One More Use for Duct Tape

So what does a Grammy do with her grandson two days before he goes back to school.  We started out going shopping for a last minute outfit and to get school supplies still missing from "the list". He has to be prepared this year since it was the first day at a new school.  Then it was out to lunch at Friendly's for the two of us. He's so much fun to chat with at 11 years old.

So when we got back to the house we checked out some cool crafts online that we could do together for the rest of the day.  I bought some of the awesome new patterns and colors of duct tape a while ago and we pulled those out to make something.  Neither of us ever tried duck tape crafts before so we were going to start with a really small, simple project.  Well, somehow after our online research I found myself talked into making a bullet proof Nerf gun vest.  I was thinking maybe a pencil case or a wallet.

It took a little longer than I expected. We got the back piece and one side of the front measured, cut and taped in about two hours.  By then we were both a little weary of measuring and cutting pieces so we decided that we would finish it the next day since he was spending the night.

We fell a tiny bit short of green tape, so before we completed it we had to make a trip to the craft supply store the next morning . Then there were the inevitable adjustments along the way, but we finally completed it late in the afternoon just in time for him to take it home with him. In all, it took about 4 hours to complete. I don't think it came out too bad for our first try.

I understand it might be part of an outfit for Wacky Wednesday at school sometime in the future!  And I was told that we might need to add pockets for Nerf accessories too!

Fun and Work and Camp

One of my favorite times of the year is finally here. May is a revitalizing month. The sun is warm on my shoulders as I walk through the woods and see the remains of leaves that were deposited on the forest floor last fall. It's a reminder of the beautiful autumns that we experience in Maine. But I can also see all of the little sprouts of the life poking up through the soft soil telling of the beauty to come in the months ahead. Mayflower and trillium tease me as I walk along our brook at camp. they seem to say "stay for a few more days and we'll really put on a show for you." But we still have to go home. Retirement doesn't alleviate all responsibility, and we still have to take care of those mundane things like lawn mowing and bill paying.

This last trip we had a chance cut a tree or two that needed to come down. These have been reclaimed and turned into pieces of wood to be used for all sorts of crafts and woodland decorating and you'll be able to see them in our shop as soon as I can sort everything out and post them.

Maple Slices

White Birch Slices

White Birch Pedestals

Maple Chunks