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Tag Archives: outdoors

Backyard Truck Garden

7 / 30 / 19

Backyard Truck Garden | Mama Papa Bubba

It feels like we’ve had a slow start this year, but summer seems to be here in the Okanagan and Sam’s been enjoying his little backyard truck garden again!

Backyard Truck Garden

Here’s what inspired us creating a truck garden… This hilly corner of our yard filled with dirt, rocks, and loads of debris discarded by our big old tree.  Now if we knew that this home was our forever home, we’d probably do something different, but without wanting to invest a whole lot of time, energy, or money, a truck garden turned out to be a fantastic solution.

Of course every yard is going to be different, but I do think the truck garden concept could be adapted to many different spaces, hilled or flat.

Backyard Truck Garden | Mama.Papa.Bubba.

Another fun part of this project?  Other than the little orange pilons and some paint, we only used things we already had on hand to put it together.

Backyard Truck Garden | Mama.Papa.Bubba.

First up were these road bricks…  They started out as regular old bricks left in the yard by the previous home owners, so I painted them grey with a sample of outdoor paint I picked up and then added some little yellow dashes freehand using some acrylic craft paint from the art cupboard.  More than a year later, these have held up super well. What I love about them is that they can be moved and configured how ever Sam likes, and they give him an opportunity to do some heavy lifting.

Backyard Truck Garden | Mama.Papa.Bubba.

The other little upcycle / repurpose project we did was turning some wood and flooring scraps into these road planks.

Backyard Truck Garden | Mama.Papa.Bubba.

I had previously seen this idea on my friend Chelsey’s site, Buggy and Buddy, and when I found a bunch of wood scraps left in one of the sheds, I knew it would be perfect.

Backyard Truck Garden | Mama.Papa.Bubba.

I just painted the boards a charcoal-y black colour using an outdoor paint we already had, then freehanded the white dashes using a small paintbrush, some acrylic craft paint, and an old metre stick as a guide.  And voila – wooden roads and ramps!!

Backyard Truck Garden | Mama.Papa.Bubba.{this post contains affiliate links}

Then we added all of the fun stuff…  Our kids’ garden tool set for raking up branches, creating dirt mounds, etc., a big bin of DIY blocks Brad and his dad made using some 2×4 and 2×8 scraps that were also left in our yard, and Sam’s collection of Green Toys and Wonder Wheels trucks.  All of these have been gifted to him over the years and they’ve seen endless hours of play.  They’re big, sturdy, and made from recycled plastic. These are the ones he has currently:

dump truck

recycling truck

fire engine

tow truck

cement mixer

Backyard Truck Garden | Mama.Papa.Bubba.

I also created a little picnic space at the top of the truck garden using our kids’ picnic table from Ikea and a little black and white striped umbrella, but I didn’t find that it got used a whole lot last summer, so I skipped it this summer and kept those items on our patio below instead.

Backyard Truck Garden | Mama.Papa.Bubba.

It was a cute little set up though!

Backyard Truck Garden | Mama.Papa.Bubba.

Possibly the biggest hit of the space?  This little sit-on excavator we got during a campaign I did with Canadian Tire.  Sam just LOVES it and could spend ages scooping up loose dirt and moving it to a different space or filling a bucket.

Backyard Truck Garden | Mama.Papa.Bubba.

I can’t tell you how much play this little space has seen!

Backyard Truck Garden | Mama.Papa.Bubba.

Here’s a look at the whole thing…  It’s certainly not the prettiest thing, but it’s such a great spot for playing in the dirt, getting filthy, and enjoying trucks.

Backyard Truck Garden | Mama.Papa.Bubba.

One final addition that’s also been a favourite?  These PVC pipe ramps!  While this wasn’t something I felt comfortable taking on myself, I took advantage of my brother being in town and he helped me pick up the largest piece of PVC pipe Home Depot carried and then cut it in half vertically.  We sanded the edges and created these ramps that smaller cars can ZOOM down!

Easy Inexpensive Backyard Truck Garden | Mama Papa Bubba

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An Afternoon Along the River

5 / 25 / 176 / 4 / 17

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The weather is just too good to go straight home after school these days…  It was an unusually long and cold winter here in Vancouver and all I want to do now is be outside and soak up the sunshine.  Not to mention the fact that both of our kiddos are happiest when outdoors.  

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Farm Life

8 / 12 / 138 / 28 / 13

Though all of my family members have slowly migrated away from the Okanagan and back to our home province of Alberta, we’re lucky to be able to stay with Brad’s parents while we enjoy the Okanagan sun.  Gracen adores being here.  The house {that Brad grew up in}  is filled with treasures {new and old} to discover, Bella {her best fur buddy} lives here, and there’s endless space to run free.

