Easy HomeMade Balance Beam

2x4s + sandpaper + screws = balance beam

Simple, Simple! Well, except for the sanding part. My mom is sending me a power sander, but it won't be here until next week, so in the meantime I sanded the whole thing by hand. If you go this route, expect sore arms. It's still not completely smooth, but smooth enough to not splinter our feet. Rubbing the surface with a beeswax polish allows the beam to be soft and slick enough to pivot on your feet without hurting them.

I can already see the benefits of this balance beam for myself. My physical well-being has been on the decline since the winter--the warming weather helps tremendously in getting me active, but the beam makes excercise even more accessible. It's something I can do while Dudo plays happily alongside me, and it's something I can do in the quiet stillness of the night when he is asleep. I was a gymnast for several years when I was young and always enjoyed balance beam and tubling. Unfortunately, my invovlement with the sport has no doubt contributed to the muscular/skeletal upper body issues that I have been dealing with for the past 6 years. But now, I can do it on MY terms. I can make up my own little balance beam routines without a coach pushing me further. Without someone sitting on my back while I do the splits to make me split further (overstretching as a child, I believe, is one of the main causes of my physical issues). After only two days of using our balance beam, I already feel an increased sense of balance, poise, and strength. It's like dancing (which I also love to do in the privacy of my own home), only you have to do it in a straight line which makes you keenly aware of space and bodily alignment.
And here's Little Dudo the "Pixie" hanging out on the balance beam. The pink clothing rack in the background is something I just finished. It was an old quilt rack that I got at the thrift store. I got it in bad shape, and then left it outside all winter. By the time I actually did something with it, it was in complete shambles. I wish I had taken a "before" picture. First I removed all the rusty nail and screws, reassembled it with fresh hardware, added a dowel at the top instead of the wooden slat, and gave it all a couple coats of fresh rosy paint. It now serves as a rack for our Springtime dress ups.

Wishing You Small Steps in Taking Care of Your Body,
mama randa the once-upon-a-time gymnast

Haircuts

I cut both mine and Dudo's hair yesterday. They turned out really good, I must say! His looks more 'professional' than I have ever been able to do before.
Last time that I tried to cut my own hair, I used a borrowed device called a "Flowbee" and burnt a hole in the bathroom floor. This time was much more successful with good ole haircutting scissors.

Wishing You the Satisfaction of Doing-it-Yourself,
mama randa the haircutter

Puzzle Kids

This design came about by accident. I was attempting to create a puzzle tower, but the shape reminded me of a child sitting peacefully with hands in lap, so I went with it. There's not much to them, as a puzzle they are only three pieces, but the kid's seem to really like them anyway. The felt heart is the final touch, without it they were lifeless. These two now reside in my Etsy Shop.

Hickory Lodge

We've rented a garden plot for the summer at a place called Hickory Lodge. I have long known about Hickory Lodge, but always thought it to be semi-private. Like an office for the Parks District, or someplace that you had to rent. Well, as it turns out, you can go anytime, though few do. It's a really, really cool place with beautifully landscaped areas to play in and explore. More on Hickory Lodge at a later date, but for now I'd like to show photos of the blossoming loveliness at Hickory Lodge today.



And check out this awesome tree-- perfect for little ones to practice their climbing skills.

Wishing You Explorative Spring Days,
mama randa the flower sniffer

FreeRice

www.FreeRice.org

A lesson in vocabulary, grammar, geography, and civil service all in one. The site is called free rice and here's how it works; you're given ah word and four possible definitions. You choose right, and they donate 20 grains of rice to hungry people throughout the world. Amazingly simple and simply amazing. As you play, the 'game' adjusts to your skill level so that anyone can participate, whether you have very limited knowledge of the language, or are an english professor. In this way, your vocabulary begins to expand noticeably.
Dudo loves to play freerice. Of course there's the obvious vocabulary lesson, but also, as we play, we talk a bit about other parts of the world which don't have access to everything we do, thereby adding a geography aspect. And then there's the best part of all, the fact that this organization actually donates 20 grains of rice for each correct answer. We have donated 2,000 grains in just one sitting before. Civil service without ever leaving your desk.
When we play, we make up a sentence with each word that we are given. Dudo takes on this really funny voice, kind of like a narrator, and starts all of his sentences with "One time. . ." Heh, I guess my words are insufficient in portraying the cuteness of it.
I highly recommend playing freerice. You'll find yourself speaking more eloquently and feel good about all of those less fortunate who you have helped.

Wooden Stackers

After at least half a dozen prototypes, I finally am satisfied enough with these stacking toys to offer them in my Etsy shop. They're alot of fun to make, and even more fun to play with. We like to use them as homes for our toys when we set up 'play scenes'. Patience, persistence, precision, playfulness, (and) purposefulness (are) practiced (when) placing and perching pieces (atop one another). Without the alliteration, I mean that stacking them in interesting ways is a fun challenge : )


























Although............... the more I look at the cave one, the more it reminds me of nipples.......

maybe I'll remove that one........

UPDATE: I'm glad I didn't remove the 'nipples', they sold just two days after listing them!!

Wishing You Many New Creations,
mama randa the woodworker

Happy Easter!

This Easter, we tried dying eggs using natural dyed from foods. Here's what we tried and how it turned out;

red cabbage-- didn't work
grape juice concentrate-- bluish
cranberry/pomegranate concentrate-- didn't work
turmeric-- beautiful deep yellow
blueberries-- purplish

so we only got three colors, but it was really great seeing that we really could dye eggs without the use of artificial colorants. Unfortunately we didn't get to take any pictures. . .

The eggs were hidden before I went to bed, and when we woke in the morning, we found piles of egg shells instead of eggs. Here is a picture of one such pile and the guilty party in the background.



Luckily, everything in the Easter Basket was inedible. All of the goodies are from wonderful Etsy artists. Thanks to TGreen Bean Boutique, Green Mountain Wee Woolies, and Amanda Moon for the great handmade goodies. Dudo loved it all-- the pink 'grapefruit baby' was (is) a particular favorite.
wishing you goodness in all your days, holidays and otherwise,
mama randa aka the easter bunny