Snow Is Falling All Around (Break Out the SUET)

 

Last weekend we had snow and ice to worry about in the North Georgia area. Guess what, we had a similar storm THIS weekend!  We had been warned about it for days but the areas that would get the most snow just could not be pinned down.  I am thankful that our county only received a light dusting of snow.  Just north and east of us, it was a different story! My brother mentioned in a text that in Athens, Georgia they got 6-7 inches of snow. (My sister in reply had to say 6 -7! I hope you all know the kids saying 6-7 these days! What does it mean? Nobody knows!)  Anyway, what was I talking about before I started telling you about the crazy things that Gen Z is coming up with? Oh yes, SNOW!

There is a list of the highest snow totals ever recorded in Georgia, and I notice that the dates of Feb. 10-13, 1973, are there with Macon, Georgia receiving 16. 5 inches. I told you about that in a blog post! My Dad expertly drove through that severe storm on a drive up I-75 in our big yellow 1972 Ford LTD.  Click on the following if you want to read that post -  SNOW!   (By the way, if anyone is new reading my blog, our Dad passed away in February of 2019. He was just the best. You know how people think their fathers can do anything? He really could!)

What to do when you are not sure if it is safe to get out on the roads? 

Enjoy the birds!

See the snow? Just a light dusting, as I told you! It was like dust too, very unusual here in the Deep South, I am told. It was like powder. At the beginning of the storm, the TV weather map showed us we were getting snow but...no snow did we see. The meteorologist told us this word: "VIRGA". It means that the snow is present, but it is evaporating or sublimating in the upper atmosphere before it comes down. That is how I am explaining it in my layman's terms!

Birds puff themselves up to stay warm. Look at the cardinal above!

Of course, suet is very much appreciated by them also...

Birds are smart, they filled up on this suet before the storm arrived! I remember my Dad calling me one time and telling me that he knew we were about to have a big snowstorm because the birds had been in a feeding frenzy that day. He was right, of course!

You can buy suet very easily in the stores. Save the container and it makes a nice mold to make your own suet. You know that is what I do!

SUET:   2 tablespoons lard or shortening, 2 teaspoons peanut butter (try for no or low sodium), 1 cup of good quality bird seed with sunflowers, 2 tablespoons oats, 2 tablespoons corn meal.

Mix dry together and set aside.  Combine lard and peanut butter in small saucepan and melt over low heat. Mix well. Pour wet into dry. Stir to combine. Spoon into tray that you saved from the suet! Freeze for 2 hours. (It fits perfectly into a plastic sandwich bag.) Leave out for a bit and then, place in suet feeder. Note: not recommended if above 50 degrees.) 

There, that is the kind of recipe that you get from me!  

                

Hey! You know how people do these elaborate decorations on gingerbread men? I like to just get a toothpick and give them faces before I put them in the oven. (And each one has three buttons too!) The leftover over dough gets the circle treatment and I make a snowflake pattern on those! (Along with the odd tree here and there.)

See, looking at birds and making gingerbread men.  Life is sweet!

Oh! Of course, I couldn't help but think that with all the people staying inside due to the snowstorm that they should all be listening to our son's song! "Snow is Falling All Around" is the title of the post, and that is one of the lines from his song! 

"Home Inside Your Heart" 

There, I know I just had his song on here last month but doggone it, it is GOOD.  

Take care!