One of her very favourite parts about being here is enjoying long morning walks with Grandma Charlotte and Bella.  There’s a whole routine in place which involves puppy treats in a little bag, particular treat distribution spots, and a visit to the hay barn where shoeless antics take place.  Today, with Uncle Brett home for the weekend but heading back to Vancouver at lunchtime, we all headed out for one last family walk before our big departure next week.

When this is all you know, it’s easy to take the beauty of the tree-covered mountains, blue skies, and sunshine for granted, but knowing how drastically our scenery will be changing shortly, I did my very best to soak every moment of this morning in…

IMG 0978

“Com’on, Bella!  Let’s run!”

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In a Field of Dandelion Puffs

5 / 19 / 135 / 27 / 13

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The Barefoot Gardener

4 / 13 / 134 / 17 / 13

IMG 7979IMG 7977Pulling WeedsIMG 7986Though our little miss is normally a rockstar sleeper, Grandma Charlotte is staying with us right now and sleep is difficult when excitement levels are running this high.  After a tough time getting to sleep last night, today’s nap didn’t happen.  And a skipped nap in this house is not just an ‘oh well’… This little lady needs her naps.  Desperately.  Our coping mechanism to get through the afternoon as gracefully as possible?  Getting outside and soaking in some fresh air and sunshine.  It just so happens that today it was in the {yet to be planted} garden in pajamas. White ones.

A filthy toddler and dirt-stained jammies? Totally worth a happy afternoon.  Because in the words of Miss G, “It’s okay to dirty.”

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Saturday Snippets

4 / 6 / 134 / 10 / 13

While our morning consisting of a drizzly visit to Granville Island, our afternoon was all about enjoying a little bit of sunshine and soaking in the sights of spring scattered about our yard…

IMG 7689Mint munchingIMG 7673DandelionsIMG 7686HopperIMG 7698IMG 7710

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Backyard Balance Beam

3 / 10 / 133 / 12 / 13

Simple Backyard Balance BeamLast weekend, while tidying up the backyard a little bit, I came across a random 2×4 shoved in a corner along the fence.  I don’t know if everyone thinks this way, but when I come across an item, the first place my mind goes is how could we use this for play?  Of course a long flat wooden board almost begs to be used as a balance beam, so why complicate things, right?

IMG 6531Before we got to using it too much, we pulled out our sidewalk chalk and decorated it a bit.  And by ‘we’ I basically mean that I drew while Miss G gave instructions. ☺

IMG 6538To start off, we placed it flat on the ground and Grae carefully walked back and forth a few times.

IMG 6542Then I thought it would be fun to add a little incline.  I brought out a thin cement block and propped up one side of the 2×4, but Miss G automatically said, “No – TWO blocks!  Then we can make a bridge!”  So a bridge it was.

IMG 6545This little set-up is so, so simple, but it’s a lot of fun and it’s great for balance and motor skill development too.

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Trimble Park

3 / 9 / 133 / 13 / 13

IMG 6486While we have many favourite playgrounds around Vancouver (like this one, this one, this one, and this one), both Gracen and I love discovering new ones to add to our list.  Especially since come spring, we spend most mornings out at a park or playground of some sort.  

So after a quick peek around the web, the three of us (yay for weekends!) packed up some lunch and headed out to West Point Grey Park, which was spoken of very highly by fellow Vancouver parents.  

IMG 6487Upon arriving, I realized that although the park was new to us, I’d been there countless times before with the children I nannied throughout my university (and beginning teaching) days.  I guess I should have made the realization based on the area and park address, but whole ‘West Point Grey Park’ title threw me off.  I, and everyone I’ve ever heard speak of the park, have always called it Trimble Park.  Who knew its actual name was something different?!  

IMG 6486Name confusion aside, this park was a lot of fun back in the day, and is even better due to some recent (or at least semi-recent) additions.  

IMG 6503Included are three separate play structures (2 big ones and a teeny tiny one for very little ones), 6 slides, 2 sets of swings (baby, toddler, and regular included), a tire swing, hanging bars, a teeter-totter, and lots of space for playing in the sand and rocks.

IMG 6492IMG 6494A fun addition since my last visit is this rock climbing wall.  Though still needing a tiny bit of assistance, Gracen loved climbing up and liked hanging out on top with all of the big kids even more.

IMG 6499The other thing I love about this park is the natural play areas.  This little cove of trees was a favourite of the kids I nannied, and Grae loves it too.  She’s hiding here.  Can’t you tell?

IMG 6502To top it all off, the park has basketball courts, soccer fields, and baseball diamonds, plus public washrooms (warm water and soap included!)

Another great park to add to our favourites list.  ☺

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Simple Mud Kitchen

3 / 8 / 133 / 11 / 13

Simple MUD KitchenAfter this morning’s mud soup fun down at the beach, I decided it would be fun to set up a little mud kitchen for Miss G to play with in the backyard.  Now I don’t know if you too have seen the beautiful and elaborate mud kitchens that often pass through my Pinterest feed, but ours was nothing like those.  A few items from the kitchen, some dirt from the garden, and a water source all squished onto a second hand plastic table and Miss G was pleased as punch.  After all, playing with mud is supposed to be simple, right? 

