Preventing Splinters on Old Wooden Swing Sets

Our swing set is old, I mean really OLD. We got it used from my hairdresser six or seven years ago and her children had outgrown it years before that. So it has seen lots of use and abuse. The bars above the slide and the rungs for climbing were beginning to get a little rough.

I sanded them at first, and that lasted a little while, but then we began to see more splinters again. The set was still in sound shape and I hated to discard it when my boys still enjoy it. So I wrapped the rungs with electrical tape and it has worked very nicely! I wondered if the tape would hold up to the amount of boy traffic they would see, but it has been two years, and the tape is still working nicely!

The fun things is, electrical tape comes in all different colors, so you could pick whatever bright colors you like to dress up your swing set. We just happen to like the natural look, and using plain old black lets it blend into the yard and woods.

Shading the Sand Box

One of the favorite places for the boys and their friends to play is the sand box. Even with a section of decking above, the sun can beat down from an angle and make it too hot. In an attempt to shade it more and still let the breezes through, I took a length of heavy duty landscaping fabric and stapled it to the side of the deck above. I then cut vertical lines in the fabric to about 3 inches from the top.

In front of the play area, I planted some ornamental grasses. I can let the grasses naturally increase in clump size over the next few years to provide more shading, or divide each year to keep them relatively small. The sand stays shady and cool now all day long.

Easy Pepperoni Bread

Friends introduced us to this wonderful aromatic bread and we have made it many times since! It goes very quickly at family events and church potlucks.

1 (1 lb) loaf of frozen Bread Dough

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Pepperoni

Grated Mozzarella Cheese

Thaw bread dough to room temperature. Flatten out to a

rectangle. Spread mozzarella cheese and Pepperoni on dough. Season with Garlic powder, Onion Powder and

Oregano. Roll it up long wise and make a wreath shape. Let it rise for little bit, then bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Dizzy Disc

The Dizzy Disc is huge fun around here. A built-in level adjusts the slope of the Dizzy Disc to increase or decrease the difficulty level. The greater the slope, the harder it is! The 16" surface allows kids to kneel, sit, lie down and even stand as they play while improving balance and coordination. It is lightweight, durable and portable. And best of all, it is for ages 5 and up. . . up to 150 lbs! But we have been known to put a 200lb Dad on it with no problem!

We picked ours up at a yard sale for a few bucks. But in looking on line to see where someone could purchase one, most places want upwards of $70, and at that, many don't have it in stock. Whether it is out of production, or simply out of stock, I don't know. My best advice is to keep your eyes open on EBay, or Craig's list.

Toy Testers' Scale (out of Five stars):
* * * * *

This is a far cry from a yardsale find, and I don't know anything about SportsKids.com, but their site seems to have them in stock for $129.99. If anyone knows where else this can still be purchased (preferably cheaper), please leave a link in the comments. Thanks!

Soccer Practice Wall

When my middle son started soccer last fall, a friend of mine suggested the boys use a soccer wall to practice kicks against. She has a wonderful permanent wall constructed in her back yard.

Sinking posts in cement and screwing a more formidably built wall to the posts would have been ideal. But to be honest, I didn't have the money for the supplies, and wasn't sure how much the boys would use it.

For now, I simply used what we had on hand to try out the idea. Here was my plan.

• First, find a good spot that can take stray balls sailing through.
• Use a string line to make sure the posts will be aligned enough to attach the wall.
• Drive three or four large metal fence posts into the ground, spaced around 4 feet apart, along the line.
• Attach an eight foot by six foot section of privacy fence using large wire ties at top and bottom. A wall with thicker slats will take more aggressive play, but I simply used a section we had taken down from another place in the yard. We used a few upright logs to help return wide kicks.

I'm delighted to say, they love it! It gets used constantly. They use it like a soccer goal to practice their skills, but they also found it works great as a backstop for their wiffle ball games! Maybe someday we'll put in a permanent wall, but this works fine for now!

Thanks, Daree, for a great idea!

Tips for a Successful Yard Sale

We're having a yard sale Saturday. I have been compiling things for a while and it's time to clean them out! Here are some tips for a having a successful sale.

