Our Tire Swing

An iconic image of lazy summer afternoons, a simpler time and the carefree days of youth…the tire swing.  A few months ago I was watching a little TV and saw a commercial about tractors, of all things, that had a tire swing in the way, way, way background.  It is a mighty miracle I caught this image because for one thing I don’t do commercials and for another, it was really tiny.  But saw it I did and I was inspired.  I have always wanted a tire swing and when we moved out to the ‘country’ a few years ago I just knew our property wouldn’t be complete without one.  And who knew a tractor commercial would be the thing that finally got this dream of mine in motion?

God Bless Beau!  After seeing the commercial and my over-the-top excitement about tire swings that followed, he surprised me a few weeks later with an old, dirty tire.  Nothing says love like recycled rubber.  He had stopped by a local tire shop and was so proud to come home with a tire that he thought would make the perfect swing.  And the good news just kept coming.  Because they have to pay to get rid of old tires they were happy to have us take one off their hands for free.  Free!

After giving the tire a good scrub and letting it dry, we decided to paint it for a couple of reasons.  Reason #1: We read that the residue from the tire and the rubbery smell is hard to get rid of, especially from your children’s clothes.  Black streaks on their wardrobe didn’t seem awesome.  Reason #2:  It is just so much prettier.

Then before you begin painting be certain to scream like this, “AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” when you realize a snake (that oddly happens to have a red streak on it that matches your spray paint color) has come to see what all this tire swing fuss is about.

Beau to the rescue!  My only question.  Where was he yesterday when a tiny frog was hopping across my dining room?  See above for my reaction when I came across the frog.  Hint.  It starts with an “AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

My brave bevy finding the snake a new home in the nearby field.

And we’re back…Spray the tire in thin, even strokes and never stop waving that spraying arm.

Let it dry completely and then flip and repeat.  Make sure your inadvertently give Target free advertising.

Once all the painting and drying and painting and drying is complete…

…we opted to top our tire with a layer of clear sealer gloss.

Shiny loveliness.

We picked a nice and thick cotton white rope to hang our tire.  We bought a few feet extra just in case our measuring wasn’t perfect (we are not accomplished tire swing installers) and opted to leave it because we found it made for a nice steering wheel of sorts.

Beaut.two: “Mom!  Mom!  You can’t see me can you?”
Mom: “No.  But I can hear you.  You’re yelling.”
Beaut.two: “But you can’t see me.  Cause I’m hiding that’s why.”
Mom: “Still yelling honey.  You’re still yelling.”

We cut a piece of rubber hose and threaded the part of our rope that makes contact with the tree through it.  This should help protect our glorious walnut tree.

Beau channeled his inner Boy Scout and tied a knot that would hold all of our riders…small and not-so-small alike.  He opted for a hangman’s noose knot.  It sounds so dangerous and I think I actually asked if it was legal.  I am a shameless rule follower.  But Beau informed me that yes it is legal (Whew!) and he chose it because as weight and pressure is applied the knot tightens on itself.  And that’s a good thing.

Confidant in his work, the hubs put all of his manliness on the line and swung on the newly installed rope to test the strength of his knot.

And just for good measure, Beaut.one took the rope for a spin too.  Clearly, we are very concerned about safety around this joint.

Once we stopped playing with just the hanging rope we got back to the business of the tire part of the tire swing.  It is very important that you drill a few holes in the bottom of the tire to allow rain water to drain out.  You don’t want stagnant water and mosquitoes finding a new home in your swing.  Don’t wait to do this until the end like we did.  I would recommend drilling the holes before you paint.  Ah, you live and you learn.

And then hang that baby.  And then stand back and stare at your craftsmanship, your painting skills and your somewhat ominous, yet definitely effective, knotting awesomeness.

And then watch those you love laugh and giggle while they ride!

And then see glimpses of yourself as a child in your sweet beauty and cry a few happy tears.  Too much?  I should have probably quit at laughter and giggling above.

Swing your troubles away!

Here’s to a dream-filled, child-like and lovely weekend, Stacey