How to Enjoy Your Patio

 The weather has been so nice and warm that we have been spending a lot of time out doors as a family.  We have been grilling at least two times a week and yesterday we all sat outside and drank coffee after dinner, just looking at the sunset.  We talked about how nice it would be if we could do things like this all year round.

My grandma is visiting from Mississippi, just like she does every year.  Soon, she will be joined by my Aunt Pam, who also visits every year.  They like to spend the Summer in our mild weather.  Well, it's mild to them.  On Summer nights in Mississippi if you want to enjoy a drink on your patio, it is probably an iced tea, and if you want to sit out there very long, you need a fan.  Aunt Pam and Uncle Danny have a huge covered back porch that is the size of some people's whole yards.  They have 2 ceiling fans hanging from the cover which they keep on to blow a little bit of the warm humid air around trying to make it a little more tolerable.

In Mississippi, the challenge is trying to keep cool throughout most of the year, but for us in Washington State, that isn't so.  Here in the Pacific Northwest we are challenged with keeping warm.  Most people stay indoors throughout the winter, but not us.  We have an amazing view of Mt. St. Helens AND Mt. Hood from our back yard.  There is nothing like seeing a beautiful mountain lit up all pink and purple and orange in a glorious sunset.  But how do you enjoy your yard when it's freezing out?

We took a cue from our family in Mississippi.  If they can try to cool off their porch, why can't we try to heat ours up?  We also got the idea from a restaurant that we like to go to.  The restaurant is so busy that the door is always opening and closing, and they have trouble keeping the heat in and the cold air out.  The tables near the door can get especially chilly.  One winter we all went for some hot soup for dinner and while we were seated at the door, the management brought over outdoor patio heaters  to help keep us warm!

What an awesome idea!  Mom and dad are looking into getting one of these heaters to use in the winter months so that we can still be outdoors.  I can just imagine it now.  A cool and crisp fall evening with my family, maybe sitting around a fire pit roasting marshmallows as the stars twinkle, and not even having to worry about getting to cold.  It sounds great!