Flamingos & Cocktails

I have wanted to put out black flamingos since last year.  These were a Dollar Tree purchase.  While I would have liked them to be larger, the small size was fine for testing purposes.  I wanted to see what they would look like painted black.  Since I had more of the gloss paint on hand, that is what I used. I do think matte would look better.  There is a good chance that the sheen will dull once these have been exposed to rain and sun.  I am happy with the over-all aesthetic of black on them.

This is an area where there used to be a pear tree, which was a real nuisance.  It's also one of Teddy's main pee areas.  The black fish has followed us around and is our contractor's (Jimmy-Jam) favorite landscape element.  TBG did screw it into the stump of the pear tree so it wouldn't forever be blown down.  In the past, any time Jimmy completed a landscaping project, he'd set the fish in the middle to announce it was done.  We'll probably have this thing forever, while the flamingos will maybe last a year or two.  I am willing to spend more for larger and more permanent pieces now that I have proven the concept.

The weather was so nice yesterday that I fished more pieces out of the garage and brought out the big aloe vera plant.  While I am not fond of plastic chairs, TBG bought them for me and it is convenient that they stack.  This is our cocktail area and one of my plans this year is to create a screen for the trash and recycling totes.  There is a blue table/stand that I use when we bring out drinks, but since it's wood, it lives in the garage and then comes out at happy hour. I put it where Teddy is posing.

IMO, every patio needs a chaise.  This one has been with us for years.  Way back in time TBG worked for a catalogue show room (who remembers Service Merchandise?).  That is where this came from.  It's almost 20 years old, as is the candle stand next to it.  I never leave a wax candle out because they melt in the sun, but this is good place to set a mosquito candle in the evening.

Our driveway is basically "Cocktail Alley" for us.  When it's too sunny or if we are serving food, we sit in the furniture set in the shady area.  There is a cheap plastic storage box where we keep pads for those chairs.  Over the next few weeks, I'll be putting more effort into that area.  I can actually put planters out there because it only gets partial sun.

Now all we need is for warm, Covid-safe conditions so that we can gather a few friends together.  I am hoping that we can entertain in a month or so.  We will be ready!