Disclaimer – This post and giveaway are sponsored by Ace Hardware. All opinions are 100% my own.
Some friends at Ace must have heard about my boys love for birds because they asked us if we would be interested in being a Birding Blogger. I don’t know what that is…BUT I AM IN.
In fact, you will be very interested in this hobby too if you have four loud children that love birds. You get to sit outside and convince your kids to be very VERY quiet in order to listen to the sweet chirps and songs of nature’s feathered friends. It’s basically every mom’s best friend. Did you hear that? Of course you did…it’s the sound of your sanity returning.
What is birding exactly? It’s just listening, watching and identifying birds. It’s actually a legit hobby as we ran across a lady in Jekyll Island that told us her husband was in a birding club. I had zero filter after that statement. I was like WHAT?! There is a birding club? Where people go around and listen to birds? It may sound like an epic waste of time to some people but to me….a mom who has four crying babies almost around the clock…that sounds like my particular slice of heaven.
So YES Ace….yes I am very interested 🙂 So I thought I would introduce the boys to this divine hobby and see if it stuck. Here are some of my best tips when it comes to introducing your little ones to Birding….
BE BASIC
Birding can involve some very advanced skills – learning how to identify different subspecies of birds by vocal variations? I mean we are still learning colors and that fingers don’t permanently belong in the nose. So just remember that the basics are the best route with little ones. I talked about how we listen to hear what direction the birds were in. And that different birds had different voices. You can use your phone to record your own voices and let the kids identify their siblings/parents and then tell them the birds do the same thing….they have different voices too!
BRING TOYS (aka BINOCULARS)
Kids love binoculars and even when they don’t see ANYTHING in them, they are still fun to have. We didn’t try to identify what kind of birds but we did try to find a bird with our eyes first and then see it closer with the binoculars.
Will was much better at this than the others so this might be a 5+ year or older task.
Weston really liked making things smaller 🙂 Also he is in fact wearing three pairs of shorts in these photos. It’s a phase. Hopefully.
When they did find a bird with the binoculars, we all would cheer and point and celebrate. It was a big deal!
We think that the next step to fostering a love for this hobby is to get Will a field journal that has Georgia birds listed in it. I am currently looking for one that has lots of large photos and pictures so that Will can see the details easily. And I also am gonna see if I can find a zoom lens for my camera so that I can take a few pictures and we can make bird cards of all the different species he finds.
BRING SNACKS
I kind of learned this the hard way. I forgot to bring the snacks and sadly had to run back into the house to get them while the kids started melting on the blanket. Oh that’s another good tip….have a comfy place to sit 🙂
BE BIRD FRIENDLY
Another great way to be a better birder is to create a bird friendly yard. Ace offered to send the boys a bird feeder and food to make their own little bird oasis and we couldn’t say no! And I was excited because this Birdscape Triple Tube Bird Feeder is like the Golden Corral buffet for birds…..it has something for everyone!
Since we have so many trees in our front yard and the backyard is more of a loud play zone, we figured that the bird feeder would be best suited for the front.
Filling it was really easy and we are hoping that it attracts more birds to our yard. We already have a ton of different types that we see regularly – cardinals, hummingbirds, blue birds, hawks….we even have a large white heron that lives in our woods!
Doesn’t that one bird food look like something you find in an expensive trail mix? Seriously. These birds are eating GOOD! (it’s called the Kaytee® Nut & Berry Blend Bird Food and the other one is Ace Wild Bird Food.
Max learned how to swipe his brother’s sippy cup and it’s hilarious 🙂
We hung it with some leftover rope and so far, we have noticed that it is very well supported (even with the pesky squirrels that try to eat the food!). I am hoping that since we placed it so that it hangs in that particular spot, that we will be able to sit between the trees further away (in the shade!) and spot some other little birds getting a snack.
Max was also trying to swipe some of it for himself!
It’s probably the biology nerd in me but I am convinced that our kids need to know more about little critters than video games. Also, I can’t help but believe that teaching these little guys to take care of the little creatures will soften their little hearts and teach them to take care of others. You gotta start small, right?!
Thanks Ace for the supplies on this new adventure. My kids love it. And we love that you gave us an excuse to spend more time with family 🙂
Also – some exciting news for you guys…..especially those of you interested in taking up birding as a hobby…..Ace is wanting to help you get started. Not only do they have home improvement supplies and super helpful associates….they have everything you need to start birding! We could be bird feeder twins! Here’s the details….
- PRIZE: (1) Ace Gift Card worth $150
- NUMBER OF WINNERS : (1) ONE
- TO ENTER : Leave a comment with “BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS” and tell me what hobby you have picked up lately! Is it birding? zumba? photography? I’d love to hear!
- PRIZE SHIPS : Continental U.S.
- NITTY GRITTY : This giveaway closes on Friday, May 13th at 11:59pm EDT. Only one contest entry per email address. The winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be announced in an update to this post the following Friday morning. We will email the winner directly, so please make sure you use your regularly checked email address.
Good Luck!
p.s. Interested in getting a bird feeder for your yard? Here are some of my favorites from Ace. Option 1, option 2, option 3, option 4 (perfect for a little playhouse!), option 5, option 6 (one of the prettiest hummingbird feeders!).
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! Recently I took up breadmaking using live sourdough cultures! It’s so fun and challenging. I feel like a scientist. 🙂
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS: We have started gardening, not just flowers but veggies too! It’s a lot of work but being able to teach my daughter where food comes from and how grow things is so worth it!
I’ve really been into wood making lately. I like building furniture and then painting the furniture. I keep telling my husband how many tools we need to get!!!
We have planted vegetables, so our hobby is watching them grow and then harvesting our produce!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!!! This city slicker went for her first backpacking trip 2 weeks ago. It was great to connect to nature and I definitely heard a lot of birds while I was out there! : )
Birding with the Bowers
A few months ago I found a bug scavanger hunt sheet on Pintrest. My 2 year old and 1 year old love to go on walks around the naighboorhood trying to fill up their bug sheet. I guess that means our new hobby is entimology.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS: I love that this is a great teaching moment besides family memories. My hubby loves to tend to the birds at our house but we do have to get a new feeder, ours is together by black electrical tape…seriously. That triple feeder is awesome and I am going to check out the other options you mentioned. Our hobby has been fixing up houses which takes up the majority of our time right now.
“BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS” My daughter and I love to jump on the trampoline together. Not quite a hobby, but a fun outdoor activity to do together. 🙂
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS…I have started sewing lately!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
We have just started geocaching. And when I say ‘just started’ I mean I just signed up for the site that gives me the maps. We have not yet put any of it to practice, but ASAP! 😛
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
Our hobby has been renovating our rambler for the past two years. With full-time jobs and a baby, it has definitely been difficult to find time to accomplish big tasks. We have finally gotten around to painting all the trim and fascia outside and hope to paint the body of the house next weekend! Our house was originally white with aqua trim. Yeah.
I love bird watching, I have three simple bird feeders in my back yard and I love sipping on my cup of coffee every morning watching the birds. I like the bird feeder you featured in your pictures, where you can add three different seeds, super nice. I am planning on getting one and I also want to add a bird bath for my feathery friends. So, I guess I will be Birding with the Bowers from now on!!
So far I spotted Humming Birds, Blue Jays and Cardinals, Yellow Finch and Doves.
