Friday Tales//Our Own Backyard

When moving from the “big house” to the townhouse last summer, I thought for sure the backyard would be what I missed the most. Do you watch house buying shows? “Outdoor space” is all the rage, next to stainless steel appliances and open floor plans. We like the temperature controlled environment of our homes but love the chance to feel the sun, walk barefoot through the grass, grill up some meat, all from the comforts of our own ecosystem. A great backyard to relax in is just what we all search for to feel like you have a space to call your own.

We have a “space to call our own” in the form of a very quaint little patio where you can feel the sun and grill up some meat. We do both. But to feel the grass, you have to go beyond our front door. I worried I would miss this little patch of green. Thankfully, I am proven wrong.

The little front yard is just right for chalk drawing, games of hide and seek, and learning to ride a bike. There are large trees for shade that bloom beautiful pink flowers in the summertime. There are little rose buds blooming under the front windows. And there is just enough green grass to walk barefoot, or to bear crawl depending on which family member you are and your aversion to the tickly grass. This space is not private, but we are just fine with that. We wave to the neighbors as they wander home from work, say hi to their dogs, and while you worry about being a nuisance or the “weirdos next door” just hanging out in the shared space all the time, I catch smiles on our neighbors’ faces and think maybe seeing little ones’ sidewalk art or hearing squeals of delight actually makes their day a little brighter.

And when our little front yard oasis isn’t large enough, we spread out. We find parks to run and play in. We hop on the bus in search of adventure. We go for a walk and stumble upon interactive art exhibits.

Living in a big city where personal space is limited takes creative thinking. But I am forever thankful that we have a wide and diverse city to explore. Our backyard expands and grows as we are willing to expand and grow. And while I still dream of that perfect backyard to grow a bounty of vegetables, for now I am thrilled to call the whole city our backyard. 

For our latest adventures in our Big Backyard, check out a new post on A Tale of Two Mamas. 

What adventures are you in search of this weekend in your own backyard?