Tag Archives: gnome

The Birdfy Feeder Ebony | Yeah, I got another one.

Posted on by Standard Reply

So, I have been testing the Birdfy Feeder Cyan & Birdfy Nest Cyan (both Walmart exclusive) for a while, and the Cyan feeder’s built-in solar panel recently popped out of the roof. I’m guessing a raccoon was trying to open the lid. I posted about it in the Netvue Birdfy Community Facebook Group, and Birdfy reached out right away to offer a replacement. The Cyan and the nest that I had been testing had the Birdfy 2 camera installed, Not sure if the replacement has that, or a camera more like the original Birdfy Feeder or Birdfy Camera.

Birdfy Feder Cyan - Test Model with Popped Solar Panel
WANTED: 🦝

They sent a Birdfy Feeder Ebony as a replacement, and the construction is notable better than the test run! This one has a magnet mount so you can access the camera without having to have an empty feeder (which is one of the issues that I had reported to them on the test run), and this solar panel mount can swivel and it’s hinged so you can find the best angle for your location. This feeder is great if you’re looking to test out Birdfy products. It has a matching Birdfy Nest Ebony too!

Birdfy Feder Ebony
Birdfy Feder Ebony
The Naughty Gnome Noshery
The Naughty Gnome Noshery
Birdfy Feeder Ebony & Birdfy Camera pointed at the squirrel feeder.
Birdfy Feeder Ebony & Birdfy Camera pointed at the squirrel feeder.

That’s a Birdfy Cam behind the ebony feeder pointed at my squirrel feeder picnic table.

Birdfy Feeder Ebony Close-Ups
Birdfy Feeder Ebony Close-Ups
The Naughty Gnome Noshery
The Naughty Gnome Noshery – Sign on the perch & the gnomes it’s named after.

I already got a Cardinal visiting:

Tell me about your setup! Do you have a Birdfy or other camera feeder? I have been looking hard at the Bamboo Feeder & Polygon Nest, the Metal Feeder, the Hummingbird Feeder, & the Bird Bath. Although, maybe I should slow down.

I currently have up & running:

Full disclosure, I get a small comission if you make a purchase using my affiliate link. I have been very fortunate to be able to test & provide feedback for Birdfy products. I also have a bunch of blog posts about Birdfy… like So, I guess I’m a birdwatcher?, I got to test a new camera bird feeder, & More Bird & Squirrel Videos. Of course there’s my YouTube playlist too.

If you have any questions about any of the products that I own, pop them into he comments and I will do my best to answer. I may even be able to help with mounting or what kind of seed mix. I can’t offer support or how to be a product tester, you would have to contact Birdfy for that.

🐦🕊️🪶🐦‍⬛🦜

Bird Seed Mix | Chaos Edition

Posted on by Standard 3

I have been slacking on the bird feeder filling lately as we have had some stuff going on, but I made a sure to get ’em filled today. I grabbed some photos of what I bought & mixed as people are always asking what others use. I wish I could tell you I am consistent. I generally grab whatever looks good, or is cheap, or whatever is available. This is what caught my eye today.

Bird Seed Mix

I put all this in a Rubbermaid tote, stirred it with an unused garden stake, and went to fillin’. The powdered spices seem to be cheaper than the oils or the hot seed mix. I think they work well enough for me. I feed the squirrels & chipmunks on their own anyway.

Anarchy Bird Seed Mix
Anarchy Bird Seed Mix

I do have suet blocks hanging too, I got the C&S Hot Pepper Delight and the C&S Woodpecker Treat to hang in my double-block feeder. I like to get the orange or berry varieties sometimes too.

The Pissing Gnome
Urine Speaks Louder Than Words

The pissing gnome is still hiding among the pollinator wildflower mix under some of the feeders… they generally look like weeds until august. Got any tips on how to keep a nice-looking pollinator garden? I do like how it obscures the scattered seed… and I’m growing some errant sunflowers.

If you wanna learn about Birdfy or my setup, check out these posts (or my YouTube Playlist of bird & squirrel videos):

I also put out corn cobs & peanuts for the squirrels & chimpunks. The deer have decided the corn is theirs.

