In my busy world, multitasking is important. The ability to do multiple things at once saves me time and money. I also enjoy products with dual functions to get the most bang for my buck. In the office, my printer/copier/scanner allows me to perform several jobs with one unit. For cooking, a combo grill and smoker offers variety without having multiple cooker littering the backyard area. My most recent multi-tasking buy is one of my favorites! The Convert-A-Bench transforms quickly and easily from two beautiful garden benches (above) into a fully functional picnic table (below). They are perfect for my backyard. Guests can sit comfortably while my husband fires up the grill. When the food is ready, the back of the benches transform into a convenient table top with dining for six! It is a perfect solution for multitaskers like myself. The resin wicker design is sturdy and will last for years. These benches would also be perfect for camping and can even be used inside your home.
Category Archives: Backyard Fun
Portable Hammocks Make Happy Campers
June is National Camping Month! What kind of camper are you? A beach camper? A national or state park camper? A backyard camper? A find-an-empty-spot-in-the-woods-and-raise-the-tent camper? No matter where you like to camp, it’s safe to say that not every camper enjoys the “roughing it” aspect of camping, including yours-truly.
Don’t get me wrong, I like searching for the ideal scenic camping spot, exploring nearby trails, and staying up after dark to stare in amazement at the star-studded sky. I don’t, however, enjoy waking up with a stiff back, sore joints, and a bad attitude due to a poor night of sleep. I’ve tried air mattresses made especially for campers, but with these, a good night of sleep still eludes me. I always seem to lay my bedding on top of the most uncomfortable patch of ground in the entire area.
Enter the portable hammock. Once I found this little gem and began bringing it along on camping trips, my experiences in the great outdoors have been enormously improved. Light enough to carry and compact enough to fit into most tents, the portable hammock allows me to sleep (or nap) comfortably and wake feeling completely refreshed.
The benefit of portable hammocks is that they go anywhere. So, if camping is not your preference, you can still take it with you on your next fishing trip, hiking excursion, or backyard relaxation adventure. Take it from me, “roughing it” to the point of discomfort is not a requirement for camping or any other outdoor activity. Adding a component of comfort, such as a portable hammock, to your collection of gear will allow you to enjoy your outdoor experiences more fully and more often.
What George Washington Didn’t Know About 21st Century Civility
George Washington. The founder of our country, first president, and man whom we admire even today for his bravery and courage was also a stickler for polite manners. In his Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation, he instructed readers not to sleep while someone is talking to you, touch yourself in public, or blow your nose at the dinner table. All good rules of civility that still apply today. Some of George’s ideas about behaviors to avoid are thankfully out of date, though. Here are just a few:
- George wrote: “Spit not in the Fire, nor Stoop low before it neither Put your Hands into the Flames to warm them, nor Set your Feet upon the Fire especially if there be meat before it.”
I agree that spitting in the fire is gross, and you shouldn’t prop your feet up near a fire where people’s food is cooking, but thank goodness he’s wrong about putting your hands near the flames to warm them. What else would one do on a cool evening when gathered with friends or family around the Outdoor Fireplace? When hands are cold, and there is a deliciously warm fire nearby, the natural instinct is to put the two together. Warm your hands, George! No one will think less of you for doing so.
- George wrote: “When you Sit down, Keep your Feet firm and Even, without putting one on the other or Crossing them.”
Clearly, George did not own an ottoman or a lounge chair of any kind on which he could prop up his feet after a busy day running the country. In fact, keeping one’s feet firm and even doesn’t even sound comfortable. Perhaps a rule of this sort still survives in fancy living rooms and sitting rooms. In outdoor living areas, though, kicking back and lounging around on comfortable Patio Furniture is the only acceptable behavior, even in company.
- George wrote: “Make no Shew of taking great Delight in your Victuals.”
Sorry, George. Food is one of the greatest pleasures we have, which is why cooking shows and food channels are so popular. To not delight in one’s food, especially when that food has been carefully and lovingly prepared by friends or family, would be rude. When we can enjoy our meals cooked outdoors on a Gas or Charcoal Grill, the delicious food combined with the fresh air makes for an even more pleasurable eating experience. If he could experience it himself, even George would agree that a few oohs, ahhs, and yums would be acceptable.
