Rather than the usual restaurant/bar, I figured it's been incredible outside so it's time to get everyone outside rather than trapped inside.
I've been feeling rather hands-on lately, and pretty thrifty with my funds. Rather than make random purchases this week, I chose to start the planning behind yard games.
DIY or Buy?
...that is the ultimate question. Bags, Polish Horse Shoes, Horse Shoes, Ladders, Bocce Ball, etc etc. None of this equipment runs cheap, especially trying to find old versions of lawn darts online. I miss those sharp darts. Damn the people who decided to stab each other with them and ruin it for the rest of us.
Bags
They aren't cheap. A pretty crappy plastic set will set you back around $100.00. These bags sets are terrible, and highway robbery. The quality is terrible and wouldn't even be justifiable if it wasn't for their ease of transportation. I beg you though, stay away. I've tried and the quality of plastic and the weight of the bags make the game nearly impossible to play.
I suggest going the DIY route. If you have a saw and a little bit of know-how it should be a breeze. The difficult part may come later when trying to sew the bags themselves. Find someone with a nice grandma, and some sewing ability- she's typically more than happy to do it. I managed to get my grandma, who is staying with us, to sew up some bags. All went well until my dog ate them...
Great DIY Site to help you out.
Little preview- the steps are easy to follow and the images are as well.
Polish Horse Shoes, aka Bolo, aka Ladders aka Ladder Toss
These instructions are a little more difficult to interpret, but I want to give you the general idea that the game isn't too difficult to make. PVC pipes, glue, a drill, rope and some golf balls are all you need to get started.
HorseShoes
Horseshoes are a little more difficult and you have to be in for the long haul with this process. Taking your time is key as you don't want the backstop to break and in turn be hit by a flying horseshoe. The image was far too distorted when I transfered it to the blog, so check out the link if you have any interest in horseshoes.
Overall my message was to simply get people outside and enjoy this great weather. The holiday weekend is quickly approaching, and many people have a few days off. Make it an excuse to get together with your dad, son, daughter, mom, family in general, who knows and spend some time making a yard game. When it's finished it will be that much more enjoyable to play, and it's always a good source of entertainment. Go grab the drinks of your choice and start to play. (No beers while making these... Don't recommend that path.)
1 comment:
Good idea, seems rushed, though. Perhaps you would have done better to focus on a single one of these DYI projects. That way, you could have been more systematic.
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