The Best Accessories For Patio Umbrellas

Patio umbrellas have become popular fixtures in outdoor areas such as decks, patios, pools, and cafés. They guard people from unnecessary exposure to sun and precipitation. Colorful canopies also add visual appeal to outdoor settings. As you shop for patio umbrellas, you also find a number of useful accessories that can enhance your enjoyment of your umbrella. Lights, bases, and covers serve widely different purposes, but they are some of the most useful accessories you will find.

Sometimes getting the proper lighting is difficult. It's an especially difficult challenge if your outdoor space is small. You can't decide whether to take up valuable ground or table space. If you've faced such a predicament, check out lights that are specially designed to fit around the poles of patio umbrellas. Two semi-circular pieces snap together to form a circle around the pole. Batteries provide the power that runs the long-lasting LED lights. Some models even come with rechargeable batteries, so you don't have to worry about always running out for extra packages of batteries. Such a model can provide light for six hours after you have charged it fully.

When the sun begins to set, turn on the device to light up your outdoor dining table. If you charge the batteries fully before the party begins, the light should last for all or most of the evening.

Not all patio umbrellas require bases. Sometimes they come with attached bases. At other times, you must purchase the pieces separately. Often, you find purely functional bases. They keep patio umbrellas standing upright and weight them down to prevent the wind from carrying away your purchase. And they do the job well. But what about their looks?

You can now select bases with a decorative element to their design, too. Metal bases may incorporate fluting or other shaping. Fiberstone bases are made from a synthetic material, but they look like colored stone. Contrasting colors, shapes, designs, and other decorative markings further increase their attractiveness.

Covers aren't so exciting visually, but they fulfill an important role. Patio umbrellas last longer if you clean and store them whenever you aren't using them. Of course, sometimes you have no garage, shed, or indoor storage area. In this case, an umbrella cover is the best option.

Do not cover patio umbrellas when they are dirty or wet. Instead, allow them to air dry after cleaning. A good cover will fit your umbrella properly and cover most of its length when the canopy is folded down. Check that all closures on the cover work well.

Lights, bases, and covers are good accessories to own because they are all useful. Lights allow you to enjoy your patio table longer into the evening. Bases keep patio umbrellas straight and in place. Many bases also offer a decorative benefit. Covers, on the other hand, don't usually look fancy, but they fulfill an important role. They keep patio umbrellas clean and in good shape. In turn, you can enjoy your umbrella for a longer time.

Lovely Hammocks: From Around the World to Your Backyard

If you have the chance to pick up a hammock, please go for it. I've had a few experiences with hammocks that have convinced me they are one of life's little miracles. I lived in Hawaii for a few years, and there were few things better than going out into my backyard just a few feet from the Pacific ocean and swinging in a hammock.

However, my first experience with hammocks was when I was 14, and I went on a school trip to Mexico. It was an eye-opener, and the spark of the apparently enormous keg of wanderlust contained in my being. Ever since then, I've been unable to stay in one place for very long, and if I must, I'm constantly looking for ways to get out and see new things. We were at Chichen Itza, and it was a boiling hot day. Except there was no water, so it was more like direct-radiation-from-the-sun-that-could-kill-you-in-ten-minutes kind of a hot day. However, I did not go all the way to Mexico to not climb that famous pyramid! Literally every other person on the trip hid in the shadows of some trees while I climbed every single step. It was hot, and I was sweating buckets, but it was totally worth it. That was one of the most memorable moments of my trip.

Another moment I wish I didn't remember, although it's probably not quite so dramatic as to warrant that introduction, is the day when we went to the mercado (Spanish for "market"), and all I bought was a ridiculous bucket hat that no one should ever wear. ever. But really, I saw this wonderful stand just full of hammocks, and there was a particular one, I believe it was rainbow colored, that stuck out to me. I went back and stared at it probably six times, and my innocent little 14-year old bartering skills got the price down to just five dollars! However, my innocent little 14-year-old money skills honestly thought that was too expensive, and I passed it up. Let alone being rude to the vendor, that was a foolish (non-)transaction.  I kicked myself about that one for years.

I made up for it a few years ago, though. I went to Peru, and naturally, the first thing I did after the plane landed was go to the legendary Incan monument, Machu Picchu. Of course, I absolutely I had to climb it.  It was an incredibly hard hike to the top, let alone the fact that it's almost 8,000 feet above sea level. Combine days of excitement before leaving, a red-eye flight and a few hours of straight-up hiking, and you get one really tired writer. But you know what made it all worth it? Besides the feeling of connection to the ancient Incas and the gorgeous view of miles of surrounding the mountain? After climbing back down, I took a flight into the jungle, and spent my first night in Peru sleeping in a hammock. It seemed to have some kind of magical healing properties- the soreness and fatigue of my muscles had disappeared by the time I woke up, and I had a perfectly restful, dreamless sleep. It was the best night's sleep I've ever had. I'm still considering replacing my bed at home with a hammock.

