Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

classic Pasisian balconies

If you have a small porch, you may be confronted with the issue of choosing and arranging outdoor furniture that will make the most of this outdoor space.  But, before you start fretting, take a moment to give thanks!  Even a small Parisian balcony is something to be thankful for, as an outdoor space attached to your home is a wonderful gift.

But, now that you’re thoroughly thankful for your porch, it’s time to figure out how to make the most of it.

For you dwellers of the small porch, don’t shy away from adding patio furniture.  I find Adirondack chairs and outdoor rocking chairs the most versatile pieces for smaller porches.  They’re easily transportable, fun to re arrange, and can be grouped or separated as needed.  Try facing all of your patio chairs outward to face the view.  You might be thinking, “My view is of a busy road and a neighbor that frequently mows the lawn in his underwear.” You could look into planting trees or trellis sections along the edge of your yard to block that view entirely with green.  But, we’re focusing this post on porches! So, why not try hanging a multitude of hanging flowers and plants around your porch?  Or, if the situation is serious, see if you can hang durable indoor-outdoor curtains or sheers to help camouflage the view. But, also don’t discount the fun of people watching.  While you may have tired of your exhibitionist neighbor-landscaper, your guests might find it thrilling!

Using a mix of outdoor rocking chairs, Adirondack chairs, patio chairs, and other outdoor furniture, you can arrange them to all face out but cluster them to still encourage conversation.  If you feel comfortable, by all means go for larger porch gliders or garden benches, but don’t over-crowd your porch if the space just isn’t available.

Also, evaluate how you’ll use your porch carefully.  Are you looking for a space to relax or to relax… and eat? Or both?  Your porch might not fit a picnic table, but there are plenty of outdoor bistro sets and trestle picnic tables that are perfect for small outdoor spaces.  Plus, you can pull the chairs or benches from that bistro set over to your other outdoor chairs if you have a few extra people over to sit a spell.

If outdoor dining is really your preferred method of enjoying your porch, by all means go for it!  Survey your options for patio dining sets and outdoor bistro sets until you find something that fits your space, your style, and your budget.  And, don’t be afraid to ask for customized options!

If you have the room, make sure to still craft a little secluded corner for yourself.  Even if you use an outdoor rocking chair you plan to pull over to the larger group when guests arrive, have a home base for it.  Add an outdoor accent table for piling books and setting your drink on, and know that that little corner of the porch will be your special spot.  If you prefer afternoon naps to afternoon snacks… string a hammock in the corner of your porch.  It will give you a retreat, while adding a hint of relaxing whimsy to your over-all design scheme.

No matter the size of your porch though, porch swings will work anywhere!  In fact, you might want to use one  to craft that personal retreat I mentioned earlier.  Find an outdoor furniture retailer that provides customizable lengths, measure the widest part of your porch, and ask them what size they recommend to get the most use from the area.  Don’t forget to also get plush outdoor furniture cushions and throw pillows to make your porch swing a destination!

So, no matter the size, shape, or view from your porch… remember that it’s a blessing! Use your space wisely with expert outdoor furniture arrangement, and you’ll enjoy it for longer!

Have Fun!

Hazel

Tags: adirondack chairs, garden benches, hammock, outdoor bistro sets, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor rocking chairs, patio chairs, patio dining sets, patio furniture, picnic table, porch gliders, porch swings, porches, trestle picnic tables

Nearly everything, including the way we dress and decorate, the tools and equipment we use, the food we eat, the places we go, and even the way we live, changes with the seasons.    Consequently, many of our possessions are stored in garages, sheds, attics, and cedar chests, for the better part of the year.

Right now, for example, patio furniture, grills, picnic tables and baskets, shorts, tank tops, lawn games, and mowers, are being used or worn every day.  Two months from now, however, we’ll be packing them up, and getting out our warm clothes, rakes, and fall decorations.

Even those who live in regions where the weather barely changes throughout the year, have to adjust to the seasons.  The only difference is that they don’t have quite as many things to put into storage; and that’s good.  After all, it’s sad when something that has been indispensable for months, suddenly becomes a worthless object that’s merely taking up space.

