Category Archives: Outdoor Living Spaces

Garden Tools & Tips, Outdoor Living Spaces

Create the Ultimate Backyard with a Water Feature

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Outdoor Fountain

We purchased a charming house last year right before the economy took a big dive.  I was drawn to this particular house for several reasons, one being the back porch.   This simple small outdoor space was calling my name and I could just see a porch swing, some great outdoor furniture and lots of conversation taking place.  But there was still something missing.  I planted my favorite perennials, filled pots with heat tolerant plants and hung some decorative iron pieces on the walls.

When I added an outdoor fountain, everything came together.  A water feature adds the  magic and brings a new flavor to your space.  I found this to be  an affordable way to really top off and complete my cozy outdoor space.

The downturn in the economy has forced me to look for ways to decorate for less.  That’s not such a bad thing afterall.

Innovative Solutions, Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living Spaces

A Quick and Easy Outdoor Room Using Outdoor Curtains

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I visited my in-laws over the weekend, and I had the opportunity to see the new outdoor curtains they installed on each side of their covered deck.  They chose to install outdoor curtains for reasons of privacy, but the curtains provide an unexpected benefit as well.  The deck has become another room in their home, a living space where my  in-laws retreat for a morning cup of coffee or an afternoon conversation.  The deck itself is not screened in, but the curtains they hung are made of rugged fade-resistant and waterproof Sunbrella fabric and do a surprisingly effective job of shielding the room’s occupants from sun, bugs, and weather.   The curtains improve the look of the deck area, too, making it so much more inviting and comfortable to use.

It is refreshing to know that creating a new outdoor living space doesn’t have to break the bank and doesn’t necessarily require building permits.  A room addition can be as easy as installing outdoor curtains.  The hard part now is trying to decide what color fabric to choose for my own outdoor space.

Outdoor Living Spaces

How About a Backyard Home Office?

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Now that the weather is pleasant, my eyes tend to wander toward the window as I sit working at my home office desk. I watch the leaves on my maple tree flutter about and imagine the feel of the warm breeze on my skin. The birds offer a constant source of entertainment as well. I never grow tired of watching the red-bellied woodpeckers peck away at a suet cake my husband has hung from a low branch of our pear tree. Why stay inside on such a glorious day…working?  Of course, the work must get done, but why not take it outside? Why not become part of the scenery instead of merely watching it through a window from indoors?

I can’t imagine a more satisfying way to work outside than doing so while lounging on a new set of outdoor resin wicker furniture. It is comfortable and looks so beautiful on the patio or deck. One of my favorite things about outdoor resin wicker furniture is that cleaning it up takes nothing more than the squirt of a hose and some mild detergent. That’s my kind of furniture.

Just thinking about working outside makes me want to go pour myself a glass of iced tea, grab my laptop, head out to the patio, and prop my feet up. I can almost feel that gentle breeze already.

Lexington Club Chair and Ottoman

Garden Tools & Tips, Healthy Ideas, Innovative Solutions, Insect Control, Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living Spaces

The Battle with the Mosquito

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I just returned from a fun family weekend get-a-way to St Louis, MO.  We enjoyed the museums, architecture and a busy day at Six Flags. While traveling, I couldn’t help but notice how the mighty Mississippi was overriding its banks.  We have had SO much rain this spring in many parts of the country.  All this rain has made me concerned about the mosquito explosion that is about to come our way.  It is our responsibility one by one to try to help reduce the mosquito population by taking the time to look closely at our own yards.  We all need to check for some of the following which can make for perfect mosquito breeding:

  • Flower Pots, filled with standing water.
  • Outside Toys, turn over to avoid catching water.
  • Check to make sure outside faucets do not drip.
  • Remove leaves and debris from gutters.

In addition to the irritation that these little pests bring, they can also carry disease such as the West Nile Virus.

Nobody likes these pests, but thank goodness we have products that help us keep these little guys away.  My favorite product is the SkeeterVac.

Think about it….It’s your property, your backyard, and you have every right to enjoy it whenever you want. However, sometimes biting insects can make the outdoors quite challenging at best.

Well, it is time to take your backyard back. SkeeterVac mosquito exterminators quietly and safely reduce the number of those pesky insects.

The SkeeterVac is definitely worth checking out!  Let us know what you think about it!

Backyard Fun, Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living Spaces

Discover Ways to Take A “Staycation” This Summer

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The  economy has most families  looking for ways to save money and as summer approaches the lingering question  may be whether or not to take a vacation.

If a vacation seems out of the question then you may want to consider a “staycation” and explore the area you live in for free!

A few summers ago when my children were easily bored at home, I decided to explore our city for a week and make it an adventure for them.  So, for the next five days we had a blast.  On Monday we took our own tour of the downtown area.  After finding the best place to park which happened to be $5.00 for the day (if you got a stamp from a local establishment) we started out on foot.  We visited 2 very old churches, a museum and touch a trolley ride.  We packed our lunch in our ready to use picnic basket and ate a picnic, too.  On Tuesdays the zoo offers free admittance so that is where we spent the day.  We made sure to go to all the shows and also took advantage of  the zoos wading pool.  Wednesday was our day to volunteer to deliver meals to the needy.  This was a great experience for my children to see the great need in our city and be a part of the solution.  On Thursday we went to a sprinkler park and we made sure to pack a picnic lunch with lots of water.  Don’t forget the sunscreen either.  On our last day I let them decide where they wanted to go from a short list I had come up with.  They chose the discount movie theater and off we went.  It was nice to be in the air conditioned theater.  We went out for ice cream afterwards and talked about our stay-cation.

My children were definitely surprised at the fun they could have without leaving town!

If you are new to a city there is usually a directory that lists most of the attractions and the chamber of commerce is also a great resource.

Have a great summer no matter where you go – you may surprise yourself!