PATIO CULTURE AND MID CENTURY LANDSCAPING

Drinks on the patio anyone?

 The term patio culture is synonymous with the post WW11 suburbanization of america.  Patio culture, like suburbia itself, has some negative connotations in modern society...such as the lack of racial integration (definitely bad), the reliance on the automobile ( in fact suburbia owes its very existence to the auto and modern highway system), sprawling shopping centers and homogeny.


Suburban living, or the rise of the middle class, contributed to the economic boom of the mid century.  The middle class suburban house wife  embraced the modern conveniences which were suddenly available to her...dishwashers, clothes washer and dryers, vacuum cleaners and prepared foods, leaving her with more time for shopping for the household, socializing (backyard cookout anyone?), and driving the kids around.


Let's check out some pics I've found of MCM patios and landscaping.

 Suburban homeowners in the 50's and 60's wanted a seamless look between the inside and out...thus landscaping tended to be simple.

The blousy english style garden of the early 20'th century gave way to a simple and affordable style which included brightly colored flowers such as dahlias, hollyhock, carnations, and hybrid tea roses.

 A MCM landscape requires a clean unobstructed view of the house.  Shrubs and flowers were kept trimmed, neat and low to the ground.

 A mid century modern yard would not include the following: stackable concrete walls, vinyl fencing, ornate front doors (please back away from those horrible "etched" glass/plastic doors so popular today), enclosing a car port (embrace these, they are fantastic!), white lattice archways with vines growing up it (or anything else cute or country), and the ubiquitous (in our neighborhood, anyway) one piece plastic molded mail box.

Sadly, Braxton and I don't happen to live in a MCM house.  We decorated the entire inside of the house in our beloved modern style, but the outside is all country cottage, which suits the neighborhood.


What do you think of modern landscaping?  I assume most people prefer an english (overgrown) style of garden, but I'm really getting into the clean manicured look of the modern yard.  Perhaps one day.


Have a beautiful weekend everyone!
yancey

SUBURBAN SWIMMING POOL

EVERYONE IN THE POOL!

 So, yesterday while I was running back and forth across my house (in hopes of keeping my toes), waiting for the phone to ring (insurance agent),  praying for mercy from the gods of electricity (apco),  and making up little ditties about said insurance agent and electric company to the tune of Ce lo Green's F**K YOU, I had a lots of time to think.  I thought about spring, summer, 80 degree days, sunshine, what I wouldn't do for a cup of hot tea...and swimming pools.


Truth be told, I'm really not  a swimming pool kind of girl, if actual swimming is involved, but I do love lounging by a pool...I may even daintily dip my toe in the water on my way back inside for another margarita.


In honor of the fact that the insurance guy will eventually call, the tree will eventually be removed from our roof and that spring will eventually come...I give you these gorgeous backyard swimming pools.

During the 1950's and 60's Palm Springs California had the largest collection of private swimming pools in the world.

Seriously, how is this even possible?  Cool though, right?

The calender says its mid February, but in my mind it's mid June....and I'm living the life   right here by this pool.

Because one waterfall just isn't enough.

 "The Fleishhacker Pool in San Francisco was the largest swimming pool in the United States.  It measured 1,000 by 150 Ft. and was so large that the life guards required kayaks for patrol.  It was closed in 1971 due to low patronage."    Wikkipedia

 "If you go parachuting, and your parachute doesn't open, and your friends are all watching you fall, I think a funny gag would be to pretend you were swimming."   Jack Handy

 "If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do all the rest have to drown too?"   Steven Wright

"Swimmers just smell better"   Anonymous


What's your opinion of backyard pools?  Do you have one?  Wish you did?
Braxton occasionally talks about putting in a pool, he grew up with pools, but so far I've managed to talk him out of it.
BTW:  Thank you Braxton for your post yesterday, you really are hysterical, but in a good way!


Have a beautiful day.
yancey

Frozen Suburbia - AcornHill on Ice without Power

Braxton and Yancey about 2:00 this AM 

I'll nnnnnneverrrr forrrrrgettttt yyyyyou Yancey

And so, we had 10 inches of snow. And a ginormous pine tree fell on our house at AcornHill. And then the power went out. And it's still out.

