This morning I came up with a wonderful idea . . one of those ideas I probably think is amazing and Vince is going to not think it’s so amazing.
He loves playing with a ball and it’s one of the ways he can entertain himself for hours and it does a good job of tiring him out.
We bought a bigger ball for him thinking it wouldn’t roll under the sofa. It doesn’t roll under the sofa but it’s just barely big enough to roll under the ottoman. He has a short fuse and when the ball rolls under the ottoman, he goes nuts. It takes me a second to move my stitching, get up, lift the ottoman and let him get under the ottoman and get the ball.
I’m getting about 90 seconds of stitching, which mean I get the frame back on my lap, find my spot on the chart and then the ball is under the ottoman again.
I asked Vince if he could cut some 2×4 pieces that would fit between the legs on all four sides of the ottoman. It would probably actually be easier to build a “cage” around the bottom – something we could sit the ottoman into. I think that would be easier. I would have to glue rubber strips around the legs of the ottoman so they don’t get scratched.
It’s so worth the effort because Oscar will play with the ball for half an hour, then sleep for two hours.
Dorothy Matheson says
See if pool noodles would be close to the right size. Then if necessary cut one side so they would fit. They would stay in place between the feet and keep the ball out.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Great idea! I also think I have a slip cover for the ottoman that hangs down, maybe far enough to keep the ball from rolling under there. Thanks for that idea.
Sibyl says
Judy couldn’t you just take the feet/legs off the ottoman and have it sit on the floor. That way you wouldn’t have to make anything for it.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
i could but this is the basement and I don’t want anything like that sitting directly on the floor. The basement is more humid and any moisture, especially what might up up through the floor, needs to be able to escape.
Kathleen -Robin says
Maybe get him a bigger ball still that would not fit under the ottoman.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
This is as big as he can fit in his mouth and he loves to carry it around. At first, he couldn’t get this one in his mouth but I guess he tried long enough and finally did it.
Sandi says
My daughter uses the pool noodles and they work great! Go to Dollar Tree, very cheap.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I’ll do it. Thanks!
Linda Enneking says
When I read this I thought “Vince can entertain himself for hours playing with a ball?” Look again and you will see Oscar’s name isn’t mentioned. Thanks for giving me a laugh this morning.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
You’re right . . don’t mention his name but there is a picture of Oscar playing with a ball right by the ottoman that it rolls under. I’ll try to be more specific!