Staycation

You hear the word STAYCATION a lot these days.  With the economy the way it is and folks rarely, if ever, getting pay increases, more and more people are choosing to to stay home and spend a week vacationing. They are saving on costs by sleeping in their own beds and saving that on high $$ gasoline by visiting local attractions.

My favorite staycation place is out my back door, I can walk right out of my kitchen and I'm there.

Behold - Laura's backyard resort!

Our backyard is not the multi-million dollar dream home outdoor room with a TV, fireplace and outdoor kitchen, but it's pretty nice and we love it.

This photo was taken a couple of years ago and there have been some a heckuvalotta changes.  Our backyard has been a continual work in progress since we moved into our new old house.  In fact, if we spent less money on our backyard we could probably leave home more often for vacation.  But the backyard is right there - everyday - just waiting for you.  And it doesn't require a week off, you can staycation there every weekend and even for a few hours in the evening after work if you can make the time.

It's there on a peaceful spring Saturday morning waiting for you to just come on out with your

cup of coffee and relax. This is one of my favorite times to sit on my patio,

so don't you dare mow your lawn when I'm sipping my java on a weekend morning.



Recent projects include new covers for the cushions
A big DIY project that saved me big dollars



It's there any night the weather is mild for you to talk, eat, drink and laugh 

until the wee hours with neighbors and friends.

It's there on a wintery evening with steam rising off the spa and the water warm and bubbly.

And it's there on a summer day when the temperatures soar waiting for you

to do a cannonball into the cool refreshing water.



These beds were recently replanted, the upper bed is so well drained
only desert plants like to live up there



And you can take your pets on the backyard staycation,
Chewie really loves the backyard



This is not from Little Shop of Horrors -
One year my banana trees actually had baby bananas, sadly
it got cold before they had time to grow big and ripen



Weekend visitor - my daughter calls him Bob -
he does not like cats





Our current project  in progress (Finally Finished!! Take a look here)

To have a great backyard staycation spot I think you need the following elements

• Privacy - we are fortunate to have a very tall fence and no two story homes next door
• Plants, especially plants that smell good
• Comfy furniture
• A water feature ( I love the soothing sound of running water)
• Plenty of shade from the summer sun
• Food and drinks
• Family and friends

Has your family taken a Staycation?  Do you love just hanging out in your backyard?

Much Love & Laughter,

Laura

 

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