New Year’s Day, and I am sorting, cleaning and making new bird “suet” blocks for the local wildlife. The holiday season has flown by. Actually all of December passed quickly. Forget that, the whole year 0f 2018 disappeared. So what happened in it?

My pet shipping business was busy all year. My mother passed away in August. And the biggest change, my husband and I decided to move to the homestead full time, and this was the year since he retired. So we knew it was coming, and have been bringing special belongings up every weekend with us. But once the first of December appeared, the reality started to hit.

Lots of sorting and box packing, donations and e-Bay sales. And still there was more “stuff” to deal with. After falling ill over Christmas, I got out of the hospital in time for the closing of the house for sale, final packing, and then, then last drive between states to make it to NY.

So we made this a quiet New Year’s – no late night and no party to watch the ball fall. This morning, once again, I planned to unpack just a couple boxes. Today it was kitchen stuff – food from the other pantry, kitchen items, household supplies. As I made room for all the surplus and duplicate items, I forced myself to look at what really was on hand. Some boxed supplies that expired (by years! – throw it out!) and some flours and cornmeal that are not terribly fresh. I hate waste. What could I do with some of this stuff?

Then it hit me – I had old oats, peanut butter, cornmeal, lard and flour that could turn into “suet” blocks for my birds! I have enough commercial suet cakes on hand, but I can make some and freeze until I need them. And that way I am not throwing out foodstuffs that can otherwise be used. Win-win!

I remember a recipe for suet cakes I saved from a Birds and Blooms recent issue. Here is my version. Use it to feed your wild birds, and have fun making it – and let the kids join in!

Homemade Suet Cakes

Melt together in a heavy saucepan:

1 cup peanut butter (I happened to have chunky on hand, which my husband doesn’t like, and I can no longer eat)

1 cup of lard

While they melt, in a very large bowl mix together:

2 cups of quick oats

2 cups of birdseed (I used 1 cup of hull-less mix and 1 cup of sunflower seeds – more peanuts would be appreciated by my birds as well!)

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1 cup of flour

When all the dry ingredients are mixed together, pour in the melted fats and stir to completely mix. Let it cool a bit and push into molds. Anything works. I used small mini-loaf pans, but cat food cans, tuna cans or margarine tubs would work well. Refrigerate to cool, and put outside or freeze as needed.

Other additions: meal worms, dried fruit, peanuts or raisins.

do not use bacon grease, bread or honey, per Birds and Bloom.