Funnel and Hose

A strategically placed funnel can be great fun. Try attaching a hose to it, and things get even more interesting.

Kiddo and his friend had so much fun with this in their yard that he asked to play with it in the bath.

Yes, I know the tub needs cleaning. I just thought I'd try to help you feel better about your own housekeeping skills.

I'm Exhausted Just Thinking About It (Bits of My Weekend)

Wow, we had a busy weekend.

We started out with our annual pilgrimage to the Swedish Midsummer Festival, where we climbed mandolins,

wore flowers on our hats,

 ate meatballs,

 and watched boats.

We went to a birthday party and climbed a web.

We went to the beach in Connecticut, where we looked for shells

and swung high.

The grand finale was the Bronx Zoo, where we climbed more webs,

rode caterpillars,

delighted in butterflies,

and gazed at giraffes.

And now we rest.

For more Busy Weekend Bits visit Six in the City.

Early Friday Do-Over: Indoor Activites List

I'm getting a jump start on the weekend.

For this week's Friday Do-Over I will direct you to my new page, "Indoor Activities." It is a "greatest hits" of the (mostly) easy indoor activities I have posted about over the last few years.

I'm sure you will find something to suit your fancy. And if you don't....... well, you will. 

I'm always curious if others actually do something they saw on this blog, so if you do, let me know!

Have a great weekend.

Round and Round We Go

I thought it would be fun for Kiddo to experiment with a compass. A piece of cardboard worked nicely because he could poke the sharp end in to help keep it steady. There were no rules, no goals, just a bit of exploring.

 Afterward he wanted to color his circles. Geometry is very artistic.

Irresistible Color (Bits of My Weekend)

I started out the weekend with my work slot at the Food Coop.

I went to the Greenmarket and bought, among other things, Red Currants

and Purple Lavender (who could resist that color!).

I also took my compost to the community garden (you want to see a photo, right?), where I mixed my Greens with some Browns.

I picked some Green Basil.

We ended the weekend with some homemade Technicolor Red Currant Sorbet. 

For more colorful Bits of My Weekend, visit Six in the City.

Friday Do-Over: Construction Site

First published 1/29/09
A pan or bucket of dry beans makes a great digging site for construction vehicles.

Truck Stop: Arrgh, Matey!

Did you know that pirates squeeze the best juice? Well, they do.
Don't forget to bring your own cup... it's cheaper!

Go Climb a Tree!

What could be simpler (and easier for mom) that sitting on the grass while Kiddo and friends climb trees in the park?

Awesomeness

Excuse me while I take a few days off to revel in the total awesomeness that Kiddo got a coveted seat in one of the most amazing public schools.

It's been exhausting waiting so long to hear any news and I need a rest.

Fun with Clothespins

This is generally the type of Montessori-inspired activity I would have given to Kiddo when he was three but it's never too late for a little rewind. I came across a bunch of clothespins on a string while doing Kiddo's room "remodel" so I announced that I had "something fun for him to do" (usually a successful strategy in getting him to do something I need done or to get him to keep busy). He untangled the clothespins and clipped them on the cardboard.

It didn't take him very long, but we all know that every occupied minute is a beautiful minute.

See the clothespin activity from 2 years ago.

Renegades (Bits of My Weekend)

Collectively, the family decided that it was very important we head out to Greenpoint for some Van Leuween ice cream.

Kiddo liked sitting at the open window watching the world go by (New Kid preferred to nap). I really enjoyed my Earl Grey ice cream cone.

At nearby McCarren Park there was a "Renegade Craft Fair." Usually I steer clear of craft fairs as I usually find them to be filled with mass-produced goods masquerading as crafts, or lavender sachets and clocks made out of tree trunks.

 This one, however, was full of etsy-type goods! I especially loved the cute skirts. (I didn't buy anything, however. I suffer from a disease which paralyzes me in the face of impulse purchases. I'm currently seeking treatment.)

And Kiddo got a brand-new bed in his own room.

Night-night.

For more Bits of My Weekend posts head over to Six in the City.

Friday Do-Over: Blowing Water

Easy Peasy Entertainment Alert!!! First Published 3/16/09

In one of our science books I found easy water bead races. Since Kiddo gets excited at the mere mention of the word race, and I get excited at the mere mention of the word easy, it was clearly the perfect fit.
All you need is a straw, some waxed paper and water. We also used a dropper for extra entertainment value. (I didn't get good photos because the batteries died mid-race)
Not only can you blow on the water beads to race them. Blowing extra hard makes the larger ones break up into smaller beads. Also you can blow the beads together to make larger beads. You can suck them up the straw and blow them back out. Really, the possibilities are endless.This project had the added bonus of being entertaining for an extended period of time without much parental involvement. While I realize that is not the expressed goal of the Unplugged Project, I found it to be a delightful twist.

At one point I tried to discuss/demonstrate why the water beaded up on waxed paper but not on a towel but his eyes glazed over and I gave up.

Rooting Around

About a month or so ago Kiddo and I headed out to our community garden plot to harvest our first batch of greens. I always sow the seeds thickly and then thin them out when they are the perfect size for a baby green salad. Pulling up small batches of arugula, kale and spinach is a great task for Kiddo. It involves seeing where and how our food grows as well as first-hand experience with the whole plant -- roots and all. Kiddo pinched the small roots off each seedling and added them to the compost. Kiddo enjoyed our time harvesting, no doubt in part because the task had a bit of a destructive edge to it!

Sorry for the lame photo, I need to remember to take my camera when I leave home....