OK, I showed you mine… now show me yours. What do you put in your bird feeders? What do you feed your squirrels, chipmunks, or other critters?

I may have a bird feeder problem.
I may have a bird feeder problem.

🥜🥜🥜

So, I guess I’m a birdwatcher?

Posted on by Standard 4

I have been feeding the birds forever, and enjoy watching all the critters on our suburban landscape… even down to the bees pollinating in my zucchini flowers. I have enjoyed the Merlin Bird ID app for identifying birds that I have observed at my feeder since we moved here over 10 years ago. There’s a nice flowering tree out back that you can see perfectly from the kitchen window.

A gnome statue, he appears to have been caught mid urination.

This year for my birthday, my wife got me a Netvue Birdfy Feeder with the solar panel.

I started out with it out back by the old feeder, and a picnic table squirrel feeder from Amazon. The deer got crazy close and I was afraid of them destroying it… so I got a pole and moved it to the side of the house, right outside the window… and now the cats enjoy it there, too. I had to get the Pro Perch add-on, too.

So, of course, I got another pole and another Birdfy camera without the feeder attached and a solar panel from Walmart (they’re weirdly cheaper there in person & sometimes on Amazon than they are online at Birdfy). I couldn’t now miss the action at my old traditional feeder & the new squirrel feeder.

I have since caught deer feeding on the corn and bird seed, squirrels, a chipmunk or two, and so many trash pandas in addition to all the birds.

NAUGHTY GNOME NOSHERY

I thought I’d share photos of my setup and some videos that I have taken since I have had people inquire about it. I can see myself getting a hummingbird feeder or the nest camera down the line. Ha ha.

I have dubbed the backyard area the Naughty Gnome Noshery, and I’ll eventually work out some signage. (My wife calls it “Bird Kennywood.”) I planted some pollinator mix around the base of the tree to hopefully obfuscate the seed casings & spent peanut shells… and provide some help to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, & other pollinators. I hung one of my 3 insect hotels out there, too.

Multiple views of my backyard bird feeder & camera setup, some brick trim around a nice little flowering tree that's hosting a bird feeder, squirrel feeder, corn posts, a hummingbird feeder, and a bug hotel. There's a funny gnome statue, too.
The Naughty Gnome Noshery
A squirrel dines on discarded seeds the morning after raccoons reigned destruction upon my entire setup.
A picnic table shaped squirrel feeder mounted to the tree, holding an ear of corn, filled with peanuts, and covered with a red umbrella.
A mourning dove, some flowers, and the naughty gnome statue.
A blue insect hotel mounted under the squirrel feeder & above the pollinator flowers.
A grey squirrel dining in our backyard outdoor cafe.
The back of the Birdfy camera pointed at the hanging bird feeder.

I ought to get a ground level camera for the rabbits, and I have seen the occasional red fox in the neighborhood, too.

Netvue Birdfy Feeder & Solar Panel outside of our window - front view.
Netvue Birdfy Feeder & Solar Panel outside of our window - back view.
Netvue Birdfy Feeder & Solar Panel with the Pro Perch - view from the window,
One of our cats, Waffles, looking out the window at the Birdfy Feeder.

I have gone through a few feed mixes, different suet block flavors, even suet pellets that no one liked, but I have arrived on mixing my own from a hot pepper or spicy sunflower mix, safflower seeds, and mealworms all mixed together (for now), with peanuts for the squirrels… but the blue jays and grackles like those, too. I have put out oranges and grape jelly to try & attract orioles to no success.

I do suggest getting both the Netvue and the Birdfy apps. I use the Netvue one for camera setup, and the Birdfy one to watch the videos. Sadly, the AI bird identification subscription service is per camera, not app… so I only have it on the first one, and I still use Merlin Bird ID a lot. I know my friend Jason has the Bird Buddy brand and he’s very happy with it. I’m sure there are lots of cool ones out there.

You into birding, too? Tell me about your setup or ask me questions in the comments! Or hit me up on social media, too. I’m @AiXeLsyD13 on pretty much everything. I put a bunch of Birdfy videos on my TikTok and I share them in a cool Birdfy Facebook Group. I even have an unlisted Birdfy video YouTube playlist.