IMG 6430IMG 6432IMG 6444IMG 6438IMG 6463Gracen poured water, added greens, and gently stirred hot soup.  She scooped soil, packed it down, and added pebble sprinkles to dirt cupcakes. She tended to gooey mud pancakes, flipping them every now and again.

IMG 6443And lucky for me, I was the chosen taste tester.

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Dirt, Sticks, & Water

3 / 8 / 133 / 11 / 13

IMG 6428IMG 6424IMG 6417IMG 6427We woke up to an absolutely gorgeous sunny day today and immediately packed up a lunch and headed down to our favourite beach-front playground.  As always, Grae spent tons of time climbing ladders, sliding through tunnels, riding the swings, and spinning on the merry-go-round, but during this visit, she spent just as much time climbing on and off this log, adding bits and pieces, and tending to her delicious-looking mud soup.

It makes my heart happy that dirt, sticks, and water can still inspire just as much play as it did when I was little.

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Sunshine & Stanley Park

2 / 23 / 133 / 13 / 13

Brrrrr!  This morning we bundled up and headed down to Second Beach in Stanley Park to enjoy the sunshine.  It was absolutely freezing and the wind was so strong that my ears felt like they were on fire from the cold, but Miss G didn’t mind one bit.  She had two new playgrounds to explore and discover, plus many, many warm layers, so the cold was the last of her worries.  

Here’s our morning in photographs…

IMG 5833Bundled up for the cold.

IMG 5838Super excited.

IMG 5845‘I thought we were just having a leisurely swing, Papa?’

IMG 5856‘Everyone hold on!’

IMG 5851Mama and G.

IMG 5857Slide race!

IMG 5868The perfect hiding spot.

IMG 5871Moccasin feet.

IMG 5876‘Uh, Papa?  What are you doing?’

IMG 5873Wheeeee!

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Beach Morning

2 / 17 / 132 / 23 / 13

IMG 5638IMG 5642IMG 5643IMG 5646IMG 5656IMG 5660Who says you can’t spend gloomy, cold days at the beach?

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Playing Hookie

2 / 7 / 132 / 8 / 13

This morning as we were having our usual wake up cuddle in the ‘big bed’, Grae poked her head through the curtains, turned to me with big eyes, and exclaimed, “Mama, it’s a SUNNY day today!” Then she immediately asked to go to the beach.  I explained that it was Thursday morning, which is our usual Strong Start day, then let her know that she could make the decision.  She thought about it a moment and said, “Mama, we go to the beach instead of school.  We walk…. We play… We see birdies… We see the ocean… aaaaaand… we get hot drinks!”  So the beach it was.  

IMG 5250IMG 5247IMG 5256IMG 5258IMG 5264IMG 5271IMG 5272Some days are just too beautiful to spend indoors, even if it is at school… (Shhh… Don’t tell.)

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An Afternoon at the Park

1 / 20 / 131 / 22 / 13

IMG 4569IMG 4581IMG 4571IMG 4584The perfect way to cap off a Sunday. ☺

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Snow Spray Painting

1 / 4 / 131 / 9 / 13

Snow Spray PaintingThough it feels like we’ve had a good, long winter vacation already (because we have), we’re lucky enough to have one more week to spend in the Okanagan before Bradley’s return to work.  And while we’ve been doing more than our fair share of relaxing (and indulging – oy!), we’ve also been trying to make the most of our time with the snow, because before you know it, we’ll be back to our city of rain, rain, rain.  

IMG 4123Today we tried something new – snow spray painting!

IMG 4120In order to make the paint, all I did was pick up a couple of cheap spray bottles (I made sure to give the triggers a little squeeze in store first – some are little hand-friendly, and others are not) and filled them with some cold water and food colouring.

IMG 4125Then we headed outside {in pajamas} to decorate the freshly fallen snow.

IMG 4125We played with the nozzle on our spray bottles to get the flow  just how Miss G liked it – in a steady stream in order to achieve maximum distance. ☺

IMG 4127Her goal?  Covering as much of the snow in snow spray paint as possible.

IMG 4140“A new spot now!”

IMG 4138IMG 4144Though using a fine mist is a little trickier (because you need to be quite close to the snow for it to show up well), it makes pretty cool results…. Pink snow anyone?

IMG 4138Of course when you’ve painted your little heart out and you’re ready for a break, you can always topple over in a snowbank and have a rest. ☺

 

Snow Spray Paint

  • 3/4 cup of cool water
  • 10 drops of food colouring

Pour the water into a small spray bottle and add the food colouring.  Repeat for multiple colours/bottles.  Spray the snow.  Have fun!

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