One of my favorite things to do to get ready for our three months of outdoor living is to BRING OUT THE TABLES. And, boy do I have tables. We have a big yard, and so having a table in every section, corner or area of the yard ensures, and just INVITES us to be outside as much as we can for all our meals, as well as for all sorts of craziness that takes place in our little corner among the Cedar trees.
Right after the summer clothes come out, I move the kitchen table (that we LIVE at during the rest of the year) right up against the wall:
Not very inviting, is it? No! THAT is the point. We do not want to eat here unless it is pouring rain. Sometimes Pete tries to get away with sitting there for breakfast and the reading of his morning paper (he usually eats early before the girls are up) and if I happen to walk in and it's a beautiful morning, I look at him like he has ten heads, gasp, and say, "You should eat OUTSIDE! Look how beautiful it is out there! Isn't this why you moved to the Northwest? For weather like this? And that lovely deck that you SLAVED OVER! Such a shame. And, here you sit." (then I sigh).
He doesn't even look up. I wave my hand and flutter off. Another unsuccessful communication attempt with my phlegmatic husband.
So, where, in fact, DO we eat, if not at the pushed back table?
For starters, the big, beautiful, above-mentioned, slaved-over deck, right off the kitchen:
Moving on around the deck......
The catch-all-table outside the kitchen door. This table functions as extra counter space, afternoon project table and an afternoon snack area because it's in the shade:
I can rejoice, because finally THIS crazy table goes back outside where it belongs:
Of course, these are everyone's favorite outdoor chairs at our house. The Gliders. Lots of eating and drinking coffee takes place here:
A covered table. Here is a table on the patio, underneath the deck, where we eat on really hot days and have buffets set up for parties and company who are lounging at the fire pit :
Then, there is this table by the play-area, pool and sand box. The neighbors have been known to park it right here with a nice little appetizer and an afternoon cocktail, watching the children frolick in the afternoon sun. In September we have to move it over a bit because otherwise we'd have plums dropping continuously into our snacks and beloved drinks. Bad. Bad.
The child-table out front:
So, there is the outdoor-table-tour of our yard and where you will find us Taking Our Meals Out-of-Doors until the end of September.
"Millionaires, presidents -- even kings, Can't get along without everyday things. "
You are blessed to have such a lovely yard to accommodate so many tables!
I like the tablecloth on the "catch all" table right outside your kitchen door. Great photos!
Posted by: Laura | June 03, 2007 at 04:18 PM
WOW! What a great backyard! What a great deck! AND (gasp) you have grass!
Sooooo... do you not get a lot of bugs up in the NW? If we tried to eat outside during the summers, we'd be eaten alive by mosquitoes and attacked by yellow jackets...
Posted by: Ouiz | June 03, 2007 at 09:10 PM
Thanks for the tour. I loved it.
Posted by: Cheryl | June 04, 2007 at 06:57 AM
Nooooo, no bugs! One of the great things about living here. I grew up in the swamplands of Minnesota, so bugs were a large part of the summer months! Blah!
We may have gloomy skies for 9 months, but then........NO BUGS!
Posted by: Suzanne | June 04, 2007 at 07:35 AM
Oh, no fair! You get gloomy days (my favorite!!) AND no bugs?
Guess we'll have to have our veil party out there, then...
Posted by: Ouiz | June 04, 2007 at 10:29 AM
i LOVE your tables! and so many areas to enjoy them. we only have one outside right now... actually two, but the kids' table is among the trees and bushes (don't ask me how it got there) so now no one wants to sit there as it's close to the buggiest parts of the yard. we should move it to an open area like you have!
anyway, i came here looking for the summer dresses post, but i guess i'll have to drop by again for that!
Posted by: stefoodie | June 04, 2007 at 10:58 AM
WOW!!! Why wouldn't y'all spend ALL your time outdoors?! GREAT SPACE!!!
Posted by: betty | June 05, 2007 at 02:28 PM
This was a sweet post! After I read it, I went out and put a table cloth on my front porch table.
Posted by: Our Magnum Opus | June 05, 2007 at 04:34 PM