Thursday, August 16, 2012

Homemade Summer

Are you enjoying the city life or quiet country living?


Most of our days feel like a mingling of the two. We enjoy living close to friends and family in the metro area, monthly trips to the Kansas City Zoo, and the grocery store being just around the corner. Likewise, we have taken pleasure in expanding our gardening and canning endeavors, deer hunting during bow season, and catching rabbits and garter snakes [little boys only] around the 1/3 acre we own, in town. Here is a photo of the recent visitor we had who decided to hang out on the back porch storage room shelf until we coaxed him/her down.


FYI - Raccoons will decend a 2x4 plank, with marshmellows placed at 2' intervals, as the board leans from their shelf to the ground.


Just this month the boys have attended Peter Pan at Starlight Theatre and have experienced their dog being "skunked." I believe that is the correct usage of the term, indicating that our beloved Fallon was sprayed by a little black and white, nocturnal mammal.


We are living a beautiful mingling of city and country life.


Recently, while Matthew was labor-intensively working on our 1920s home, he rallied the boys to enjoy the 100+ degree day on our lawn. Literally.


Here's how you can make this simple, family slip 'n slide all on your own . . .


Gather the necessary supplies; a large tarp, a couple hammers and tent stakes, your hose with spray nozzle attached, and some dish soap. With the kids already suited up, begin by staking down your tarp to ensure it's secure on your hillside.



Next, with your water accessed and turned on, set the hose to spray. Aim and position hose for optimal spray coverage, then hold the hose in place with the hammers you and your oldest used to stake the tarp. We prefer to finish the set-up by adding a little extra slip, achieved by a generous drizzling of dish soap [and then kindly return bottle to it's home in the kitchen].



Let the slipping and slidding begin!