Monday, September 7, 2009

'Lil Farmers' Market

I can see that the rest of you are as stumped as I am about what to do with so many pumpkins. Not to be discouraged, I came-up with a plan that combined 3 goals: 1) getting-rid of at least some of these pumpkins, 2) Making a few dollars, and 3) Giving the kids something constructive to do. Below is a picture of the result.

Also in the lower part of the picture are 2 magnetic toys that I (finally!) got-around to making for the kids...yeah,...right...the kids... Anyway, here is a close-up of 2 toys that I made using recycled materials around the house. The one on the left has a dowel (okay so I bought one thing) that I bought holding 2 magnets with the same pole facing each other. In this way, the magnets "levitate" and allow small hands to explore the very real force involved. On the right, I used an ordinary washer and an extra neodymium magnet. The silver magnet closest to the washer is responsible for the attraction of the washer. It pulls about 35lbs on a piece of iron or steel; so I've been looking for a "safe" way to use it without running the risk of pinching small (or not-so-small) fingers. The "strings" holding the washer back are actually 3 of 100 of those cheap ball-chain connectors that you see on keychains all the time. I bought a bag of 100 of them from American Science & Surplus for $1.45 a couple of weeks ago (Okay, okay, so I bought two things!). They are already proving even more handy than I had hoped.




3 comments:

janc@mac.com said...

How very clever you are. How were pumpkin sales? so sorry we didn't get to see you at the wedding.

What Karen Sees said...

Clever, indeed. Very clever on both accounts. This sounds like a post from Will. The kids will never be bored with all the fun things you do with them and for them.

bugnose7 said...

Wow it took a pretty creative person to figure that out. Way to go.