Sure, times change, and so do ideas about appropriate behavior. It’s fun to read George’s long list of 17th century manners and discover what is still relevant. Not surprisingly, much of what he has to say about personal comfort and how to behave with friends has changed dramatically. Perhaps he’d be appalled if he could see us today. Or, perhaps he would feel a renewed sense of freedom. Go ahead, George, kick back, enjoy your meal, and be sure to warm your tootsies by the fire.
Celebrate BBQ Month with Grill Tips and a Delish Recipe
Did you know that May is National Barbecue Month? What better way to celebrate it than by cooking dinner out on the back patio or deck? Thanks to the generally pleasant weather experienced by much of the country in May, you can celebrate National Barbecue Month just about every night.
What type of Outdoor Grill do you prefer to use? Gas Grills and Charcoal Grills are perhaps the most popular grills found in backyards across the country, but Electric Grills, Brick Ovens, and even Portable Grills make cooking out with family and friends a delicious affair, too. If you don’t already own a grill, or if you’re in the market for a new one, make sure to consider the following questions when you go to buy:
- How much space do you have for storing and using a grill? Know where you want to put a grill and measure that space so you know what size limitations you’re working with.
- How do you want to power your grill? For example, some people prefer to use charcoal grills because of the flavor it adds to the food, while others like to have optimum control over the temperature of the flame and choose gas.
- How much cooking surface will you need? Larger families require a larger cooking surface so that everyone’s food can fit on the grill at the same time. Small families, on the other hand, may not require as much cooking surface.
- What kind of features are most important to you? A grill that is easy to clean? Easy to move around? One with a warming rack above the main grill surface? Or with additional work space and grilling tool hooks? Knowing what features you require will help you narrow the field of choices.
With a grill at the ready, you can celebrate National Barbecue Month this month as well as all summer long. While you’re at it, you can easily celebrate National Hamburger Month, too, which is also in May. Here’s a delicious hamburger recipe to get you motivated:
Teriyaki Hamburgers
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1-1/2 pounds of lean ground beef or ground turkey
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2 slices of white bread, crumbled
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1/4 cup of finely chopped onion
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2 eggs, lightly beaten
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1-1/2 Tablespoons of sugar
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3 Tablespoons of soy sauce
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1/4 cup of water
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1 clove of garlic, minced
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1/8 teaspoon of ground ginger
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Blend well. Shape mixture into 6 patties. Grill for 10-15 minutes about 5 inches from the flame, turning once. Serves 6. Enjoy!
Upgrade Swing Sets for Summer
You probably already know that wooden swing sets are a great way to provide fun and exercise to your children without leaving your home. If fact, many of you probably own one of these versatile sets. If you do, summer is the perfect time to consider upgrading and adding new and exciting accessories. Children often get bored easily and look for more challenging or entertaining activities. These swing set accessories will re-engage your children and add fun new elements to your set.
- Exciting Belt Swing Alternatives: Do regular belt swings seem boring to your kids? Surprise them with a back to back glider swing or trapeze bar to instantly change their swinging dynamic.
- Super Slides: Is your regular slide worn? Just looking for something more interesting? A tube spiral slide is perfect for sets with a deck height of at least 7 ft. and with a 275 lb. weight limit, parents might even sneak in a slide!
- Detached Sand Box: Looking for a way to add outdoor fun for younger siblings? With a wooden sand box kit, you can build a sand box to match your swing set, complete with matching canopy top. It will blend beautifully with your set and provide an extra level of fun.
- Rock Walls, Rope Ladders, and Monkey Bars: Create an interesting way to climb on your set. Rock walls are easy to build and come in sets with 5-20 handles to create a custom climbing experience and varying degrees of difficulty. A rope ladder is perfect for upper arm and leg strength development. It is also perfect for pretend play (think pirates and castle walls). Monkey bars are also a classic, but exciting, way to introduce new skilled play elements.
- On Set Games: A Tic-Tac-Toe Spinner panel will create park-quality play time for your little ones. They are easy to install and will create hours of game time for kids of all ages.
Add one or more of these exciting accessories to create additional fun and family time for the children in your life!