• Set aside a place to store yard sale items throughout the year. This allows you to compile things as you think of them. When you come across something you know you're done with, put it in a box marked yard sale. As your stockpile grows, you'll know when it is time to pick a date.
• Choose your date. We picked our date with our community's Homecoming Festivities and holiday weekend in mind. Yard sales abound this weekend, and turnout is heavy.
• Make it a Neighborhood, or Multifamily event, if possible. Sales which are advertised as Community or Multifamily Yard Sales attract more attention. Check to see if neighbors want to participate, or invite friends from your church to join you and set up a table. Not only will it make your sale more enticing, it is more fun to do with friends!!
• Consider location. If you live in the country, consider having it at a friend's or relative's house who lives closer to town, or on a road with more traffic.
• Advertise/Make simple signs. It is tempting to buy readymade signs, but homemade signs work great! Also, keep in mind, less is best. Putting too much information on a sign makes it hard to read from a moving car. Find out about signage laws in your area. Stapling/nailing signs to telephone poles are no-no's in most areas. I like to place signs where I can ask the property owner for permission to drive in a stake, or leave a freestanding sign board. If your sale location is far off the beaten trail, consider putting an ad with your address in the paper so people can check a map before setting out.
• Price your items. People like to know up front what you are thinking. If you are unsure of how much to ask for something, do a search on EBay and see what similar items are selling for there. You can also price by group, for example, "This table, .50 ea." Know in advance what your rock bottom price is on key things.
• Keep clothes and small items off the ground. It is much easier to look through things on tables. Sheets of plywood on saw horses work just fine. But if you must put things on the ground, place them on a blanket, or on pavement. We sometimes place a length of pipe between two ladders so we can hang dress clothes, quilts, and curtains on hangers. It works very nicely.
• Have plenty of change/small bills on hand along with a tablet and calculator.
• Supply plastic shopping bags to help your shoppers get their treasures to their cars.
• Keep batteries and screwdrivers nearby to test items. Have an extension cord available for testing electric items.
• Clean your items. Launder clothes, wipe off toys, and dust furniture. A little bit of care ahead of time will allow you to ask the best prices.
• Occupy your children. Older children are great helpers, but little ones can find it traumatic when their outgrown things are sold. Decide what will work best for you. With our family, the older boys are great at keeping our youngest entertained and out of trouble.
• Be accessible for questions.
• Greet people with a friendly "Hello" and thank them for coming.

If you can think of anything I missed, please add it in the comments!

Hard Work, Good Friends, Great Food

What an incredibly hot day! Everyone was dripping, but lots of hands made quick work of the massive piles of debris! Without so many neighbors showing up to help, it would have taken much longer. We are so thankful for such great friends. No one asked folks to come and help, or spread the word that people would be working down there. None the less, one by one, men from the community heard the saws and arrived ready to help. One older gentleman even apologized for coming late! At one point, my middle son asked me, "Why are these guys helping?" I told him, "Because, that's what neighbors do." Whether our neighborhood is the exception, or the norm, I'd love for my boys to grow up feeling it is the right and natural thing to do.

Special Touches

My oldest son went camping with a friend's family this weekend. It promises to be a really great time for him. They plan to go swimming, biking, hiking and a whole host of other camping things. But the coolest thing, I thought, was the surprise the mom has in store for the boys. She picked up two new Bionicles from Wal-Mart for them to put together once they settle into their sleeping spaces. How totally cool is that? My son will absolutely beam, I'm sure, when he sees her surprise.

Kids of all ages love surprises. It doesn't have to be something as spectacular as a new Bionicle. It could be a special treat after school, or surprise family outing, or maybe even just some special one-on-one time with a parent or grandparent at a surprise destination. Wouldn't it be wonderful if every child had at least one Special Touch to brighten their day?

Preparing for the Work Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow, we are going over to our neighbor's house to help clean up the trees that were felled. My husband spent the evening getting his chain saws tuned up and his equipment fueled. We'll take the loader and truck down in the morning and then come back for the tractor and wagon.

There will be lots of brush that the kids and I can clean up while my husband helps cut up the big stuff. We're planning a cookout for lunch so all won't be work and no play! These folks happen to be the very first friends we made when we relocated, and they have become wonderful friends. I am truly thankful for them!

It is really important to us that we make time to help friends when we can, especially in this culture where folks don't often have the opportunity to get to know their neighbors. Neighbors can be wonderful resources for families, especially families with children. The support they can offer each other can make all the difference when it comes to emergencies, family illnesses, emergency child care and even neighborhood watches.

We like to take family walks both for health reasons and to enjoy seeing people who we might not have seen for a while. Sometimes we even have a chance to meet new folks. We have made many wonderful new friends this way! You can't get to know your neighbors unless you make an effort to reach out.

