Back yards, front yards... Great places to practice and learn. Monkey spent much time yesterday weeding, cutting and planting. The afternoon sun got stifling so she started making shelter with ti leaves. After putting up a few, she wisely found me and said, "Daddy, I need a tarp." So up went the USMC field tarp. The field tarp is one of the best for shade as it is double layered. The cold coconut water was so refreshing too. This nut was just moving past the green stage, so the shell was getting hard. The flesh was changing from jelly to firm coconut meat, but still soft and tender. What does all that mean? The water was so sweet and a little bit creamy. The flesh was sweet and creamy. So good!
Sometimes. I make a killer ponzu sauce to dip with too. And the ice cream, or gelato anyway, was in a different post.
Hot and beautiful afternoon. Monkey carved and painted her Hermoine Granger wand. She used a small blade on her small Leatherman multitool. When I asked her why she didn't use a new knife that I gave her, her response was that she was most comfortable with the Leatherman, having used it for about a year. Can't argue with that. And she did a great job too! Will have to sharpen her blade soon and teach her how. It was shaving sharp when I gave it to her. I haven't checked it, so we'll see. I'll post a better contrast picture after it dries. And my backyard sunset says Aloha Oe to a beautiful day.
Not only is she a beautiful girl but she is smart. I applaud her for using tools she is comfortable with.
Another great post. Thanks you I always enjoy your pics. It is neat to see how proud you are of your children.
Today is a breezy, yet hot day. A perfect day for monkey backyard bushcrafting. So I rig up my Auscam hoochie and away we go. The space blanket ground cloth is 5x7 and the monkey is about 5'. The hoochie provides full coverage in fair weather. In foul weather, I would have three, maybe even four sides down. The front edge is about 3' high, so plenty of sitting room. The back edge is raised for ventilation. It's hot and you gotta take advantage of the breeze. Perfect for a day pack and just right for one. But you can fit two in a pinch. As a lean to, we had loads of room. That will change the more sides you drop to contend with weather.
The Auscam hoochie has all kinds of tie down options. Six anchor points along each long edge and three on each short edge. Plus three additional center tie downs along the long center ridge. The center tie down with a Suberian hitch. The corners have webbing and grommets. Webbing with a stake with a doubled up bungee. Grommet with Snow Peak poles. I like to tie the clove hitch over the top to keep wind gusts from lifting the tarp off the pole. I know some people will run the pole through the grommet and tie off on the webbing. It's always personal preference. And even the icy cold blackberry soda is enjoying the shade. And the hoochie is about 9'4" x 6' (285x185cm).
Bees totally love our palm flowers. Palm has another bud that will sprout more flowers. Monkey is in the shade of the lean-to watching the bee show. There are quite a few of them doing their thing in the flowers.
We have some old dry neem branches that we use for the birds as perches in their cages. So I took one that my wife was gonna recycle and played around a little bit. Took off the bark and made a long promontory peg trap trigger. Very fine curls I left attached for the picture. Made a shorter one for the monkey for indoor "play." Success? Mrs. Hanzo, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY PIG?!?" At least I didn't make a self bow. [emoji57] Hmmmm..., Note: Yes, the trigger CAN be made with modern knives. The trick is to rough up where the contact is made between the two parts, either with your knife or on a rock or something. Just slicing is too smooth. And monkey saved me a metal tin after she polished off the contents.
Carved a little flower for the monkey. She gave it to her birds. They sometimes like to chew on neem.
Before and after versions of the carved flower. Found out one bird and twelve minutes is all it takes.