So, it’s always nice to find ways to be able to use things beyond their traditional seasons.  For instance, many people who live in cold climates enclose their porches, patios, and gazebos, so that they can enjoy their porch furniture year-round.  Millions of people have also decided that their Christmas lights, rather than being buried in boxes, should be strung around their arbors, trellises, and pergolas, to add permanent sparkle to their outdoor décor.

Picnic baskets, too, can be functional all year long; yet, people usually put them away at the end of summer.  That’s a shame, because they sometimes get dirty or damaged, or even gnawed by rodents, during the winter (the baskets, that is, not the people – or so one hopes).  Furthermore, like the other types, picnic baskets are attractive, and available in different designs and colors; and they can serve a number of purposes.

Therefore, it doesn’t make sense to keep them hidden away, especially if you have more than one picnic basket, as many people do.  Keep one on your porch or deck, near your favorite lounge chair, and use it to hold magazines, board games, knitting supplies, binoculars and bird books, or anything else that you want to have handy.

In your pool house, you can fill picnic baskets with towels, tanning lotion, bug spray, hairspray (just don’t get those two mixed up!), or other health and beauty products, for guests to use.  Larger baskets can hold extra blankets or outdoor throw pillows, for those chilly nights when you’re lying in your hammock or swingbed, gazing at the stars.  At backyard parties, put them on your outdoor buffet table, to hold napkins and utensils.

Of course, you can always use picnic baskets in your kitchen.  Fill them with snack foods, such as cookies, crackers, nuts, protein bars, and even cereal, rice, and beans (as long as they’re sealed in plastic bags).  You can also keep napkins and tablecloths in them.

In the summer, drape some cloth napkins in pretty patterns, such as gingham, around the edges of the picnic basket, and put a bouquet of dried flowers on top.  Use russet-colored napkins and, perhaps, dried leaves or Indian corn, in the fall.  At Christmastime, use red and green napkins, along with any of the multitude of seasonal decorations.  When spring comes around, try flowered or pastel napkins, and some colorful flowers.

Truly, if you let your creativity flow, you’ll think of a hundred uses for picnic baskets.  If you can save just one of them from the jaws of a rodent, it will be worth it.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: Arbors, cedar chests, Gazebos, grills, hammock, outdoor buffet table, outdoor decor, patio furniture, Pergolas, picnic tables, Pool house, porch furniture, Sheds, swing bed, trellises

It doesn’t take weeds, or even pests, to spoil a landscape.  Sometimes, people foil their own efforts to cultivate gorgeous lawns and gardens.  In most instances, it’s not because they start to neglect their outdoor chores.  I mean, sure, that does happen every now and then.  After all, it’s summer, and most people would rather be cooking burgers on their grills, hanging out around their picnic tables, and relaxing in their Adirondack chairs and porch gliders, than doing yard work.

However, that’s not the main problem; and it’s usually not that they’re doing all the wrong things, either.  Actually, it’s more likely that they’re doing the right things, but too often, or too infrequently.  For example, many people over-water their lawns.  This prevents the roots from growing far enough into the ground, which causes them to get tangled up among the blades of grass, and form a mat over the soil.

That’s not a good fashion statement, as the well-coiffed lawn is not sporting dreadlocks this year.   It’s also a waste of water.  The best thing to do is to water deeply, and less frequently, giving the lawn about an inch of water each time.  An easy way to figure out how long it takes to reach that amount is to set an empty tuna can on the grass, then run the sprinkler until it fills to the top.  Just don’t fall asleep in your hammock or swingbed when you’re supposed to be timing this, or you’ll have to start all over.

You may find that watering only once or twice a week will be sufficient.  So, before you water, make sure that your lawn truly needs it.  To determine whether or not it does, simply walk across it.  If the grass springs back into place, it’s in good shape; if it stays compressed in your footprints, it could probably use a drink.  Another way to tell is to push a screwdriver into the ground; if this is difficult, it’s a bit too dry.  Color is also a good indication, as thirsty grass may develop a slight blue tinge.