Good luck with the bird watching!!! Your family is adorable. I am a mother also, but my kiddos are teenagers now.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I recently picked up running as a hobby? No, I don’t know why either, but I think I am starting to enjoy it. Also, we love our local Ace – they are such a great store!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
We just moved into a foreclosure and our first baby is due in July, so my latest hobby is “remodel the house as fast as I can to a point that it won’t kill my child.”
I’ve always been a little bit of a birder..I think most stay at home mom’s have this affinity for watching peaceful, beautiful bird friends…Recently I’ve taken up Beach Body 21 Day fix and am now onto the extreme workouts..I’m hooked! Getting my pre baby body back! Finally!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS This year I have started my first garden and I am loving it!!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS – Cute giveaway idea! We have a two year old and she loves birds – we hung a feeder just outside our dining room window last year for easy watching (and fewer meltdowns at the dinner table).
Recently, we’ve picked up basic furniture making! Not elegant fancy stuff, but pallet table meets steel legs kinda stuff – weekend projects are about all we can get done around here!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS… trying to get back into gardening!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
New Hobby: Camping
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
First of all, my boss is a birder. Like, he’s out birding right now instead of being at work. He’s got almost 800 life birds, which…is a lot of birds.
As far as my hobbies… I’ve just taken up acroyoga, and I love it and it’s the best workout I’ve ever done.
Birding with the Bowers!
I have started knitting, a nice individual hobby not suitable for my small kids 🙂
My only hobby these days is grad school. However, I love opening the window in my sunroom office to listen to the birds chirping. Would love to be able to attract more of them to my yard. 🙂
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS..i would also recommend this book, by kids loved it when they were little – http://www.amazon.com/Bird-Songs-North-American-Birds/dp/1932855416?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage. Our newest hobby is paper decorating – its like scrapbooking – but it is using inks and such to make pretty patterned paper.
this year I’m *really* trying to be more on the garden thing and my 18-month old LOVES to dig in the dirt, so I’ve planted everything from seed and am nurturing a flower cutting garden and vegetables – so I’d say my dominant hobby these days is gardening!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
Cute post! Well, our oldest is a 13 year old girl … so guess what hobby we’ve gotten into this year? Horses, of course! 🙂 We can ALWAYS use hobby $ from Ace, so it would be fun to win that gift card! Thanks!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
Home improvement is a new hobby. We just moved into our first house last fall and we have already had an eventful spring with a hail storm through the roof. We now are working on a bit of a renovation we didn’t really plan on from floors on up. Excited to make this place our own. Thanks for the giveaway!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! Gardening is a new hobby for me this spring
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS- I have started sewing recently. Never learned a as child, so I bought my first sewing machine from Amazon and have been successfully taking in shirts like a pro. I have also hemmed my husband’s pants once (luckily I did well, or I would not have heard the end of it from him).
Birding with the Bowers! I have recently tried my hand learning to paint furniture, starting with my childhood dresser to use in my 4 y/o daughter’s room. I am using your blog and a few others to get tips on the best way to prep and paint. We have a wonderful Ace Hardware in our small town in North GA and the gift card would be wonderful to get some more paint supplies! 🙂
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!! I haven’t picked up any hobbies lately but I think birding would be great for my 3 year old, she’s already on the lookout for bunnies!!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. I’ve been trying to teach myself calligraphy lately.
I’ve recently taken up gardening and have learned that I don’t have a black thumb after all!
I am loving yoga, to stretch out all my muscles after some serious DIY-ing!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
Gardening has always been one of my favorite hobbies but we’re finally getting the backyard in a state where we can enjoy it rather than work on it every weekend.
Oops I forgot to put “BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS” at the top of my comment!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
Now that spring has sprung, my green thumb is twitching once again. Picking up my gardening hobby once again… although I’m not good at all!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
Great idea. I actually started doing Zumba a couple of months ago and it’s been a great way to get a work out in and shake your bom bom forgetting the stress of the day 🙂 My daughter and I go out and watch birds too but, like you, I didn’t know it was a thing or that there were clubs for it. I need to set up a feeder since the one from last year didn’t survive the winter.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS: Our newest family hobby is GeoCaching. It’s like a treasure hunt for people of all ages!
My dad is a legit bird watcher – so much so that our family vacations were planned around prime birding spots an seasons!
I didn’t appreciate it then, but I do now! My boys love it too – they’re 6 and 8 -and it’s a great way to spend quality time with Papa. I suggest starting a “life list” it’s a neat way for your boys to keep track of all the species they’ve encountered (wild only, zoo’s don’t count!) you can even get pins that honor they’re accomplishment to wear on a hat or maybe a fun explorer vest. (example: http://shop.aba.org/index.php/aba-accessories/life-list-pins-276.html)
Enjoy your new found hobby!
“BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS” I have reinstated my hobby of reading. I know that sounds ridiculous, but with little kids, this is a luxury!
“BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS” – Birding is definitely a new hobby at our house as well. My kids have been having so much fun identifying new birds that show up at our place. This gift card would be perfect to try to attract more!
Thanks, Katie and Ace!!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. My new hobby is just my little one. She is a squishy little 11-month old.
Birding with the Bowers! My newest hobby is gardening! We have a blank slate for our backyard and I’m working on prettying it up!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! We are deep in the middle of a full home renovation so I guess the house is my current hobby lol!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. I’ve taken up daily exercise and try to teach my little one basic stretch/moves too when she’s around during my workouts. I love my new adventure with BeachBody programs!
Birding with the Bowers
My best friend and I always compete to see who sees the first hummingbird of the season. Birding is a competitive hobby for us. The wins this year for the hummingbird but also because she saw a ruby breasted grosbeak! That was a first for us in Metter.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
My hubby just bought me my first DSLR and I’m so excited to practice some photography. Maybe I can entice some birds into our yard!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS… I just had my first baby so taking care of him has become my full time hobby and it’s my favorite one ever 😉
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
I starting running this spring. I ran the Cooper Bridge Race and it was so much fun!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. We put up a bird feeder a few months ago and we love it! We get blue jays, cardinals, catbirds, doves, tufted titmouse, blue birds. So fun to watch from our kitchen window.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I love yoga and hiking.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS: Our family loves birding! Our newest hobby is hiking.
Birding with the bowers
We are trying to get in a regular habit of nature journaling as a part of our homeschooling adventures. Birding sounds like a fun way to engage the kids!!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. We are also a birding family! We got a bird song player that helps us identify birds by their songs!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I’m really into my adult color books recently! A cocktail and some coloring is the perfect way to unwind after work!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS.
We just bought a house and have a beautiful Willow tree that a bright lime green bird that is attracted to it. I find myself staring out the window looking for it. I need to pick up some binoculars and food. Thanks!
We have a family of heron that nest in our front yard in the spring. I talk to the grands about bab birds and we also look for bugs, bees and butterflies. My hobby is being outdoors with the grandkids.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I’ve really gotten into gardening this year, which essentially means pulling weeds and watering plants 99% of the time, and picking vegetables the other 1% 🙂 But it’s fun!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I am *attempting* to start vegetable gardening (if the squirrels and birds will let me). Methinks they need their own BIRDFEEDER! 😉
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
My new adult (as in I’m 50!) hobby is bicycling … both leisure trails and road riding. My biggest adventures so far have been a 50 mile covered bridge tour and biking to and through downtown Cleveland. NE Ohio is a great place to live!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! My brand new hobby is woodworking. Yesterday I made my very first project, a garden bench that I made completely on my own, and I’m so ridiculously proud of myself!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
We always to to Ace to get birdseed for our feathered friends. This Spring, we are excited to hit up Ace to get seeds for our NEW vegetable garden. I’m sure that trying to keep the bunnies and the babies out of the garden is definitely considered a hobby by some. (And a workout by others!)
