Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Easy Suet Feeder Project and Diet Update



We have had record breaking warm weather for three days this week. The temperature right now is 83° . The trees are blooming and the leaves are shooting out so fast you can almost see them growing.



Who would ever believe that such delicate sweet flowers could smell so bad? Our neighborhood has quite a few Bradford pear trees lining the streets and I smell them as I walk. I also have a few in my own yard. The blooms only last for a few days and then they fall like a spring snow shower.




Gail, from Clay and Limestone asked me about the wood in the picture of the woodpecker that I posted about on Saturday.



It is a suet feeder that I made from a portion of a small diseased maple tree that we cut down last year. I drilled a 1 inch whole that is about an inch deep and attached a screw eye into the wood and I hang it with a large S hook. I stuff it with homemade peanut butter suet. The birds love it and even though I have two suet cages nearby they fight over the suet in this homemade feeder. I'll be making a couple more of these so there won't be as much competition for this one.


For some crazy reason our Internet has gone done every night for the last week right at 8:00 and is down until 8:00 the next morning. I've called AT&T and they are trying to figure out what is happening. It is frustrating because night time is when I usually browse blogs. I've been using this down time to try and organize my pictures. It is amazing how quickly they pile up.

Thank you to all of you who have encouraged me on my diet changes. I am thrilled to say that I have lost 25 pounds since January 1! The best thing is that the diet changes have made a huge difference in my blood pressure and blood sugar. Both of those are staying in the normal range by eating a healthy diet and removing all sweets and simple carbs from the diet. That is a huge relief because the budget right now is tight enough without adding insulin, ($80.00), and blood pressure medication.

Now that it has warmed up I'm walking and finally getting some exercise. The weight loss has slowed so hopefully with exercise, I'll drop the rest of the weight.

Surprisingly, the diet changes really have not been that difficult. I am very, very addicted to sugar, so I never cheat. I just can not allow it. There was a time recently that I just about sat in the floor and cried like a two year old for chocolate, temper tantrum and all! I know better than to go to the grocery store hungry but I had been running errands and forgot to pack my snacks, (usually a small apple, baby carrots and a few raw nuts). The Easter chocolate was everywhere and I wanted, no, I needed some chocolate in the worst kind of way. You ladies know how that is, right? I felt the tears stinging my eyes and felt very deprived and sorry for myself. After firmly telling myself that I was not going to cheat, and reminding myself that being healthy and being thin is so much better than the fleeting taste of chocolate, I wiped the tears and moved on. I try really hard to remember to pack my snacks and my iced green tea or lemon water before leaving the house now.


It feels so nice to be able to bend over and garden without the excess belly fat. I have recently packed away my largest sized clothes and hope to never wear them again!

I hope that you all are enjoying this gorgeous spring weather! I'm about to head outside and do some much needed weeding,


it is amazing how quickly the dandelions have popped up!

21 comments:

René said...

First of all congratulations on your weight loss! I'm hoping that this warm weather will give me that little nudge to eat lighter and move more.
I love your suet feeder. My mom makes feeders like that and I am convinced that is why she has bluebirds nest in her yard every year.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous photos! We too have a bradford pear. I was wording what it was, so thanks for posting. t goes stink and if you have allergies. WOW. It's really obnoxious. Not my favorite tree, but the flowers are find or pretty if you don't have to smell them. :)

Ginny said...

What a wonderful idea for a suet feeder! Do you have a recipe for homemade suet that you're willing to share?

Floridagirl said...

I love your suet feeder idea! I would love to see the birds fighting over it like that. I know what you mean about the Bradford pears. I had three huge ones outside my back door in my Atlanta garden, and I dreaded overly warm days because of the stench. Congrats on your weight loss and fighting that sugar addiction! Wish I could say the same.

Unknown said...

Congratulations on the weight loss! That's a huge accomplishment.

Gail said...

Robin, Your weight lost is the best news...Your health is paramount; looking and feeling better is sugar free icing on a low carb cake!

I was so inspired by your suet feeder that I found wood to make my own. It makes sense that the woodpeckers would prefer to hang on wood to get at suet. I also have enough to create a few bee houses for the native bees that like holes drilled in wood.

Thank you for the shout out...
I hear that cooler weather is heading our way.

gail

Anonymous said...

I like the very natural suet feeder.

Kathy's Red Door Welcome said...

I certainly understand a sugar addiction. I've been trying to get mine under control. Hang in there! You'll definitely be an inspiration...you already are!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Congrats on your 25# weight loss. I think I found it this winter. WAHHHHHHH I must get busy and lose. Isn't this weather crazy? I wasn't ready for 80degree weather.

F Cameron said...

Congratulations on getting healthy!

The feathered friends and flowers are so pretty. The Bradford Pears smell like stinky fish to me! LOL

Lynn said...

You are doing wonderful loosing that much weight since Jan.1st. Congrat's. I lost weight last year and I feel so much better this year working in the yard... Have a great summer...and keep up the great work!!!

RURAL said...

That is a amazing amount of weight to lose in that time frame. Congrats to you.

I know about the sugar cravings, mine can get so bad, and I know it is not good for me. Maybe when I am craving it, I can remember how strong you are. That should give me some inspiration.

Robin, like always, gorgeous photos. Happy Spring.

Jen

Diane said...

Hi Robin! I'm so happy for your achievement! I am curious, are you following a special diet plan? I need some inspiration in this area - All the best to you!
diane

The Giraffe Head Tree said...

Congrats on everything, Robin! I love your homemade bird feeder, btw. Must try that myself.

Anonymous said...

Robin, you've inspired me to go back on my diet. No more sugar, and I'll try to eat fruits and veggies instead of the bad stuff. Your photos are sublime, and I've noticed it's harder to take such beauties with belly fat.~~Dee

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

Hello: I enjoyed reading about your suet feeder. My husband hung a log with holes in it a few years ago. We filled the holes with suet. The squirrel would not leave it alone so we took it down. On another bird feeder we have my husband built a holed form that fits into the roof of the feeder. There we put home made suet mixture. The woodies and the nuthatch just love it. I have a store bought suet feeder that birds rarely visit. Funny Eh?
I too have a hard time keeping my weight down. It has been down 20 lbs for 6 years but lately it has been a real struggle. I am a stress eater and with being not a winter person I have been sitting. Now that the gardening weather is here I will be outside again. Keep us the terrific results. Love your blogs. Valerie

Noelle Johnson said...

Your flowers are lovely and I am so happy that your diet has been working! It is hard to stay away from chocolate....especially on the holidays :-)

A Garden of Threads said...

Wow, all that weight, fantastic. Congraluations! I know about the chocolate, hard to resist that comfort food.

The pictures are lovely. Can you give us the recipe for the peanut butter suet?

Have a wonderful day and take care.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the weight loss, you have such amazing willpower! I know what you mean about Bradford Pears, peeuw! They may look beautiful, but they smell like fish.

Catherine said...

How come the dandelions always come back first when the warm weather hits? Ha!

Congratulations on your weight loss! It's always such a good feeling to pack away the 'big' clothes!

Take care!

Deb said...

beautiful flowers...