Thursday, August 27, 2009

Redneck Water Park

Redneck Water Park

Normal Neighbor offered us their old swingset play structure thingie, and on Monday Matt, my dad, and a couple of stalwart dudes carted it over here and muscled it into the backyard. (They asked me to help with the carrying too, so I did, but I didn't really lift as hard as I truly could. Shhh!) It's not all put back together, but I was gone for an hour the other night, and while I was away Matt and the kids conceived of and built the whole slide/pool combo you see here.

It is a lovely addition to our backyard. Let me point out some of its appealing features: It's hard to tell from ths photo, but the end of the slide is propped up on an ice chest (filled with water) and a stack of boards from an old Ikea shelf. Usually the pool is filled with bobbing squirt guns and plastic containers, like there was a flood at the Dollar Store. The other, slightly downhill side of the pool is reinforced with two big plastic chairs and a few bags of playground sand. It is the most redneck thing possible.

Yesterday there were five kids playing on that thing. Mine was the kid wearing only his whitey tighties ('cause bathing suits seem awful fancy). So far there have been no injuries, and judging by the shrieking, good times are being had. I don't know what we'll do, though, when Mitch shows up to mow tomorrow. (Now Mitch, that's a whole other story.)

If you're in the neighborhood and want to slide, no need to stand on ceremony. Just come on 'round the back.

12 comments:

Michele said...

That is not so much Redneck as it is innovative and resourceful. Yeah, I don't buy it either. I had to try. Really, this was my backyard 15 years ago.

Cassie said...

Oh, OH! If you ever want to switch things up, put a large tarp down, anchored by the slide. Put a sprinkler down so it sprays both the tarp and the slide. You'll fly down the slide and shoot across the tarp. It's so much fun!

I mean... it looks like so much fun... when the kids do it.

Casey said...

Oh, I love it. I'm totally stealing that pool idea for the bottom of my slide... at least the kids will be able to play in the heat.

delaine said...

I just want to say,"Bravo, Matt !" The kids are having fun, neighbors far and near are being entertained, and the price was oh so right. One man's "redneck" is another man's creativity.

melondonkey said...

is mitch the lawn guy that forgot to take his money? whatever became of that guy? did you pay him?

gretchen said...

We had kind of the same idea at our house. But Jude decided to attach the slip 'n slide to the end of the slide which made the thing dangerous as hell, and after he practically broke his neck several times in a row, I insisted on dismantling the thing. Y'all's idea is MUCH saner. Wow, spellcheck doesn't like "y'all's". Wait. It doesn't like "spellcheck" either. Hmmm. Sorry, got off the subject. Anyway, looks like big fun to me!

The Dental Maven said...

Looks great. Now y'all need some of them Billy Bob Teeth to complete the effect.

Anonymous said...

Good work - that looks like fun!

Lawyer Mom said...

Very creative. Who can resist a water slide, after all.

Keely said...

Joy! That looks like pure joy, in slide form. Who cares what it looks like. That's why it's in the BACK yard ;)

Zion said...

We did that this year too! The pool can end up looking like swamp water, but whatever, it's still fun.

Michele R said...

I love that even though school has been in session for two weeks for the 'hood kids, summer fun is still being had. I have been listening to the comedy channel in the car and today Jeff Foxworthy said that you can even be a part-time Redneck.