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Sat 23 Apr, 2005 08:15 am
When I was growing up, as a depression baby, we couldn't afford to buy kites, so we made ours. I made cross-braced kites.
My older brother started making box kites. He became so good at it that his kites would fly so high they became tiny specks in the sky. It was my job to help him add string to keep them soaring---and then to reel them in. Oh my sore arm!
BBB
My friends and I used to fly kites from the roof of my house. After we got them up high enough, we would tie them off, go to a rooftop bar a few blocks away and watch them against the sunset.
Very happy memories.
I think I flew a kite last when I lived in Georgia - so maybe 6 or 7 years ago. I made one there too. The one I made didn't fly so good. The prep was fun, even when we just bought a kite and drove out to the park. But, once we were flying them, we got bored really fast.
One of the few good memories I have of my step father, he showed us how to make a kite using newspaper, sticks, and rags for the tail. During the windy times in Fresno, kites are the order of the day. He made us one kite that we kept aloft for at least three or four days.
About a year ago, Mrs edgarblythe and I took my grandson, Dustin, to a park. He brought along his kite. Well, the air was dead that day. No matter how the old man huffed and puffed, it would not go airborn.
I've never been able to get a kite in the air. One of these days....
You just have to be in the right place, Noddy.
We flew kites last month on the beach in Galveston. They literally lept out of our hands. I guess it was the strong, steady wind.
I flew one last week (the first time in about 20 years), I was teaching my 6 year old granddaughter how it is done
djjd62
djjd62, thanks for posting that old Peanuts comic strip. It was one of my favorites.
BBB
About 10 years ago, my wifes parents had a summer place in Avalon NJ. It was large enough that many families could crowd in and since my wife has three sibs, all with kids, we had a great time building and flying these two humongous kites that we bought at a kite store nearby. It took usw most of the day to get em up and get em down again. We had these large spools of aStren monofilament 100 lb test (very strong). It got all twisted up on rewinding.
Slightly off topic, the book I am reading tonight is called The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.
Highly recommended.
Charle Brown got as high as the tree. He has enviable moments.
BBB
A trip down memory lane. Ah the memories. Thanks BBB
Rodeman
Rodman, you are welcome.
In what part of Southern California do you live?
I lived in the SF Bay Area until I moved to New Mexico in 2002.
BBB
BBB:
Downey, Ca................surburb of LA
a decent day for kite flying today in Toronto
at least for this woman (her fella never got it goin')
keep a teeny kite in my handbag.
It folds up and goes into a plastic purse thing attached to a key ring.
Flies on a sigh.
But it is teeny, and not very exciting.
I used to fly kites on the Mall surrounding the Washington Monument.
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