My Backyard Blues

When it comes to the combination of blue and white you can count me,”IN!” I find it to be a classic look that will stand the test of time.

I chose this combination for my backyard to give it a cool feeling for the hot summer days we can experience here in California.

I also painted the back of my home a different color than the front!! Yes!! you heard right. The front of my home is yellow which is a warm and welcoming color, but I needed a cool look for the back so I chose a soft sage green for the back. You can not see the back of the house from any angle other than when you are back there so that is how I can get away with a two-toned house.

I took these pictures just when the sun was going down. The candles were lit and ready for dinner on the patio……….

The two black lanterns hold candles. You can’t see the light until it is totally dark. I purchased these years ago specifically to hang on my cobalt blue shutters.

The white monogrammed pillow is from Ballard designs. You know me, I have to have a touch of black and white and a letter,”P.” in just about every room in my home.

This is where we eat breakfast and also have dinner on the nights that are still warm.

This is the very first table that hubby and I ever purchased in 1970. It use to be white and it was our kitchen dinette table for years.

Even as a nineteen year old I knew it would be a good investment piece. Once it was no longer our kitchen table we could use it on our patio.

One thing I did not realize back then was…… Out of site out of mind. It set in my garage for 30 some-odd years, and just this year got it’s new coat of paint.

It was so fun sitting together at this table for the first time in years. I told hubby,”This is where it all began!! 41 years ago.

You can see our chimnea in this picture. We put a log in it when it is completely dark. My kiddos love to sit out here and make smores in the summer months.

Sometimes even when it is a bit cold we will snuggle up in blankets here. The small wrought iron piece at the bottom is an antique fire screen. I bought it years ago and it just snuggled in perfectly with the chimnea.

In our area of California the summer months can get quite hot so a pool almost becomes a necessity. We had this pool installed over thirty years ago and I have never regretted it.

My boys and their friends spent a lot of fun times out here. Now our grand kids enjoy slipping down the slide when they visit in the summer months.

The white piece in the center is a fountain. I love to look at it, it reminds me of Disney land when it is turned up on high! I am a big kid at heart!

I have to mention the great wall , that is what we call our fence, because it is pretty big.

My middle son built this for us two summer’s ago. We did not have the last two panels finished until this year. He helped me with the design and built all of it but the last two panels. He helped make a dream come true for me.

He also installed the large black lanterns which he said reminded him of, “The Pirates of the Caribbean!” at Disneyland. He is right, when it is dark it is just a lantern glow. He and hubby rewired them for low voltage lights in order to get a candle glow effect. I love ambient lighting.

The sun is starting to go down and the candle light begins to show up more. This is looking at my yard from the very back side.

As you walk back you turn the corner and we have another small patio where hubby barbecues/grills and we can sit back there and visit. The men usually go back there and talk about , you guessed it, SPORTS!

It is getting a bit dark now so I had to use a No-No, Flash!!! This is another favorite area of mine. That is little Jimmy holding a rock over looking a water feature. It is a small bubbler sitting among the ferns. It is a sweet little surprise making a wonderful bubbling sound, very peaceful. Above this area is my window box……..

It is getting dark so it is time to sit down and enjoy the candle light!!

So now you know where Kathysue’s family and friends sit and visit!! I hope you have enjoyed your stroll through out my backyard……

“Enjoy the Process!” Of:

Making special areas in your home to sit and relax!

Kathysue