper towel over two jars with one end in the water and the other end into the empty jar.
Watch and see what happens.

Notes

What's Happened:

The water appears to defy gravity, but it in reality it moves because of a process called capillary action. The adhesive forces between the water and the paper towel are stronger than the cohesive forces inside the water. As a result, the water travels up and across the paper towel out of one glass and into another.

Winter

DIY Bird Feeders

How to make DIY Bird Feeders

Materials

Tools

Instructions

Similar posts that you may be interested in:

Keeping Active in Winter

Similar posts you may be interested in:

Cold and Flu Season

Tissues

Honey

Vicks VapoRub

Hot Water

Rest

Soup

Tylenol

Your Pillow

Gravol

Let’s not forget that hand washing can help reduce the spread of germs in the first place.

Recommended Product Cold Essentials

Recommended Essential Products for the Flu

Similar posts that you may be interested in:

Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

How to make this Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

Hope you enjoy this as much as we did!

Ingredients

Instructions

Recommended Products

Nutrition Information:

Similar posts that you may be interested in:

How to make a Walking Water Science Experiment

What Happened:

Materials

Tools

Instructions

Notes

Similar posts you may be interested in:

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