Welcome to our Balcony, perhaps better colloquially known as "The Garden in Exile".
I can pretty much take credit for none of this. The chairs came with move, of course; it was The Ravishing Mrs. TB's idea to bring a mass-produced carpet we had in the house from New Home that we had no further use for there. It does make the balcony a little swanky (as you will note, it seems to have enough of an overhang to protect it from the rain as well. It does sort of need a small table between the chairs; balancing your coffee on your lap is a bit of a crap shoot.
My Aunt (the one that lives at The Ranch) gave me this little monk reading years ago. I never really had a place for it but never managed to get rid of it. Turns out I was saving it for here.
The view at night (the lights, again, were the product of The Ravishing Mrs. TB's imagination).
In the planters I have lettuce, spinach, barley, wheat, and rye while the round planter beyond the monk holds garlic. Not really enough to do anything of meaning, but at least I feel like I am doing something.
(The planters themselves were a bargain at a Big Box store: Something something "recycled ocean plastic" something, which translated into apparently not selling well and being 40% off.)
The view directly off our balcony. It really is a great view, for an apartment. The small pattern of lights there is obviously a reflection of the lights in the camera; no matter how I try to get rid of it, it shows up. It does make for a kind of cool effect.
Making home feel more like Home, just enough room to take in some fresh air. Might I suggest a barstool for a table, can do double duty as perch to sit on when shaving when you get older, it's what my Dad used when it got too much to stand when he hit his late eighties.....:)
ReplyDeleteNylon12, it really is something of a functional balcony.
DeleteA barstool - or something of that size - is a pretty good idea. It is about the right size (as you may note we are almost out of space as it is).
My wife and I used a strip of green Christmas lights and green - silver tinsel along our living room ceiling perimeter for relaxed low light. It worked great, but eventually, spiders began weaving their webs amonst it and we eventually took it down. I kind of miss it.
ReplyDeleteNice balcony and yes, the praying monk fits right in.
There is something about Christmas lights that makes them perfect for the whole year.
DeleteWe do seem to have more than our fair share of spiders here. I am wondering if the much cooler conditions in Winter will knock them down a bit (or, I suppose, drive them inside...)
Looks good. My wife found a narrow, 2 tier, metal table for plants on our front porch. She cycles through start up herbs and veggies. Spiders only show up when there's something already there to eat. The wife is fine with 'em.
DeleteT_M, I thought about a table or even a planter holder, but I think this may be what I am able to accommodate at the moment and get a compromise between a place to sit and a place to grow. I would like to add at least one more pot or planter for herbs.
DeleteT_M, I thought about a table or even a planter holder, but I think this may be what I am able to accommodate at the moment and get a compromise between a place to sit and a place to grow. I would like to add at least one more pot or planter for herbs.
DeleteIn all my years of apartment living, I only had two short years with a balcony. The rest were on ground level. Even those two years with a balcony were a dud as ground level was only about four feet below and was nothing but a large parking lot for all the buildings which surrounded it. I pretty much kept the curtains shut at all times there.
ReplyDeleteI don't miss this years.
Ed, I had very originally thought of a ground floor apartment, but was reminded by The Ravishing Mrs. TB that 1) The upper apartments had a 5' bump out on the bedroom side; and 2) It was the ground floor. Having seen it now in action, I would have hated the ground floor as to your point, it is pretty much just a view in for everyone that walks by. The third floor was a much more solid choice.
DeleteAlthough the eventual move at some point distresses me, given I saw what it took to get things up here...
That is lovely, TB. I suspect a good view, and a few square feet of outside space, make a huge difference. The lights seal the deal. Good on Mrs. TB for sprucing things up!
ReplyDeleteBob, it is about as good a view as you can get around here - better than any of the local home owners as I am much higher than street level. And yes, it does seem to make a huge difference from not having one at all.
DeleteLove the pictures of your balcony, TB. Mrs TB made it look very nice. I'm going to be on the lookout for some planters like that. I have a mind to try growing lettuce and herbs in the sunroom this fall and maybe spring. I suspect it will get too cold in that space to grow much through the winter, but we'll see!
ReplyDeleteThank you Becki. The Ravishing Mrs. TB did a bang up job.
DeleteYour growing idea sounds great! I have to admit I am very happy with the planters, partially because of the price and partially because of the fact that they have the build in bottom to catch water. I believe these measure 2' x 1", so they are quite convenient for shelving.
Nice job on the balcony. It looks like a lovely place to sit and relax. I hope you have nice weather to enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteThank you Leigh! We seem to be rapidly careening towards Autumn at this point, but still have some nice evenings ahead of us.
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