英语博客(A cup of English):026 Seed cones for the birds.

　　Beginners.

In our area, some birds will stay for the Winter. They make their nests cozy 1 , fluff up their feathers, and search for food every day. But, they have a problem. Because everything is covered with snow, it is hard to find food. It is too cold for insects to be out and about, and most seeds on the ground have been covered up by Winter's blanket. Berry bushes make great meals for the birds, but something that we, and many other people, do every year, is to put out seed cones 3. You mix together bacon fat, seeds, and nuts, if you want those also. Then, you tie a string onto a pine cone 2, spread the mixture all over it, and put it in the freezer. When it is hard, you hang it from a tree. Then, sit back and watch the birds fly to it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's good to look after cute, flying friends.

Grammar notes.

Verbs: to make (make, made, made). To make a nest/ mess/ the bed/ a basket ( in basket ball) etc.

To search for = to look for. To cover up = to cover completely.

Related vocabulary: to hang up; to spread; to tie a string (shoe lace); pine trees, pine cones, branches.

Advanced.

One thing that keeps us entertained in the Winter is doing crafts. It seems to be a therapy of sorts that distracts us from the cold, dark evenings. Approaching Christmas, at home, as well as in school, the children will make all sorts of crafts: stars, nativities, gingerbread houses, and photo frames, to name but a few. One thing that we try to do each Winter, is to make seed cones for the birds. We have pine trees in our yard which drop alot of pine cones during the year. We collect them. We use them in our fire place to start fires, and also to hang on trees to feed the birds. I collect bacon fat in a bowl over a few weeks. It looks quite disgusting, but it really serves a purpose. On a plate we mix the gross looking fat with seeds and non-salty nuts. Then we spread the mixture all over pine cones to which we have already attached a string. Off to the freezer they go, to harden. Then, we hang them from trees all over our yard, especially those that are next to a window. That way we can sit inside and watch the scene develop. Once one bird has found the food, word quickly spreads. Within minutes their is a crazy fluttering of wings, little bodies hovering 5, fighting, chirping 7. It's a Winter feeding frenzy 8, and great entertainment!

Grammar notes.

Important expressions: Approaching (a time); to serve a purpose; off to ... = common expression when going or taking something somewhere. Ex: Off to the dentist for you, boy. Off to your kennel 9, spot. I'm off to the shops. Off to the mud room with those dirty boots!

Related vocabulary: seeds, nuts, to chirp 6, to hover 4, to flutter, a frenzy, crafts, therapy, to distract, nativity, gingerbread house, to name but a few, gross, disgusting.