February is Bird Feeding Month, so here are a few tips from us.

At first we put bird feeders out to help the hungry birds through the harsh winters here in Northern Ontario, but then we found birdwatching in our very own backyard very addicting.

Chickadee at one of the large feeders

As beginners we purchased special seed recommended in bird feeding articles only to find that the birds in our area have personal preferences.  For instance, we purchased finch food from the Toronto Metro Zoo.  The small birds in Toronto may like it, but here even the finches won't eat it.  We fed it to the Mourning Doves and Juncos (who are ground feeders) in spring, summer and fall instead.  (We even had partridge showing up now and then to eat it in the fall.)  In fact, our birds disliked finch seed so much that the blue jays and woodpeckers would flap their wings and blow it right out of the big feeder!  We even tried putting it in a tubular finch feeder but none of the small birds would feed there.  Instead, they went to the large feeder with the sunflower seeds.

Finch eating seed from the large feeder

Speaking of sunflower seeds . . . we discovered that niger seed is just like chocolate for the birds, but it is so expensive that we were being eaten out of house and home!  We switched to the regular sunflower seeds but only the larger birds were interested and it seemed like the blue jays carried away more than they actually ate.  Black Oil Sunflower Seeds are little more expensive that the regular striped variety, but birds of all sizes love it from chickadees, sparrows, nuthatches and finches to blue jays and woodpeckers.

The birds love a variety of food as much as we do, so we also buy a seed mix that includes dried cherries, raisins, and nuts with sunflower seeds.  We mix this half and half with black oil sunflower seeds in one of our feeders for the song birds and woodpeckers.

Downy Woodpecker at the suet feeder

We also have suet feeders because the birds need the fats in their diet to keep them warm.  Woodpeckers especially love it, but all birds will eat suet from time to time.  We have found it necessary to have two suet feeders because the male woodpeckers will monopolize one.  We use a hanging basket suet feeder in the tree branches for the more wary females. Suet is another product that comes with different flavors now.  They love, love, love the peanut butter flavored suet.  We have found that they will only eat the plain suet when there's nothing else.  They absolutely hate the fruit flavored suet and will leave it for the squirrels.

Squirrels can become quite a nuisance at the bird feeders.  We have several red squirrels, the occasional black squirrel and grey squirrel (we live in a rural area) and have even had the rare fox squirrel show up at our feeders.  We put a squirrel guard on the post so the red squirrels - who are the most common visitors - can't raid the feeder, but the much larger black and grey squirrels learned that they could jump from the tree branches and make it onto the feeder most of the time.  We purchased metal tubular feeders to hang in the trees for the more shy white breasted nuthatches and finches because the squirrels chew through the plastic ones.  With the metal ones they still hang upside down in the tree and pull the seed through the holes!

Day shift:  Red Squirrel at feeder

Night Shift:  Flying Squirrel at feeder

My husband decided that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, so we started feeding the squirrels.  At first we threw some seed and peanuts on the ground but found that the blue jays carried all the peanuts off before the squirrels could eat them.  Then my husband came up with a most ingenious plan:  he created special feeders for the squirrels out of coffee cans.  This solved our problems!  The squirrels love their own feeders and leave the bird feeders alone.  We can put peanuts in the cans without the blue jays getting them.  We still put some seed on the ground for the smaller squirrels who are too timid to use the cans.

During the day we get red squirrels who are very territorial, so we had to place the cans a distance apart or they spent the day "swearing" at each other. When they're at the feeding station their personalities really come out.  One squirrel is very clean and leans out of the can to drop the shells on the ground.  My husband fastened the lids on the cans to keep the rain and snow out, so one squirrel sits on the lid surveying his domain as he eats, and yet another peeks out the hole like he's in a bunker.   At night the flying squirrels visit the feeding stations.  They are communal, so two or even three will occupy the same can sometimes.  They are so cute they way they interact.

I hope that you are encouraged to start a feeding station for birds and wildlife in your backyard. It helps them survive the winter and it brings you pleasure, too.

Birdwatching T-shirts & Sweatshirts

Just click on the design to see all of the t-shirts, sweatshirts, children's wear, baby clothes, mugs & giftware available.

We all know that we need to get more active, especially in the winter, but most of us hate to bundle up and head for the gym to work out.  Ice skating is a great form of exercise for all ages from tots to grandmas and grandpas.  The whole family can head for the local frozen canal, lake or ice rink and even babies can be wrapped in blankets and pulled on a sled to get some fresh air while everyone else gets some exercise.


Ice skate are reasonably priced, and can be purchased second hand in good shape quite easily.  Most sports stores have a trade-in policy for children's skates so they can keep up with their growing feet. Other than skates, there really isn't any other equipment required and it is quite easy to find outdoor rinks where skating is free.


