Enjoying the Great Outdoors

One of my fondest childhood memories is of sitting on my grandparents' screened-in front porch on summer evenings, relaxing in their big old oak rocking chairs and watching the traffic go by, while Grandpa listened to a Cubs game and Grandma crocheted.  They lived in a town of only 500 people, so 'traffic' was rather a relative term, but nevertheless, the front porch was the place to be.
From our vantage point on the porch, we could observe just about all of the town's goings on.  We knew who was out and about, and all who were, knew to glance toward the Anderson's porch to see if Harold and Ino were available with a glass of lemonade and time to chat.
Back in those 'Mayberry RFD' days, folks spent much of their summer leisure time outdoors because it was cooler there than inside, and because it connected them with their neighbors.  Screened porches and rocking chairs were the staple of outdoor living. 
Several decades later, our outdoor living habits are significantly different.  Most of us have moved from the front porch to the backyard, and with that move we've brought along much more than just a couple of rockers and the portable radio.
One of the strongest trends in the design industry today is toward creating outdoor living spaces which provide many of the same amenities that we enjoy inside our homes. Truly comfortable areas for dining and conversation, as well as outdoor kitchens which accommodate full meal preparation and lavish entertaining, are becoming quite common.
A real driving force behind this trend is the desire of many people to create an escape from the busyness of life.  We're liking the idea of having a space where we can feel separate from the rest of the world, where we can enjoy the outdoors and the absence of the phone, computer and television. But, of course, we also want to be comfortable!
When I was in the 'dreaming' phase of creating our ideal outdoor living space, this is what my vision looked like:
Creating defined spaces in the great outdoors is a good way to accommodate entertainment of large groups, especially when varied ages are involved.  In addition to our existing two-tiered deck, I wanted to see a patio on the ground level, next to the garden.  Besides providing for a visual connection between the deck and the garden, this will allow for multiple activities and age groups to enjoy the outdoors together.
Comfortable furniture is a must, and the options today go far beyond a wicker rocker or webbed folding chairs.  All-weather metals, wickers and even some woods provide the basis for furniture which is beautiful enough to do double duty indoors, and fabrics which resist moisture, mildew and fading allow cushioning to be practical as well as comfy.
I was thinking a sofa, two chairs and a couple of occasional tables would make a great conversation grouping around my portable outdoor fireplace.  And for dining, a coordinating table with a market umbrella and chairs for six will be quite nice.  Because this is Iowa, a portable outdoor heater near the dining area will allow us to use this space almost until the snow flies.
Outdoor kitchens run the gamut from a simple grill, to a more elaborate set-up complete with sink, refrigerator, warming oven, food preparation area and cabinetry.  In my dreams, that would be really fun to have! However, I'm perfectly fine with a nice grill and a little prep space...and with the money we'd save, we can more easily justify building a pond and babbling brook next to the garden!

Speaking of which, water features are a great way to add to the ambiance of your backyard living space. Although not to be undertaken on a whim or without doing your homework, they can provide both visual and auditory beauty for your enjoyment, to say nothing of attracting flora and fauna that you might not otherwise have.
Now that our outdoor living space is complete, we could not be more pleased with how it turned out.  We have created a place for family to come and gather, where we can sit back, relax and enjoy the great outdoors. 

You may think that creating such outdoor living environments isn't realistic in a climate where cold weather monopolized our calendar, but the truth is that most years we can enjoy spaces like this at least occasionally for almost eight months out of the year.  In fact, Grandpa used to listen to both the first game of the season and the last game of the World Series from his perch on the porch.