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I lost my job in March and it’s taking longer than I expected to rebound. My new hobby to help pass the time is volunteering! I didn’t volunteer as much as I should have when I was working. Now I have the time, and it both benefits the community and helps me from getting down.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
I have some hobbies that I have gotten away from in pursuit of my graduate degrees, and I’d like to restart all of them. Late last year, though, I intentionally started reading for pleasure again. I have found I’m most successful “reading” with audiobooks, as I can walk, cook, clean, and drive while listening to them, but I’ve also carved out time to just sit and read, which has been glorious. Keeping track of what I’m reading on Goodreads has been helpful as well!
Birding with the Bowers!! I’ve recently taken up Bible Journaling.
My latest hobby is gardening! We built some big, raised beds and I have some veggie seedlings ready to be planted next weekend. We also love to watch the birds in our backyard!
It doesn’t sound ridiculous at all! When life gets busy, it’s all too easy to drop things that we do for enjoyment! I also reinstated my reading habit! Long live the library! 😉
Birding With Bowers!
Home Improvement is our hobby, we are just finishing a bathroom remodeling.
Birding with the Bower’s! I have picked up weightlifting and I absolutely love it. Whomever says weightlifting isn’t for girls is wrong! I also have 4 children and it’s the one thing I do for myself that makes me feel better all week long. We also have a large bay window in our kitchen and we love to watch the birds eat while we eat!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I’ve recently taken up learning about essential oils. It is amazing all the awesomeness that essential oils can do!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. My new hobby is (trying) to exercise more!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS I got a DSLR last year but have been stuck on “auto” I want to learn how to use some of it’s features this summer, especially for nature photography!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS: My newest hobby is watching my little baby kick and move around inside of me…7 more weeks to go!
BIRDING WITH BIRDERS! Masonry, sadly, as I’ve had to fix the top part of our rock wall out back. Lots of lifting and mixing!
Birding with the Bowers. Bike riding with the kids!
Birding with the Bowers!
I’m into landscaping/gardening with a little bit of home remodeling going on the side. 🙂
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS: We are really in to tent building these days… aka, make a huge mess using tables, indoor trampolines, pillows, blankets… and pile in once it stands up well enough. : )
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
Our current pastime is trying to teach our toddler sports. We’ve had a lot of years of gymnastics, etc. with our teenage daughter and my husband is ready for some “man sports”. We’ve been having perfect spring weather here in Alabama, so it’s been great to be outside in the backyard!
PS. The Weston shorts thing made me LOL. 🙂 Kids!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. I’ve taken up tennis!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. I’m trying to walk 30 mins every day 🙂
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! We just bought a fixer upper house and my new hobby is painting, and mild construction. Your blog is an inspiration!
Birding with the Bowers! My husband and I are in the process of purchasing our first home so my new favorite hobby is home improvement! Even though it mostly consists of ideas right now, but all will change once we officially close!
Birding with the Bowers! I love birding and photography and I especially love combining the two.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I am the worst at starting a hobby and then giving up after a few weeks! But I have recently started Bible journaling and hope to make it a regular thing!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. Several of our family’s favorite hobbies include: running, gardening, and reading. Those are all fun things to do with 6 kids ages 12 years to 9 months.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! Now that Spring is here, I’ve taken up gardening!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! Hiking! I am not one to enjoy any type of exercise but so far I’m loving it!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
My husband is a huge bird-nerd, so we have different feeders in our backyard. We can see them from the kitchen table, and we all love watching what kind of birds come to feast (as well as the crazy squirrels that try and steal all the food!) We’re looking for a new feeder to keep those squirrels away so this gift card would be perfect 🙂 Thanks for the chance to win!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! We have taken up gardening. We go out into the garden every Saturday morning for a few hours to tens to our plants. We will be having boysenberry’s and peaches soon as a reward for our hard work!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I’ve recently signed up for an online craft site and have been enjoying water colors, drawing and all kinds of new things.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. I took up building recently! My latest project is a tree house for my kids. It’s been so fun learning to use all of the tools and building up my courage too! 🙂
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
I have recently started enjoying scrapbooking! Although the piles of photos i have sure are intimidating!!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I love to knit, but thats not a new hobby… with two little ones and a home in a constant state of renovation, theres no time!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I’ve started to reupholster furniture. It is very interesting and challenging, but very rewarding in at the end of a project.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I’ve started doing those adult coloring books with watercolor pencils 🙂
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS I’ve taken up yoga…when I can manage it without the three little hooligans crawling under my warrior pose. Which isn’t very often. Maybe I need to take up birding.
“BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS” I’ve recently taken up photography. I am trying to learn to use my camera better.
Also, If you guys ever decide to move, please let me know first and I will buy your house. I’ll move all the way from Texas to live there.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS – We are working on gardening! Soon some veggie plants will go in and I am hoping we can teach my 2.5 year old about caring for them!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
I’ve been jazzercising for the past few months and love it! Sounds like an exercise for old ladies but I think it’s the best 🙂
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS My newest hobby is running with our three-year-old twins. We like them to be outside as much as possible all day long, but they still have ridiculous amounts of energy at bedtime. Now that the days are getting longer my husband or I takes them out for a run every evening after dinner. We alternate running and walking, with a bribe of a little bit or orange juice when we get home if they listen well and keep running. They love it, it’s great one-on-one time with our big kids without their baby sisters curbing the pace, it gives the non-running parent some focused baby time at home, it burns off some of the pre-bed hyperness, and it’s about the right running pace for me with an old soccer knee injury that puts a damper on “grown up” running attempts. Wins all around!
Birding with the Bowers! Recently I took up furniture making with the hubby. Using lots of inspiration from the Bowers.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS We are a homeschool family and have been studying birds in Science. It’s been SO interesting and I have learned so much about them. It has sparked a new love with my kids and birds. I love that!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! My two year old is obsessed with birds, and we can’t keep up with the tiny birdfeeder we have in our backyard – birds in our area go through it in one or two days! Would love to have a bigger one 🙂 I recently took up photography and am loving every second of learning how to use my DSLR!
This year, my focus is going to be on gardening – because I am determined to grow items that I can use in the kitchen.
Birding with the Bowers!
New hobby? I’ve been trying to exercise more regularly. Does that count?
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! Riding bikes and going on nature walks with the kids is our new hobby.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
My new hobby–sewing cloth diapers :~) “Infant on the way?” you may ask. Nope, just saw some stuff online and decided to give it a try! LOL
Birding with the Bowers – at the age of 35, I’m learning to play guitar, and it’s awesome! I’ve always liked to sing, but now I can pretend to be one of the Indigo Girls 🙂
Birding with the Bowers!
Lately, we have been encouraging our five-year-old’s culinary pursuits (he wants to run a food truck when he’s grown) so he made a shrimp dish for dinner last week, and then Saturday night he and his dad made sushi from scratch. I tend to stay out of the kitchen during this because watching him use a sharp knife scares me, but I have certainly enjoyed eating the results of this labor!
