Lovely Luminaries

I can’t wait for summertime to get here.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about summer activities that Grandpa and I can do with the grandkids. Like roast hot dogs over our fire pit. Make S’mores. Make homemade ice cream. (Mmm . . . why do all of my ideas seem to focus on food?)

I’m also thinking that these activities might last through dusk and possibly into the evening. And if it does, I have a terrific way to shed some light on the activities. Make luminaries!

These luminaries are exceptionally easy to make. If you have already pre-washed your jars, it will only take about 10 minutes to make them.

Grandsons and granddaughters can easily make them. (Grandsons might prefer a more masculine tissue paper than what I used here.) Making your luminaries can be part of your evening’s activities.

First, round up some empty, clean jars, some tissue paper, scissors, ribbons, and battery powered tea lights. (Battery powered tea lights are lots safer when grandchildren are making the luminaries.)

Measure the width and height of the jar. Cut out a piece of tissue paper with those measurements.

Roll up the piece of tissue paper into a tube shape so that you can slide it into the jar.

Use a pencil (that has an eraser on the end) to help push the paper against the inside of the jar.

Tie a bow around the top of the jar. Turn on the tea light and drop it into the jar — and you are done! See. I told you this was exceptionally easy!

You can line your front steps and sidewalk with the luminaries. Or put them on the table where you are serving your hot dogs/S’mores/homemade ice cream.

Stay tuned because I’m going to share more ‘light’ activities over the next week or two.