I absolutely love my deck.  It’s nothing fancy, very utilitarian for my life, and needs, but it’s my special place.

Every summer, my deck has been more than just a place to relax, drinking in the completeness of summer.  It’s been an Al fresco dining room, an area to grill, my garden center, a dog corral, a clothes dryer, etc..

About six years ago, I bought a table that had an opening for a large umbrella.  I bought my first umbrella and immediate believed I had struck gold.  I spent more time on the deck with my laptop, enjoying as much writing time in the shade as the ever moving sun would allow.

At some point this past spring, I discovered sun sails – screened cloth coverings that block 90% of the sun.  I purchased two screens: one 16′ x 16′ screen, and a 9′ x 9′ x 9′ triangular screen.

Due to consistent rain showers on every blasted day off between May and July, the wrestling brothers I always hire to assist with various projects, Cody and Cooper, and I could not begin the process of securing the sunshades.

Finally, in early July, I found a great price for one of those heavy-duty pop up tents.  I placed it on the deck, secured it, and turned it into my little piece of heaven.   

However, the deck continues to remain much more of a multipurpose activity center then most of the lovely arrangements designed by many of my friends.

^ An overview of the deck/tent from my bedroom.

^ In my own little corner, in my own little chair.

^ My garden center corner.

^ The laundry line.

^ One of the neatest, most unique feature of this deck. A tree grows right up through the railing.

^ On the other side of this tree/rail combination is one of my wisteria trees being trained to grow out on the limb.

I intend to keep the tent on the deck, however, the unused sunshades now have a new proposed location for a new little patio area out in the yard.  I may complete this patio project in late summer.