A Patio Area That's Grandkid-Proof

Guest post written by Angela Hinderson

For a while after our kids left home, we didn't really think much about what anyone else would like or would be convenient for them in the house. We just always consider what would be good with us. But now we have our first grandchild on the way and have to start thinking about kid-proofing the house once again. One of the first areas that we're thinking about is an area that we spend a whole lot of our time in, the patio.
We really do enjoy our time there and have fixed it to fit our personal wants and needs, but I think that we're going to make a few adjustments that will make it easier on our upcoming and future grand-kids. While I was online looking up some child safety measures on there, I ran across the site get.wildblue and after I looked through it a little bit I decided to sign up for one of the satellite internet packages on that page.
We have some tiles laid down in that area now and I think that we might put some rugs over them or something that has a little more give to it. But I think that won't affect the overall look of the area that much.

A Mermaid's Tale

"From out their grottos at evenings beam,
the mermaids swim with locks agleam."

~Walter de la Mare~

 

On my recent vacation to Myrtle Beach, I made a mermaid on the shore. 

You see, I couldn't just be on vacation.....I had to be crafty, too. Because, making art IS relaxing to me. Even art that will be swept away in the coming tide. 

 

She was made of sand and shells. White shells for her fins and her halter, colored cockle shells for her hair. It took about 4 hours and by the time I was finished, the tide was coming in. 

In a lot of ways, making this craft on the beach was like posting on my blog. The beach walkers who stopped to look were the ones posting comments:

And, I even got some constructive criticism: 

That man above had added eyes and smiley face to my Mermaid:

But, the Munchkin thought it too closely resembled Dracula and we took the mouth off. In general, though, I was thrilled that people were adding to my Mermaid art....if I had had time I would have put up a sign inviting people to do so. 

As the tide came in, we fought the inevitable....mostly because it is just fun to try and thwart nature (knowing you won't win). 

We built walls around her and watched for the next big wave.

Of course, she couldn't withstand the pull of water. She was drawn back into the arms of the ocean. 

But I have no doubt she will reappear the next time we make a trip to the beach.

I shared this post at these fantastic blog parties:

Get Your Craft On
Show And Tell

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A Marvelous Mess #12