Little ones can learn to skate independently by pushing an orange highway pylon around, or leaning on a chair if the rink permits.  They can also sign up for skating lessons, and at the end of the year most skating clubs have a fun figure skating show at the end so your little skater can show off their new skills.


Excellent video class for beginners shows you how to get on the ice without falling, how to skate forward, how to "cross over" to skate around corners, how to skate backwards, how to spin and how to stop.

To make it easier to get daily exercise and fresh air outdoors, you can create a rink right at home. Tarpaulin expert Bob Page shows us that with good heavy duty tarps and a few additions you can readily build a custom ice skating rink in your own backyard.


With modern building materials you can readily build a custom ice skating rink in your own backyard. With enough good heavy duty tarps and a few additions it is almost too easy to accomplish. You will need at least two days worth of time where it is below thirty degrees for it to freeze the amount of water you will require. Next you will need a flat area of ground in the diameter you desire your rink to be. You will require enough PVC pipe of at least two inches in height to fit the diameter you measure, as well as, enough pipe and joints to be placed around the rink. You will ,also, need to purchase enough heavy duty sealant, that is winter resistant, for the size of area you chose. However, the most important part in this endeavor is a a set of good quality heavy duty polyurethane tarps.Once you have cleared the area of debris and obstructions, measure out your rink area and decided on an overall design. A simple circle or square are the easiest shapes to work with. You will need to bring your quality heavy duty tarp, easily purchased from a hardware store or from a site on the web,  to the working area and lay it down to act as the base. Then bring your pipes to the center of the new rink you are going to build. Then begin piecing them together in the pattern you chose. Once you have accomplished this, you will have to go around the outside of your new rink and cut away the excess tarp. Leave a minimum of one inch around the new ice or hockey rink you are building so that you can accomplish the next step. You may leave a little more if you desire, but for the sake of aesthetics you may end up once again cutting off some of the excess after it is sealed.Once the cutting is complete you will go around and tightly seal the perimeter with the heavy duty winter sealant I informed you to purchase earlier. Make certain the seal is tight by following your sealants directions as you apply it. Then just fill the area with a water hose and wait for it to freeze. With a few pipes and a set of quality heavy duty tarps you can be skating or rough housing on the ice in only a few days

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/outdoor-sports-articles/ice-rink-tarps-1553281.html

About the Author:  Tarpaulin expert Bob Page has worked in the tarps industry for over twenty years and has gained a wealth of experience in the tarpaulin industry. For more information, go to http://www.tarpaflex.com

Ice Skating T-shirts for Beginners & Figure Skaters

To keep up the excitement and momentum of your new winter exercise program with ice skating, we know you'll want to stock up on ice skating t-shirts and sweatshirts for the whole family! Just click on your favorite design to see all of the t-shirts and giftware available.

As you probably know, today is the day where Canadians and Americans turn to the lowly groundhog as predictor of the coming weather.  If the groundhog peeks out of its burrow and doesn't see its shadow, it will think spring will soon arrive and leave the comfort of its winter home.  But. . . if it does see its shadow it will assume that there will be 6 more weeks of winter and will return to its slumber.

So . .  . what did the furry little prognosticator decide this year?  See for yourself.

Here is US's Punxsatawny Phil's prediction:

Here is Canada's Wiarton Willy's prediction:

Yes, they both agree - six more weeks of winter!

Face the snow in high spirits with a new t-shirt!

Thinking of Getting a New Pet?

If you're thinking of adding to your family with a new pet, consider adopting a rabbit. They aren't the first thing people think of when they want a fluffy companion, but they make great pets.

Rabbits are Fantastic Pets!

Rabbits are wonderful companion pets. They are most active in the morning and evening and tend to sleep during the day when everyone would be at work or school, they can be kept indoors and trained to a litter box like a cat and they are very, very quiet. If you're interested in adopting a rabbit, watch this video to see if a bunny is the right pet for you.

Now that you're convinced that you want to rescue a cute little bunny and keep it as your pet, it's very easy to find one. You can visit your local Humane Society, or go online to PetFinder.com to see what's available in your area.

How to Care for Your New Bunny

Here is a series of videos to teach you the basics of rabbit care.

How to Pick Up a Rabbit

Pet Rabbit Diet

Bunny Bedding and Cages

How to Train a Rabbit to Use a Litter Box

Items for Your New Pet Rabbit

Click on the item for more information.

And of course you'll want a t-shirt to tell the world about your new bunny friend!

Just click on the design to see all of the t-shirts, children's wear, baby clothes, mugs & giftware available.

As the temperature drops, holiday festivities cease and we all return to our regular routines, it is the perfect time to pick up that favorite novel, new book, or kindle if you're a techie, and snuggle up in a blanket to read. 

