Homemade Bird Feeders

By Grace Camp – Age 6

Last week I made bird feeders out of pine cones, peanut butter and bird seed. I found the recipe on my Kindle in the Nature Cat app. I think it’s in PBS kids app.

It is so easy to make! You can watch the video of me making one or read directions below!

Here’s how:

Step 1: Get a pine cone.

Step 2: Take string or yarn and tie it to the pine cone. Make sure one side is long enough to hang on something, like a branch or hook.

Step 3: Spread peanut butter all over the pine cone. You can get it on the string but just where it’s tied on the pine cone, not the hanging part. Also, don’t get dirty peanut butter in your jar. You don’t want to eat that!

Step 4: Get a bag of bird food and pour it on a tray or plate.

Step 5: Roll the pine cone in the seed. You can also sprinkle it on but I like rolling better. Watch out! It’s messy.

Step 6: Hang you feeder on a hook or branch and watch your birds happily eat!

Now that I graduated kindergarten, I think my Mom will let me do more projects like this!


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The Littlest “Pool” on the Block

The redneck pool, aka redneck hot tub, is a bit of a tradition in my family and brings up fond memories of hot summers and water fun.

Summer is HOT, especially down in Texas. Growing up, whether on a hunting lease or our own ranch, we always managed to find an old livestock trough/stock tank to turn into our own mini water park. My mom would make me a swim suit, usually out of those red shop rags, and me, my brothers and my cousins would spend all day crammed in that game and playing with the hose to keep cool. Eventually we had a house with an in-ground pool but the old stock tanks were just as fun!

Me and my big brother, Sheldon

This spring, when the chicks started getting too cramped in our storage bin turned chicken brooder, I found a great deal on a 110 gallon tank at Tractor Supply. Initially I thought once it finished it’s purpose as a brooder, we’d put it in the garden as a container for potatoes and onions. However, when I got it home I discovered a spicket at the bottom for easy draining.

This discovery meant the tank would be perfect for a redneck pool like I had growing up. We’ve been wanting a small pool for the summers but Brian Sr. Says it’ll bring mosquitoes. I think he just doesn’t want to get shafted with cleaning duties (I don’t blame him).

We first filled the tanks a few weeks ago, when it was admittedly too cold to swim. Despite my warnings the kids insisted. They splashed around with blue lips and jaws chattering 90 miles an hour. They had a blast!

Now that it’s feeling like summer, this has been the perfect distraction for the kids—especially on days like today when Brian Sr. and I are away for Sr.’s brain surgery. The kids had a blast in the pool and even coaxed Jack to hop in!

The best part is, the kids work together to keep it clean and filled. Sr. and I do nothing… well except tell Grace to stop yelling and shrieking every time she splashed. I sweat the whole neighborhood hears her, and then hears us yelling her name! 🤣🤷🏻‍♀️

Once the days get even hotter, I’m picturing a little redneck hot tub in in the evenings… because, why not?!



My Poem

by Brian J. Camp Jr., age 10

We have been learning about poetry in school. This is my poem.

WWE 2K

I love 2k

It’s awesome too

I like the Miz

John Cena is champion

Brock Lezner is not

The Big Show is big

And we are small

Everyone must lose

At least once

But in the end

We are good people

Even the Big Red Monster Kane