DIY OR BUY?
Lawn Games for Family Summer Fun
The warm summer sun may be enough to beckon your family outdoors, but lawn games will guarantee hours of fun outside. If you’re handy, there are plenty of great lawn games you can make yourself. If not, buy an off-the-shelf alternative and enjoy the easy setup. Giant Jenga: Easy DIY All you need to build a giant Jenga tower are two-by-fours that are cut to length. If you’re handy with a saw, you can do this at home. If not, ask to have the wood cut at your local lumberyard. Be sure to sand down the edges before stacking the boards to create a classic Jenga tower! For extra fun, pick a few paint colors and paint each board. Visit ABeautifulMess.com/make-this-giant- jenga to see a complete set of instructions.
Buy: Check out the kid-friendly rubber horseshoe set from Wayfair.com, which requires no installation, can be used indoors or alongside your outdoor game, and is safe for younger children.
Cornhole: Advanced DIY The humble beanbag may be the most versatile backyard game piece. It’s used in the popular game commonly known as cornhole. To build your own cornhole set, you’ll need a couple of sheets of 1/2-inch-thick plywood along with two-by-fours, some hardware, and a variety of tools including a drill, jigsaw, and sander. Visit DIYPete.com/cornhole-board-plans to get both written and video instructions. Buy: Ready to play ASAP? Cornhole sets are available from many large retailers around summertime, or you can order a customized set featuring your favorite team, family name, or characters from your favorite movies by looking at Etsy.com. Whether you buy or DIY, remember to have fun and always supervise your children while playing outdoors, especially when it comes to yard games!
Buy: Skip the project and buy GoSports Giant Wooden Toppling Tower online, which retails for about $70 and stacks over 5 feet high.
Classic Horseshoes: Intermediate DIY Tossing horseshoes is a great way to pass an afternoon. To play, you’ll just need to set up two sand pits in your yard. Get a handful of horseshoes, and you’re ready to go! Many DIY plans are available online, including one from HousefulOfHandmade.com/ ultimate-diy-horseshoe-pit.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU MISS A COURT DATE?
‘Failure to Appear’ Laws in Texas
If you were previously charged with a crime and missed your court appearance either by accident or due to unforeseen circumstances, you may be facing a warrant for your arrest plus an additional misdemeanor or felony charge on top of the original charge. Depending on the circumstances that led to your absence, though, you may be able to have your failure to appear charge dropped. You missed a court appearance. What now? There will likely be a warrant issued for your arrest. You may also face misdemeanor or felony charges depending on the original crime you were charged with, the circumstances surrounding your absence from court, if you’ve ever missed court appearances in the past, and if you are perceived to pose a danger to society. Furthermore, you, the defendant, may also have to pay a “failure to appear” fine of up to $4,000. What are the degrees of ‘failure to appear’? Per Texas Penal Code §38.10, bail jumping and failure to appear are often charged in association with whatever crime a defendant originally committed. For example, if the original offense was only punishable by a fine, a subsequent failure to appear would be charged additionally as a less severe Class C misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of $500.
If the original crime was a misdemeanor and might have led to a jail sentence, the defendant could conversely be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and fines of up to $4,000 in value. In the event the original crime was a felony, the defendant’s failure to appear charge would also be classified as a felony. A third-degree felony failure to appear charge could lead to imprisonment of up to 10 years, independent of any consequences for the original charge. Can the consequences change? Yes. An experienced criminal attorney understands that life gets in the way sometimes and could help you prove to the court that you had a reasonable excuse for missing your court date. They can help you explain your circumstances to the court and work to protect you from further legal incrimination. Give Medlin Law a call, and you’ll immediately have some peace of mind, knowing our seasoned, experienced legal team is on your side.
https://www.MedlinFirm.com | Pg. 2
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker