What a beautiful place to lunch.

I will add my own weather complaints, LOL, since I won't be eating outside either. Was 108 today and will be 111 by Sunday. Ugh. I'd love to take your rain from you.

hugs, Karen

What a lovely setting. Love the way you used the fruit slices in the vases, and that lattice sure makes a pretty backdrop as does the lush green trees and plants in the background. Here's hoping you will get a little warmer soon--and that Karen's area will cool off a bit! Luvs

What a nice setting!! Looks very pretty!

Our weather is terrible also. We went from 90 to rain every day and cool...only 62 here right now and we are FREEzing!

Karen, guess one type of weather is just as bad as the other as far as eating outside!
Luvs, the rain is good for something as it does make everything around here very green and when the sun decides to shine, it is just beautiful.
Mary, nice to have someone to commiserate with!

Thanks for your nice comments on our "cabana" and the tablesetting. Looks like we won't be eating out there for quite some time now and it won't be due to the weather. Our septic tank has been backing up for the last while off and on and now has reached a point where we have to dig up the whole backyard and make a new drainage field, etc. What's worse, is that it is going to cost $8000! I could buy A LOT of dishes with that money! It is literally "throwing money down the toilet!"

DD

oh gosh, DD, that is terrible. Huge expense AND tearing up your lovely yard. Double Whammy. Ugh.

hugs, Karen

Oh gosh, DD, that is horrible. Don't you just hate having to spend money on something you already have? That's how I feel when I have to replace a refrigerator or microwave--I'd rather buy something I don't have than have to replace something I already have. That's a big expense for you, so glad you already have so many beautiful dishes and accessories to play with! ;o) Luvs

I feel your pain...we had to do that about 6 years ago...ugh!! The grass is still fouled up where the old lines ran.
(((DD))))

Karen, Luvs & Jaybird, thanks for your sympathy...it really does help to know others care or have been through it like you Jaybird. Luvs, you are SO RIGHT about replacing things...only I think worse than new appliances, etc is something like buying new tires but still that is not as bad as a new septic system when it comes to the cost!

At least, the worst is over now and they have put all the pumps, pipes, etc in. The backyard is a terrible mess so now, we have to fill one trench for the wiring, get some topsoil, plant grass and replace some cement pads where we had our Adirondack chairs, etc. (I'm glad we never had to move the little cabana) Knowing DH though, he will be right on it - he never rests that guy! I'm just glad he got the pro's in to do the drainage field instead of trying to do it himself!

dd

Under the circumstances, DD, that is all good news. Your DH sounds great, and smart. LOL. Hang to that guy!
I'm so glad the cabana area was spared too.
I hope in light of what is happening to Iowa folks, something like this can be put in some perspective to make it easier to swallow the cost and hassle.

hugs, Karen

So true, Karen. I feel so bad for those Iowa people and their flooding. I have nothing to complain about compared to them!

DD

DD, I see you even have a chandy hanging in your cabana--very pretty/fancy. ;o) Did your cabana come with the glass panels? Is it secured to the wood deck so it can stay up all the time. I'm asking all these questions because my DS needs a shade structure in the back yard, but doesn't want to build a patio cover. This might work for them. Luvs

DD, I didn't know that you were living in Belgium, lol.

Here the weather is cold, it's raining all day long... they promise a bit of sun rays for next week.

Anyway, your "cabana" is so nice!

Luvs, here are a couple more pics of the cabana just after it was put up - didnt have chandeliere yet. DH built the wood platform which he put on some cement pads in the corners. He put landscape fabric under to keep grass from growing up into it. The rest of the structure is a ready-made "cabana" from Rona (not sure if you have in States) with wrought iron corners and leaded glass (which he secured to the wood) and the top is canvas. We just got it last summer and it survived last winter in which we had lots of snow and colder temps. He only took the canvas top off and left the rest up. The chandeliere is actually for candles although DH put power out there (with a cord along our clothesline) and we have little white lights at night. We were very happy with it and have had lots of gatherings there.

Prosperity - so nice to hear from you again and that you can commiserate with our bad weather! LOL!
DD

That is beautiful.....I'm printing the pictures to take to DH...something like that would be so cool in our backyard. The little girls would LOVE it, so maybe Grandpa can be persuaded! :^)
Thanks for posting!
Great to see you Prosperity!

Thanks DD, that sure worked out nicely. Your DH did a great job with the platform for it. I'm going to show these pics to my DS, this might work for them too. Love the leaded glass too, and really love your chandy with all the pretty prisms. TFS Luvs

Your cabana really is wonderful, I'm so glad it was spared when you had to tear up the yard. How are things going at getting back to normal? Know you want the mess gone asap, so hope you had a productive weekend. I think I'm staying indoors pretty much till Oct. LOL. This heat just does me in as I get older. 112 today, and of course its only going to go UP I'm sure in the next week or so. Ugh. I really hate not getting to be outside a lot tho. Trimmed one large bougainvillea and "melted" this morning. Too bad that's not in POUNDS, LOL. Years ago, at least it would cool off at night, but Phoenix so huge now its what they call a "Heat Island". All the concrete holds it in. Last night at 10:30, it was still 101. I keep telling myself to grin and bear it, especially as we have no floods or tornadoes or wildfires etc. So I've nothing to really complain about in that respect.

hugs, Karen

Karen, thank goodness we live in the age of air conditioning. Don't think I could have survived as a pioneer woman! It's "only" 93 here today, and too uncomfortable to suit me! I've just been in and out doing a few things outside today. During the summer, I try to do my yard early mornings or later in the evenings. In the middle of the day, I just flop on the couch with a book or movie and a cold drink! Not very productive I know. LOL

Luvs

Luvs and Jaybird, I'm glad to be able to post pics which may be of some inspiration to others. I should have mentioned the wood platform is 10' x 10'.

Yes, Karen, DH got to work this wknd and removed a lot of the rocks and got a load of topsoil brought in and is slowly getting that spread around. Bit by bit, I'm sure the yard will get back to normal.

Our weather has smartened up a bit but is supposed to be short-lived with more rain predicted. I am glad we don't have your temperatures though...I don't like it that hot and we don't have air conditioning!

DD