At this point, you might be remembering how painful it was the last time you tried to sit in a hammock, and it spun around and spit you out on the ground. But please, don't be afraid any longer! Today's hammocks are virtually spill-proof, what with all the new features of the stands and strands. And there are all sorts of options for styles. First we have the traditional rope hammock; again, don't worry- this is not the rope hammock of the past that dug into your skin like a line of termites. Newly engineered materials make this rope softer and sturdier, something akin to being enveloped by, well, a comfortable hammock. If you'd prefer to forgo rope altogether,   fabric hammocks are just for you. From chairs to swings to camping hammocks, whatever fits your style and preferences, there is a hammock for you. And I dare you to sleep in one and not fall in love with it. It's impossible. Hammocks are the stuff dreams are made of.

 

 

 

 

Lovely Patio Heaters For a Warmer Feeling on the Cold Breeze in Your Patio

You can already feel the cold breeze that the winter season brings and you think it's time to stay inside and let the fireplace warm the house. You get a chance to have the reason to leave your outdoor furniture alone in your patio since you cannot tolerate the freezing atmosphere. You can't do that with your furniture. You can still stay with them if you just have the patio heater to warm the area. Placing one heater in your patio can bring happiness to everyone who wished to stay outside for a longer time.

Depending on your need, patio heaters are in many options in terms of style and types of energy used to operate the heater. With the style, you can choose from the tabletop, floor standing heater or wall mounted patio heaters. Patio heaters are also categorized as electric or propane operated. You can now find patio heaters that are elegantly designed with bronze, aluminum or copper finished. There are also the stainless steel heaters.

Using patio heaters requires responsible utilization to the part of person using it to avoid any accidents. Place the heater to a secured place where it can't be easily hit by children. Make sure that the heater stands firm on the floor or at the table top.

Spend your money to additional outdoor furnishing like patio heaters which are also very helpful and functional in cold season. This thing is not just an additional expenditure but an extra treat for the whole family to make use of your patio. You can do things like reading a book or having a cup of coffee with your love one while watching the snow falling without the freezing feeling inside.

You can enjoy the outdoor furniture you have purchased throughout the year and you can still have more time to spend in your patio with the aid of patio heaters.

Beautiful Backyard Landscaping - Stone Structures Are the Best Choice!

Many people now try to have a backyard landscaping because they will be able to spend their every days here as well as inviting friends. You are able to do many things to improve the appearance and the ambiance of the backyard as well as combining your own plan such as putting special plants. Stone Furniture

Actually, stones structures are the most popular style for backyard landscaping since it will stay in great way in the heat of sun and the pelting rain. Stone benches, tables and chairs are the most popular structure in many backyard landscaping. Marble and Granite are also the most common material that are applied for the furniture in your backyard. Pathways and Steps

It is also great to add stone pathways and flagstones for backyard landscaping. Moreover, it also gives people a place to walk on to prevent damaging the grass or stepping on wet patches. There are many backyards landscaping plans focus on pathways that are made of stone. This is because stone pathways or flagstones are tough and do very well in the outdoors.

Some backyard landscaping may add steps if the house is slightly essential from the yard. Slate can be a great choice for this as well as limestone for backyard landscaping which is using steps.

Low Walls and High Walls

Adding stone walls are also some designs on backyard landscaping to divide a yard or to double as stone seats at the same time. Slate, natural river stones, marble and other kinds of stones are ideal for low stone walls. These will make your backyard gorgeous and at the same time define the perimeter of your yard. It is also a nice plan to use higher walls for landscaping your back yard.

Arbors, Trellises and Water Structures

It is also nice to use stone arbors and trellises for backyard landscaping. Water structures like waterfalls and fountains are also good for backyards. They will cool down the area as well as soothe people there. In sum, the most favorite creation for backyard landscaping is stone structures.

Inspirational How to Make Your Backyard Playground Safe

Children love playing outside and exploring the world around them. As a parent, you not only want them to have fun and to learn, but you most importantly want them to be safe. Many parents make the decision to purchase a backyard kids playground for their children to enjoy the outdoors in the safety of their own backyard. This is a wise decision, but many factors must be considered if the play area is to be safe for your children and their friends.

The first and probably most important factor is whether the surface material is safe and adequate. A highly recommended material is rubber mulch. Wood chips, sand and pea gravel are also popular, but rubber is more spongy and great at breaking a fall. Concrete and asphalt are not safe because they are not soft materials. Grass and soil might be soft enough, but they erode over time and lose their protective benefits. Whatever material you choose, it should go six feet beyond the kids playground equipment and be at least 12 inches deep. Having an adequate surfacing material will prevent injury and keep your backyard a fun and safe place for your kids to play.

The next point of playground safety to consider is if the equipment itself is structurally sound. Anything that appears to be protruding, sharp or pointy should be sanded or otherwise removed. Open "s" hooks can cause harm by catching on clothing. Protrusions are not the only things that should be watched for. Hinges or links in a chain that can pinch little fingers should be done away with. In addition, any kids playground set that looks like it could have a tripping hazard should be avoided. Guardrails in the right places can prevent falls and keep your children safe from injury. The recommendation is that any structure that is more than three feet off the ground should have a guardrail.

