Where is your favorite place?
As a kid my favorite place in the summer was Suzie’s backyard. Suzie was the oldest of 7 kids. Her mom wanted all her kids in her backyard. She welcomed all the neighborhood kids to join them. Suzie’s mom believed that kids do better with simple things. Her answer was a ton of dirt dumped to one side of the back yard close enough to be observed from the kitchen window. There were days when as many as 20 kids would be swarming the dirt pile, playing “little people” a game that combined playing house, war, school, space invaders, cowboys and Indians and any other idea a 10 year old could come up with. The garden hose was frequently employed to construct rivers and lakes. Toward the end of the day Suzie’s mom would attach the sprinkler so we could run through it, cool off and wash the day’s accumulation of dirt and mud off.
Suzie’s parents had a large vegetable garden in the far end of the yard that was off limits to all children. Anyone who violated this rule earned an off limit on the dirt pile for all of us for the rest of the day. Heavy punishment, but we learned not to invite frequent violators back to play.
Today a swimming pool replaces the sprinkler. We worry about curb appeal and work out ways to expand our living space with outdoor kitchens and lounging areas. Home grown vegetables have become more and more popular. However 10 year olds haven’t changed.
Boston Brick & Stone recently completed a patio and pergola located near a backyard pool. The owners wanted a place to relax while they kept an eye on their rollicking children in the pool. The pergola provided the shade, the patio a level and aesthetic setting for their chaise lounges and side tables. Its position catches the breezes that keep the setting cooler than the rest of the yard. When I saw the pictures of the completed work and how the owners had beautifully decorated it, I thought, I bet this is their favorite place to be.
