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Finally, a Comfortable Place To Sit Outside

I’m been looking for outdoor furniture for Haven for ages, but it was only in the last month that I realised that I was looking for the wrong thing. I don’t like eating outside, so I don’t need a table and chairs. But I do like to lounge outside, especially after a long day indoors. So I needed some sort of lounger, preferably with shade. And it was at this point that I discovered patio swings and I knew that was exactly what I wanted for Haven.

Before buying new, I put an ad in the paper saying that I was looking for one and I got two responses! One was free, but didn’t have a canopy, which was a must. I did some research and couldn’t find the frame for a canopy, just new canopies as in the fabric bit only, so I knew this one would take work and money to get just right. But I didn’t turn it down.

The other one was $40 and had the canopy. I decided that I would get both so I’d have a place for a guest to sit (not that there is any socializing going on this summer; we’re all busy!) and I could also have spare parts.

A neighbour said he would help me pick them up, but he’s been super busy. The lady with the free one said there’s no rush, but the $40 had to be gone by this weekend. So I asked the seller if he thought it could be taken apart and put in my truck. He took some measurements and called back to say that he was pretty sure it could. We planned for me to drive to his property today. It is about as far northwest of Assiniboia as I am southeast.

I left early so I could hit the bank, the bottle/can return place, a restaurant for linner, the grocery store (I’d brought a cooler and ice), and the gas station for propane. I then had a really nice drive out among the rolling hills of canola, except for some really bad construction that made me take a detour on a very long gravel road for the trip home. SK gravel roads tend to be in better shape than the paved ones!

The swing wound up being exactly what I wanted, colour and all! The canopy is really ratty, so I will bring it to Mexico with me and see about having a new one made. The cushions are faded, but otherwise in good shape.

The seller, his wife, and I dismantled the whole thing. I got bitten by a spider for my troubles!!! I also got stung by a wasp his morning, so I have a swollen and sore right wrist and a swollen and sore left index finger. I’m glad I don’t have any typing for this weekend!

After a bit of trial and error, we finally got the swing more or less into my truck:

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The seller got some rope and made sure the hatch was tied up securely. Then, I paid and I had an extra $5 on me, so I gave it to him as a token gesture for the extra trouble

When I got home, I unloaded it on my own since the individual pieces weren’t heavy, not even the bench.

A neighbour heard me hammering the top piece into the sides (it wasn’t even 8PM yet so I really don’t think I was doing anything rude) and came over to see what was going on. I was just at the point of putting on the bench and canopy and was glad for the extra hands.

Ta-dah!

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I’m not sure if it will stay there, but it’s not heavy so I can move it until I’m happy with the position. I promptly collapsed on it lengthwise (adding a pillow to the side to hold my back) with a cold beer and my iPad for almost an hour. Mosquitoes notwithstanding (mosquitoes, really, here, in dry country!), it was just so lovely and peaceful. The cushions are super comfy!

The first summer at Haven, I just camped here. But now, with all these little luxuries coming in, it’s starting to feel like I’m building something permanent.

12 thoughts on “Finally, a Comfortable Place To Sit Outside”

  1. This is so fascinating “de te voir aller”. You are so cleaver in so many ways. I can almost see your mind going “Ok this is where I am, this is where I want to be and this is what I have. Now how do I get there within my budget”. The most fascinating part is the amount of patience you have. It is so refreshing to see in a world of immediate gratification nonsense.

    I hope everything works out with your new job. You so deserve it.

    All the best

    Nicole

    • Nicole, what a lovely surprise this morning to see that expression in my inbox! You do seem to have a good idea of where my mind’s at.

      Living in the world of instant gratification is a big part of why it’s taken me so long to get to where I am now because I’m still paying for all the mistakes I made back then. I’ve finally learned that sometimes if you stand still, the whole world comes to you and that patient is rewarded.

      Thank you for the best wishes on the job. I’m loving it so far!

      • It’s hard for me to believe that you were not always financially responsible as you are today. Good for you to have turn things around. Couldn’t have been easy.

        • Nicole, I never got good financial advice growing up, especially about credit, so I made a lot of mistakes. But I’ve always been fairly frugal. It’s just taken me a while to get back to a point where my income matches my lifestyle. 😀

  2. Ah yes! Leaning back in the garden swing on a warm evening sipping on a mojito (cold beer in your case). A Haven from the storms of life!

    I am sure you will find a shop in Mexico to make you a new canopy. They are used to repairing things there.

    • I love mojitos, but they’re not a practical drink to make at home. 🙂

      You’ll have to come out here one day… 🙂

      The canopy I need made is just something to be sewn. Fabric is so inexpensive in Mexico! I’m making it my mission this coming winter to find a seamstress, and I’ll start with the dressmaker in the Mercado.

  3. I love swings. One of the first things we got when we moved here.

    I know for a fact there are places you can have a new canopy made within walking distance of the panga on the Maz side.

    • That’s a trick I haven’t seen yet. I’ll have to remember to pick up a box next time I’m in town. In the meantime, I just spray the swing with citronella, which works pretty well.

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