@aixelsyd13

Is it a #birdfeeder or a #houseofhorrors? #pets #birds #cats #CatsOfTikTok #Butterscotch #Waffles #Netvue #Birdfy #NetvueBirdfy

♬ In the Air Tonight (2015 Remaster) – Phil Collins
@aixelsyd13

Dude is lovng life. Look up the song “The Squirrel” by #TeenageBottlerocket ! 🤘🐿 #NaughtyGnomeNoshery #Squirrel #Gnome #GardenGnome #PissingGnome #🥜 #🐿

♬ The Squirrel – Teenage Bottlerocket
@aixelsyd13

The #woodpeckers like the suet blocks. #Netvue #Birdfy #NetvueBirdfy #BirdFeeder

♬ Blue Jays – Days N Daze
@aixelsyd13

♬ Bottle Caps – Ann Beretta
@aixelsyd13

Had some #housefinches out back today. #HouseFinch #Netvue #Birdfy #NetvueBirdfy #BirdFeeder #Birding #Birder 🪶

♬ Where Are We Going To – I Voted For Kodos
@aixelsyd13

Feathery & furry friends today! #grackle #cowbird #woodpecker #chickadee #squirrel #starling #chipmunk #grinny #grinnie #birdfeeder #squirrelfeeder #finch #netvue #birdfy #netvuebirdfy #caughtonbirdfy #suburbandwildlife

♬ Turn! Turn! Turn! – The Byrds
@aixelsyd13

It’s a busy morning at the NaughtyGnomeNoshery. #Netvue #Birdfy #NetvueBirdfy #CaughtOnBirdfy #peanuts #birdfeeder #squirrelfeeder #bluejay #housefinch #cardinal #starling #grackle #redbelliedwoodpecker #squirrel #birdseed 🪶🥜🕊🐦‍⬛🐦🐿

♬ I Can See Clearly – Screeching Weasel
@aixelsyd13

Usually the #MourningDoves hang out under the feeder. 🤷‍♂️ #CaughtOnBirdfy #Netvue #Birdfy #NetvueBirdfy #MourningDove #BirdFeeder

♬ Sneaky Sneaky – Gold-Tiger

So, I Finally Made a Maze Book!

Posted on by Standard 3

I had some time recently, and I wanted to see what the process was to publish a print-on-demand book from Amazon. I grabbed a bunch of my smaller easy mazes with no discernable theme that I had previously posted here & on Instagram, and assembled them into a book. All of them were scanned in & maybe fixed a bit with paint.NET, and I put the pages of the book together with OpenOffice, so my only cost came down to the pens & paper. (Not sure how to quantify time & sanity.)

At any rate, I present to you – So I Finally Made a Maze Book: Easy Mazes by AiXeLsyD13

The cover for "So I Finally Made a Maze Book: Easy Mazes by AiXeLsyD13." It's white text in a blue rectangle, with 4 mazes underneath. The mazes should be relatively easy, & have been colored. Clockwise from the top left they are a taco, a gnome, a snowman, & a banana.
Yup, I finally did it. After drawing mazes for decades.

It was very simple to publish with Amazon. This gave me the confidence to put together another book, perhaps with a bit more coherence, and definitely with a much better cover. I have already started drawing new mazes in a neat little box template so they’re a bit more consistent. What’s a good number? 30? 50?

Also, I need to get all of these older mazes scanned & into a book too. I have some pages that are bigger than my scanner bed though. Perhaps a trip to FedEx Office or Staples is in order.

I just kind of set the price arbitrarily to make a little bit off of publishing. I’m not looking to get rich, but it would be nice to finally make income of off artistic output after decades of ostensibly doodling. (I won’t delve into my musical endeavors which are break even at best but probably a negative sum game. 🤣)

Luckily the creative outlet for me is just that, an outlet. I think we all need to express ourselves artistically or through sports, gardening, or other hobbies.

It also suggested I make a Kindle version, so I did that too. I am not sure if the concept will work there. Can you draw on a Kindle screen with a stylus or your finger? Can you print from a Kindle? I must confess I don’t have one. I am still a fan of books in the traditional form.

If you have ever enjoyed my mazes, or have been one of the awesome people that has completed them and sent in the solution – I humbly ask you (if you’re so inclined) to purchase a paperback for around $6 or a Kindle book for around $3 and let me know what you think. Should I do more? Did you enjoy it? Is the quality any good?