While watering less is a good way to get a healthier lawn, mowing more often will also help, as it will force the grass to grow thicker, enabling it to crowd out more weeds.  Just be certain that the mower’s blades are very sharp, so that they can make clean, even cuts.  This is important, because ragged edges make the grass more vulnerable to disease.

Furthermore, split ends are not in style for lawns, either; and neither is the close-cropped ‘do.  If you cut the grass too short, it will need more water and herbicides, and become difficult to manage (and they don’t make mousse for grass).  Although the ideal length will depend upon the type of grass that you have, as a rule, you shouldn’t cut off more than one-third of its height at a time.  That’s referred to as scalping, and it takes awhile for grass to recover from it (besides, it’s a really bad look).  Mowing it higher will make its roots grow deeper, increase its immunity to disease, and decrease its need for water.

Naturally, when the weather is extremely hot, you should take breaks whenever necessary.  Keep a pitcher of ice water or lemonade on an outdoor dining table, and enjoy a glass as you rest on a patio chair.

If your lawn is wet, don’t mow it, because the blades won’t be able to cut sharply enough.  Moreover, it will compress the soil and crush the roots, so they won’t be able to breathe.  Then, the grass will die, and your lawn will develop bald spots.

And – you guessed it – baldness is not in vogue for lawns, either!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: adirondack chairs, grills, hammock, outdoor dining table, patio chair, picnic tables, porch gliders, swingbed

With the searing heat that has been baking a large portion of the country for the past few days, many people have been staying indoors more than usual, trying to get relief from fans and air-conditioners.  An unabashed member of that group, I, too have been skipping a lot of my normal outdoor activities during the day.  Furthermore, I refuse to go anywhere that’s not cool (although that’s my year-round policy).

Fortunately, the evenings, though still quite warm, have been tolerable.  In fact, just to get my fill of the outdoors, I have considered sleeping on a lounge chair in my screened gazebo, under the outdoor ceiling fan.  Moreover, I’ve found that other people have thought about, or actually done, similar things.  The other night, as a bunch of us sat around a friend’s picnic table, one of her neighbors announced that she had slept on her swingbed.  After that, somebody else said that a friend of his had spent the past two nights in his backyard hammock.

Nearly everyone I have talked to recently has neglected outdoor chores as well.  It really is amazing how certain weather conditions can change our lifestyles, and throw us off our routines.  Luckily, it’s a temporary situation, as July is one of the busiest months for gardening, and a time when we can ill afford to postpone yard work.  Maybe our lawns can go for awhile without water, because they’ll recover quickly; but flowers and vegetables need attention, especially in areas that haven’t had much rain lately.

Annuals, for example, may be very thirsty now, particularly if they’re newly-planted and trying to establish roots.  Snipping or pinching off spent blossoms is another good way to revitalize plants, and help their roots to grow.  Cutting them back to half their size, and fertilizing them, will give them a second bloom.  If you want to add a dash of panache to dull areas, get some colorful, new plants that are ready to go right from their pots, into the ground.  Transplant and deadhead perennials this month as well.

Container plants, too, can become extremely parched during the summer, and may sometimes require watering twice a day.  They’re worth the extra effort, though, as planters are also ideal for adding pizzazz to the landscape.   Because they can go anywhere, you can put them in garden beds to fill bare spots, arrange them on patios, porches, and gazebos, or line them up along walkways, railings, or steps.  You can also move them around to give them more sun, or shade, when necessary.  To make things even more spectacular, use a variety of planters in several colors and sizes, along with planter trellises and planter benches.

Indeed, there’s much to be accomplished in the garden this month; but it’s more important to take it easy, even in seasonable temperatures.  If you feel that you need a break, just plant yourself in an outdoor chair, under a shady tree, and water yourself thoroughly.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: Gazebos, hammock, lounge chair, outdoor ceiling fan, outdoor chair, picnic table, Planter Benches, planter trellises, screened gazebo, swingbed

Today there’s a kind of strange, almost eerie, sight outside my window.  My birdfeeders, which are normally bustling with activity, have gotten very few hits.  I haven’t seen a lot of movement around the birdhouses, either; and, oddly enough, even the birdbaths aren’t getting as many visitors as usual.  So, the heat wave that we, along with a large portion of the country, are experiencing is, not surprisingly, affecting the wildlife as well.

