Comments on: Create A Great Outdoor Space

By: abbie

abbie — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:10:25 +0000

As always, a wonderful post about simple life. I love it. We are waiting to get to the back yard because we will need to petition the HOA to change anything back there. We have a basement walk-out that has a pretty steep slope (not very ideal), so I’d love to do a composite wood deck with railing, and a mosquito net cabana for shade and some rest from the bugs, as well as built-in benches, planters, and a sand/water table for the kids. We’d ultimately like to do a side stairwell to a very small “first-floor” deck that would simply hold our barbaque and a small prep table. A ton of work, I know, and that is why my ‘dream’ is on hold this summer. (Maybe next summer!) Right now, we are doing a landscaping face-lift in the front, widening our concrete walk with tumbled concrete pavers on each side, a small retaining wall block raised bed planted with hydranga, verbena, azalea, and astilbe near the foundation, and slate stone pedistals near the front stairs for urns filled with annuals. We are half-way through, and I have to say the excivation was the hardest part…and waiting for the rain to stop. Wish us luck, and I’ll be dreaming about that relaxing back-yard oasis! Abbie

By: Jocelyn of I TAKE OFF THE MASK

Jocelyn of I TAKE OFF THE MASK — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:21:34 +0000

Such a great plan, I can feel the warmth and the beauty of it all
Jocelyn of I TAKE OFF THE MASK´s last blog ..Let the Negative Things Inspire You!

By: Sherri

Sherri — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:09:50 +0000

@ Ian – It’s great to have dreams and aspirations Italy sounds like a great choice! Humming birds are really fun to watch so definitely worth putting up a feeder for. Whenever I see those 2 seater swing chairs I honestly think…oh how lovely! I think I may have to get one and hang it on the front porch.

By: Ian | Quantum Learning

Ian | Quantum Learning — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:29:09 +0000

I don’t have a back yard myself but I’ve always dreamed of one day living in a place with a veranda and a vine growing overhead. My dream usually puts the house in Italy – but the thought of humming birds means I may change that to somewhere that actually has them.

On second thoughts, I can probably sacrifice the humming birds if I get to live in Italy!

In Romania it’s very popular to have a large 2 seater swinging chair. I can recommend them!
Ian | Quantum Learning´s last blog ..Everyone’s in a hurry

By: Sherri

Sherri — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 11:36:36 +0000

@ Jay – Thanks for the tip! I’m sure you’ve saved a lot of other people from the same pain

@ Lisis – We’ve been to San Diego a couple of times and it IS lovely!

@ manish – I glad you liked it!

@ Wilma – That’s a great idea about multiple sitting areas so you can follow the sun I love it! I also love sitting outside when there’s a full moon some nights you can almost read by it it’s so bright!

@ Stephen – The humidity is certainly not for me so maybe it’s a good thing I live where I do. The Rockies *are* beautiful! We live on the great open prairies in Manitoba, beautiful in their own right.

@ Laura – Welcome! Oh a screened in porch that’s great! I’ve seen those covers for the furniture but always thought they would be a bit of a struggle getting them on and off. Glad to hear they aren’t too bad. Thanks for your comment!

@ Barbara – Welcome! How lovely! Just this weekend I finished painting a feeding platform for the birds and put it on the porch outside of our living room window. We’ve had a few visitors already and our son thinks it’s just great! Thanks for leaving a comment.

@ Megan – I’m glad you’ve found some inspiration here. Good luck in setting up your outdoor space.

@ J.D. Meier – Welcome! My folks live outside of town and they too have deer wandering around their yard. The deer eat berries off the trees in the winter and from all their tracks the yard looks a bit like a highway! No raccoons though…I hear they can be quite a nuisance. Thanks for leaving a comment.

By: J.D. Meier

J.D. Meier — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:30:49 +0000

I’m a fan of wildlife. I’m lucky that now and then some deer wander by. I’m not so lucky that some raccoons wander by too.
J.D. Meier´s last blog ..The Power of the Pause

By: Megan at Simple Kids

Megan at Simple Kids — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:17:29 +0000

We moved here last summer and we STILL haven’t set up a decent sitting and visiting place in our backyard. This post is so inspiring (and practical!). We need to get right on that!
Megan at Simple Kids´s last blog ..Discussing Nature Challenge #1: Naming Nature

By: Barbara Swafford

Barbara Swafford — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:45:52 +0000

Hi Sherri,

So that I could watch the birds, I’ve set up a bird feeder right outside my office window. Oh what fun I have watching them fill their little bellies.

I love your idea of planting herbs as greenery. It definitely is a win-win. Pretty and yummy.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..The Squeaky Wheel Gets The Grease

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:58:32 +0000

We just converted our deck into a screened porch, and I’m loving spending time out there. We live in GA, too, and we’ve discovered that the covers they make for patio furniture protects cushions from the elements pretty well. Dealing with the covers is a lot easier than moving the cushions back and forth from the garage!
Laura´s last blog ..Classical Music With Shining Eyes

By: Stephen - Rat Race Trap

Stephen - Rat Race Trap — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:02:30 +0000

Sherri, I recently spent some time in the Rockies and they were lovely in June. I just shiver thinking about being cold all the time though. So exactly where is your neck of the woods? I live in hot humid Houston.
Stephen – Rat Race Trap´s last blog ..Are You Addicted to Speed?