Children have little limbs that can slip from beneath them. For this reason, ladder rungs and guardrail posts should be either less than 3.5 inches apart or wider than 9 inches so arms or legs do not get stuck between them. These and more safety concerns should be addressed before you make a purchase of a kids playground set. Wooden sets are very structurally sound and well constructed. As always do your own due diligence to find an experienced playground builder.

New What's in Wicker Patio Sets?

For the perfect addition to your covered porch or sunroom, consider wicker patio sets. But before you hit the store, did you know that there is more than one type of wicker? Actually, there are multiple similar materials that call themselves wicker, each with a slightly different look and characteristics from those of its peers. Get ready to learn something, it's time for Wicker 101.

The term wicker merely refers to the familiar woven pattern consisting of flexible branches, vines, reeds, grasses, etc. but not actually a material itself. The origin of the word is believed to come from the Scandinavian wika meaning to bend and vikker meaning wicker. The actual process of making wicker involves the weaving together or caning of fibers into chairs, tables, baskets, etc. The interlacing patterns are then usually secured to a base framework and voila, wicker patio sets for everyone. The frames themselves are typically constructed out of wood or aluminum.

Willow
Willow is an easily recognizable tree, known for its sloping branches and so-called "weeping" appearance. It grows in temperate regions like Europe and North America. A light, yet durable wood, willow grows rapidly and is flexible because of how well it retains moisture, making it good for the weaving of wicker patio sets. Because of this, it's also long-lasting.

Reed
Reed is one of the oldest materials found in wicker. It dates back to ancient Egyptian handiwork but still can be found today. Reed comprises various swamp grasses woven together with a straw-like texture. Sometimes the term reed also refers to the core of rattan vines. The material was used exclusively on early American wicker furniture.

Bamboo
Found in southeastern Asian, bamboo is an extremely prolific grower that consists of tall tropical grasses. It can thrive in both tropical and temperate climates, and grow up to a few feet per day! There are hundreds of bamboo species but they are all recognizable by their nodular growth and hollow stems. Bamboo is one of the more common wood that makes up wicker furniture.

Rattan
Rattan is the most popular wood when it comes to wicker because of its price and availability. Rattan refers to a grouping of roughly 600 palm trees indigenous to parts of Africa and Asia. The trees are superficially similar to bamboo, but unlike bamboo they have a solid core vine which is perfect for producing wicker patio sets. Rattan is also easy to replenish so it's a cheaper alternative to bamboo.

Cane
Cane refers to the stem of large rattan trees where the palm leaf connects to the stem. During the drying process, it takes on a yellow color. Cane is used particularly in the production of natural wicker and stained pieces of furniture.

Paper
Between 1900 and 1930 there was a type of wicker known as paper fiber. It was made using chemically treated manmade kraft paper fiber. Its original use was to emulate the pricier Victorian rattan. The problem with paper fiber is that it cannot get wet.

Resin
In recent years, synthetic wicker has become popular as an "all-weather" variety that is better for outdoor use than traditional wicker. Synthetic wicker is made from a resin plastic that's waterproof and resistant to warping, rot and infestation.

Nice Backyard Campout is Easy on the Budget

A back yard campout can be a lot of fun for the whole family and it won't cost you much at all. You'll have the opportunity to mix, mingle and interact with family members and not be stuck in front of the TV all night. Just make sure the TV doesn't come along on the campout with you.

You can put up a tent or pop up camper in the back yard and it won't cost you anything for an overnight permit. Not only will you have a cheap campsite for the night but you'll have a chance to check out all the camping gear before you head out for a longer camping trip with the family. You can do your cooking on a bar-b-q grill or on the camp stove. To make things easier why not make up a couple of picnic dishes ahead of time and then not have to do as much cooking in the back yard.

If you have younger children they always enjoy getting involved in a treasure hunt. This will keep them occupied for quite a while and if everyone is focused on something similar it will be easier to watch over them. What to look for? Kids always like to look for bugs. Be sure to warn them about any dangerous bugs that might show up in your area. Ask them to hunt for birds or animals in the yard and make a list of what they see.

Do you remember playing hide-and-seek when you were a kid? That was always a lot of fun and took up lots of time. Tag is another simple game that uses up a bunch of energy and has a lot of variations.

If the kids are a little older and there is more than one family involved they might be interested in baseball or soccer. If you have basketball nets then the kids can burn up a lot of energy on the courts. Many families will spend some time around the table with their favorite board games and this will usually help to bring everyone together for a little conversation. How about these games? monopoly, Parcheesi or checkers. Those games will keep them occupied for quite a long time.

You'll have the option of using nice clean bathrooms in your own home and there will be plenty of other resources close at hand if you need them. Later in the evening you could consider taking everybody out to the local ice cream shop with help from all of the money you were able to save by staying closer to home.