.: Pinecones gathered on a snowy day :.
We enjoyed feeling the energy of this day through time speant outdoors. The temperatures have dropped and snow storms continue to visit leaving us spending the last few days indoors.
It felt refreshing to fill our lungs with fresh air if only for a short time, as we set out to gather pinecones to create a gift for the birds.
We walked to the edge of the pine grove and took shelter under the pine trees. They seemed to be the only place untouched by the snow. We imagined that wild rabbits, deer and squirrels enjoy this place as well. The air was cold and the snow that covered the landscape around us swirled up into the air as the winds blew, creating a beautiful show.
.: The pinecones opened up when brought into the warm house :.
We moved our feet across the pine needles that lay under the trees to reveal tightly closed pinecones that we then placed into our baskets. We arrived home and set out peanut butter, cooking trays, yarn, and birdseed to craft a nurturing winter gift for the birds!
When the pinecones were brought inside the baskets became even more full as the pinecones opened up in the warmth of home.
.: Each pine cone is strung upon a yarn loop for hanging :.
Many pinecones were strung as we created beautiful ornaments to adorn the trees once again...
.: Buttering each pinecone with peanut butter :.
Each pinecone was first covered in a coating of peanut butter.
.: Rolling each peanut butter covered pine cone in birdseed :.
While rolling each pinecone into the birdseed we enjoyed the feeling of preparing a nutritious and layered meal for these favored friends that faithfully visit each day to grace us with their beauty as we observe them in special moments by sunny windowsills.
.: The finished treats for the birds :.
.: Looking good enough to eat! :.
Each peanut butter and birdseed covered pinecone was placed onto baking sheets and put into the refrigerator to further set.
We concluded that these treats looked good enough to eat! It was our pleasure to decorate the trees with these sweet simple treats for our friends the birds.
.: One of my favorite birds, a Chickadee enjoying this treat! :.
.: This Tufted Titmouse would take a seed and then sit over on the branch to crack it open :.
In no time at all they found the snacks that we left them. Soon all that was left was a bare pinecone left to return to forest once again!
.: A closer look at this friend who was enjoying the treat we left him :.
