Tent

The 4-H countdown is on!  #2 made this little number for her child development project.  We found the project at Lowe's Creative Ideas.  Keep in mind that SHE did NOT do ALL of the work BY HERSELF.  She and I (with some help from Dad) put this thing together.  It's fun when I get a chance to work on a project with one kiddo individually.

The covering is a painter's drop cloth.

IMPORTANT:  wash the drop cloth BEFORE cutting it to the correct width.  We thought we had this baby licked.  We washed the fabric.  We placed it back on the frame.  #2 was ready with the staple gun and we realized that instead of being four inches too wide it was now TWO inches too short. This shtuff  (< not a typo) SHRINKS!

Instead of falling in a heap on the grass like a frustrated 3 year old (me not #2) we decided to add the jute webbing to the ends.  Problem solved and it adds a nice contrast.

This sucker is big!  #2 and I both fit inside comfortably.  This is going to be her reading hideaway.  When it comes home from Achievement Days it will be donned with Christmas lights and large fluffy floor pillows. 

We kept the color neutral so it could be passed on to #4...

and it's easier than hemming a large piece of fabric on all 4 sides.

Tess enjoyed the shade from the 100 degree temps.

Here's to creating with your kids. 

 It's amazing what they tell you when you have time like this together.  Sometimes they are waiting for just the right moment to ask you that thing that's been on their mind.  What better place for these conversations than in the garage/workshop/craftroom/...

Becky

Grilled Fish

I'm going to share the easiest peasiest way to grill fish - evah!

Our favorites are tilipia and mahi-mahi.  I buy the frozen fillets and thaw them overnight in the fridge.  The package doesn't recommend this method but non of my people have died yet.  Go with what ya know.

The grill should be around 400 degrees.

First we make cute little aluminum foil "boats" for our fillets.

Add a pat of butter, sea salt, pepper, and a couple teaspoons of lemon juice to each "fish boat".

Place on the preheated grill.

Sit in your favorite chair and chat with your favorite canine companion and wait.

If you're lucky, a kid might come out and talk to you while your waiting.

Check on the fish from time to time.  It should take about 15 to 20 minutes depending on the thickness of the fillets.

They are done when they are white and flake apart with a fork.

These are SO good as they are or grill a nice big hard roll or bun and have yourself a fish sandwich.

Tell the kids it's chicken.  They'll never know the dif.

Becky

Brave

Looking for something to do in air conditioning this weekend? 

Take the kids to see "Brave"...in 3D!

It was a fabulous movie.  One of those movies with adult humor for us big kids.  My sister and I were a bit concerned that we both might blow chunks with the whole 3D thing, but the glasses didn't take long to get use to and we managed to keep our popcorn and Junior Mints right where they belonged... 

GET IN MY BELLY.

#3 had a Christmas morning face when she learned she could keep the glasses. 

She popped the lenses out and wore them like this the rest of the day. 

Simple pleasures.

Becky

Camp Stool

It's July....crunch time for 4-H projects

. 

This Friday is Fashion Revue.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with 4-H, this is an event in which the 4-Her makes a clothing item and then models the item with coordinating accessories in front of a judge.  Back in my day this provided "Toddler and Tiara" type of competition amongst as Johnson County 4-Hers.  Not kidding.  Things aren't as ugly around here.

While I'm having flashbacks and hotflashes about midnight sewing sessions to finish the clothing projects, I thought I'd procrastinate a bit more and show you the project that #1 completed last week.

We found this cute little raggedy camp stool at Habitat for a dollar.

#1 sanded the legs to get the grime off and then rubbed on a coat or two of clear wax.

Then he made a new seat out of vintage cowboy canvas using the old seat as a pattern.

Notice the tape on the machine?  This is a life saver when teaching kids how to sew.  Place the tape where the seem allowance needs to be and the child has all kinds of room to keep the edge even with the tape and the seem allowance will be consistent (best case scenario).

He covered the nails with decorative vintage looking nailheads. 

Took him about three hours from start to finish to complete. 

That's excluding the we-(Mom and #1) need-a-break-from-eachother moments.  Everyone has these when working with their kids, right? 

Step away...just step away.

It can hold up to 50 pounds...

(probably more - but we won't test that until after Achievement Days.)

Now I'm ready to head back to the sewing room with #2.

Becky