My newest hobby is essential oils! I would love to win and buy a bird feeder or two for my yard! 🙂
Love the post! I had little brothers that went though the three shorts (at one time) phase- it was just a phase! Ha! I have recently taken up calligraphy- mostly so I can make my wedding invites looks pretty this summer! I also made a terrarium, but I’m not sure that totally counts as a hobby yet- I still have to keep the thing alive! Wish me luck!
My four year old daughter LOVES birds. I always thought birding was for old people, but she has totally gotten me into it. So fun!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I’ve recently taken up garage sale-ing. Does that count as a hobby? I love scoring great deals and updating my house.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS Does sitting on the couch while growing a baby count? Seriously though, my 3 yo loves to feed the birds!
I want to go BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS too. We have three feeders for the new house and can finally hear birds sing where we are. We look forward to seeing all the new birds and also the plants in the new yard. I think these are fine hobbies to start with in our new place.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
Oh my gosh, my 2.5 yr old is obsessed with birding…mostly because his grandpa (my dad). He even knows which birds my dad likes (goldfinches) and which one’s he doesn’t (common grackle…too loud) haha. It’s precious!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS- I recently took up the hobby of creating a baby registry.. (is that a real one?) we are expecting our first in august and I seriously am obsessed with researching products and secretly planning out her future life based on the toys and things I’m registering for. its almost like Pintrest- but I may actually have a chance at getting it in real life.
am I the only one obsessed with this?
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! My boys and I have started getting into geocaching.
Birding with the bowers! I’d like THAT to be our new hobby!
Recently, though, we have been going to Lowes and Home Depot for their free kid’s building clinics. My daughter is so proud of what she makes!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I have started to learn about ballet as I expose my daughter to it! Since I never took any dance growing up, learning about it is like a new hobby for me too!
Birding with the Bowers! Gradening is hobby of choice! Thanks!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
My son and I have taken up making Fairy Gardens. He calls his Dragon Gardens. They are so fun to make, each one is so special and unique.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
My newest hobby is bike riding. Our county in SC recently created an outdoor trail along an old train route, and it is great to bike on. I bought myself a bike for my birthday, and it has been a wonderful way to get some low-impact exercise and enjoy the scenery.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I have so many hobbies! Right now I’m trying to re-develop an old one, and Couch to 5K is now my world…. again…
Our kids have gotten very into building.. anything. We recently built a kitchen nook for the house and they were avid helpers!
Birding with the Bowers. My new hobby is creating fairy gardens. I have one just for me, and one that is inspired and loved by each of my grandchildren.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! My newest hobby is apparently packing and cleaning. We are moving and getting ready to sell our house. But we are moving out in the country and would be really excited to set up some bird feeders for the kids to watch!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! It wasn’t until I had my three girls (all under 5) that we started ‘birding’ and gardening. Spring is even more special now that we’re learning and growing these hobbies together!
I’ve taken to floral arrangements, is fun and you end up with something beautiful!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I’m loving camping (more of an activity than a hobby) but we bought a family RV and we love going camping whenever we can.
Too funny. I was just at Ace today buying more bird food.
Our local hardware store just closed and I wish an Ace Hardware would come in! We’re in an older but established neighborhood and our new hobby has to be scouring estate sales every week. I’ve saved thousands- at least 10k by scouring the sales and buying oil paintings, rugs, and other furniture for a a fraction of the cost. My home is filling up but the deals are addicting!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! My son and I have enjoyed gardening lately
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
While I’m sure this sounds fake but my husband and two year old are bird obsessed and we actually get most of supplies from ace (it’s the closest store to our house and theres a popcorn machine inside). My husband has an app on his phone from Cornell that let’s you put in the basic info of the bird and gives you options of what it could be. Even with a two year old we find it very helpful and she can already recognize several types of birds. Oh and get a suet feeder- birds love it!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! We have been rock climbing 🙂
We have SO many birds in our yard and we love watching them – a definite hobby for our whole family. Just this morning, my 2 1/2 year old son and I watched two baby bluebirds fly from their birdhouse for the first time! So sweet!
Birding with the Bowers
I’m really ready to start gardening season. I think my one year old is really going to have fun helping mom in the garden this year and I can’t wait for her to experience the fun of growing your own food.
Hi Katie!
Photography is my new favorite hobby and crafting. this is a great post btw. I really love seeing family pictures showing the bonding moments of the whole family!
Just want to say THANK YOU for being an inspiration as a Mother. Thank you for sharing your tips, your insights and wonderful stories to us. We have featured you in our blog as a thank you gift this coming Mother’s Day. We hope you check it out and share: http://goo.gl/70EHjK
My recent hobby is gardening!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
I’ve starting woodworking. Build all the things!
Birding with the Bowers!
My hubby is into birding, and he has a great app called Merlin Bird ID that’s great for learning the different sounds of the birds. Also, if the boys like games, you can find a Bird Bingo game on Amazon. It’s just so pretty even if just to display!
Bird feeding too!
This is such a timely post for me! We’ve had bird feeders right outside our kitchen window where we can observe their visitors every time we’re having a meal. My 5-year old has already learned so many different bird species, and I even saw him noticing birds when we were at a playground recently – while the other kids just ran at the bird to scare it or ignored it completely. He recently told me he’d like to add a hummingbird feeder to our feeder-row, so I’m interested to see the one you recommend at Ace!
Birding with the Bowers! I’ve recently been gardening more so I would love an Ace gift card!!
so I actually really don’t like birds and don’t want to enter the giveaway…but I’m here to say your hair looks AMAZING! Would love for you to share what products you use and how you like to style it.
Birding with the bowers!? We are so in! My grandma was a bird watcher so we already inherited a book and binoculars. As for a hobby… we have been swimming a lot lately (we’re already 90° in Vegas).
My newest hobby is “hammocking”. Yes, I made that up. The weather is just turning here in the Pacific NW so spending time outside listening to my kids play while laying in the hammock is what I am doing. Thank you!
Birding with the bowers! Our family has gotten into geocaching. It’s a fun way to get outdoors!
This is a great one. It’s organized by color, so it’s easy for young kids to find the bird they are trying to identify. (i.e. See a yellow bird, go to the yellow section). It’s small and easy to handle for small hands. Has good detailed photos of what they look like in summer and winter.
Birds of Georgia Field Guide https://www.amazon.com/dp/1885061471/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_878jxb5EJZTNK
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! How fun, we did some bird watching as children and I still look out for summer humming birds and winter cardinals. Recently I tried my hand at embroidering (everyone is getting married) but I think it will be short lived. There is a reason why those cute monogrammed handkerchiefs are so expensive, embroidering is tedious work.
My new hobby is quilting. I know it is an inside hobby but so much fun. I have run into young quilters (boys and girls) who started at 4 or 5. You might want to add it to your ‘to do’ list.
“BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS”
I have always planted a garden but recently my daughter (6) wanted to start some flowers… so we planted a bunch of OLD seeds that I had laying around. She would run out and check them every day after school… sadly on 1 of our 6 varieties is going to make it – the rest didn’t germinate at all… like I said OLD seeds. Now she’s obsessed with All. The. Flowers….
Birding with the Bowers!
Not sure if it’s a hobby or meeting a need but DIY in home repair and making things pretty is my favorite hobby. Reading books with my children is a close second.
I really like birding! Winter birding is my favorite because it’s easier to spot them in the trees
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I’ve just started to learn how to DIY dryer balls with wool!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!!! What a great hobby to start with the kids. I’m trying to learn how to keep orchids not only alive but to get them to rebloom. Wish me luck!
