As many people know dining "al fresco" is a way of life for the Italian people, so our deck is a central point in our life for dining al fresco and drinking al fresco and anything else al fresco! It was one of the two features that sold us on this house (the great room was the other feature). Lisa and I have been known to enjoy our morning coffee and the newspaper outside before starting our day or ending the day with our evening meal and a drink on the back deck. Thanks to my Dad we have a beautiful new table to enjoy our meals at.
Our main deck wraps around to the front of the house so we follow either the shade (for Irish people like me) or the sun all the way around the house. We also have our tomatoes and spices growing on the deck and will push them around to follow the sun or get out of a hail storm. The deck is also a little wider than most decks I've seen so we have that much more room when we have a large number of friends over. The only down side to a deck that large is having to clear all the snow off of it when the storms come. It usually takes a few hours to clear the snow.
We recently hosted our annual Tiki Party when we gather family and close friends to celebrate the summer and catch up on all the "goings on" of every body's very busy lives. In typical Italian fashion we have lots of food & drink and it is always a good time. Lisa and I enjoy it even though I always "ping" right up to the day of the party (many of you know I am a hermit at heart but I do enjoy seeing my family and friends). This year my parents were here to enjoy one of our annual parties and they got see some of my AF friends who were able to make it. 
The Tiki Bar is a key point to the deck. My friend Dan Reyes and I made the bar while I was assigned to Vandenberg AFB and we had the movers bring it to Colorado. The top is getting worn so this winter in order to protect the great art work Dan did I will be moving it to the garage and determine a way to cover it in some kind of resin so it will last for ever. Dan did great work and I don't want to loose that great art. For those of you have seen the Tiki Bar you will know what I mean. The art work is done in a "Shag" style and somewhat resembles his wife Julie. We love it and never want to loose it.
Ciao!
4 comments:
Our goal is to make one of your Tiki parties.If we ever come back to the U.S. maybe you can work your party around us? We'll pass through 2008 enroute to Africa and again 2009 for the Bermuda trip...
The party was awesome! I always look forward to it! And when you ever feel like meeting up with friends, call David and me :) I'm the extreme extrovert, so I'm always up for seeing people. David mentioned something about wanting to go fishing , so that might be something else you men can do :)
Come on--updates, updates!!! Will you post a comment in honor of your birthday?
I will be making a new post tomorrow both in honor of many birthdays and the crazt squirrels we have at our house.
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