Wood Sprites of the 4 Legged Variety

A good homeschooling friend of ours brought an amazing book to our drop-in a few weeks ago. It is Steven Caney's Ultimate Building Book.

I flipped through it and HAD to buy it too. It is loaded and I mean LOADED with building project for kids that really reinforce engineering and structural integrity. It teaches by doing and it is one of these books that makes you want to get up and get right to it! It arrived this week and our first project, upon our friends suggestion, was to build a tri-leg stool (thanks T!!!).

First step was to hike through our woods in search of sticks that would support us. We grabbed the ax and for the first time in a very long time, we left the dogs at home since we would be bush whacking.

Right away Sid got into using the ax. Look out ice, Sidney is on the job! While we walked along the outside of our fence and headed for our woods I looked back to see our cat Perogie strolling along behind Sid. Within the last few months he has taken to sleeping with Sid every night and keeps an eye on her. Today he proved his dedication. He came for a two and a half hour romp in the woods and stayed right beside his kid the entire time.


Such devotion from our old guy. Even through puddles, ice and snow he stuck by his kid.

Then we romped off through the thick trees and made a secret fort in a small clearing with a hill. This was kitty bliss. The sun warmed our bodies as we worked to clear the space while under supervision of Perogie Cat.

If his kid strayed more than 15 feet from him he would stand and go to her and reposition himself in the sun. She would move, he would move. It was bizarre and so amazing to see how much this kitty has taken to Sid.

We collected our sticks and headed back to the yard to start our building project.

With the three sticks in place and rope securing them it was time for the final test. Snack time in the stool.

Success!