Category: Outdoors

Sky Lanterns

After watching the movie “Tangled” and seeing some cool fireworks, I’m inspired to provide the instructions to make Sky Lanterns. After doing some research, I’ve found some debate as to how ecologically safe and fire safe they are or are not. Having covered that– here are some instructions.

Things You’ll Need

2 yards of tissue paper
Scissors
Elmer’s glue
Universal Paper Shield Flame Retardant Spray
String
4 dowels of 3/32-by-18-inch balsa wood
Candle wick
2 fishing hooks
Hot glue gun
Rubbing alcohol
Long match

1
Cut out two 2-foot-wide and 3-foot tall rectangles from tissue paper. Spray these with flame retardant on each side and allow them to dry. Cut the upper right and left corners of each tissue paper sheet. Brush on a thin coat of Elmer’s glue on the top, left and right side edges of each piece of tissue paper. Do not glue the bottom edge. Press these pieces together and allow them to dry.

2
Hot-glue two fishing hooks together so that the hooks are upside down and pointing out. Wrap a candle wick string around the fishing hooks to form a ball.

3
Soak two 3/32-by-18-inch balsa wood dowels in a bucket of water for 24 hours. This will make them extremely pliable. Bend these two dowels into a circle and tie them together. Lay two dowels across this hoop so that the dowels intersect the hoop vertically and horizontally. You can also purchase pre-made circular dowel wood from a craft store.

4
Cut four lengths of string into 6-inch segments and spray with flame retardant. Tie all four of these strings to the hoop. Tape the tips of the string inside the tissue paper bag.

5
Soak the ball of wick in alcohol. Have a friend hold the bag up and slightly open as you place the wick ball on the hoop frame. Carefully light the wick ball with a long match. Allow the bag to begin to inflate with hot air before letting go.

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also see: http://blog.skylighter.com/fireworks/2008/11/how-to-make-chinese-sky-lanterns.html

Tomato

 

Everyone sits in a circle. One person who is it stands in the center of the circle. This Person is called ” It”.

 

Each person asks the person who is “it” an appropriate question. The only answer to every question has to be answered as ” Tomato “.

 

The first person to make the center person  ( It ) laugh wins a try in the middle. 

 

Ex: What color is your hair? Tomato. What do you brush your teeth with? Tomato .

 

(Obviously other funny Questions can be used for variety )

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Throw A Block Party

Every summer some neighborhoods block off their street to provide an opportunity to get to know each other better and have a good time. This celebration can include anything from a potluck supper to an elegant sit down candlelit dinner. Most are holiday oriented, celebrating Memorial Day, Independence Day, or National Night Out. Some consist of a theme such as the ones previously mentioned. Here’s how to go about planning your neighborhood block party.

  • Create a planning committee (as well as subcommittees in charge of food, activities, clean-up, publicity and decorations.)
  • Set up a meeting to discuss theme ideas, dates, food, entertainment and costs.
  • Call the local police department to get permission to block off the street during the party.
  • Create appealing flyers announcing the date and details of the party – hand deliver to your neighbors.
  • Create ice breakers to help get neighbors to mingle.
  • Have a cookie baking contest or a hat contest and give prizes for the top three winners.
  • Have a host or moderator of your event.
  • Pipe in music.
  • Announceany items important to the association or the neighborhood.
  • Allow anywhere from 8 weeks to 3 months to plan the event.

Other Ideas…

Plan a kick-off parade – Invite the neighborhood kids to proudly present their bikes and wagons decorated with streamers, balloons, bows and ribbons.

Show off the pets – Have a parade or a Best of Show. Have prizes for the Happiest Dog, Funniest Fish, Shyest Cat and so on.

Record the event – Have someone take photos or provide disposable cameras for everyone to use. Afterwards, have prints made of the best shots and send them to your guests in theme frames.

more info and great ideas HERE

GORP

GORP is a trail mix that stands for “good old raisins and peanuts, or “granola, oats, raisins, and peanuts”, or “gobs of raw protein”.

  Put in some peanuts, raisins, granola, m&m’s or reeses pieces, and whatever else sounds good but wont melt in the heat. Stir. Separate into baggies and throw a couple into your back pack, next time you’re out hiking or camping, etc.