Make Your Own Snow Cones and Syrup

I recently came across this bargain at Good Will. It was only $2.50 and although it was a Pampered Chef item, I still had my doubts about whether it would work well or not.

But it works wonderfully! It came with one little tub for making a round block of ice. But I use butter tubs to make and freeze lots of extra blocks. That size container just so happens to make blocks that fit perfectly. For large gatherings of kids, having extra ice comes in handy. Some days I go through 4 or 5 blocks!

I've also discovered several great snow cone syrup recipes out there. This one is the one I use the most, but a search on Google will net you lots of them.

Snow Cone Syrup

• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4-1 Cup water (the recipe actually calls for 3/4 Cup, but I find that the syrup is too thick to pour)
• 1 package unsweetened Kool-Aid, any flavor.

Place the sugar and water in the pan and bring it to a full boil. Remove from heat and stir in the Kool-Aid. Cool to room temperature and place in the fridge until chilled. Pour over crushed ice. Store in fridge.

My kids (and the Neighborhood Troops) LOVE this treat! And it is so easy and inexpensive to make. I've noticed that Wal-Mart carries snow cone makers in season, as well. So, although you might not find the bargain I did at Good Will, they aren't too expensive in regular stores to buy new. This is one summer time treat that I'm sure I'll be making for many summers!

Making a Train Table

My four year old son loves Thomas the Train. But, buying a real Thomas the Train table involved more money than I could budget, so I set out to make one for his last birthday.

The first thing I did was make a layout using his track from several generic sets. When I found a layout I liked, I took a picture (so I could reconstruct it again) and measured it's dimensions. Then, I went looking for a piece of scrap plywood that would work. After trimming it to size, and sanding the top and edges, my older boys helped me design and paint the top. What fun! Then we reconstructed the track in the layout we had planned, and screwed it down. For risers under bridges, we cut small scraps of wood.

When in use, we sit it on two toy bins (big totes). The nice thing is that it can be easily stored by leaning it in a corner of the room. It has seen tons of use and is one project well worth the time and effort involved. I was tickled to find some beautifully made train pieces from Big Lots at the time for a fraction of the cost of name brand ones. I like that!

Hats off to the "Tree Men"

There ended up being five trees which these men took down. It is always fun to watch how methodically the branches come off, then sections of the trunk, and finally the "pole". There will be lots to clean up, but our neighbors have great friends and relatives to help, and our family will lend a hand, too. I'm sure there will be lots of fun and food in the mix! There may even be some leftover firewood in the deal for us--which is great, because we heat our home with wood! This wood will have to sit and season, but when it's ready, it will be greatly appreciated as we sit in the family room and enjoy the warmth. There is nothing like the warmth of a fire in the stove as you snuggle down in your favorite chair with a good book!

Neighborhood Fun and Free Entertainment!

My neighbor called yesterday morning to let us know that the tree guys were coming to take down several enormous (but dying) trees in front of her house. She invited my little one and I to come and watch. Knowing he would absolutely love it, we hurried to get ready. Anything with chainsaws and bucket-trucks--or any kind of equipment--gets an "Oh, SWEEEET!" from him! A visit with a friend and free entertainment for my son...the morning turned out to be a really fun time.

Yeahh! for US Women's Beachball Volleyball!

I love volleyball and the game between the US and the Chinese the other night was awesome! I usually struggle to stay awake for the late night Olympic coverage, but last night was a nail biter right up to the very end! Congratulations to these two women! What a great performance!

No More Blown-Over Umbrellas

Living in the Midwest has it's disadvantages. One of them is our strong wind.

In the past, we have lost several umbrellas to the wind. It's always frustrating, and we try to keep them down during windy days. But sometimes, the weather can be unpredictable!

My husband came up with this umbrella stand idea and we haven't had another umbrella blow over yet!

We've actually made two of these log stands, and as a bonus, they double as side tables for our patio arrangements!

It isn't easy to drill the big holes in the logs which the poles require. But we love the results and visitors love them, too!

It takes some muscle to rearrange the furniture, though! LOL!

If you try making one, it is a good idea to drill a long narrow drainage hole at an angle from the side to let any water drain out.

Giving the ends a coat of stain now and then will help preserve it, as will making sure it doesn't sit directly on the ground.

Visit Works For Me Wednesdays at Rocks in My Dryer for other great ideas!