Bird  Watching 

If I were a bird, I'd sing a song

And fly about the whole day long.

And when the night came,

Go to rest, up in my cozy little nest.

---nursery  rhyme

I just looked out our back windows on this rainy, cold winter morning and smiled when I saw 5 male cardinals enjoying a snack of sunflower seeds.  My hsband loves to feed the birds and watch as they devour the seeds from our three feeders.  There are other types of birds there too, but the bright red feathers of the cardinals just stand out and lend a bright spot to an otherwise dreary day!

Birds certainly add a lot of beauty to our world.  Look at the colors of these sweet creatures:

And what about these gorgeous feathers?

Definitely beauty personified.

I've been noticing birds in a lot of decor and craft items lately.  Is there a trend I've been missing out on?  I may have to set up a new Pinterest board:  Birds for Other Things Besides Watching & Feeding!

Wouldn't this be lovely on a spring mantle or as a centerpiece for an Easter dinner?

http://www.creationsbykara.com/2013/03/spring-decorating-20-ideas-for-bird-nest-decor.html/

Look what this crafty blogger made from Dollar Tree birds!

http://cinnaberry-suite.blogspot.com/2010/03/springin-up.html



And this blue chest is just too, too sweet...wish I could paint like that!

www.missmustardseed.com

I love this...and it could be easily made.

www.mudpiestudio.com

But these???  These may be taking it a little too far!

www.goodideasforyou.com  (Really?? a good idea??)

Have you guessed what it is???  (smoke detector)

Pinterest has many, many cute crafts that involve birds, owls, and chickens.  These look easy enough to make.

bookmarks/flickr image

pinterest board

Who wouldn't love some cute blue bird cookies? 

My sister-in-law and niece could certainly whip these out in a skinny minute!  They have their own cookie business and they are absolutely amazing!  Check out their etsy shop for all your cookie needs for baby showers, birthday parties, wedding favors, and anything else that will meet your cookie needs.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TwoCrazyCookies  



Birds certainly add beauty to our world through their bright colors and beautiful songs.  God knew we needed some little bright spots in a world that can sometimes seem harsh and cold...plus he knew we needed reminders like this:



I heard a bird sing

in the dark of December

A magical thing

and sweet to remember;

"We are nearer to spring

Than we were in September,"

I heard a little bird sing

In the dark of December

--Oliver Herford

Even on a dreary rainy day like today, a little bird can bring out the sunshine.

Hang in there...because a little bird told me it would be Spring soon!



Button, Button...whose got the button ?

picture via google search

Do  you remember that game...or does that give away my age?  I remember playing this when I was in first grade.  Our teacher would sit us in a circle, and we would pass a button around our back while chanting.  The teacher would call STOP and we would have to figure out who had the button!  Well...it was fun at the time!

luualla.com

I have always loved buttons!  I think my fascination began due to many hours of playing with my grandmother's button tin.  It was full of beautiful buttons of all different colors, sizes, & shapes.  I would stack them, compare them, make patterns with them, even make up games with them.  I wonder if children still play with buttons today?  Probably not!

mypolkadotteapot.com via google search

I recently read a little about the history of buttons.  The earliest known button is supposedly about 5000 years old.  They actually began more as an adornment worn like jewelry than for actual utility.  After the Button Makers Guild was formed in 1250 AD, there were actually laws prohibiting poor people from owning buttons made of certain materials (which they couldn't afford anyway).  Snobby rich people!  In the 1300's people went so crazy over buttons that some garments were totally covered in buttons...each with its own buttonholes!  Can you imagine getting dressed in the mornings?

Lots of people out there evidently collect buttons...and some pay big bucks for even a single button.  (I doubt I'll get that addicted.)  You can Google and find all sorts of information if you are interested, including www.iwantbuttons.com. 

I was very fortunate awhile back to be given a wonderful collection of buttons that had been collected by possibly both of my husband's grandmothers and my mother-in-law. 

Then my mother gave me a lot too....and these were even contained in a very old tin that I remember her keeping them in!  I love my buttons!

Some of my collection are very interesting and I'm sure very old.  I've tried to find out some info on some of them but haven't discovered anything yet.

A few years ago I even made this bracelet out of a length of elastic and various buttons I had

Wouldn't these be cute?

luualla.com

I sometimes pull out my buttons when my granddaughter is here because I hope that she too will fall in love with these beautiful pieces of metal, cloth, & plastic.  Maybe I will even teach her...

Button, Button...whose got the button ?

second twirl via pinterest.com