Whether or not your area is now being scorched by temperatures that are nearing 100º, you’ve probably, at one time or another, been in the grip of a heat wave.  Indeed, nearly everyone knows how this feels (awful!), and that, when it gets life-threateningly hot, it’s vital to find a way to stay cool.  Although everybody is at risk, the ones who are the most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses are the elderly, the very young, and those who must work outdoors.

If you’re in that last group, it’s imperative that you take it easy, drink plenty of water, and stop frequently for breaks.  Otherwise, it’s best to stay inside, in the air-conditioning, as much as possible.  Don’t do any unnecessary outdoor chores, either; forget about yard work for the time being.  If you don’t want to stay in, take an ice-cold glass of lemonade out to a patio chair, porch swing, or hammock, and just relax.

Even if you’re in a location, such as this, where it’s going to stay dry for several days, don’t worry about your lawn.  Although it may get thoroughly baked, it will spring back to life when it rains.  However, if you can’t be dissuaded from watering it, let your sprinkler do double duty, and set yourself up in a lounge chair or steamer chair, in a spot where it will spray you, too.

During weather like this, you should also wear light, and light-colored, clothing.  Take cool baths or showers if you don’t have a pool, or have access to one.  Even if you have one, however, the water can get pretty warm under these conditions; so keep cold drinks handy on a nearby picnic table that’s shaded by a tree or, at least, a patio umbrella.  It’s also a good idea to put some ice packs and wet cloths into a cooler, in case someone gets overheated.

Of course, as the birds are reminding me today, this weather is just as dangerous for animals.  So, provide some water for the wild creatures, and, please, don’t leave your pets out in the heat – especially in a car!  They’re depending on you to keep them safe and cool.  You should also check on elderly neighbors, or anyone who lives alone and doesn’t have air-conditioning.

You know, I sure could go for a heapin’ helpin’ of some of that wonderful snow that we had last winter!  No, I’m not just saying that; I’m one of the few who enjoyed it even when it was over two feet deep.  Believe me, I’d rather see 28º than 98º any day of the year.

Yours (I cannot tell a lie – for now, I’m staying) Indoors,

Kathy

Tags: birdfeeders, birdhouses, chaise lounge, hammock, lounge chair, patio chair, patio umbrella, picnic table, porch swing, steamer chair

If you haven’t heard yet, today is the official first day of the summer season.  You may be thinking that it has felt like summer for awhile now, and that summer actually starts when it gets hot.  Who even decided when a season starts anyway? Is it another Hallmark Holiday?

Actually, the first day of summer always falls on the historic Summer Solstice.  The Summer Solstice is an astronomical event when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is most inclined toward the sun, creating more hours of sunlight within that rotation than any other rotation for the year.   Little too scienc-y for you?  After all, this is a blog about outdoor furniture… not astrophysics! Basically, there is more daylight today than any other day.  Tomorrow, it will be daylight for a few less minutes.  These changes aren’t as noticeable as they used to be in ancient times.  First, because we have so much unnatural light to trick us and because the way we change our clocks for daylight savings time alters what time it is when it’s light out and when it’s dark.

Pre-Christian cultures saw the Summer and Winter Solstices as holy days.  Since the Summer Solstice has been celebrated world-wide, across cultures and civilizations, it’s impossible to “sum up” how most people have celebrated this extraordinary yearly event.  But, after all, doesn’t that say something about its importance?  A moment in our precious Earth’s cycle so momentous, that nations who did not know about the other nor share any religious or political beliefs… celebrated the same event on the same day. Common themes usually center on celebrations of light, life, fertility, and health, and celebrating all the prosperity the Earth and the Sun provide us.

