I took this pano photo of our deck this morning with my iPhone. It doesn’t really look crooked like that — it’s basically square — but I couldn’t figure out a better way to show most of it and the trees. The deck itself is done — the rest of our current project is a work in progress. The last few weeks have been a bit crazy here with our house under construction. There have been many moments when I’ve wondered what the heck we are doing — but as I sit on my new deck this morning – my new “outdoor office”- I know that it will be worth it.
When undertaking a big project like this, I think it’s natural to worry about budgeting — and I’ve been doing my fair share. And last week I made the mistake of looking up prepaid tuition plans for college. Basically, we should be eating ramen for the next 20 years. Instead, we’re remodeling and adding a deck. Don’t be surprised if I’m looking for a second full-time job soon…
Mike and I were discussing our budget last night as we ate dinner out on the deck. We spent most of the weekend out here — every meal and countless hours in between. The kids spent time running up and down the stairs, chasing one of the cats around the backyard, and yesterday evening before bed, Bo called to the sisters, “Come out on the deck with me! Let’s watch the sun go down!” Out they scampered. We are all smitten with our new space.
It wasn’t until I was sitting out here having coffee on Saturday morning when I realized that the deck is going to be my most favorite spot in our house. I’m notoriously a beach girl — much to the chagrin of my husband, who could take it or leave it — but to me, there is nothing more beautiful and peaceful than watching the waves crash into the sand. When I need to feel centered, I crave a beach. This deck and this view is a very close second.
The first time I visited Starved Rock I was blown away by the beauty of the area – it’s a big part of the reason I wanted to get married here. If I couldn’t do Hawaii, this was my next choice. Like most things, when you’re busy living your day-to-day life, it’s easy to take it for granted. Even though I know and appreciate how lovely it is here, Mike and I haven’t found time to hike and explore often (hopefully more now that the kids are growing and can go with us).
When we bought this house, Mike was instantly in love with the yard. We walked the property before we even saw inside the home. The trees, the creek, the neighbor’s cat wandering in the woods — all in the midst of a neighborhood filled with young families — it’s my idea of perfect.
When I was drinking my coffee on the porch on Saturday morning, I realized that my deck reminds me so much of one of my favorite memories as a child. When I was growing up, we didn’t travel often but one of the trips I remember was when I was about Bo’s age and we went to the mountains in Georgia. We stayed in this amazing log home and the outside had a beautiful deck with lounge chairs and wandering cats.
I went digging for photos this morning and these were the two I found. I can still transport myself to that place — and it’s been one of my go-to spots in my mind for relaxation for as long as I can remember. All of the adults were inside that morning and I remember so clearly relaxing on that chair and loving the view. It was so peaceful, so calming. I knew that one day I wanted to live somewhere similar.
The Midwest definitely isn’t the mountains of Georgia — but we’ve created our own little Mecca here. I’m typing this as I listen to the birds chirp, smelling the fresh spring air, and drinking coffee. Honestly, it doesn’t get much better.
While yes, the money for this deck could be going into a college fund — as could the money that we spend on vacations and other fun experiences – I think there is something to be said for providing these experiences for my kids (not to mention a little solace from the every day for the grownups of the house…). They are going to spend hours on this deck, enjoying the view, eating dinner, and eventually doing homework and reading. Maybe since they will have always had it they won’t appreciate it so much — or maybe they will one day want a deck, just like the house they grew up in. Maybe a deck surrounded by trees with a cat on their lap will seem as serene to them as it does to me. Only time will tell. But either way, it’s worth it.
