Hi friends!  I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend.  We did and now we are off on a trip to Disneyland!  Time will tell if we leave it the “Happiest Place on Earth.”

I am so excited to be participating in a new series with some super talented bloggers.  We will be blogging on a new topic each month.  As spring is in the air, this month we are blogging about all things outdoors. I am really excited about the project I have to share with you today.

It has felt like spring here in California for a while.  In the spring and summer, our family spends a ton of time in the pool.  One of the things that drives me crazy is that my kids leave their pool towels in a heap on the ground and they never dry out and I have to bring them in and wash them.  Actually, now that I think about it, the same thing happens inside!!

I found a fun DIY fix to this problem.  It is called a towel tree and it is made out of very basic materials from the Home Depot.

Here is what you will need:

Tools:

• drill
• pipe cutter
• screwsetter bit
• measuring tape
• carpenter’s square
• 7/8″ wood bit

Materials:

• 4 x 4 cedar (4 1/2′)
• 5/4 x 6 cedar (6′)
• outdoor wood glue
• 3/4″ copper pipe (12′)
• 3/4″ copper end caps (4)
• post cap
• paint or wood sealer/finish

Here is what you do:

1. Cut the main post and feet to size. See the diagram here.  Sand these pieces before assembly, and use a screwsetter bit in all screw locations.
2. Using a 7/8″ wood bit, drill 2 holes in the post for the 3/4″ copper pipe as indicated.
3. Install the four feet, using outdoor wood glue and 2″ deck screws. Use a carpenter’s square to ensure that the post is vertical to the base. Apply glue, secure each foot with one screw then set the second screw when the leg is at right angles to the post.
4. Cut two lengths of 3/4″ copper pipe to size, and insert them through the pre-drilled holes in the post. Cap each end with a 3/4″ end cap.
5. Using a little glue or caulking, attach the post cap.

 
If you need more detail, you can see the formal plans and specifications here.

Isn’t this a fun solution?  You could even use it to hang swim suits out to dry.  I am also really pleased with how the copper looks against the white.

So far, my children have not become so lazy that hanging it on one of these low hangers is too much trouble.  But  . . . time will tell!

For more outdoor inspiration, definitely hop over to these amazing blogs to see what fun outdoor ideas my blogging buddies have to share.

Glamista Home

Away She Went 

Small Town Rambler

This Crazy Thing Called Life

xoxo