Birding with the bowers. How fun. Got to give it a try.
Birding with the Bowers. My latest hobby is nature photography. Love it!
Birding with the Bowers… So cute! Our current hobbies include packing and shopping for new appliances as we prepare for a big move in a few weeks. Does that count?
We do try to get outside for a little bit each day. Today we watched the local power company massacre some trees on our street.
My hobby is BIRDING!! We love it in NC!
Birding with the bowers!!!
I’ve recently taken up photography…it helps to have a very photogenic baby
Birding with the Bowers!! I have a 4 yr old and a 15 month old granddaughter. We have put up a bird feeder and they are learning about the different birds. My 4 yr old can recognize the male and female cardinal. She is really excited to see them. Our biggest problem is trying to keep the squirrels away!! I love all of your pictures! Your boys are the cutest ever and you look amazing!!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I’ve picked up soulcycling as a new hobby.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
I kind of feel like picking up toys is my biggest hobby right now, but in all actuality, I suppose sign-painting has been my most recent hobby uptake! If I had more brain power I’d probably do it more often, but I have enjoyed it when I have time for it! So loving that the weather is finally getting nicer in MI and we can be outside and take walks again…just today I was telling my 1 year old about listening for the bird sounds and the ducks quacking while we were walking to the park!
We moved in last summer and heard the neighborhood has lots of humming birds. I’ve been looking for a feeder but so many are the red plastic option which I don’t love. The one you chose is so cute!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
We’ve recently started sailing! We bought a boat last year and have spent the last 6 months fixing her up. She’s been in the water for a month now and we’re having a great time so far!
Birding with t the Bowers! I’m trying to pick up meal planning and making meals for the week
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! Patience has never been one of my strong points and that’s become all the more apparent now that I have kids. I’ve been seeing “mindfulness” mentioned more & more recently and from what I’m reading and hearing, it seems like a good fit for me and something my kids could benefit from as well. I’ve just started trying to do a couple of small things to put it into practice and like it so far!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I’ve picked up weaving (technically called tapestry weaving). I was so pumped this weekend when I was in Austin and found some wool roving for a good price. I was telling my whole family about it only to realize after the words came out of my mouth that “I found wool roving for my tapestry!” makes me sound crazy. I swear I’m cool, guys. (Just look up Meghan Shimek and be amazed. Then do a DIY that I can copy. 🙂 K thanks.)
Birding with the Bowers! I have started increasing my house plant collection, trying new kinds.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS – we planted a small vegetable garden so that’s been a fun activity for us with our 2yr old.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
I love crocheting these days, and am starting to venture into knitting!
I like how your hobbies include going outside. I sometimes feel that way myself 🙂
xo – kb
Niiiiiice 🙂
xo – kb
I just have naturally wavy hair and if I scrunch it after a shower, with some mousse, it will hold it’s wave and only get halfway frizzed 🙂
xo – kb
Thank you Ana! That is so sweet! Off to check it out 🙂
xo – kb
Thanks for the heads up! I will definitely have to get the app!
xo – kb
Yes always to Dragon Gardens! I love that! I bet Weston would DIE to have his own Dragon Garden 🙂
xo – kb
GET IT GIRL! Whoa you are impressive!
xo – kb
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! We’re helping our kids learn how to garden this year. Our daughters are 4 and 8, and they are trying their hand with tomatoes, herbs, and cabbage.
“Birding with the Bowers” The Paul Revere house is AWESOME – we went to Boston last year on vacation and actually visited Paul Revere’s house. My 3 year old is obsessed with birds and how fun would it be to have a little piece that reminds us of a family vacation while teaching him about nature at the same time!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
The whole family has started gardening and we love it!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
To be honest, I haven’t picked up any new hobbies lately, which is why this post inspired me! I tend to put myself on the back burner a lot and then get accused of being a martyr, so I am motivated to genuinely focus on myself in the next month. It helps that on June 2nd I hit a very big birthday milestone (starts with 4 and ends with 0-gulp!). 😉 I’ve always wanted to learn how to use a sewing machine so I can do basic things like make pillows and window treatments. I also want to start a vegetable garden with my two boys. 🙂
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
I’ve been trying to make more time for reading!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. Our recent hobby has been planning for a cross country road trip with four little kiddos (7 and younger). We will be camping which is another hobby an preparing has been a fun spring hobby. The kids and I also love to garden together.
Birding with the Bowers !
My latest hobby has been doing needlework with wool.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I got a new DSLR camera for my birthday last fall so I’ve working on my skills with that.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
I feel like I am turning into an old lady (aka my mom :)). I have started putting bird seed i get from costco in cute vessels from the thrift store (a cool bronze bowl and a fun hand made pottery thing). Anyway, i seriously get so excited when we have birds! We even named the 2 pigeons (who currently have a nearby nest) Piggie and Gerald (if anyone else thinks that funny…thanks!)!
Birding with the Bowers– my hobby is landscaping my mess-of-a-backyard. Being bird and little critter friendly is part of that. 🙂
Birding with the Bowers. My family loves curling (really!)
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! We enjoy hiking as a family
Birding with the bowers! We have been doing some diy woodworking since we’re fixing up a garden shed at the house we’re moving into in a few weeks. It’s been so fun to affect our brains and see progress!
My grandson fills our feeders every time he visits. He has started to notice the birds…so much fun! Would love to win! Birding with the bowers!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I’m actually into gardening for the first time since being homeowners.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. My new hobby is making delicious healthy 100% organic snacks so I can try to slow down my autoimmune diseases.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!!!
House painting is our current hobby and we have great trees to watch birds!!!!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
My son adores birds. He tracks them, learns their calls, studies them, draws them, and is just starting to learn how to photograph them. We already have two feeders at our house, but I would LOVE to purchase a bird bath or house so we can improve the lives of our sweet bird friends.
Birding with the bowers- we are having our first “so-far successful” garden. Our other attempts were immediate flops. Gardening is super fun with kids.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! My hobby is birding! It hits on all the things I love- nature, color, song – and forces me to be still. In the mountains of NC we have to make sure we don’t feed the bears, who will walk five miles to come eat our seed and suet if we leave it out overnight. So everything comes inside every night and goes back out in the morning. Strangely the squirrels are content just eating what the birds let fall on the ground. I am adding bird photography to my hobby this year, so I’ll be looking forward to any tips you share about photographing birds!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. I have picked up painting. I started with painting my father-in-law’s den before he passed away and then painted a picture with my daughter’s girl scout troop. I <3 painting!!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
Not really a new hobby since I’ve been at it for about 20 years, but I’ve been baking a lot of cakes again. Everyone loves sugar, right!?!
BTW Katie – I have the NC version of this bird field guide and I love it. The pictures aren’t HUGE, but I think it would be good for your boys. It’s super durable and laminated – you could probably even use a dry-erase marker on it to mark the birds you see, and then wipe it clean for the next outing? I’ve even washed mine in the sink when it got covered in pollen.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/georgia-birds-james-kavanagh/1112035400?ean=9781583551103&st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_Core+Shopping+Books_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP648&k_clickid=3×648#productInfoTabs
Birding with the bowers
I have been wanting to buy a birdfeeder too! I love watching them out my kitchen window.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I have always loved birds, outside and inside. We have two parrots that are considered members of the family
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
I am trying gardening this year and can’t wait to have some fresh veggies. This is also a fun hobby to do with kids.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I am starting my first raised bed garden this year. Thus far it’s not going far, as I’ve attempted my veggies from seed & nothing came up. Hmm. So I’ll be getting what my mom always called “cheater plants” and hoping for more success!
