Good Guide, Good Gift

Hey there! To all you bird watchers out there, I know I'm not the only one, I've got a guide I'd like to recommend. If you're not a bird watcher, maybe you would like to get this as a gift for someone else that may enjoy feeding and/or bird watching.

It is a book by Stan Tekiela who has field guides to birds in different states as well as other books I'm sure. But this one is called "Birds of Tennessee". Since I have owned this guide I haven't ran across a species that I could not identify. The book is filled with accurate descriptions, what seasons to look for which birds, nesting and even special notes about each bird. It has great color pictures of each bird that are actual photos instead of drawings.

You can order one online or any bookstore should have it. Even if you aren't an avid bird watcher it's a nice book to have. I think you'll be surprised at the different kinds of birds that are all right in you own back yard.

A Place To Hang Your Cards

Hey Y'all! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. It sure was a cold one here in Tennessee! Miss Pepper and I took a walk in the woods bird watching yesterday and I got a tad chilled. I did get to see two birds that I haven't seen before. One of them is a winter resident in Tennessee which explains partially why I haven't seen them before. The other is a year-round resident that I just haven't seen. I wish I had brought the types that they were with me today... maybe tomorrow. I do want to share a new section of my blog on the right hand side that is a log of birds spotted at my feeders along with links to a website that will show you what they look like. Just a note, the link will direct you away from my blog.


Now for the topic and craft of the day. A place to hang your Christmas Cards. I made my version a couple of years ago and thought that I had lost it during my move this year. Luckily enough I found it! Here's what you need.



Christmas Card Wreath


45 clothespins
45 medium sized jingle bells
1 wire clothes hanger
1 can green spray paint
newspaper
pretty ribbon



First lay the clothespins on a few pieces of newspaper in a well ventilated area (like outside). Spray paint one side of all of the clothespins and allow to dry (refer to paint can on drying time). When dry, flip the pins over and spray the opposite side. Be sure to spray the actual sides of the pins during this and allow them to dry. Next unhook the twisted part of the coat hanger and mold wire hanger into a circle. I cut the actual hook part off of mine but you can leave it on. Now alternately thread clothespins and jingle bells onto wire hanger. Twist the closure at the top back together once wreath is complete. Tie a nice bow at the top to hide the closure and hang it anywhere.


I have found this is better for me than taping my Christmas cards up or just laying them around. It makes a nice display. If you want to get a little fancier you could use a different color spray paint. Like maybe red paint with a silver ribbon or white paint with a blue ribbon. I hope you enjoy it if you make one and please let me know if you do or if you have any questions!

It's Beginning To Smell A Lot Like Christmas!

Hiya All! Well we are now two days into December and I think some one told the weather to act like it's December! It's cold and rainy today. For the first day of December we had our first big, heavy frost up here on the hill. We have had a couple of light ones but this one put the quietus on some summer plants still trying to survive. I'm glad I remembered to bring my orchid in.

Today I have a continuation of homemade decorations for a kitchen Christmas tree. I should have said on Monday when I started this that one year I didn't have an actual tree in my kitchen so I made these ornaments and hung them on a wreath for my kitchen door. So the smells and cheer were still there although I didn't need many for the wreath.

This is a recipe for cinnamon ornaments. It's cheap, simple and smells deliciously of Christmas time. Although I am not a huge fan of cinnamon scented things like candles and brooms these ornaments aren't too strong once they are made but do put a hint of spice in the air. Here's what you need and what to do:

Cinnamon Ornaments

2 bottles cinnamon (fifty cents each at the dollar store)
1/2 cup applesauce (I worked up to about this amount, start small and get to what you can work with)
cookie cutters
a tad of flour

Mix cinnamon and applesauce together in a bowl. Spoon out onto a lightly floured surface. This can be a little messy on your hands so flour yourself. Roll dough out with a rolling pin to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters. At this point you have two options. You can put your shapes onto wax paper and let them dry 24 hours or place them on a parchment paper* lined cookie sheet and bake in the oven at 200 for 20 minutes. Allow them to cool. However you choose to let them dry you need to make a hole for the hanger using a toothpick and going around in a circle before baking or drying. Make it far enough down into the shape so the ornament won't break. I made stars and had a couple of tips break off.

I hope you like them!

*Note: I wouldn't grease the pan. You can try baking them without parchment paper if you don't have it but only try a couple at first. I don't know if they will stick to the pan or not.

A Bit Of Understanding

Sometimes, while at work and especially during the holiday seasons, when things are hectic, there are places that you would rather be, try to think of this.

Try to put yourself in to the customer's shoes. They've gotten out of bed with you on their mind, for whatever reason, in my case.. they are cold because their heat has gone out. Maybe it's the call they have been meaning to make and now have to make. Maybe even with the hesitation of financial issues in their minds with "can we afford this now?" or "We cannot afford this but we have to." They may dread making the call just as much as you, with your busy work day, dread answering another call.

Sometimes it can be hard to think of sounding pleasant to the person on the other end of the phone line. Good customer service comes when caring steps in front of repetitiveness. Just because you sound good on the phone doesn't mean that you truly care about their problem, even if it is only having to listen to them for a few minutes.

Think of the questions that have been rolling around in their head all morning or all weekend, just waiting to ask you. Provide a service of listening to their problem and knowing that they trust in you and your company to take care of the needs of themselves and their family. Without them there would be no need for you to work there.

This year, give a gift to each person that you talk to by lending them a listening ear and a caring heart.