kite making

The wind has made its presence felt these last two days. The promised storm turned up in time for us to collect Georgia from Kindy. I huggled Hugo against the thunder and lightening and we made a dash for it. Got soaked, of course. But we lit the fire and got warm again, then the sun came out. Typical, four seasons in one day. The wind dried up everything and the storm was nothing much to see here. Other parts of the country got blasted and power is still out to thousands, though.

So the wind made mincemeat of the washing today. At last I could give the clothes drier a rest! I love line-dried washing. Every part of the process pleases me, Perhaps I am strange, but it really makes me happy. It's a nice excuse to get outside and into the fresh air. The clothes get ironed by the wind. I feel like I've achieved something, which I don't when I use the drier. It saves power too, which is great after the rather large winter power bills...

Motivated by the wind, Chris decided to make a kite with the kids. I used to make these with my Opa and cousins as a child. So much fun, especially all the cello-taping. 

  

He had a rough idea what to do, but got some tips from this site. We went for the standard diamond shape. Georgia was most interested in making the pretty tail, naturally.  

  

With so much anticipation the kids thrust themselves out the door to the park (we live next to a great park) and Chris tried to get it going. Yeah, well. Tried. 



    

The wind was too strong and too haphazard. This way then the other way in the same breath. The kite got off the ground a few times. The kids didn't mind, they were thrilled. But it was a bit dangerous, spinning in mid-air and behaving completely erratically and looking like an injury hazard. It nose-dived and took a chunk of muddy grass with it. They were screaming with excitement, but we had to reign them in and seat them on a park bench to watch, which took all the fun out of it.

Another attempt to fly... 

Then he gave up. 

If you are to try making one of these for yourself, here are some notes:

• Use strong plastic for the main sail.
• Make the kite balanced, so it sits nice and level when you hold the string. Tie strings to all four corners to attain this balance.
• Don't make the kite too big, and wait for a windy day, but not gales! And keep your kids safe by maintaining a distance further than the length of string.

Sweet Georgia made one herself after. It was heavily stapled, cello-taped, drawn on, then all that folded inside and stapled again with a pretty ribbon for the tail (and string). Outside to fly it, no luck, but no worries. She was so pleased with it.