Friday, January 2, 2009

So long, gingerbread house!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and new year celebration! I did, and I started a new Christmas tradition this year: making a gingerbread house with my son. But, since this was our first year making one, I went the easy peasy route and bought a kit from Wal-Mart. Apparently, we have similar gingerbread house-making abilities because it's hard to tell who did what part!


Earlier this afternoon, it became the last of the decorations that I needed to put away. I actually didn't want to save it or simply throw it away. I thought of just leaving it outside for some bird or animal to come feed on it, and hubby suggested that maybe if it was crushed, the ducks in the backyard lake just might enjoy a taste.

"Crushed? Did someone say crushed?". That's all it took for my little guy to be all over that idea!

So, we went in the backyard and he put down the gingerbread house by the lake. Then he had the best time crushing it!



Now, that looks almost done. And, just in time since a few ducks are quickly making their way toward their sweet treat...


Behind them were these two white ibises who tend to be on the shy side.

Click on the picture to enlarge it if you'd like. I'm always amazed at the beauty of God's creation. :)

Oh, and did I mention Lizzy followed us? Of course, she smelled that we were up to something!


Here's my son throwing some pieces into the lake. And Lizzy knows she can't take it much longer...


The water softened up the gingerbread pieces and the ducks seemed to really like it.



At this point Lizzy thought: "All right, the kid's busy with those quacking things in the water and mom's taking their picture, so here's my chance to eat that chimney!"


After she sneaked in a bite, we left the remaining crushed pieces for other ducks and birds. The two white ibises came over after we had gone back toward the house but they ate none of it. (Beautiful AND smart!)


Thank you for visiting me today. Wishing you and yours all the sweetest blessings in 2009!

44 comments:

Lib said...

Hi,
What a Lovely idea:o) The house was so pretty too!
Hope ya'll have a wonderful new yr.
Blessins',Lib

flmom said...

I hope you'll forgive the correction, but those are actually white ibis rather than great egrets.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/White_Ibis.html (ibis)

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Egret.html (great egret)

Those are two of our favorite birds and we're always thrilled to have them in our yard and pond. :o)

The gingerbread house looks wonderful. I don't know that I would have the patience to make one. LOL

the voice of melody said...

Thanks for the correction FLmom! I'll change the name in a minute in my post. I've always thought they were the same as egrets but after checking out that site you linked, I can see what the difference is. Glad you get to enjoy some of the same birds in your backyard! :)

Tracy said...

I pitched mine, but then I started reading about people feeding them to the birds. Next year!

Rebekah said...

How fun! I've meant to make a gingerbread house at Christmas but never gotten around to it.

Have a blessed and Happy New Year!

Liz said...

We made the same gingerbread house. We still have it. My kids wanted to eat it, I said NO! It's for decoration! I will throw it out, soon. I still have my decorations up, unusual for me, since I always want to rip them down right after Christmas. I feel good that they're still up. Weird for me, they will stay up until next SAT!!!! WOW. Love your blog...Liz

Anonymous said...

Hi Melody, glad you found me.

I've loved looking all the bloggers gingerbread houses. Can you believe I've never made one? Next year I guess...

Looks like you son had fun stomping it LOL. What boy wouldn't want to do that?

Lois Christensen said...

We never got to ours this year! So it will sit in the garage till next Christmas! We did at Thanksgiving make little individual ones so we had some gingerbread houses in the house for the season, but never found the time to make the big one with the kids. I think my son would enjoy doing exactly what your son did...maybe next year!

Nanette said...

Sounds like you had fun taking care of the house in just the right way!
Valerie

Anonymous said...

Hi ~ it is a blessing to meet you and visit! Your gingerbread house is beautiful ~ how fun! I loved your pictures!

Sweet blessings and Happy New Year!
Sharon

Gretchen said...

Boy, you guys are good gingerbread house makers! Ours usually end up looking like train wrecks with lots of frosting. :)

What neat waterfowl you have. Thanks for the pictures.

Blessings in 2009.

BECKY said...

Hey Melody! We (me and my 10 yo daughter) made the same one. We both tried a bite, and it tasteed like gingerbread cardboard! YUK!! Ours hit the kitchen garbage New Year's Day. One of our traditions this time of year is gingerbread people that I free-hand cut from the dough, bake and then the kids decorate them. My daughter said she thinks the people are way more fun!

Thanks for poppin' into my blog and for leaving a sweet comment. Hope you'll stop back by time to time.
Joy, Love and Peace to you in the New Year!
2009---Make it Divine!!

Susanne said...

I don't think I've ever seen a duck like that red faced one. Very different.

LOL. I don't know of any boy that wouldn't love a demolition job like that one.

SarahHub said...

Too funny!

Happy 2009!

FrenchGardenHouse said...

What a great idea! That way it was still useful. And everyone enjoyed it.
:) Lidy

Susan B said...

A very good idea to leave it for the birds. Cute that Lizzy sneaked a bite too! Thanks for sharing the pictures, it looks like your son enjoyed crushing it! (My kids made gingerbread houses a couple of times.)