Here's what's hot to read right now:

It's also a great month to don a reading t-shirt and encourage others to pick up a book too. Just click on the design to see all of the t-shirts, children's wear, baby clothes, mugs & giftware available.

Loch Ness Monster T-shirts

I have enjoyed bowling all of my life, but I still consider myself more of a beginner.  I've never taken lessons and have pretty much just learned by trial and error over the years.  At some point one has to improve to stay competitive!  I'm not the type who has to win every time, but losing every time - or least not being good enough to be competitive - takes the fun out of it.

Here is a great article written by the Bowling Coach to learn how to consistently bowl strikes and spares.  It takes a little practice, but the techniques are not difficult to master and you'll find one that you prefer to use or can use the most successfully. 

Happy Bowling!

3 Bowling Techniques to Make a Strike or Spare

Author: The Bowling Coach

It is a strike, when all of the pins are knocked down “on the first ball of a frame.”

Every bowler would like to hit a strike and score big to win with this action, but it is not merely a stroke of luck. Bowlers who want to make it big by hitting strikes more often than not have to work at it.

Like in any sport, great action comes in small packages, where the attention is focused on the techniques learned and used by that player. It is important for every player to know how to hone his or her skills to win the game.

So for those who wish to make a strike or a spare in order to win a match, here are three bowling techniques that they can use:

1. Spinner

This technique refers to the way of delivering a shot with the intention that no more than a minor part of the ball touches contacts the lane. This technique promotes less friction between the ball and the lane, not considering the “oiling pattern” of that lane. As a result the ball glides practically in a straight line down the lane.

Experts contend, however, that this kind of shot is not very successful in that it does not attempt to take full advantage of the dragging the power of the bowler.

2. Stroker

With this kind of technique, the bowler relies more on precision than strength. This technique is characterized by employing the “by the book” style of playing that entails the proper execution of even movements, keeping square shoulders to the target all the way through the release of the ball, and maintaining an on-time move at the “foul line.”

This is the “classic” technique of most bowlers because it employs smooth and controlled movements and lessens the possibility of injuries.

3. Cranker

This is the kind of technique that is being employed by a bowler who relies more on his strength to deliver a good shot rather than accuracy. It is like ‘hitting hard’ when a bowler uses this technique.

The skill involves more adrenaline that constitutes the bowler’s drive to win.

Usually, crankers use “late timing”, they do not slide, attempt to get to the “foul line” earlier than the ball, and they bend their elbows to keep their hands at the back and beneath the ball.

There are no perfect techniques, but there is a particular technique for every player. The important thing is to create a strike or even a spare.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/3-bowling-techniques-to-make-a-strike-or-spare-344014.html

About the Author:

For more Bowling Tips and Techniques visit The Bowling Coach

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The Who, What, Where, When and Why of Watching Professional Football

Author: Howard Becker

Who watches professional football?
That's easy. Just about everyone. Or, at least almost everyone. Men, women, children. Young people, old people. Teachers, doctors, lawyers, the family priest. People of all races and religions watch football. People of all sizes and shapes. Even the family pet has been known to watch a game or two. Each and every Sunday during football season, stadiums across the country are filled to capacity with thousands of people. Each and every Sunday, millions of TV viewers are tuned to the games.

What is professional football?
For those of you unfamiliar with the game, professional football is not just a bunch of grown men running back and forth down a field knocking the stuffing out of each other. Professional football is a game played by athletes who possess an unusual combination of both strength and speed. In what other sport do you see men weighing over 300 lbs. that run like the wind? Professional football is a game played with 11 players per side who move at tremendous speed, all working in sync with one another, unlike anything you will see in any other sport.

When do people watch professional football?
The NFL season actually starts in early August with Preseason games. These are games that teams play to get themselves ready for the Regular Season which begins in early September. During the Regular Season, games are played every week, with the majority of the games played Sunday afternoon. There is also a game played on Sunday night, as well as Monday night. In addition, later in the season, there are a few Thursday night games and a Saturday game. Lest we forget, Thanksgiving Day, where you now get to see, not one, not two, but three games! The Regular Season culminates with playoff games beginning in January which are played on Saturdays and Sundays and finally topped off with the Super Bowl Sunday.

Where do people watch professional football?
Anywhere there is a TV. At home, at a friend's house, at a restaurant, at a bar, at the health club, etc. Even your local Sears. Trust me, I know. And I guarantee, wherever there is a TV, there will be a crowd.
If you're really lucky, you'll get to go to the stadium and see the game in person. Depending on where you live, if you are in a cold weather city, better bundle up! But, it's all worth it. Why else would you see 60,000 fans doing it?

