There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child.
There are seven million.
-Walt Streightiff
It’s 4th of July weekend, and perhaps it’s because I grew up near Philadelphia and Hagley that I associate that holiday with the simple pleasures of old-time child’s play (think colonial: the Betsy Ross House, hoops and sticks, and those bicycles with the big front wheel).
Bubbles are the physical manifestation of childhood joy: simple, universally delightful, light and sparkling, effervescent, and fleeting.
As you fire up the grill the weekend, take a second to whip up this easy homemade bubble recipe with easy-to-find, probably-in-your-kitchen-already ingredients—no glycerin in this baby!
Pour it into a big Rubbermaid tub lid or kiddie pool, and use wire hangers (bent into circles) or hula hoops for REALLY BIG BUBBLES (the photos here used a specific toy, the Bubble Thing).
Homemade Bubbles
6 cups (or parts) water
2 cups (or parts) Dawn or other dishwashing detergent
3/4 cup Karo light corn syrup
(Surprise! Corn syrup is good for something! And yes, I’m assuming that you have a bottle of this stuff languishing in the back of your pantry. I do.)
Have fun!
** Thanks to Suz Lipman at Slow Family Online for the glycerin-free bubble recipe. Along with the good folks at Ka-BOOM!, she recently co-hosted a webinar, Slow Down for Summer, with two tons of ideas for savoring childhood and “trading frenzy for fun.” Check it out! **
