Family Project

This past week was Easter vacation here, to include taking a break from blogging and much of our usual stuff. I'm convinced that a business as usual mentality the week after Easter robs us of Easter joy and distracts us from Christ.

So into the void we tackled a family project that has been gnawing at me for two years. We organized a small seating area on our patio. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, I should have thought again! The good news is that four trips to Home Depot and many hours of manual labor and we have a sweet place to kick back and enjoy our beautiful Arizona outdoor living.

We purchased a couch secondhand and a white woven throw slipcover. It fits perfectly up against the wall under our bedroom window. My daughter made sweet pillows for it out of blue material with a multi-colored bird print...too tweet (couldn't resist.) Across from the couch we purchased two all weather wicker type chairs in powder blue. This is a big step for me because I can be practical to a fault and feel compelled to purchase white. My frugal side won out because only the blue chairs were on sale:). My daughter is making coordinating seat pad covers using material that only has the branches and white blooms from the bird print. On the ground between the couch and chairs is a blue indoor/outdoor rug. NEVER did I think I would use a rug outside; my mind always thinks astroturf. With a baby and a desperate desire for color in the desert, a dark blue rug it is. Between the two chairs is a secondhand table on which the children and I placed multi-colored kitchen tiles (3X4) in the center, surrounded by mostly blue with some multi-colored glass gems. The grout is "almond sand" which gives it a rippling water over sand effect...if you have a really good imagination. Finally, behind the two chairs we put up (5) 4X8 panels of white privacy lattice between our covered patio posts. This has brought not only privacy, but shade which is a high commodity in the desert. Figuring out and implementing this part of the project was quite a team effort. Phew!

The planner that I am is chagrined to admit that this big project wasn't planned. To be honest, I woke up the day after Easter and "just couldn't take it anymore!" After sitting on my friend's sweet, shaded, patio the day before, I was compelled to shake my handywoman inhibitions and go for it! Shortly into the project I lost my temper because...well never mind. Once I apologized I was ready to not only produce a pleasant patio, I was going to avoid sinning as well! It was fantastic to work with the children. They carried, measured, painted, tiled, washed, cleared, mowed, and so much more. In fact, this family project was so successful, I have one planned for the Fall.