Why watch professional football?
Only because it's the greatest game ever! Think about it - why else would millions of fans tune their dials to the game every Sunday? And why would thousands upon thousands fill up stadiums across the U.S.? There must be something to this game, right?
I'm convinced that there are two kinds of people. Those that are already fans and those that want to be fans, but aren't yet because they don't understand football. And the reason they don't understand it, is because they've had nobody (or nothing) to really explain football to them. Granted, it does have a "lingo" all its own, but I guarantee, once you've come to learn it, you won't look back.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/football-articles/the-who-what-where-when-and-why-of-watching-professional-football-581265.html

Football 101

Great visual explanation of how football is played in the NFL

Author: Howard Becker

For those of you who want to learn football and join this craze called the NFL (National Football League), this is for you. Here are some football basics to get you started:

• An NFL team has 53 players; some play on Offense (unit that possession of the ball and is trying to score); some play on Defense (unit that attempts to stop its opponent’s Offense from scoring) and some play on Special Teams (units that are on the field for kickoffs, punts and field goals)
• At any given time, a team has 11 players on the field
• The Offense attempts to advance the ball past its opponent's goal line and score touchdowns (worth 6 points) or move it into field goal range for its Kicker to attempt a field goal (worth 3 points)
• There are two type of plays - passing and rushing (running)
• An Offense has four plays (downs) to advance the ball at least 10 yards; if it does so, it maintain possession of the ball; if it doesn’t, it may have to give up possession to its opponent
• The amount of time a team has possession of the ball throughout the game is called its “Time of possession”; the longer, the better. This is critical, because if you don’t have the ball, you can’t score!
• When a team loses possession of the ball to its opponent, through an interception (throwing a forward pass that an opponent catches) or fumble (when the ball carrier loses possession), it commits a “turnover”. Turnovers can be the difference between winning and losing. Each time a team commits a turnover, it gives itself one less and its opponent one more opportunity to score
• Finally, when someone asks you the score of the game, remember to always say the name of the team that is winning or that has won first. For example, if the Bears are leading the Lions 14 - 10, say something like “The Bears are up fourteen to ten”, NOT “The Bears are winning ten to fourteen”. If the score is 10 - 0, say “It’s ten oh, Bears.” Notice the use of the word “oh”? If its 17 - 17, say “It’s seventeen all.” Notice the use of the word “all”? Get the idea?

For more football info, visit www.learnprofootball.com

www.everyonelovesfootball.blogspot.com

info@learnprofootball.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/football-articles/football-101-581257.html

About the Author:

Howard Becker is a self-proclaimed “sports nut”, and has been a die-hard Chicago Bears fan for as long as he can remember.

During the professional football season, his Sundays are reserved watching his beloved Bears. When he’s not watching football, he’s usually talking football with friends. “I pretty much eat, breathe and sleep football during the season.” He never misses a score or statistic. “I’m just your average fan”, says Howard.

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Youth Football Running Back Drills

Youth Football Running Back Drills

The Weave drill teaches aspiring running backs proper footwork techniques. It focuses on balance while planting the foot and driving in another direction.

• Place 5 cones in a straight line on the field about one yard apart.
• Have the running backs line up near the first cone.
• To begin, the coach hands the football off to the first running back.
• The running back weaves in and out between the cones and returns handing the football off to the next running back.

• Position two dummy bags approximately 3 yards from the starting position.
• Position two dummy bag holders 3 to 4 yards further downfield.
• Have a linebacker roaming the field to force open field maneuvers.
• After taking a handoff, the running back protects the football while running through the two dummy bags.
• He must maintain control while being pursued by the dummy holders.
• And finally, perform an evasive maneuver to avoid the linebacker.
• Have each running back practice handoffs from both the right and left sides.

When performing youth football rushing drills such as these, the player should practice keeping a low center of gravity with knees up and shoulders down. Proper ball protection techniques must be employed in order to retain possession of the ball.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/football-articles/youth-football-running-back-drills-1217483.html

By Trevor Sumner who works for Weplay.com, a youth football community dedicated to providing parents coaches and athletes the tools and information to celebrate the love of the game. Weplay.com has one of the most comprehensive, free football drill libraries in its active football community.

Football T-shirts

See more football t-shirts and gifts at LingoTshirts.com. We have special designs for the Football Player and Football Fan, Football Coach, Football Dad, Football Mom, Female Football Fan, Football Baby Clothes & Kids T-shirts, Football Maternity Tops, Football Cheerleader, and holiday gifts for Thanksgiving Football.

What can we do to support a loved one or to support our fellow women who are struggling with breast cancer?  Besides making a financial donation, what other tangible ways can we show our support?  Here are some ideas:


Find more pink ribbon t-shirts & breast cancer awareness SIGG bottles for you, for kids and for your dog at LingoTshirts.com