Family Work, Family Play

We started a new project this June. Well, what's new, right?

I had been having a playground kit that I bought on clearance on a do-it-yourself website since January. The old playground definitely had issues, but was still safe.

Lance finally agreed to look at it. I got the plans out and various books that had some cool ideas. Lance reviewed the plans, took a look at the books, and then got out the plans again. This time he got out the ruler and liquid paper too. I raised my eyebrows a little, but Lance always comes up with really neat ideas, so I let him do.

We set a start date and decided it would take no more than a week to disassemble the old one and build the new one. Well, we started Memorial Day weekend, and due to excessive amounts of rain and various add-ons, we completed the playground last week.

The new playground now features two children's swings, one cooperative swing, an infant swing and a five foot cypress porch swing. One slide is a 7 foot tubular slide and the other is a bumpy straight slide (if that makes sense!). There are two towers connected with a rickety bridge hand-netted by Lance. The larger tower has different levels for climbing and also Les Barres de Prison with a door that does not lock (for those brothers and sisters that might like to do away with a pesky sibling). At the top level is a surprise which I won't ruin with a picture, you'll just have to come see for yourself. The playground is shaded except for about 5 hours in the heat of the day. We have plans for landscaping and more shade trees, but that will be more in the fall.

We have also raised some Peking ducks and white geese for the pond. The fish are just waiting for someone to come toss some bait into the water. The fence is going up for the sheep (and possibly a donkey). However, Farmer Kelly lost several of her vegetable plants due to poor drainage and too much rain. I'll just try again later. Another summer project that I started is a beautiful quilt for Camille. My friend, Sandy, shared an easy pattern with me. I must say it is coming out awfully nice for the poor sewing skills that I possess.

Nickel is having his first birthday next week. He thinks he's big stuff. He has two bottom teeth, but still no top teeth. He hasn't begun to walk yet. Lance blames the exersaucer that he was in as a smaller baby. I'm actually okay with him not walking yet, since I can about imagine what other things he would be getting into.

We finished up all of our recitals, baseball/softball season, and most of the summer camps. Heidi still has culture camp over at the Jean Lafitte Center in town. Matthew attended the past two years, but is now too old. Heidi is very much looking forward to it. We're also doing a short course in early American history, which is kind of fun. The kids were frustrated at first for doing "schoolwork" over the summer, but then they got interested. We recently learned about Columbus' four voyages across the Atlantic. Yesterday, I heard Alain talking about the "treacherous" game he was playing! Next week, we'll get into the Native American Indians and their territories in North and Central America.

Life has been interesting to say the least. We're looking forward to the rest of the summer. Every day is a new and welcome challenge. Hopefully, it stays interesting and not too "treacherous"!