And what does the Earth and Sun bring us more than anything else? Plants! Some cultures believed that plants and flowers that flourished during this time and were picked on this day would have miraculous healing powers.  [Note: This blog is not approved by the FDA.  Eating the dandelions from your backyard today is not likely to cure anything!]

So, how should we celebrate this day?  No matter your religious affiliation, celebrating the day with more light than any other is perfectly justified!  I plan to really tend to my flower garden today, paying special attention to how lucky I am to live in a fertile world that produces such glorious blooms.  Then, I’m having a few friends over to cook up fish on our grill.  As we gather around my picnic table and chow down on fish with blueberry salsa and some other side I haven’t planned yet… I plan to give thanks for the endless bounty that the dirt provides us.  So, join me on this meaningful day, and enjoy the view from your garden bench or porch swing, patio chair or hammock.  It doesn’t matter if you live on an organic farm or just have a container of daisies you picked up at the supermarket one day.  The sun rises every morning as a gift to us all, and today is the perfect day to remember that we shouldn’t take it for granted.

Shine Today!

Hazel.

Tags: garden bench, grill, hammock, Outdoor Furniture, patio chair, picnic table, porch swing, solstice

Ask Dear Ol’ Dad what he wants for Father’s Day, and he’ll probably say that he desires only to spend the afternoon in his favorite patio chair, reading the Sunday paper, and not worrying about doing any chores.  Then, maybe it’ll be a snooze in the hammock, before throwing some burgers on the grill, and eating at the picnic table.

Certainly he’s not asking for much; but you still wish to do something a lot more special for him.  After all, being a father is a job that’s always challenging and demanding, and alternately joyful, heart-rending, fun, difficult, rewarding, puzzling, uplifting, and thankless.

Raconteur, singer of songs, reader of poetry, teller of jokes, player of music, killer of spiders, puller of wagons, dryer of tears, remover of slivers, and so much more, Dad has taught you everything, from the simplest games, to life’s most profound lessons.

He has also, on many occasions, been the victim of cruel irony.  He bought you a scooter, you left it lying outside the door, and he tripped over it and tore his good suit.  (Yes, from here on out, I’m blaming “you,” even though, when something went wrong at our house, “nobody” did it!)  He got you a guinea pig, you let it loose, and it got into his dresser drawer and chewed up his underwear and socks.  He taught you to ride a bike, and you ran over the seedlings that he had just planted.

Still undaunted, he showed you how to fish, and caught a hook in the neck as you were casting your line.  He taught you how to hit a ball, and got whacked in the head – or someplace even more painful – by your bat.  Then, he came to all of your games and sat on those splintered old benches; and he stayed the whole time, even when you, too, were just sitting on the bench.  He wound up with ants in his pants – literally – after you broke the ant farm that you had begged for, and which he, to his everlasting regret, had finally given you.

Yes, Dad gave you his all – and you gave him gray hair.  The most amazing part of it all, however, is that, if you ask him, he’ll say that he’d do it all (or, most of it, anyway) over again (right, Dad?).

Nevertheless, you’re determined to give him something wonderful for Father’s Day.  So, if he truly wants to hang around the house, get him a nice porch swing, in return for the countless hours he spent pushing you on swings, only to have you spend years pushing him as far as you could.

An Adirondack Chair would be a good way to thank him for that vacation in the Adirondacks; and a new garden bench would compensate for the slivers that he got from those ballpark benches.  You could also get him an outdoor rocking chair, for all of the times that you drove him off his rocker.

Naturally, he would also enjoy it if you let him know that all of the advice that he gave you while you were growing up, which you so blithely dismissed, turned out to be spot-on.  If you now have kids of your own, it would further delight him to discover that his wish has come true, as you have, indeed, found out “what it’s like.” (Perhaps it’s no coincidence that diaper, spelled backward, is repaid!)

Actually, the best gift that you could give him would be to have a big family gathering.  I mean, he definitely wants to see those adorable grandchildren; and it would really make his day if he could just sit back, relax, and watch you get yours!

Happy Father’s Day!