Mom to 5...Daughter of the King said...

What a perfect way to 'get rid' of the house! and a lot of fun!

mysteryhistorymom said...

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! What a lovely blog you have! I think I may add you to my favorites- right now!;) Lori

Anonymous said...

Ha-ha! My own boy would love the crushing part!

don't know if my last comment went through... Please delete if it's a double!

Stacey said...

What a great send off for the gingerbread house. :)

Unknown said...

Do ducks get cavities??

I think your house was adorable. And a great idea to let your boy destroy it first. That was probably almost as much fun as making it in the first place.

happy New Year!!

Toni said...

Um,...I'm still trying to process the beautiful scene (sunshine and summer shorts). Can I cry just at little over that? I'm sooo not a fan of winter. Not, not, not!

And what a great idea for the gingerbread house. We back up to the neighborhood aeration pond. I always toss our crusts out to the birds and water fowl. Last week, an entire flock of crows landed to feed (I've never even seen a flock of crows).
Blessings,
~Toni~

Kelli said...

We have a very similar gingerbread house...what a fun way to get rid of it! LOL
~Kelli

Carol said...

I love the way you & your son disposed of the gingerbread house! What a memory maker! I'm sure he'll look forward to making another house when the season rolls around again!
Smiles,
Carol

Carole Burant said...

I'm sure Sweet Cheeks felt like Godzilla, being able to stomp all over that gingerbread house! hehe You two sure did a great job decorating it:-) I remember when my boys were small, we'd always make one...they'd eat it all once it was time to put away the decorations! lol Such beautiful pictures you got of the various birds!! xoxo

Diane@Diane's Place said...

Beautiful pictures, Melody. I enjoyed the scenes around the lake. It looks like it was pretty warm in your area lately. It was 72F here today. Not typical January weather for us and I'll be glad when it cools off again.

I've never made a gingerbread house, but it's on my to-do list. Maybe next year.....

Have a blessed Sunday!

Love and hugs,

Diane

Traci @ The Bakery said...

Ok, where are you that it is that green and sweet cheeks is in shorts in JANUARY?

I've already got cabin fever and I only live in Oklahoma. Great blog!!!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Oh, your gingerbread house was darling, but what a great idea to repurpose it! I'm sure the ducks enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I see your Lizzy does look like the artist's portrait of his dog. Cockers are a wonderful breed. laurie

Linda said...

What a creative way to dispose of the Gingerbread House! When I was a little girl, my Mom made a whole Gingerbread Village. It was amazing. We tried to preserve it for as long as we could. I'm not sure, but I think she eventually just threw it away. I can still remember sitting and watching her do the painstaking decorating.

delighted heart said...

Thanks for stopping by and the sweet comment. After getting gingerbread instead of white bread those ducks may be camping on your back porch! Cute idea to share your goodies with God's feathered friends!
Many Blessings for 2009!
Patti

Susan said...

How special that it was put to such good use and joy, by your son and the animals.
Susan

Terri Steffes said...

What a cool thing to do! I love birds, as you may have deduced from my eagle post! Thanks for coming to visit me, I hope you will come often!

Shell in your Pocket said...

Poor Gingerbread house!!! The ducks and dog were happy !
-sandy toes

Betty said...

Beautiful pictures of all the feathered friends...

Thank you for visiting with me and the sweet comment...

Blessings...Betty @ Country Charm

Jess said...

Hope that you had a very Happy New Year. May God richly bless you and yours.

Thanks for all your kind comments while I have been away.

Have a great week
Lots of love,
jess

Sarah said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love your tea room, it looks so inviting. I've enjoyed getting to know you a bit through your writing.

Mary L. Briggs said...

What beautiful pictures!! Your home is lovely~I especially enjoyed the tea room.

Have a nice day!

Jenileigh said...

I love the gingerbread house!

Thanks for stopping by Kingdom Academy. (My voice gives out with all the read alouds we do!)

Melanie said...

Hi, Melody. Thanks for visiting my blog. I saw that kit at Walmart. It turned out just lovely! I like to go to the Grand Floridian resort at Disney World each Christmas season. They make a life sized gingerbread house that is unbelievable! Have a lovely day.

Unknown said...

We just got rid of our Gingerbread house too. My kids were sad though. Beautiful pictures by the lake.

Toodlebugz said...

Happy New Year! We made 9 gingerbread houses for a retirement home party, I posted about it with pics! The children loved it and we gave them away in a drawing for the party!
Many Blessings!

Kim @ Home Is Where The Heart Is said...

Thank you very much for the New Year Wishes...all the best to you and your family as well!

Anonymous said...

Your gingerbread house was beautiful. I have always wanted to make one. It was nice that you gave the animals a little treat. Happy New Year to you and your family.

Kathi~Lavender, Lace and Thyme said...

Ok Melody, you got me at first :)...what a wonderful idea! I am so thankful you shared your little gingerbread story as it's priceless! :)