It’s summer again and June is summer’s most perfect month in Iowa. It’s warm enough that I want to be outside all day, every day, but not so hot that I can’t enjoy it once I’m out there. June is the perfect month for outdoor projects of all kinds.
A new book, Back Yard Recreation Projects, arrived last week. It’s just full of all sorts of projects, from a simple “Classic Tree Swing” to the more complicated pools, spas and tree houses. One of my daughters grew up with an enormous maple tree outside her Kentucky bedroom window. She spent an entire summer in the mid 1980s drawing plans for a playhouse to be built in that tree. She had plans to connect the tree house to her room with a swinging gangplank. She also had plans that I would build all this for her. She’s my third child and I had learned a thing or two while raising her brothers. I told Anne that I would gladly build it, but, she was responsible for financing the project. After a quick call to the lumber yard for a price check, she decided that by the time she held enough lemonades stands to pay for the tree house, she would be too old to play in it. I hope she never sees this book-she might try to hold me to the promise as there are instructions for some delightfully charming structures.
Those brothers of hers could also have profited from this book. They spent many a summer afternoon constructing a neighborhood skateboard ramp. There was always at least one component that they couldn’t scrounge from garages on the block. That would leave the whole apparatus too shaky and wobbly to hold up the smallest neighbor kid. Plans for a very sturdy version are available in the book along with plans and rules for many other games. Ever wondered how to play Bocce Ball? This book’s for you!
Another favorite outdoor summer activity is cooking on the grill. The Tex-Mex Grill and Backyard Barbacoa Cookbook by Robb Walsh is crammed full of funny anecdotes and 85 recipes. They range from the very simple (sounding) Armadillo Eggs and Atomic Deer Turds (don’t jump to conclusions) to the more complicated Republic of the Rio Grande Grilled Tuna and Grapefruit Supreme Salad. Tex-Mex Asado de Puerco requires 24 ingredients and a whole day to cook, but , wow, does it sound yummy.
If gardening is more your idea of summer fun, give a good look at Bloom’s Best Perennials and Grasses by Adrian Bloom. There are lots of photos to give a gardener some good ideas of varieties that go and grow together well. Choosing plants whose appearance and growth requirements are complementary is an art that can escape even the most serious gardener.
If you are in need of some serious summer inspiration, stop by the library…….there’s a book for that!