My Favorite Outdoor Space

http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2011/05/a-summer-table-outdoor-ideas-party/

Kate is part of a four-link parties going on this week by four different women. I'm linking up to inspiring outdoor ideas and sharing my favorite entertaining space. It overlooks the back gardens and is close to the kitchen - two reasons why it's my favorite!

When we moved here seven years ago, there was only a concrete slab off the dinning room. I added a brick apron on two sides and dressed it up as best I could.

The next summer, son L added a larger apron with pillars at the corners.

The next year, we added a raftered open roof and planted Akebia Silver Bells, a fifteen to twenty ft vine at the one corner...it was its third move in as many years!

And the next summer we added a composite floor over a part of the concrete slab,

 making the floor space bigger.

Today, when we entertain outdoors, it looks like this. I used HD drop cloth (what else?!) to make panels to fit in between the rafters, using Velcro to fasten them. It makes fabulous shade but does get really dirty if left on for the summer. Good old Clorox takes the stain out!

Last summer, I held a tea for twenty-two ladies here. The table looks like it goes on forever - but it was beautiful!

I used two sets of dishes and alternated them to serve these beautiful ladies.

- five years ago -

- today -

My favorite sitting place is the swing (behind the vine), even if it's only taking a breather from work or just simply to drink in the beauty!

I love this outdoor space!

Link parties:

Cottage Flora Thursday

Time Travel Thursday

Beyond the Picket Fence

Tootsie Time

Feathered Nest Friday

play house tour

when we moved here six years ago,

 one of my dreams was to have a play house for the grandgirlies.

two years ago, i designed one

and SIL W built it for me.

the fun began!

                                                 i bricked an 'L' landing at the front and side,

and used recycled FREE wrought iron railing fastened to a FREE porch post. :)

sooo much work fun with more to come!

stepping inside the door,

to the right is an iron crib bed/turned love seat,

with lots of fun dress-up items!

straight ahead is the 'dream' wall.

to the left is the dining area.

 above the door is a 'welcome' sign...

and this summer, i added these ornaments at the corners of the door.

all the items in the play house are from yard sale/thrift finds with the exception of the bed -

in a weaker moment, i bought it at an antique shop.

there's been adult teas and children teas...

candlelight in the twilight tour...

and was used by a friend as a spiritual retreat for several hours.

the size of the building is 8x10 ft,

and has no electricity because i wanted to use candle light when entertaining -

it's been a wonderful investment!

****************

its been so hot and dry this summer -

last week we had six to seven inches of rain in twentyfour hours...

wonderful, life-giving rain!

today, it's in the forties and raining -

a time to cozy up in the house.

God is GOOD!

...blessedness!

ox

landscape tour - 1

we bought our 'dawdy haus' in the fall of 1998,

rented it out until the spring of 2004,

then moved in ourselves the end of april of that same year.

the landscaping was minimal with a ho-hum sixty-ish style,

which was okay with me,

 'cause i had visions -big visions for this place!

- 1999 -

(more on this before/after coming up)

- spring of 2004 -

- 2006 we added a fence from the Wicked North Winds -

 

- fall of 2007 -

that winter this beautiful japanese maple died...

i could have cried!
i added this rusty gate to the by now, weathered wood.
- 2008 -

we left the tree up for a year secretly hoping it would revive and cut it down this past winter.

i moved or gave away the hosta and started over.
- the Mess 2010 -

- to a re-arranged wood pile - 

hubs cut old porch posts in half and to hold them in place,
i stripped them over re bar,
placing them beside the wooden 'bridge.'
- spring of 2010 -

- late summer 2010 -

i like this look but still prefer the beauty of the japanese maple.
the small crepe myrtle that's there is a baby from the big one we have
in front of the kitchen window and will fill up this empty space with its beauty.

...blessedness!

ox

linking up to Funky Junk's 'Gitter Done' party