Garden ice rink
For a few years when we were kids, dad made a small ice rink for us in the yard using the garden hose. Below is a picture of the actual thing that I snipped from an old family movie.
He went out late at night to pack the snow smooth and hard, then he watered the ground night after night to build up the ice just right until it was ready to skate on. I suppose he had to be careful to drain the hose afterward, or gently thaw it out before using it again. That late night winter watering until the ice was ready was an act of love for his children - that he would do that. Or, maybe he dreamed of cultivating a professional hockey player. Whatever. It was fun is what I remember. Eventually, inevitably we grew out of it.