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Saturday, May 25, 2013

The Boat Show







































In my dreams, I'm the grandma who inspires primal summertime creativity, eschewing modern day materialism for the satisfaction of toys hand woven from grass and backyard sticks. My grandkids are sent into the woods to play and return with games fueled by handfuls of pebbles and unbridled imagination. When Nobel Prize day arrives, I humbly nod in acknowledgement of being the woman who encouraged it all.....

Reality began with a plastic pool on the first warm, sunny day of the year. It was accompanied by an online search for RC cabin cruisers and submarines, snapping sharks and whistling whales.....

I met in the middle, settling for folded paper boats and optimistic hope that future days will bring to mind the simple joy of making fun from what we have at hand. I learned a lot that day - about myself, mostly. Expressions of grandmotherly love are best served in segments of time spent with children, and not in premium packages plopped soundly on the porch.

Our Boat Show lasted for nearly an hour. Paper vessels, both masted and not, raced and sank and dipped and curved in a dozen inches of sparkling water. Concentrated fervor punctuated with frequent smiles and shouts of joy reflected back. Just beyond that little trio, grandma sat in serene "no-batteries-required" contentment, folding boats to meet demand.......

26 comments:

  1. Very nice, I know it was fun

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  2. Let me start by just saying "No more snow?" SO glad you are having a day to play outside and I love your compromise! Your paper boats are very cool and I love the cargo! Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

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  3. So cute paper boats!!!
    http://freestilcreatingbyvilly.blogspot.gr/

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  4. Are these Origami boats? Where did you get the directions? My grandson and I like to make eggshell boats, with sales made from tissue paper and toothpicks, stuck in a blob of butter.

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    1. Yes, these are origami boats! I learned to make them in college from a guest artist in an art education class They are easy to fold, but the final step is to turn them "inside out" while holding the points so the boat doesn't lose shape - a tricky maneuver, for me, at least!
      I wish I had thought of your eggshell idea. I tried making boats with walnut shell halves but they just sank!

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  5. I love the thoughts you've shared, and I love how your personality and excellent writing skills create such a good post. : )

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  6. I love these, what a good idea! J, you are such an active, creative and loving grandma, I bet your grandchildren just love coming to visit! You teach them so many important skills in life and it really is a joy to read your posts about it! The time you spend with them really is of the highest quality. x

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  7. Love them! When we camp at Lake Winnipesaukee every summer there is a wooden bridge over a running brook and the grandkids love to throw 'stick boats' in and watch them flow to see whose boat goes the farthest without getting hung up. Simple fun - we need more of it instead of more apps.

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  8. Oh Joyce, such a beautiful scene and I really love how you wrote this one....very fun and very beautiful. Thanks for linking with me my friend.

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  9. How fun! Creativity and that Nobel Prize ;) starts when they are young. :) I'm stopping by from Inspire Me Monday

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  10. That is such a fun way to spend a sunny afternoon!

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  11. It must have been a fun day at the "Boat Show" - very creative, that Noble Prize might still be in reach! Thank you for sharing at our ALL MY BLOGGY FRIENDS party !

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  12. Somehow paper and water don't seem to go together, but it looks like your paper boats worked.

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  13. Love this post! I too find myself meeting (myself) somewhere between dream and reality... On a good day dreams come true! Love the boat show. I'm taking notes.

    Blessings, Debbie

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  14. Ciao arrivo da "Qualunque Mercoledì Linky Party" Complimenti!

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  15. Super cute idea! Love your paper boats!Thanks so much for sharing! Would love to have you visit me sometime.
    Have a fabulous day!
    Hugs from Portugal,

    Ana Love Craft
    www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

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  16. Awe! So precious! I know they must be having an AWESOME summer with Grandma!!!

    Thanks for sharing at Party In Polka Dots!

    Shelley

    www.piggyinpolkadots.com

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  17. Love those little boats -- I may have to search online to find out how to make them :) We play a lot with sticks and pebbles around here!

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  18. These are so cute. Thanks so much for sharing with Adorned From Above's Blog Hop 55. We can't wait to see what you have for us this week. This weeks party is live.
    Have a great week.
    Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com

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  19. My kids have been endlessly folding boats for days . . . So many that I wonder what we will do with all of them! Boat races are a perfect idea! (The best part for the mom who is desperately trying to declutter??? They won't mind throwing them away once they have gotten wet! Two problems solved. Boredom and too many boats.). Thanks!

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  20. This made me smile from the very first sentence. You're so fun, Joyce... and funny. My big question: How did you make the boats? Please share!

    No-batteries-required is the best kind of grandmothering, I think. Kudos to you. I think YOU deserve the Nobel prize!

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    1. I found perfect YouTube instructions for this boat!
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmd4AfKK-TY
      I learned to make these many years ago in college at a workshop for art education majors. Following this video is the best way to duplicate these canoes. The last step, turning it "inside out" while maintaining the points, is the most difficult.

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  21. Paper boats are so fun! Thanks for sharing & linking up @ DearCreatives.com Hope to see you again soon!

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  22. Oh I love the boat show, I have these liners and will have to give this a go...thanks for sharing.

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