Outdoor Christmas Decorations mean
that you might be missing summer's warmth or looking forward to
Spring.
Well, gather the kids, because
here's a twist on Christmas outdoor decorations that is eco-chic,
kid-friendly and sure to get everyone excited about the
prospect of decorating outdoors on chilly days.
Indoor
Christmas trees, candles, stockings and mistletoe are gifts we share
with friends and family.
And outdoor Christmas decorating
ideas like the outdoor Christmas lights, the
wreaths, and the displays we dress our porches
in let us share the Christmas spirit with
people we may never meet. But when it's cold outside and
the air is crisp, the weather's perfect for a little
recycling and making easy ice mobile bird treats that do double duty
as outdoor Christmas tree decorations.
How fast birds will eat
all the berries they can find depends a lot on the weather and how
much food is available.
Birds favor red berries and will
eat these first while leaving the yellow, orange and white berries
to eat in a pinch.
Any kind of berries or seeds work well for
this project, but mountain ash, winterberry, hackberry, and
firethorne berries work better than some others.
Here's what
you'll need.
Any size recycled
aluminum tea light containers
String or wire
Berries and
seeds
Step 1: Fill a recycled aluminum tea light
container half full with the berries or seeds of your
choice.
Step 2: Twist the wire into loops and bend it
so the loop sits flat on top of the berries.
Substitute
string for the wire if you need to. Either works.
Step 3:
Fill the aluminum containers with water and put the containers in
the freezer until frozen.
Step 4: Wait for a cold day and hang the ice
mobiles from the branches of a tree.
Make these outdoor Christmas decorations the
same day you'll use them.
Or make them ahead of time when you
know cold weather is forecasted.
Hang the bird treats where
they can be seen from the house or admired by people who pass
by.
Just like a showman, they'll last as long as it's cold.
And as it warms up, the ice slowly melts to release a berry
feast.
Of course making your
own outdoor Christmas decorations is economical. But aside from all
the practical reasons, it's just plain fun and a great way to spend
time with your family.
So before the holiday season
is a happy memory, grab the kids, charm the neighbors and
spread a little Christmas cheer to your feathered friends with these
quick and easy homemade bird treats.