HU Brute I feel the same way !1 I absolutlly love watching the amny birds that come in our yard but for the same reason stopped buying seeds. I did throw in a few sunflowers seeds in one area but seems like someone is eating them just as they begin to come up !! Hmmm. Maybe I will do what the other poster said maybe just once a week or so..I do find that just being outside in the morning looking at my gardening efforts ( Smile) and watching and listening to the different birds and other creatures very calming.I alway's enjoy seeing other members pics of birds ( and other wildlife ) and the information that they provide. Really perks up my day !! Rainy

I also leave some of the flowers for the birds. But also have 4 feeders. heck last year the snow drifted so bad all bed under the snow. Very rough here with the flooding Not Like in iowa City and CedarRapids. Dh and I helped clean up in Time Check area House. Need to a plant party for them. Some of these house had breath taking flower beds. I'm going to major flower dividing and offer plants to some of them Now to go put out some suet in feeder. Going to make my own. Lot of the pheasants babies drown here from flooding.

I got it and I emailed you RIGHT back, Caroline! Woo HOO! And you forgot to mention my knobby ankles! rofl

Materials needed: Teacup and saucer (found at local thrift shop) Copper Tubing (1/2" about 2-3 long) Copper End Cap (to fit 1/2" or whatever size your tubing is) Old Spoon (optional) Bird Seed Circle of Toile or netting (scrap piece is fine) Small ribbons, raffia, or other embellishments Strong Silicone Glue (GE II outdoor use, clear works best) Piece of rebar or other strong pipe to pound into the ground. Assembly Steps: Glue the end cap on the saucer bottom. Glue the cup and saucer together. Glue on a spoon for the birds to perch (optional) Take your piece of toile and line the inside of the cup. Pour in some birdseed and then gather the remaining toile at the top and tie with a small ribbon or raffia. Add any additional embellishments that you wish like a poem (listed below),additonal ribbons, etc. Pound your piece of rebar into the ground. Put the copper tubing over the rebar. Insert the copper tubing into the copper end cap and enjoy. *By using the copper end cap it will make cleaning and winter storage a snap. Just pop off your cup and saucer dump and refill or take inside for winter storage. Optional Ideas: *Use a wooden post instead of the copper tubing to mount the feeder by drilling a small hole thru the cup and saucer and then screwing them to the wooden post. This method may work better for people where extreme climates would make using the glue a challenge. *A cheaper method would be to use PVC in place of the copper tubing and copper end cap.The PVC can be painted however you wish. Before assembling the pipe to the end cap, spray expanding foam insulation in the pipe, let it sit for about an hour, then insert the rebar, next remove the rebar and let the foam sit over night. This makes the birdfeeder snug on the stake. Feathered friends: Submitted by Dena at GW Your feathered friends could use a rest A dainty teacup would be the best A cup of water A plate of seed A tiny perch is all they need A pretty spot surrounded with flowers and you'll be entertained for hours and hours