Though it may seem like summer is winding down, there's still plenty of time to mess around outdoors with some cloud dough and some grandkids. And I do mean mess — which is just one reason this activity is so fun... and the primary reason it's best enjoyed outdoors.

There are directions all over Pinterest and other places for this imitation of the children's museum staple. After coming across it again and again, I figured I'd try cloud dough with Mac and Bubby to see if it really is as simple and enjoyable as it looked.

Cloud dough turned out to be not only inexpensive and easy to make, it's impossible keep your hands out of the silky smooth stuff, whether you're a child or not. Take a look:

What you need:

This super simple stuff requires just two ingredients:

• flour

• baby oil

The mixing ratio is 8 parts flour to 1 part baby oil. For the mega-batch I made for my grandsons, I used a five-pound package of all-purpose flour — pretty much 16 cups — to one 16-ounce bottle of baby oil.

What you do:

• Measure the flour into a large mixing bowl. (A large part of the fun.)

• Add the oil.

• Enlist a child or two to mix... and mix... and mix. (An even larger part of the fun.)

• Mixture is sufficiently mixed when a big ol' clump sticks together.

• Take the bowl o' fun outdoors. Provide cups, utensils, bowls, whatever seems fun — as well as a spot for arranging the molded sculptures and such — and watch the kiddos have at it.

The dough easily sticks together... then falls apart at the slightest touch.

My grandsons liked how silky smooth the cloud dough was. I liked how baby soft it all smelled.

None of us — including my daughter, Mommy to the boys — cared much for the mess the fragrant fun made. Which is why we played with our cloud dough outside. Which is what I recommend everyone else do, too.

Today's question:

What's the last kind of dough you had your hands in?