It’s official, summer is here, but we didn’t need the weatherman to tell us that because it’s so HOT! The kids will be out of school very soon, so we’ve really got to get creative with them and beat the heat while avoiding sunstroke. If you don’t have easy access to a pool, that could be a problem, and your alternative might be to draw them a bath every midday, but another great idea could be to make your own sprinkler to mist them in the yard while they play, and this is as easy as recycling an old garden hose.

Let’s face it, if you have a garden, you probably have to change your hose about twice a year if you’re not storing it well; but before you throw out this old holey one, consider having a little fun with it by adding a few more holes and making it a sprinkler; your grass will be the happier for it and so will the kids…they can put on their swimsuits and sunblock and enjoy some cool fun in the yard.

For this you will need:

o An old garden hose

o An ice pick or a large upholstery needle

o A wine cork

o Rubber bands

You will then:

o Make intermittent holes in the hose using the ice pick or needle

o Plug one side of the hose with the cork, then bend it and secure bend with the rubber bands

o Attach hose to pipe, turn water on low, coil hose through the grass and ENJOY!

This is a good occasional treat as we still have to conserve as much as we can; we’re still aware of what it’s like to be without water from the severe drought earlier this year, but this certainly is a great idea for a picnic day with the kids right outside in the yard.