My "New" Patio

Happy Saturday!

When our wonderful father passed away, Sister and I were faced with the task of not only cleaning out his condo and mechanic's shop, but also our family lake house in Wisconsin.  Unfortunately the Wisconsin clean-out happened to coincide with my family's trip to Disney World so I wasn't able to help.  Thank God for my amazing brother-in-law who thought he was going to get a nice vacation on the lake.  He was wrong.  So, so wrong.

Anyways, Hanna & I have been visiting the lake house every summer of our lives. Then when I had kids, we started taking them too.  This place holds some of the best memories of our lives.  Fortunately, we haven't sold it yet so we can always go back.  It was just in the need of a major de-clutter. 

There is a HUGE screened in porch that we spent many, many hours laying around in trying to avoid the monstrous mosquitoes that seem to love Sister so much.  Hanna & I went in on a moving truck to bring stuff back to Oregon and when she asked what I wanted, I told her some of the wrought iron patio furniture.  Our grandparents had this house built in the 1950's so all of the furniture is original to when they moved in.

Well, that was two Summers ago and I finally got the motivation to go into my shop and bring out all of the wonderful treasures Hanna brought back for me.  Then it was out with the old and in with the "new"

We had many, many meals prepared for us by our mom at this table.

Look at that amazing patina.

I remember this bar cart always just sitting off in the corner, never being used.  Now it holds some of my rustier, more worn treasures. I need to get a new top for it, but I still love it just the way it is.

So one of the main reasons I waited so long to bring out the furniture was that I was really wanting to have the cushions recovered.  Well, that was two years ago.  Now when I look at them, I wonder what in the world I was thinking!  I am in love with the faded shabbiness of them.

 

The chairs are rockers and possibly the most comfortable patio chairs I've ever sat in.  Sister kept two of the non-rockers for herself and my brother-in-law was not happy about it after sitting in these!

This little settee needs a cushion.  I just need to come upon the right fabric and I will have one made.

So not only did Hanna send these back for me, she also sent back two absolutely amazing wrought iron chaise lounges.  We spent hours upon house lounging on these on the dock.  However, I am having MAJOR issues finding new cushions for them.  Does anybody have any resources they can share?  I want to be able to use them this summer! 

Brian bought this old 7-up cooler off of Craigslist about 4 years ago for a hundred bucks.  He is always promising to get it running but for now, it holds some of our less attractive but necessary patio stuff.

Another view of the amazing old junk that decorates my patio.

That birdbath holds my growing collection of old faucet handles and sprinklers.  See that Igloo drink cooler?  It has held countless batches of Vodka Lemonades for out by the fire pit.

Remember when I blogged about all of the wonderful things Sister bought me for my birthday?  Well, I didn't get a chance to share what Brian and the kids got me.  I figured it was more fitting to put them in this post.

 

 

How perfect do these fit in with the rest of the furniture?  Brian said it best when he told me that he wanted to buy me something that I would never buy myself from an antique mall (I'm convinced that I am going to find a whole slew of these at a garage sale someday).  I actually squealed and jumped up and down when I saw these sitting on my patio.

Well, needless to say, I plan on spending a lot of time on my "new" patio this Summer.  I told Brian that for Christmas, I want a couple of patio heaters so I can enjoy it year-round.  Good idea, right?

Linking up over at:

The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Share Your Cup Thursday with Jann Olson
Pink Saturday at How Sweet The Sound

Have a great weekend!

Erica