This is our second year making a gingerbread house. Last year it was an end-of-the-year homeschool project, complete with homemade gingerbread dough, templates, warped walls and singed shingles. I found this "from scratch" deal to be highly stressful, even though it did pull lots of subject areas for a practical, educational project. We marked it with the year 2007, and it hung around the house for a couple of weeks, gathering dust. I won't tell you what else it gathered, OK? By the time the New Year's Eve came around, I was trying to think of a non-offensive way to get rid of the thing. We came up with the idea of SMASHING it at the New Year's Eve party! Sort of smashing the old year, and eating a triumphant bit at the same time. So we took it to our friends' house and announced our intention. I don't need to tell you how the other kids reacted, do I? Allowed to smash something...make a huge mess....with permission? YES!! So at midnight, after the poppers (are those ever messy) and the sparkling grape juice, we let all the kids smash the 2007 house. They all scrambled for pieces to eat afterward, eating, as children will, right off the floor. You know they do.
This year, I got smarter and bought a kit from Sam's. Wow, so much smarter! No, it wasn't an educational project, but then, most of the rest of life is, so it all shakes out in the end. The whole thing was finished in one night, and then went on into glory last night at the party. It's the only thing that all ages of kids actually wanted to participate in! Smashing out the old year! Yeah! It was pretty, though:
Sam's - $9.95 - priceless memories. Do it!
OK, so you probably already can guess how this turned out. Yes, I saw how it was going to turn out, too. Already being bird-rejected, I thought I'd just go for broke and try the seed in hand approach. My Dear Husband, having seen the videos I posted earlier of successful hand-feeders, dug out a handful of the black sunflower seeds for me. Nothing like being supported by your spouse in trying to achieve these life goals! My Manly Sons all ended up laying around in the snow watching to see if Mom would really make it this time. Eventually they left, I think I saw some head shaking, and went sledding. Thinking this (they) might have been the problem all along, I kept up holding my hand out there...Now I'm going to make the radical confession that will confirm to you all that I may be somewhat "misguided". I tried to lure the birds in by singing...the Doxology. Those Methodist roots do go deep! After more than 15 times through the Doxology, I gave up. Oh, no I did not throw the seed, yell at the chickadees who were perching (and laughing) nearby, or stomp around in the snow. No. How undignified that would have been. 
I gently put the seed in the previously empty feeder. Yes, I had left it empty for a couple of days trying to make them REALLY hungry - and willing. Went inside to see if I could feel my toes again and wash a few dishes. This is what I saw out the window. Traitorous little birds in the feeder IMMEDIATELY afterward gobbling down seed. And laughing. At me.
Hey, here's something you all might like to do, too. 
It's My Middle Son at about five years old. He was looking out of our upstairs window, trying to figure out how to get himself out there, when I got this picture. He was only ever still for a few seconds at a time!
