Our Teahouse – my favorite place

Okay, I get it, I’ve been complaining a lot about my lot in life being a staycationer this year.  The truth of the matter is, being home in our backyard’s Teahouse is my favorite place to be.

The Mr. and I built our home together 28 years ago, and we have been living here ever since.  Once we got through the house building stage, we didn’t stop with construction projects throughout the years.

I need to confess, the projects are always Mr.’s and I get to help by holding objects, handing him tools, and by saying, “Oh, you poor thing” when he hits his fingers with the hammer.  Most importantly I help with the refreshments.  It is important to keep him hydrated while working or to join him in celebrating the accomplishments of the day.  (I carry the glasses after he mixes the drinks, as every good wife should do, right?)  

Our first big project was our deck.  The year we moved into our house, we had a small pallet sitting on the ground outside our back door for a deck.  We sat there in the evening hours, watching the sunset, and waiting for the monster mosquitos to eat us alive.  We had our whole lives ahead of us.  We talked and dreamed about what we wanted our yard to look like.  We knew we wanted to enhance the view.

Our view is full of surprises.

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Once we decided on where the deck would go, he set off and designed it.  He figured out the supplies needed, ordered them, and they were delivered.  Then he (we) set out together to build a deck fit for a King and a Queen.  It was then, that I fell in love with him all over again.  Not only could he cook, he could design and build things with his own two hands.  Along with the help of several tools that fell into the category of, “I was thinking this tool would come in handy, so I’m going to buy it, okay?”

Ever since we built the deck (like how I always fit myself into the building part?) we’ve enjoyed hours together on our thrones, we’ve toasted the peaceful view, and we’ve soaked in plenty doses of Vitamin D.

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As if building a deck wasn’t enough, Mr. said, “I think we should build a Teahouse for the kids to hang out in and us to enjoy.  We can even design a garden around it, eventually.”

I was sold on the idea.  I’ll be damned – he did it once again.  He designed it and he built it – with my help, of course.  There were several “Oh, you poor thing” moments while we applied the shingles.  But I digress, this is about how a man and his talisman tools built a Teahouse from scratch.

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Our Teahouse is my secret favorite place.  It’s a seasonal staycation spot, right in our own backyard.  With the arrival of spring (finally), I’ll be able to make my way back inside it to spruce and clean it up for the spring, summer, and fall.

Maybe this year, I’ll even put some plants in it.  It seemed to be the perfect greenhouse for my daughter’s plant collection last summer.

Mr. built it in 2007 just in time for our youngest’s birthday party sleepover.  Not many dads build a Teahouse for their daughter’s party, but hey, it worked and it was a hit for sure.

So many happy memories made here in our backyard.

Many more to come, I’m sure of it.  Now I wonder if I can talk Mr. into that garden he envisioned would go around the Teahouse…holy crap, that was 11 years ago…

Please share, I’d love to hear about your favorite place!