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Outside Space |Pad Patter 6.5

We spent much more time outside when we had a firepit. We've gone through 4 in the last 10 years so we stopped buying them until we're out of the army. Things get broken in transit and the movers also take EVERYTHING that has a screw or a bolt apart and pieces get lost so no more new lawn furniture until we retire, either. I miss having a firepit but El Paso isn't a great place to get wood. We still spent a lot of time in our cozy backyard the first winter we were here again but I don't like the dogs of the new back neighbors - both the neighbors and the dogs are mean. LOVE the dogs of our side neighbors. We still like to sit outside and drink a beer occasionally or grill. We can't do bird feeders or bird baths anymore - the cats are great hunters. Michael and I wrapped fairy lights (aka Christmas lights) around and around the bushy trees back there that have purple blooms and shield us from the sidewalk walkers. It's nice out there when the back neighbors and their dogs aren't out. We have hanging colored glass candle holders from World Market with battery operated candles in them, windchimes, etc. We had a great herb garden going on until the dogs started peeing on it then we kind of gave up on it. Next time we build one we will go way higher! When we don't live on post we usually have an above ground pool in the summer and we use it a lot. My aunt gave Michael all her dragonfly themed outdoor things when she changed themes and he loves them - so we have candleholders, flower pots, etc. and a big wall art metal piece I ordered. When we don't live in the desert we want to get a fountain. He has so many strands of outdoor lights that we just choose which ones to use when we move and change them up. He loves those things. Everything is still mostly packed up from the windy season and I'm not sure I will put it back out for the summer or not. It's hot. The winters here are perfect for outdoor living, the summers not so much! It is still the guest gathering area, though. Everyone always migrates there and then I stress that we don't have enough lawn furniture...
 
We live in the city so we don't have a ton of outside space, but for the city, we have a decent amount.

Between our backdoor and the garage, we have a little courtyard type area with brick pavers and small landscaped areas around the edges. There is also a large stone outdoor fireplace built up against our garage. Our grill and small table set is out there. We love the fireplace, but don't use it as ofter as we would like.

Our largest outdoor space is on top of our garage. In Chicago, you find space where you can, so we have a large deck that covers the entire top of our two car garage. Half of it is covered by a pergola to give some shade. We have lounge type furniture up there, but to be honest, we rarely go up there. We started with our table up there thinking that's where we would eat outdoors, but to go from the kitchen to the deck was down a half flight of stairs, out the back door, across the tiny courtyard and up a flight of stairs. Not a huge distance, but enough inconvenience that we didn't do it. Clara plans to use it more this summer. She has a big blow up pool that she plans on hanging out in... keeping cool and getting some sun.
 
Our apartment has a balcony out front. There is a large raised flower bed which we've taken over. We sit on the edge of it, blow bubbles, run under the hose, & play with trains. A former neighbor gifted us a kettle drum bbq. We keep it under the stairs & pull that out every once in awhile. There's a small yard behind our bedroom window. The upstairs neighbors pay extra for that, but they've let us have a party there before. The school is 2 blocks away and our city park is big & spacious with 3 play areas. I'd love my own patio someday.
 
scrapsandsass said:
Does anyone have one of these??? :giggle My daughter found it on Pinterest.
Click to expand...
I don't have that but now I want one, and we've got the perfect spot! But it'll have to wait a but. We're currently in the process of staining our fence. Yuck. ;) Next year we'll build a deck (we put the fence up ourselves last year). We're a decent-size lot with a big swing set and a 10x10 "dirt box" (sand box, but that's what ds calls it lol). We also have a small garden box (more will be added next year) and beautiful landscaping in the front yard and we planted apple and pear trees last year, as well as a wonderful red maple and river birch for some shade (well, in a few years they'll provide shade lol). The previous owners didn't do much, and what they had planted was neglected. We're making our yard look beautiful. In fact, our neighbors hired a company late last summer to get their trees/shrubs trimmed and looking good because, as she said, "you guys are making me realize we need to spruce up!" :giggle And just a few weeks ago their neighbor redid his stones and mulch and our neighbor across the street ripped out their overgrown front bed and put down nice little evergreens and some annuals. Realtors have said that when a home sells, it's good for the whole neighborhood because new owners take care of that "deferred maintenance" (you know, stuff that doesn't have to be done but probably should). And my friend on the next street asked my opinion for her front door color after we painted ours. While I don't take credit for the prettiness of my surrounding houses rotfl, it is nice to see people putting a little effort into their landscape. It only increases every home's value, and that's a good thing imho. :) OK, it's not very humble, is it??? :evillaugh
Anyway, with 2 young kids, our whole yard is play space, which means that even without a proper deck, I'm hanging out in our yard. :) We've got 2 chairs by the dirt box, right in the shade. I'd actually love a little gazebo back there, but first we should get a proper deck by the house so DH has an easy place to walk out to the grill and I have a nice place to sit and watch him work. :)
 
we have a little balcony, we live in the ground floor, is difficult to explain, we live in a place that is two small buildings divided by communal gardens with lots of green...I used to have lots of plants in the balcony and the kids would sit there too in the balcony of half in half out.... but these days I can't move a lot so not much...I used to sunbathe in the gardens too.... I should try get doing that again, huge part of the well being is vitamin D...I need some of that!!
 
we have a little balcony, we live in the ground floor, is difficult to explain, we live in a place that is two small buildings divided by communal gardens with lots of green...I used to have lots of plants in the balcony and the kids would sit there too in the balcony of half in half out.... but these days I can't move a lot so not much...I used to sunbathe in the gardens too.... I should try get doing that again, huge part of the well being is vitamin D...I need some of that!!
 
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