So, my Darling Yancey is not only without means to blog today, she is also shivering at home, waiting for the power to come back on again. Dare to dream...

I suggested she go to our new beautiful library so conveniently located in our neighborhood and warm up, drink some hot beverages and blog. But nope, she wants to stay is frozen suburbia, and go down with the frozen ship.

Having spent most of the day yesterday chopping down a tree, and missing my day job [ well, not exactly missing it, Bob :)  ], I've got to catch up at work, no time really for pitching in with a great Suburban post. Sorry. Emergency code BLUE operation today.

Instead I'll share a few pictures of our frozen and beloved home as we wait for the power company to restore juice to our domicile. It was supposed to be on by 11:00 last night. Called again, will be on by 11:00 tonight. Like I can count on that, bub!

Anyway, here are some pics of AcornHill, frozen...

AcornHill without power for 24 hours

AcornHill, cozy after 24 hours without electricity-
thank you Appalachian Power!

Can't even watch the freakin' Boob Tube

No showers, no hot meals, no heat, no hot water to shave, no lights...

Braxton surprised to find out his heart has frozen with 20 degree temperatures last night and no heat

Braxton's frozen heart gives him a bad attitude and a wicked idea of how to get the power restored and thaw his icy heart

Braxton venting : )

Actually, I am a pacifist (on most days) and know the power company is doing what it can. God bless you Appalachian Power, and get the hell back to work : )

Braxton needs a hot meal and a hot shower!

I hope you, my friends are much warmer. Thanks for visiting our blog. With any luck, my beloved Yancey will be back to blogging tomorrow.

Shine On! Braxton

A CELEBRATION OF SUBURBIA

Suburbia

 When I was four years old my family moved to Richmond Virginia.  My parents bought a house within city limits in a neighborhood referred as "the fan".  That house was my absolute favorite house from my childhood.   We could walk to school, we all had lots of friends who lived on the same block and we always felt safe.  There was a real sense of community...in fact the houses were so close together that the bigger kids could jump from front porch to front porch!


Then, when I was in the fourth grade, my parents moved us to the suburbs, and oh my god I hated it!  Unlike city life, suburban life felt dull,  it was quiet, too quiet...I think all the parents worked because there was never anyone around, in fact walking through the neighborhood to my friends houses was a little creepy.


Fast forward to adulthood and I'm back in suburbia...only this time it's been a completely different experience. I love it.  Our daughters were able to walk to school safely, I love having the privacy of a back yard full of trees, Braxton and I walk all over the neighborhood and have always felt comfortable doing so.  This go around, suburbia rocks!

Let's talk about how the suburban kitchen differed from the city kitchen.

1950 was the first year that more Americans lived in the suburbs than anywhere else.

Let's talk about the suburban backyard.  Complete with groovy airstream!

Let's talk about the effect  moving to the "burbs" had on family dynamics.

Patio culture!

Swimming pool culture!

Let's explore the architecture of the mid century planned neighborhoods.

After WW11 more Americans could afford a car which made suburban life more attractive.

                                                            My suburban life

Yesterday afternoon it began to snow.  A nice well behaved snow...sticking to the trees and grass, but not to the street.

A picturesque dusting of snow on my watering can.

My St. Francis statue always looks regal in the snow.

The garden gate. 

 Just when I was thinking it was nice to finally have a little winter weather...we woke up to this!

A pine tree leaning against our bedroom window...

 and the roof of our house. 

It apparently snowed all night.

Our mystic circle covered in about eight inches of heavy wet snow which stuck to everything.

Poor St. Francis...shivering and wet.

 I have to admit...it is kind of pretty.

Please join me this week as we explore suburbia.  Do you live in suburbia?  


I actually love city life, and can see myself living in a city again at some point, but for now, I'm very happy in my little suburban house, even with that tree on the roof.
Have a beautiful day.
yancey