Tuesday, July 12, 2011



When I was a little kid we didn't have a kiddy pool nor did we have an outdoor hose connection, hence no sprinkler to dash through. Instead, Mama would fill two dishpans with cold water (there were four of us siblings) and we would set them a distance apart and have races, splashing through the pans of water until they were nearly empty. We had squirt gun fights, too, and would sometimes have balloons left over from birthday parties that we'd fill and toss at one another. Mostly when it was this hot (yesterday and today have been the typical July hot/hazy/humid days with temperatures in the high 80s), we found someplace  shady to spread a blanket where we'd read or play board games or even drift off to sleep.

Yesterday my daughter C blew up the little plastic whale-shaped pool she'd purchased for the Bean to cool off in. She filled it with lukewarm water and plunked the baby in it. Then C and I plunked our bare feet in, too. The Bean thought our toes were extra toys. Heaven can't be any better than cooling one's hot feet in cool water while playing with a baby!

17 comments:

Marion said...

She's so PRECIOUS! I love playing with babies and water pools.

But when I was growing up, I remember those bowls of water and the balloons. Somehow, we made our own fun...just as memorable, as well!

Don't you love those pudgy little baby hands!!!xx

Stella Jones said...

Yes, I agree Pauline. I gave my grandson a bath for the first time last week and we both enjoyed it very much. I'm not sure who enjoyed it the most. Your grand-daughter is adorable.

Judith said...

What a fun time --- for all three!

Brian Miller said...

ah how true...much fun...we have this cool place in town called a spray ground...it is free at the park...buckets that dump water, canons that spray, fountains to run through...it is amazing....

Out on the prairie said...

I have a kids pool that i enjoy stretching out in when it is this hot. Been at the beach all day.

steven said...

pauline it's one of the purest magics around! i have the richest memories of my children in baths, little pools, little pails . . . oh my goodness isn't it great to be able to enjoy it and treasure it!! steven

Teri said...

There is just nothing like playing in water. No matter how hot it is, you always feel better having been in the water. My favorite place in all the world in my bathtub. I wish I had my old claw foot one here at my new place. That tub was my salvation more often than not. Adorable little girl!

Pauline said...

Marion - she IS precious! Cutest little water bug alive :)

Star - aren't grandchildren wonderful little people?

Indeed, J! You will meet her soon!

Brian M - there's a water section to a park near my daughter's too but it was too hot to walk there...

OOTP - you lucky dog, you!

Steven - I LOVE every moment!

That is so true, Teri. When we homesteaded in VT we had an old clawfoot tub in the backyard for after work bathing. Heaven on a hot summer day!

Barbara said...

Sounds like great summer fun for everyone. It's hard to believe she is already so big. How time flies!

I want a Bean to count my toes...

Gary said...

Sounds like a slice of heaven to me as well.

I love reading about how people make do with what is considered less. It really points out how we don't really need all the stuff we got. And I got too much stuff.

Ruth said...

Oh happiness! This will be me next summer! :D I never thought of baby bean in a little pool here at the farm. Oh I can't wait.

Terrible heat, though today here is lovely and cool. I hear more is on the way. Do keep yourself and baby cool.

We had a sprinkler when we were young. How well I remember my red cotton ruffled bathing suit.

Reya Mellicker said...

Here is what happened when I tried to make a lovely comment about pools, babies and toes as toys:

"Conflicting edits

There was more than one attempt to edit this resource at the same time. This may have been because you double clicked on a link or a button or because someone else is also editing this blog or post.

Please hit the back button on your browser and try again. If the problem persists, please contact the Blogger Help Group. We apologize for the inconvenience."

WEIRD.

Reya Mellicker said...

Blogger seems to be in a bad mood today. Maybe it should go swimming. With a baby. Yeah.

Pauline said...

Barbara - she is nine months old already! I hope you get your own Bean someday - it is delightful!

gary - I learned young how to make my own fun. My mother was very resourceful!

Ruth - you will love it! I will look forward to pictures and stories!

Reya - it's too hot for Blogger, too, I guess! Let's throw cold water at it! Thanks for coming by.

herhimnbryn said...

Bliss!

Hilary said...

Sounds lovely. I suppose I could do the water part any old time but I sure do envy the baby part. :)

Pauline said...

HHB - indeed!

Hilary - she is the cutest little bean. She's crawling now and pulling herself up to stand against every piece of furniture she can reach. You will adore being a grandma when it happens!