Beautiful Sunset… Taking time to enjoy the sunset from the hammock has become a favorite past-time when the weather is nice.

One day I hope to build a covered deck in the back yard, but it is low on the priority list. That being said, our backyard’s landscaping  is mostly sand and weeds.  We try to keep our eyes off the ground and just look at the beautiful trees surrounding us.  On nice mornings or evenings, when we have the time, we find ourselves spending moments here.  We either enjoy a cup of coffee, basking in the morning sun or in the evening we lounge in the hammock underneath the stars.

Last night, we roasted some all beef hot dogs over the fire as we have several times this past summer.  Even though we had rain showers off and on that day, the evening warmed up nicely, and we were able to spend some quality time in our backyard, until the next storm blew in.

Setting up camp…in our backyard. Our son enjoyed playing in his tent this summer, and he loved spending the night in it.

Our yard has zero landscaping except what nature has decided to put there.  We consider it an extension of our house and spend much time in the space.  Our son has begun construction of dirt roads for his cars in the sand, a small model of the driveway we used to have.  Krista can be found curled up with a book and a cup of coffee, and I can be close by blogging or watching a video on Youtube.

Hanging in the family room at night… Krista relaxes next to the fire in the hammock. The Tiki Torches are lit and the firelight illuminates the back of the solar panels.

Despite the ground’s lack luster appearance, the sky is brilliant at night. We have seen many a shooting stars while lying back in my hammock. We have no light pollution and even on a winter night, I have seen the northern lights this far south from the poles. The Aurora Borealis wasn’t very bright and brilliant as seen in the far north or in pictures.  It looked like an overcast sky with green tinted clouds that moved similar to a lava lamp.  I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me until I brought Krista out to confirm that I wasn’t imagining it.

Silly boys… We decided to do a goofy pose for mom. We call this, “The sky’s the limit”. The fire pit was made by a friend of ours who gave it to us as a gift. If you can tell, the fire pit is the bottom fourth of an old pressure tank to regulate domestic water pressure.

I do enjoy early evenings and watching a wandering bat dart around at dusk before disappearing into the night.  The coyotes howl in the distance often.  Sometimes they begin yelping and screeching when they team up to chase their prey in the distance.  They rarely come close to the property since we began keeping our chickens in a coup and fenced pen.  An occasional train can be heard in the distance.  And, on really rowdy nights during the summer, the neighbors a few acres away will crank their radio, race their ATVs, and target shoot until they graciously quiet down around 10:00 pm.  The majority of the time it is very quiet here, and the breeze can be heard through the trees as well as the insects buzzing during the heat of the day.

Snow in the family room… The outdoor family room isn’t just for summer. With a snow shovel and snow blower, 2ft. of snow can be easily cleared and a roaring fire is always nice and toasty.

One day, we will build our outdoor porch, but after the family constructs a barn, mudroom, and tree house. Until then, we will continue to enjoy our outdoor family room.

Many people in the tiny house movement have realized how to utilize and incorporate outdoor space into everyday domestic living.  Please feel free to share how you have made your backyard an extension of your home’s living space.