SHADE!

We have done a lot of projects in our little backyard since we bought our home almost two years ago.

Fall 2012

Summer 2014

But the one thing we still have to address is shade! We have pretty much no shade in our backyard at all. Its very frustrating to have such a functional backyard and yet never want to go out there because it is so...dang...hot! We thought about planting some trees this summer but we could never find the right kind with the right price tag. True to my introduction of this blog...here is a list of dreams for fixing our shade problem:

Pergola: I would love to build a nice deck off the backdoor with a pergola above it. I think pergolas are beautiful and also functional and they don't seem that hard to build (this is where my husband starts laughing). I found an idea on pinterest to weave sections of a painters drop cloth through the pergola to add even more shade.

Shade Sail: This is a new idea that I have found and I love that it is cheaper, and removable. Here is a picture I found on pintrest that I love.

Extending the roof: A friend of ours on the street over had a roof built out the back of their house to cover their patio. Obviously this is the best idea but not really something you could DIY and the cost, for now, puts it out of our reach. But it would be a nice feature...someday. :)

While any one of these ideas would alleviate our shade problem, since the weather is growing cooler this project will probably be pushed until next summer when the scorching heat makes me beg for shade. Until then, I will keep dreaming. :)