My newest hobby is photography! I absolutely love your blog!!
Birding With The Bowers! We’ve just started gardening seriously this year.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! Recently I started attempting DIY home improvement-the reason I came across your blog! I started the project of remodeling the one bathroom in my house. The big project left is getting the floor tile done. Can’t wait!
Ugh. With a house on the market right now, extra time for a new hobby isn’t there. But we have a great sunroom with tons of windows to view the birds. Since there is a lake just past our yard, we even see beautiful water fowl. We’ve spotted eagles this year. I need a new bird feeder. The one I had has been out in the weather too many years and must be replaced. I love the idea of having three different food options in one. Thanks for sharing!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! We’re starting to work on our veggie/herb garden and we are really testing my green thumb because this year we’re trying to grow more from seeds than seedlings (wish us luck).
Birding with the Bowers! I just switched from going to Crossfit 3 days a week to 5 days a week. So I guess hitting the box a couple more days each week is my new hobby!
I love birding…so much fun to watch all the goings on. My hummers are adorable and they are way up on my balcony (in a condo), so they are in no danger of from other wild life. Beware, praying mantis will kill a hummer, so if you see one near the feeder just move it somewhere else. They are beneficial to plants and veggies.
Birding with the Bowers… I just got a new camera so that I can take great pictures of my kids with all the tips you have posted on your blog!!
My in-laws are obsessive birdwatchers. It is a lifestyle–and way more than a hobby in their case. I wrote a post about what I learned from watching birdwatchers, in fact, ( http://takethedayoff.net/2012/01/to-be-a-birdwatcher/ ). Something about the slowing down and intentionality of it really hit me (and humored me, at times).
PS. BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
Birding with the Bowers. I have picked cooking, not just microwaving, but actual cooking – using the stovetop and oven with real pots and pans! 🙂
My most recently acquired hobby is playing kickball in an adults only league with my husband.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
I’m really getting into gardening and planting more perennials in the yard. A little effort and the results are awesome.
I got a bird feeder and put it on a hook right out side our kitchen window.
We have an indoor cat who I thought would enjoy watching the birds.
Sadly the damn squirrels go to get lengths to eat all the seed before the birds have a chance.
I should have gotten the more expensive squirrel prove kind.
Birding with the Bowers! I have been going through the bedrooms and repainting! Probably not a traditional hobby, but it’s so nice to see the finished room! Love your blog!!
Birding with the Bowers!
My latest hobbies are cross stitching and quilting.
Birding with the Bowers!!! My new hobby has been gardening – cant get enough (:
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! We are hopefully going to be closing on a fixer upper house very soon, so my lastest hobby is packing 😉 would love to win!
Birding with the Bowers ! We just started gardening with my daughter ! She loves the tasking of checking the new flowers daily to see if they need water & some of our resident birds have made a nest (with egg) in our hanging fern… can’t wait to see what hatches.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I worked at a small hotel in a VERY small town in AK growing up, and every summer we’d get birders coming through town to check out all the northern species before they flew south for the winter. They always had so much equipment – calls, cameras, binos, tripods…
I’ve been trying to do more cooking at home lately – it’s not much of a hobby, but it keeps me busy and forces me to try to recipes and foods I wouldn’t otherwise try!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! Lawn care in general has become a new hobby – just bought my first house and the property has been vacant for a long time, so working to bring it back from hobo chic to pleasingly perfect!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! My latest hobby is cleaning out and organizing everything in our house before we move!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! We love our backyard birds and have several feeders. I recently started a vegetable garden which is a new hobby for me! I’ve had tomato plants in large pots before but never a full-fledged vegetable garden so I’m very excited!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS….lately my hobby is exploring our town with my family! We moved in the fall and didn’t get much of a chance before the weather turned bad.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS – Cize is my new hobby!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! Gardening is my newest love — spring has sprung and I can’t wait to see the fruits of my dirty labor!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
We’re looking to get into gardening with our three boys this year!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
My newest hobby is my blog:
http://www.coastalorchid.wordpress.com
I’m brand new to the blogging world but I can’t wait to get started!
Birding with the Bowers – I am working very hard to dedicate 4 days per week to a 45 minute walk!
Birding with the Bowers! Current Hobby: baseball and cub scout mom–no time for a hobby!!!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS – I love birding, but I have also recently taken up trail running, which allows me to hear birds chirp in the early mornings. “BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS”
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! We love birding as a family and are just getting ready to add more bird related items in our yard!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS – planting flowers, plants, really anything that will grow – it is an obsession!!!!!!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS – I started gardening this year and am now completely obsessed. I can’t get enough of transplanting, buying plants and building raised beds.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! Not a new hobby, I’ve been birding for a very long time! I could use that gift certificate though because I need some new bird feeders!
Birding with the Bowers! I’ve recently taken up gardening. I have always loved the idea of gardening, but I was convinced I had two black thumbs. Turns out I just needed some knowledge! I love being outside and playing in the dirt and my boys love to help too.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
I have always enjoyed gardening – the magic of seeing things grow is addictive. This year our gardening hobby is extending to a new project, a raised bed.
We have been frustrated the last couple of years with the mice, rabbits, and squirrels taking the fruits of our labor (hard work!). Also, the vegetable aspect of the garden was so hodge-podgey that my husband and I weren’t up for it this year.
That is, until I found the “Seeding Square”! I love it! It is like gardening for dummies. 🙂 The square takes all the headache out of planning and spacing. It is also supposed to keep the weeds down by enabling you to plant closer together. Plus, it will also look pretty, with all the plants in neat rows. Hopefully it will resemble some of the tidy kitchen gardens I’ve pinned. We put together a simple 2 x 6 bed that we can staple fencing to to keep out our wildlife friends, so hopefully this year we will have something to show for our efforts!
Our 2 x 6, which seems very small from a vegetable garden standpoint, will give us 12 squares to play with. Following the handy-dandy color-coded chart, it could really turn out to be A LOT of plants. For example, corn is blue, and blue plants are 4 to a square. Who would have thought you could get 4 corn plants in one square foot? (Obviously not me) Some plants are even 16 to a square, like carrots and small beets. We can’t wait to get started. If nothing else, it will be a fun experiment!
(Having read what I wrote, I’m afraid it sounds like an advertisement. I have absolutely no affiliation with the company; I’m just an excited customer)
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I’m back on the DIY wagon now that our little guy is a bit older – I couldn’t handle much when he was little. 🙂
counting calories has become my newest hobby – it isn’t glamorous but needs to be done – ha!
Birding with bowers – counting calories has become my newest hobby – its isn’t glamorous but needs to be done – ha1
I’ve taken up gardening!
Birding with the Bowers! My oldest is REALLY into her fairy garden. We’ve extended that into other gardening and our yard so we’ll be planting some tomatoes and herbs this spring!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I’m learning about DIY crafts with littles – for Mother’s Day we are crafting footprint flowers!
dude it looks waaaay more complicated than that, based on your fab results. 🙂 thanks for sharing!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I am starting to learn how to sew!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! My newest hobby is running, planning on doing at least 3 5K runs 🙂
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS – my latest hobby is wedding planning! only 137 days left 😀
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. Landscaping our new home has been a recent hobby.