Kathy

Tags: adirondack chair, father's day, garden bench, grill, hammock, outdoor rocking chair, patio chair, picnic table, porch swing

One of the things that many people love about summer is being able to relax on their porch swings, chaise lounges, and Adirondack chairs, and admire their gardens.  If you’re in that number, you know the feeling of satisfaction that comes from having created such beauty through hours of hard labor.  Unfortunately, for a lot of people, much of that effort has gone toward trying to keep pests from destroying their handiwork.  In fact, they will continue their struggles in on-going, and, what often turn out to be losing, battles.

Indeed, it seems unfair that, even as you toil in the soil, there’s a host of bugs looting the leaves, pillaging the petals, stalking the stems, and ravaging the roots, of the plants that you are trying to nurture.  It appears that the only course of action is to assault them with a barrage of sprays, powders, and anything else that’s available at garden centers.  These days, however, because people are becoming increasingly loath to use pesticides that can harm the environment (thank goodness), they’re searching for other ways of rubbing out those little wretches.

Luckily, there are dozens of organic products to choose from; but applying these will also take up precious time that you could be spending cooking on your grill, eating at your picnic table, and napping in your hammock.  Moreover, they will wipe out things that are valuable to your garden as well.  Remember, not all of those creepy creatures have malicious intent; many of them are actually waiting in the, uh, wings, to support your endeavors.

Seen and unseen, they are always there, patrolling above and below the soil, and carrying out their vital missions.  With pistils at the ready, these unsung heroes deliver much-needed supplies of pollen to waiting troops.  At the same time, special units are deployed to devour enemy insects that would cause the annihilation of your vegetation; and all of this is accomplished without the use of chemical warfare.

Therefore, instead of attacking everything that crawls, start a recruiting drive to enlist these beneficial bugs as allies.  Whether you’re trying to cultivate flowers, fruits, shrubs, trees, or vegetables, your first tactic is to strategically place the nectar-rich plants in your garden that will entice them over to your side.

These powerhouse pollinators and elite exterminators include bees, lacewings, ladybugs, flower flies, and mini-wasps.  In many cases, their larvae alone have insatiable appetites.  For example, a ladybug larva can consume up to 40 aphids per day, while a single lacewing will eat as many as 10,000 of them over the course of its lifetime.

The favorite flowers of these famished forces include Dill (Anethum graveolens), Korean angelica (Angelica gigas), Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis), Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus), Poached egg plant (Limnanthes douglasii), Goldenrod (Solidago), and French marigold (Tagetes patula).

Add these lovely plants to your landscape, and you’ll soon have some selfless soldiers doing your drone work for you.  Of course, you’ll have to return their thoughtfulness, by being kind to them as well.

So, the next time you’re bothered by buzzing as you snooze in your swingbed or steamer chair, look twice before you bring in the swat team!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: adirondack chairs, chaise lounges, grills, hammock, picnic tables, porch swings, steamer chair, swing bed

After the millions of parties that were held across the nation over Memorial Day weekend, most of us have many new memories of good times spent with our family and friends.  Moreover, it’s a good bet that many – or, perhaps, most – of them were captured on camera (I’m using that word broadly, rather than trying to name everything that takes pictures and videos these days – which, by the way, is nearly everything!).  What’s really interesting, however, is that, no matter how high-tech the devices that people now use, they’re taking, essentially, the same photos that everyone has been snapping for generations.

You know the ones that I mean; you can find them in just about any family photograph album.  Besides the images of people gathered around a picnic table, there’s always a shot or two of a porch swing or glider that’s so over-loaded that everyone is squished and sitting sideways.  Then, there’s the one wherein at least a dozen children are lined up, astraddle of a chaise lounge chair; and most of them are holding up two fingers, to make “horns” on the kids in front of them.

Usually, there’s also a picture of some unfortunate soul who, after falling asleep in a hammock, was accessorized, by dastardly relatives, with whatever props they could find.  Certainly, no collection would be complete without a photo of the family chef – usually an uncle – decked out in his big hat and apron (funny saying optional), tending to the grill.  Indeed, people love to have these reminders of their special moments, so that they can relive them whenever they wish.

