A small luxury that you enjoy that not everyone has.

We are fortunate enough to have a pretty little oasis at our house – our backyard. Now, one could argue many people have backyard, and it is true, lots of people, do. But our yard is in an older area of the city, which means it is bigger than many newer sized lots. We have plenty of green space, and until three years ago, we had a vegetable garden. It is now a new patch of grass (perfect for a swimming pool, if we were so inclined).

However, the space I want to share with you that is my little luxury is our patio. Measuring approximately 4.5mx6m (15’x20′), it is done in black and grey interlocking brick pavers. We have a glass topped dining table, that I repainted black last summer after we had to buy new chairs. The 20 year old originals finally wearing out (the plastic mesh fabric finally wore out). A large (red) canopy umbrella shades that patio from the intense southern sun – a 2020 purchase, made before everyone realized we would all be home that summer!

But we’ve added to it – lighting our cotoneaster hedge with soft white twinkling lights and this year, adding coloured, solar powered Moroccan inspired lanterns. I always have a couple of planters with a variety of annuals spilling out adding whimsy and colour.

We enjoy many an early morning coffee, lunch time snack, afternoon drink, and evening dinner (or fire, when fire bans permit) in our little oasis during the summer, but winter time too! We’ve been known to have fires on Christmas eve and hotdog roasts all winter long, if the weather isn’t too frigid.

I love our little backyard and spend lots of time enjoying the birds singing writing in my journal, making notes for stories, or just enjoying the breeze and a cup of coffee. It’s a small luxury, but we all agree, it is something we’d all miss if we were ever to move!

Post inspired by 30 Days of Gratitude by Ordinary & Happy