O.k., my first project when moving into this house was to build the kids a playset. I knew that if I was to get any other projects done, I needed the kids to have something to entertain themselves with. Since they so enjoyed the playset and swingset at our last house, I decided to build them one. However, all the pre-made ones that you buy and assemble were SO expensive, not to mention that they weren't exactly what I would want anyway. So, I spent some time designing a simple set, making up a product list and deciding if I could afford to build it. I was able to build it for less than half the price of an even smaller and simpler store-bought set, and I felt that my design was more appropriate for the ages of my children. I wanted a set that would be fun and safe for even crawling babies, as they like to try to do whatever their older siblings do. Since both of my boys started climbing before they started walking, I had to always watch them so close on our set in Iowa, where the baby could climb the ladder, but then was stuck at the top where there were three spots they cold simply fall off from. So, instead of a ladder, I built 5 platforms of consecutive heights so that babies can get both up and down safely on their. The set includes a small slide for smaller children (one we found in a dumpster and recycled in our own playset) and a larger slide for older children. I also included monkey bars for the older children that span from a platform that is only 2 feet high and, therefore, not a threat to a young child that may fall from it. The swing set kits are awfully expensive so I just bought generic brackets and built my own. The set is now one year old and, so far, it has held up quite well. The monkey bars are the only thing that I've run into trouble with. I made them out of PVC pipes so the kids wouldn't get splinters from wood or burns from metal. However, I attached them simply by countersinking them into the wood supports. As the wood supports have weathered and bowed over time, they have slightly separated, therefore causing some of the monkey bars to fall out. I will need to come up with a solution at some point, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Anyway, here are some pictures of the playset.
4 comments:
Jenny - you don't know me but you responded to my anonymous post on Stephanie Waite's blog. I wrote in about feeling inadequate. I just wanted to thank you for your response. What you wrote and the scriptural reference were exactly what I needed to hear. It was a good reminder that even the great prophets felt inadequate at times. And I agree that it would be so much easier if we all were more open about our weaknesses so we could help strengthen each other. Why do we worry so much about appearing so perfect?
Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you. You lightened my load. :0)
Dear anonymous-
I don't know if this will get to you just by hitting the reply button from my email, but hopefully it will. I will also try to just post it as a comment on my blog. Anyway, I'm glad that my comment helped. Often, writing comments like that helps me remember the truths of the gospel that help me in my life. I too have felt inadequate and discouraged like you many times in my life. Life seems to yo-yo like that. I was wishing that I could have referenced more scriptures because I have noticed so many times when prophets have felt inadequate. However, I'm no scriptorian. Although scriptures come to my mind when I contemplate certain subjects, I can rarely remember the reference. I guess that's a motivation for me to remember to continue to study the scriptures. I'm currently lagging in that respect. But, if you never put the information in front of yourself, then the Lord can't bring it back to your mind. That's a testament to the importance of always studying to better understand the truth. I am grateful for a personal relationship with my Father in Heaven and for the opportunity to receive personal revelation. I guess that's kind of an example of how the Lord fills in where we fall short. I have a difficult time remembering references to scriptures, while that comes easily to other people. But, despite that flaw, the Lord is able to brig those scriptures to my mind when they are needed. I guess I better get back to reading the scriptures daily. That always seems to make life go smoother anyway. I've been having the thought that I need to for some time now, as I have been struggling with a huge life change at the moment, but I've been lazy and haven't done it. Thanks for the motivation. One other thought I had when i was reading you comment on Stephanie's blog was concerning how strong she has been during this trial in her life. I have had many thoughts like, how can I still complain so much about my life when I'm not facing anything near as bad as she is. Then I feel guilty for not being able to change. I think the guilt is a result of the adversary and the inability to change is simply human nature--"habit"if you will. Then I thought, it's the major trials in life that really make or break us. So often, it seems like, when you final get over the hump and life seems to be going pretty good, then some other major thing happens--AGAIN! It seems overwhelming. But, if you look back on your life, it's really those trials that you learn the most from. The bigger the trial, the bigger the opportunity for growth. While, on the other hand, the greater the opportunity to fall. Life is all about choices--agency. Either we choose to learn and grow or we choose to give up and fall. Many times we make the wrong choice and fall a little bit, then we start making the right choices and grow back to where we were and even beyond. Once, during girl's camp as a young woman, I was asked to give a talk. I can't really remember what the subject was, but as I was pondering the subject, I was walking through the woods to clear my mind. I started noticing how really none of the trees were actually perfectly straight. They all had at least little bends in them. Some had major bends in them. Then, i stumbled accross a tree that was bent so severely that it made a complete loop in the trunk of the tree. All of the trees that were alive (hadn't been cut down or knocked down or struck by lightening, etc.) still reached towards heaven--even that amazing tree that made the loop. In a way, the tree that made the loop was the most fascinating. It had such a will to survive, that, even though there was a point in it's life that it started to fall (point all the way towards the ground), it still somehow managed to find the strength to rise back up again. I think the trees are like us. We all start bending the wrong way at times in our lives. Some of us bend more than others. Some of us even make complete circles. But, in the forest, we are all beautiful. Together, it is our differences that make us beautiful, even though those differences may be "flaws". In fact, perhaps it is our flaws that make us so beautiful--our ability, through the power of the atonement, to correct those flaws and still reach towards heaven. Anyway, that lesson I learned through the Spirit on my walk alone in the forest that day has really stick with me and helped me throughout my life. It helps me not only to strive always to come closer to our Savior, but also to not judge others when they make mistakes, but recognize how hard nearly everyone is really trying. I think that is evidence of our divine nature. Incedentally, I also notice many more trees that have complete loops in them. I thought that one tree I saw that day was one of a kind and that it would be the only one I would ever see, but I have seen many more throughout the years. Anyway, this is getting long so I will stop. I have a tendency to ramble on about things. Especially things of a spiritual nature because, as I discuss one thing I've learned it brings to mind other things I've learned. It's just one big chain, and, since I get so excited about my new-found knowledge, I can't stop myself at times, even if it's nothing new to the person to whom I am speaking. Anyway, thanks for motivating me to get back into the habit of scripture study.
Jenny
Loved your play set. IMPRESSIVE!
Jenny, you're CRAZY good at building! Way to go!
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