Photo from Pinterest.

Photo from Pinterest.

Photo from Pinterest.

Photo from Pinterest.

Photo by Artscapes.

I saw my first flower of the spring last night in full bloom.  I want to call it a daffodil, but everyone else scientific calls it the trumpet narcissus.  It was dark as I rolled down the driveway so I couldn’t get a photo.  However, Nancy of Homemade Blessings gives us a photo journey around her yard from Sunday,

The kids have been having fun swinging in this hammock that we hung out between two of the trees – it seems more like a cocoon than a hammock! Here is Anna having a turn ~

A hammock is on my agenda this year.  Bravo and thank you Nancy!  First I’ll have to scout out a couple of trees where birds don’t constantly sit (and drop).  Perhaps I’ll find one with man-made tree trunks… a self-contained hammock.

From the site Epic Win: For the Win, the best chair for outdoors ever EVER!

I am going to just step up and admit that I *love* this concept.  For people who love nature, live green, but do not like actually being outdoors, the perfect house has been developed.  From Fast Company,

The luxury retreat is located on the famously beautiful western coast of Scotland, it’s a self-contained geodesic dome. There’s no exterior plumbing or cast foundation–the pod sits on the land, with as minimal an impact as possible.

Why would I like this?  My swollen fingers are begging for it after having been stung by wasps not once but TWICE last week.  Not the bees in my pretty pink tree, but mean evil wasps.

Gazebo is one of those words that is always on the tip of my brain and/or my tongue, but I can never quite vocalize it.  It is a lovely word for a lovely yard feature, though.  We have a long front yard and have often talked about a gazebo for the very front so our daughter would have a place to sit while she waits for the school bus.  As it is now, I drive her up the driveway so she doesn’t get too cold during the winter months.  I like the idea of a gazebo much better!

Why get a gazebo?

We can conclude that a gazebo can enhance the beauty of your garden and your house. It not only gives a unique look at the region where is your booth, but also provides additional room for your home, you can use as a guesthouse. A garden gazebo provides a space for relaxation, meditation, meetings and other activities.

I can imagine how lovely one would be if you had bird feeders around it, along with a path or a pond. I’m adding it to my “someday” list.

Photo by Hickory Rose via Flickr Creative Commons.

If you are looking for a way to extend the time you spend in your backyard on the deck or in your gazebo, Rittenhouse may have what you need.

The Solaira All-Season Outdoor Patio Heater provides instant and directional heat to warm your favorite outdoor area.  This patio heater
generates enough radiant heat to warm up to 9 square meters of floor
space – Enough to heat an average size patio table with 6 chairs.  This outdoor heater allows you to enjoy patio living well into the cool autumn months.

Use it:

1. Heat balconies, terraces, gazebos.
2. Add warmth to patios and decks.
3. Under umbrellas and awnings.
4. Around the hot tub or barbeque.

Details:

1. Dimensions:  15" x 7" x 8"
2. 120 V, 10 A, 1.2 kW.
3. Uses Philips 1.2 kW Quartz Gold Series Lamp (HeLeN).
4. Safe and odorless:  no propane gas tanks or products of combustion.
5. Provides instant and directional radiant heat.
6. IP54 rated weatherproof casing for outdoor use.
7. Toughened safety glass.
8. Includes 16′ long power cord.
9. Includes adjustable steel wall mounting bracket.
10. Easy to install:  Minimum mounting height of 2.5 m (8’2") from floor.
11. Extends the summer season.
12. Available in black or white.

photo courtesy Rittenhouse