Really, I ask you to try even if you have never solved one of my mazes. Now is a good time to start!

It might make a good gift for kids or adults. It’s a nice way to pass some time or zone out.

If you do buy, can you leave an honest rating/review? I feel like that goes a long way with Amazon.

If you can’t buy or are really not interested, that’s OK too! I would ask you to maybe share the link around.

My thoughts on the next one are that I probably need a table of contents, to maybe title the mazes, and… should I include the solutions in the back? That’s one of my issues. I like to draw the mazes, but don’t really solve them. I may need to reach out for help on that part & pay someone to complete them so I can include the solutions (and make sure they’re solvable).

I probably need help with a title, too.

Thanks for reading, tanks for considering, and please share this link on every social media platform known to humankind: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH2FMH7W

Gnome Mazes ✍️

Posted on by Standard Reply

I drew these a while ago, finally posting. Try ’em out, share/post & tag me on social media! @aixelsyd13

I have the colored versions, inspired by the four seasons, colored via paint.NET. I also have the black & white versions posted.

One may not be solvable. I’m bad at that sometimes. 🤦‍♂️

Band Names: The List

Posted on by Standard 16

Is your awesome idea for a band name already taken?  Assuming you read my other blog about this & have learned to Google potential names, and you’re stuck for ideas… Don’t give in to the temptation to just name your band that anyway.  Be different.  Be original.  Let me (& hopefully the eventual comments on this blog) help you out.

88 MPH

88 MPH

I might pull some of these from an older ever-evolving list at a website that’s a virtual ghost town any more.  I haven’t checked to see if any of these are actual band names.  You need to do that.

As always, I’m begging for input.  Please, add to the list.  It can be serious, scary, intelligent, funny, but make them catchy.  Include a reference/inspiration if you like.

Dianoga

Dianoga

I didn’t come up with all of those, but they’re all from that goofy list.  Let’s add some more.  Make them better than band names that have already been used. Make them memorable and creative.  Make them something that you can register on Facebook, Band Camp, Twitter, MySpace, Google+, Reverb Nation, Pure Volume, or buy the .com (or at least .org).

Put your potential band names in the comments below.  Go!

(If you use one, and we need to cross it off of the list, let us know that too!)

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The Creepy Mrs. Claus

Posted on by Standard Reply

So, on Friday, we boxed up the fall decorations, took ’em to the basement, and brought up the Christmas decorations. My wife, Bethany, put out most of the smaller decorations that go around the apartment, we’ll probably do the tree and maybe some outside lights by the end of the week.

As I was laying on the couch Friday night while we were watching TV… I felt like I was being watched. I was! There was a creepy set of tiny gnome-like yes staring right through me from the coffee table.

It was a tiny eerie Mrs. Claus salt (or pepper) shaker. It must be a set… no idea where they’re from. Mr’s Claus’ apron actually even looks like it was melted a little at one point in time. Perhaps she was stored in a hot attic, near some warm holiday lights, or near a radiator?

So, I did what any normal person would do (I hope)… and I turned the creepy little thing so it was no longer facing me.

Bethany erupted in a fit of laughter, because I was obviously disturbed by a tiny inanimate object.

Saturday morning, I stepped into the shower stall, and Mrs. Claus was eight there on top of the shampoo dispenser looking right at my naked figure.

Game on. Bethany wins the first round.

Needless to say, Mrs. Claus was all over the house this weekend.

We’ve played this game before with empty toilet paper rolls… because someone refuses to change them when they’re done, and just sets a new roll on the window sill. Not naming anyone here, I’m just sayin’. They’ve ended up in pillowcases, in the freezer, in the car… you name it.

This morning, I used my cell phone to capture an image of the disturbing little holiday figurine, Photobucket to save it, paint.NET to crop it, and then I emailed it to my wife’s Yahoo!, Hotmail, & Work email addresses, and her phone.

Not sure where to go next… but I thought I’d share the creepy Mrs. Claus image, in case you had anyone that you wanted to creep-out.

Maybe I’ll eventually have to get a better photo with the camera. This one’s a little blurry.