Birding with the Bowers! We recently moved into a new house so my recent ‘hobby’ is basically being obsessed with trying to figure out what plants i want in my new yard and where to put the natural areas. I’m sure I could fit a bird feeder in there somewhere!
Birding with the Bowers! We recently got a cabin with a sauna so we are learning how detoxifying and relaxing they are! Especially after a cold plunge into the lake (it’s in Northern MN). It’s definitely a way of life!
Birding with the Bowers – gotta love alliteration! 😉
We are just getting ready to start a year-long nature study for homeschool science, so I guess you can say we started birding (and everything else outdoors) for our hobby. I can think of a lot of things to add to our yard to make it more wildlife-friendly!
We are big birders here! When our eldest son was five, he started his own bird journal. He would draw a picture of a cardinal, robin, blue jay, etc., and make a check every time he saw one in our yard. He had his own little bird count going. We still maintain a family list of all the wildlife (including bird species) we see at our house. Just a couple weeks ago we saw a red-backed newt!
Birding with the Bowers! I’ve been trying to make getting organized my hobby, but hasn’t worked so far…
Birding with the Bowers. I gave my father a guide and a pair of binoculars serval years ago for Father’s Day and he loved it. I think it may be fun to try,
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
My husband and I just started making our own cheese!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I love all sorts of things I can do with my hands. Home improvement, gardening, baking… you name it. But one thing I had always wanted to do but only just recently got to try was clay pottery, and I LOVED IT!!! Can’t wait to do more!
Birding with the Bowers!
I bought my first house last year and “picked up” interior design (really by necessity!). Your blog has been an inspiration for DIY projects big and small, and I’m signing up for a summer continuing ed class at a local college.
“Birding with the Bowers!” I have recently started “gardening”. Love your top!
I can’t have a birdhouse where I am right now, but I’m looking to move now, and I soo want to do this. I’m not sure yet what kind in that I don’t know what will be good, but I would like to attract bluebirds if I have the right setting and birdhouse!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS . A hobby I picked up lately is making fabric flowers and sun hats. The hats are much more work than I expected as they need to be interlined, and best cut on the bias. But it is fun! I give away fabric flower accessories to disadvantaged teens, ladies.
Like several other readers, birding is already my hobby–I blog about it! I’m an urban gal (and mom too) hoping to make birding hip and cool through my writing. I LOVE that you introduce birding to your children and readers in a multi sensory way.
Thanks for this fun post, which I found by searching under “birding” on bloglovin.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
We recently started a vegetable garden. Excited for a new hobby!
Birding with the Bowers! We’ve lived in our house for six years and Im itching for a move but thats not on the horizon so my new ‘hobby’ is getting rid of everything and starting fresh. “Sell it all” and “paint that wall” are my new mottos!
Birding with the Bowers!
I’m 17 weeks into a 40-week hobby of growing a baby 😉
Birding with the bowers
I have finally started clearing out our weed infested yard and making beds and planting flowers. I look forward to going outside every day instead of dreading looking out the window!
This is the weirdest post ever… In a good way! Made me laugh out loud! Bye, bird!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I’m trying attract birds to our yard. Saw a cardinal today!
Birding with the bowers! My new hobby is knitting….I’ve become WAY too obsessed with it.
Birding with the bowers! This is such a sweet idea and one I keep thinking about with my little one. He already loves watching the birds and squirrels and anything else that comes by. Newest hobby is learning how to sew/alter clothing. Theoretically it’s budget friendly.
Birding with the Bowers. Restarting hobbies: Ornamental fish pond, gardening, and would love to add birding to the mix.
Oh my gosh – Will would DIE to see an eagle…he studied them at school and it LOVES them.
xo – kb
Thank you for the recommendation!
xo – kb
“BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS”
As for a hobby, I have started gardening again. 🙂
On our last trip home to PA, to visit my family, my little girl who is 2 would wake up, saying over and over, “Birdies are singing outside window.” It was so sweet and only her second almost full sentence ever. My mom has bird feeders all over her property and inspired me to start birding when we came home. I can’t wait to share the hobby with my little girl. I am so excited to put up our first bird feeder together!
Birding with the Bowers! On our last trip home to PA, to visit my family, my little girl who is 2 would wake up, saying over and over, “Birdies are singing outside window.” It was so sweet and only her second almost full sentence ever. My mom has bird feeders all over her property and inspired me to start birding when we came home. I can’t wait to share the hobby with my little girl. I am so excited to put up our first bird feeder together!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. I can’t claim it is a new hobby, but I am trying to make a jean quilt. I have the squares mostly cut out!
Birding with the bowers! I started getting into weight lifting. When I stop pigging out on sweets..,maybe I’ll start to see my muscles. 😛
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
Love all the super cute pics. We’re growing vegetables for the first time with some success this summer – and in the middle of the city no less. So far, we’re harvesting tomatoes, basil and peppers with okra and eggplant coming soon.
Have always loved watching birds, almost time for my hummingbirds!! I would love another feeder!
“BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS” my current hobby is crocheting. Thanks for the chance 🙂 jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
My new hobby is Crossfit. I just started about 2 months ago and I am loving it! It is suxh a challenging and supportive environment. I know you guys are part owners of a Crossfit gym, that is so super cool!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I started gardening about three years ago and get super obsessed in the spring time! Time to plant the herbs and veggies! Helloo!! Have you seen my tulips?? The Rhododendron is blooming!
Ok… about to go outside and see what else I can plant!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!!! My new hobby is home improvement! We just bought our new house and thats why a giftcard to ACE would be amazing!
Birding with the Bowers!
No new hobbies, just often neglected ones of photography and crochet. But a recent slew of birthdays made me break out my camera again 🙂
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I just got into gardening, I’ve been planting lots of trees, peonies, and hydrangeas. Can you tell they’re my favorite? lol Thanks for the giveaway! 🙂
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS : we don’t have a ton of time for hobbies right now, but lately my focus has been on mini projects for baby#2’s nursery!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I have a 7 month old and 3 other children I homeschool so I don’t have a lot of time for hobbies…photography is fun!
I have gotten REALLY into gardening this year. I mean, I am out there on a daily basis planting, weeding, enjoying the sights and sounds. This gift card would be a HUGE help as I am always needing things now to keep my garden growing and expanding. Thanks so much for the chance to win!!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
“Birding with the Bowers!” I have recently started gardening. I’ve bought a few new to me plants lately and looking forward to them getting bigger. I have a bird feeder on my shopping list so this would come in handy!
“Birding with the Bowers!” I have recently started creating container gardens!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
Recently I have been getting more in art and taking time to create things.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
My 1 year old and I spend lots of time out side so bringing birds to the yard might be fun!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I am getting back into the diy scene. I have been out of it with two businesses and not taking the time for our home and it shows! So back to it I go and I have been so inspired recently, so thanks! My little one is 3 years old and he would LOVE this activity!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS- I’m working on a vegetable garden!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I just had a new baby girl three months ago so in an effort to not go broke buying All The Hairbows I’ve taken up making them instead! My four year old dude loves watching the birds off of our back porch, he’d love this!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I love birding! I’m excited to start up my recurring hobby of gardening, as soon as “Spring” actually comes to the northwoods of Wisconsin! We are still getting to the 30s at night, so my garden hasn’t even been tended to yet! Love your blog! Thank you for the offer!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
For the last year my hobby has been homework 🙂 I’m a full time student again after many years out of school and I work full time, so I don’t have a lot of time for hobbies, but it would be nice to do my homework on the porch in the evenings and weekend while listening to the birds have fun in my yard!