On the other hand, the hosts of these parties are often left with unwanted mementos, as they discover things that have been stained, broken, torn, or cracked – or worse.  After large backyard get-togethers, some of the most common finds are scratches in wood outdoor furniture.

So, if you notice a minor scratch on, say, one of your wood patio chairs or accent tables, you may be able to make it disappear with a furniture stain, or some paste wax and a vigorous buffing.  To get rid of a deeper scratch, try rubbing it, in the direction of the grain, with superfine sandpaper and baby oil or mineral oil.  For extra luster, follow up with oil soap, applied with superfine steel wool, then wax and buff the entire surface.

You can also go to a wood-finishing supplier and get one of those touch-up pens, which are available in shades to match all kinds of wood.  After preparing the damaged area by rubbing it lightly with mineral spirits and superfine sandpaper, go over it with the pen, and smooth it out with your finger.  If necessary, repeat this process until the scratch is no longer visible.

Just remember that, during years of heavy use, a few nicks are to be expected, especially on older pieces (newer outdoor furniture is often more resistant to scratches).  Furthermore, you can’t always blame your guests for causing the damage.  However, if you review the tons of pictures and videos that were taken at your party, you may be able to catch the culprit in the act.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: accent table, chaise lounge chair, hammock, Outdoor Furniture, patio chair, picnic table, porch glider, porch swing, wood patio chairs

If you’re having a picnic in your backyard, it’s no big deal if you forget something when you’re setting up your picnic table and grill.  In most cases, you’ll either have it in your house, or you’ll simply have to go to a convenience store and get it.  However, when you’re going to a park, or out to the woods, you will have to be extra careful not to leave anything behind.

Just for starters, make sure that you not only have the right containers for transporting everything, but that you have enough of them.  I mean, one picnic basket is rarely sufficient for all of the food that you’ll be taking (and that’s not even counting the stuff that will have to go into coolers).  You can use a couple of baskets for food, and another one (or more) for carrying the dishes, glasses, utensils, and napery.  You should also have coolers of all sizes, whether they’re the regular, old-fashioned kind, or the newer ones that are like combinations of coolers, backpacks, purses, briefcases, and luggage (some of which even have wheels).

The type of tableware that you’ll use will largely depend upon the occasion, and the location of your picnic.  For casual get-togethers, regular paper plates and plastic tablecloths and utensils will do just fine.  If, however, you want to dress things up, you may decide to use one of your better tablecloths; but if you do, bring an old sheet to put under it as a liner to protect it from snags.  You can also find festive-looking, heavy-duty plates and napkins, as well as multi-colored plastic dishes and glasses that look just like the real things.

Now, if it’s going to be really fancy, and you’re bringing the good tableware, pack it in with the blankets, which are also prerequisites for any cookout.  Even if you’re going to be eating at a picnic table, you’ll want to have a place to stretch out and relax afterward; and don’t forget to pack some plastic sheeting to put under the blankets if the ground is moist.  You can also bring along a hammock, and, just in case the trees don’t line up right, a hammock stand.  For extra seating, load up some outdoor folding chairs or steamer chairs as well.

If you’re cooking out at a park, you’ll probably be in a pavilion with a nearby park grill; otherwise, you’ll have to bring a tent, if you want shelter, and a small charcoal grill or a fire ring for cooking.

Leaving the area spotless is a must, too, so pack paper towels or cloths that you can use to clean the picnic tables, and put all of your trash into waste receptacles.  If you’re going to be in the wilderness, where no trash cans are provided, bring some large garbage bags.

Of course, in the latter case, it’s extremely important to make sure that any fires that you have built are put out completely.  In fact, it is, literally, a matter of life and death.  So, since Smokey Bear isn’t here to write this himself (he’s terrible at typing, anyway!), I’ll say it for him: “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!”

Wow!  I just realized that’s the second blog in a row in which I’ve quoted a bear!  Quoted a bear?!  Even that sounds crazy (well, if the quote fits)!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: charcoal grill, fire ring, hammock, hammock stand, outdoor folding chairs, pavilion, picnic table, steamer chairs, trashcans, waste receptacles