READY TO RUMBLE

The only patio I have these days is off the front of my house, near the driveway. This is  because the one out back is overgrown. The front one is devoid of character, antiseptic and gives you a front row seat into the lives of everybody around the neighborhood. You see them come and go. I really do not find it a peaceful place where I can unwind and relax, much less read a book,  because we are on display out there too. But it is all I have to work with, so I reluctantly sit there. For a while now, I have wanted to put a canopy or umbrella over the small table we have out there to block out the sun during the hottest part of the afternoon. My husband was not on board with this, so I let it go. But when my best friend showed me hers on Skype, I was smitten. It was charming. The perfect setting to read or drink a glass of tea or lemonade. So I was determined to make my patio more hospitable too. After looking around at the local garden shops and superstores I zeroed in on one umbrella I liked, really liked. 

But the trouble was it was too expensive. And it was too large and heavy to accommodate our small area. So once again, I let my dream go and stopped trying to make this front patio a cozy retreat... because it just isn’t going to be. End of story. Then I found myself shopping in a Kmart that was going out of business. There in a bin were some patio umbrellas for under $29.  All had been opened and rummaged through and missing parts. But I found one similar to the expensive one I had been looking at elsewhere, sitting at the  bottom of the bin,  still sealed.  It was lightweight and designed for smaller spaces. I grabbed it and brought it home. 

Then, I sprung the discovery on my husband. He was not thrilled one way or another that I had found something. But he opted to set it up for me that night. Suffice to say I was tickled pink by the prospect of having it put in place. 

He took the stand

Then the umbrella

And put them together.

Then sat down to admire his accomplishment.

 It turned out to be the perfect fit. 

I was duly impressed.

Now I’m ready to rumble.

or READ.