If you have an i-phone get the Merlin Bird ID app. Its a cool way to identify birds in your area
My new hobby? being a grandma!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! We definitely love our birds that visit our yard, we have a bird bath, feeder and even had a house until we had to take it down for sad birdy reasons. BUT!!! we still love watching them fly in and out of our yard. We have picked up gardening a little more because of my son who is 19 months, and just LOVES being outside ALL the time. He loves carrying his little shovel and playing in my giant clay pot full of dirt.
Perfect timing my husband and I had just talked about us starting to track all the birds we see at our house.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I haven’t crocheted in 18 years, so I’m trying to remember how and pick up that hobby again.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
Last summer I tried canning for the first time so we have been enjoying canned peaches and applesauce ever since. I look forward to trying new recipes this summer.
“Birding with the Bowers” I have too many hobbies, and if it’s true that I need 10,000 hours of practice at any one of them to become an expert I will always be an amateur. My hobbies of late include water coloring and dabbling with canvas and paint. Fun!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. I’ve started going to a boot camp and LOVE it! I’m down a bunch of pounds in the 4 months before I got pregnant and 4+ months in I’ve only gained a pound! My doc is super happy and I feel awesome!
Birding with teh Bowers….I have recently started reading for pleasure again.
Birding with the Bowers. We love to garden and ride bikes together
Birding with the BOWERS! A hobby I have recently picked up is purchasing my first home and figuring out how to paint and decorate!
Birding with the Bowers…my kids love to check out the birds in our yard too and I love photography, so we all go out and explore together!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I have been trying to *cultivate* a new hobby over the last year and one has finally stuck! Hiking! Just getting out and walking my booty around various parks and mountains is the bomb.
Side note, my grandma (who was basically my third parent) was obsessed with birds (cardinals, in particular) and one of my tasks when I would visit would always be to refill the feeders so this post is close to my heart.
“BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS”
I have to admit I am a bird lover also. My favorites to watch are the eagles and hawks. Such beautiful animals.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. I have recently started studying landscape photography.
Birding with the Bowers! My new hobby has been walking/jogging with my little guy. A little tough with the crappy weather we’ve been having but hopefully I can get back out there with him next week!
Birding with the bowers!
I started pinteresting again, if you consider that a hobby! Lol need to actually take action on a my of the diy stuff I pin
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I have recently joined a “book club”
Birding with the bowers!
I’ve recently started working in my vegetable garden, starting to get some seeds planted again!
Birding with the bowers please! I signed up for Yoga classes.
Birdinwith the Bowers. Crocheting and starting to learn calligraphy.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
I started woodworking! And making pallet art work for my kids rooms
“BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS” – Gardening!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
I recently picked up cross stitching because I’m an old woman at heart 🙂 I found the cutest mouse and dandelion pattern on amazon and I’m stitching away. It is oddly relaxing and so great for doing while sitting in front of the TV. 🙂
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!!! Our new hobby is DIYing in our new home.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
My newest hobby would be waterfall hunting. My husband just contracted to write a waterfalls book, which means we all get to roadtrip this summer to take photos for the book. So maybe a secondary hobby would be keeping 3 little kids entertained on road trips or maybe keeping those kids from falling into the water at the falls.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I’ve picked up calligraphy and can’t wait for the weather to warm up to get back to gardening as my favorite hobby!
My recent hobby is sewing!!!!! It’s probably just the nesting kicking in with this third baby but I’m having a blast and making some super cute stuff!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS:
Knitting!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
The latest hobby in my house is wreath making! We are trying to make a new one for every holiday
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS: my current hobby is sewing custom clothing for children. My husband is obsessed with bird watching and has gotten my kids into it too.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. We’ve just recently gotten into birding as well. It’s been fun to see the kids just stop and watch quietly!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. We’ve recently taken up DIY as a hobby after years of reading DIY blogs. Window trim and crown molding are complet. Board and batten is halfway done.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
Cat ownership is my new hobby!
Birding with the Bowers!! Would chasing two toddlers be considered a hobby?
Birding with the Bowers!
Hiking! Well, the hiking that you can do with three kids under 4. But definitely more walks out in nature.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I have really gotten into making our own snacks!
Birding with the Bowers. I love to organize. Baskets and labels are my jam 🙂
Birding with the Bowers-my hobby is being Grandma to three little boys!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
Feeding the hummingbirds at work!
Scrap booking.
Birding with the bowers. Scrap booking.
Birding with the Bowers! Spring is in full swing so I’m taking up gardening…. Again
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS – spinning!
Birding with the Bowers
I’ve recently started gardening. I love being outside. It’s definitely rubbing off on my kids.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
Our newest hobby is bird watching too, but we’re only really beginning. We’ve got a few bird houses hung up, but need to get some bird feeders!
birding with the bowers—I’ve recently started running again…in between stopping to supply my kids with snacks and drinks. My baby boy LOVES birds! It’s one of his only words besides mama and dada and he Loves spotting them as we run along the trails!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!! I’ve picked up Naked juice…
Birding with Bowers. My family have been enjoying disc golfing lately. It’s great exercise and cheap for a large family like mine.
Birding with the Bowers! I have recently started container gardening! I am having so much fun with it! I think I go out and check on the veggies about 10 times a day…so funny as they do not grow that fast…but I just have to keep checking 🙂
birding with the bowers! flower gardening
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! I have taken up knitting and I love it!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. I have been trying to get back into running!
Birding with the Bowers My newest hobby is underwater photography. I only get to do this a few times a year on diving trips though!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
I’ve recently taken up yoga and love it!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. My inlaws love birding.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!
My dad is actually a birder so it’s been something I’ve been doing my whole life. It’s fun and always very exciting when you can add a new bird to the life list 🙂
A new hobby for me is working out. It’s been tough, but the pounds are coming off so I love it!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
We moved late last fall and we are getting excited about gardening for the first time – and my preschoolers are OBSESSED with birds lately, so this post was perfect!!
“BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS” fitness…. again 😉
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS. I have recently starting painting furniture! It’s something I have read a lot about but I finally started doing myself!
Birding with the Bowers. Hi Katie. We moved into a new house and I too am enjoying my new feathered friends! I love when the cardinals visit, but oh the darn squirrels!!!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
No new hobby, per se, but I would love to add a birdhouse to our pecan tree in the backyard. I love to sit on my mom’s front porch, relaxing in her rocking chair and watching the cardinals fly by. It’s so peaceful, and I need that at my own home!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS! My 3 year old daughter and I have recently started hiking together. It’s slow going and usually shorter hikes, but it is fun.
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS
I’m taking an interior design course starting next week. I have a passion for it and hope it helps me learn “text book” techniques and how to apply them.
Thanks for offering this giveaway!
BIRDING WITH THE BOWERS!! this sounds so nice- much better than my new hobby of old wallpaper removal…
Totally DUG this post! I have a blog myself, if you are open, I might curate this post to my audience. Obviously give a link back.
Excellent blog! When you are looking for binoculars, you have to sure that you are sticking to the basics. In this blog there are a lot of different things which you need to bear in mind while birding so that you can maximize the kind of benefits which you can reap. This is one of the right choices for hunters to implement hunting ideas.
Great pictures! Thanks for sharing