It’s finally June! In a year that has already felt twelve months long, how many of us are looking forward to backyard barbeques, badminton, and kiddie pools? Did you know that outdoor living as we know it today is a fairly new concept, beginning at the end of World War II?
Prior to the war, the land surrounding homes was used for more practical matters. The garden plot filled the family table with a bounty of fresh vegetables
and fruits, or they were canned for winter while the garden lay dormant. A chicken coop in the corner provided eggs and poultry. Old Bessie the cow freely gave milk. Or maybe it as Gertrude the cantankerous goat.In short, the backyard was merely an extension of everyday life. A place to hang clothes on the line, or to burn the trash—preferably not on the same day...
READ MORE on the Heroes, Heroines, and History blog and learn why the Webber grill is round!
What prompted this article was my excitement over our new deck and patio. After many, many months, our old yucky deck was demolished and a new modern (translate "safe") deck appeared thanks to a company we've used several times, AAARK. The patio is now maintenance free and the deck is rated for a hot tub, should we decide to put one in. Here is a picture of old structure:
When we bought this house, it was a short sale, meaning the bank owned it and sold it as is. Therefore, even though much of the house was in good shape, this homemade eyesore was a a wart on the backside of an otherwise fine home. Well, fine after some spit and polish. In short, we waited to deal with the most expensive fix-up until nearly ten years after we bought the house. For an after picture, go the article. It's worth it, if only to erase the image of the yucky deck from your brain.
