I’ve been dreaming about dining alfresco since the first snow fell last year. It’s been a long winter, friends, and an even longer spring (understatement of the century). I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for the warmer weather and the opportunity to get outside. 

With the inside of the house slowly transforming into a jumble of moving boxes, I’m grateful for our little patch of green, especially now. Staying at home has its challenges, but our house feels bigger now that we can get outside. I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say the moment the temperature hit fifty degrees we migrated outside—anything that could be done outdoors we did.

What’s kept us outside for long stretches of time is multiuse patio furniture. We’ve set up our Winnie Dining Room Set from Yardbird as a command center. It’s not only our alfresco dining table but also a home base for arts and crafts and zoom conferences. The best part? The Winnie table has enough room for all of us to do all of these things at the same time. 

We’ve had the Winnie set for a year now and the Luna Outdoor Sofa Set for two summers. Our Luna Outdoor Sofa Set still looks like new and our Winnie Dining Table and Chairs have started to get that great well-loved teak finish that you want when purchasing heirloom-quality pieces. It’s a testament to the quality of their furniture.

Yardbird cost nearly half what high-end outdoor furniture brands do, and I’m happy to say that after nearly two years of entertaining, kids, dogs, and late-night dinner parties, it lives up to the hype. An added feel-good bonus to purchasing from Yardbird? They construct their products using recycled materials. When you’re ready for a new set, every piece is 100% recyclable.

As we are slowly packing up our home to move, I’m looking at our little patch of green and feeling nostalgic. I had visions of summer nights out on this patio, having a glass of wine with friends after a long, laughter-filled meal, just sitting there enjoying the evening. There are cookbook club gatherings, bonfires with neighbors, and playdates with friends that won’t be happening here anymore.

Life has been brought back to the basics for the time being, and the space where I’d planned to host fabulous dinner parties and group cocktail hours is now home to intimate dinners with my family of four, complete with chicken nuggets and hot dogs. And you know what? I couldn’t be happier. 

And when the sun gets low, we move from the table over to the Luna Outdoor Set, grab a blanket, and read with the kids until bedtime. Joe and I cap the night off with a celebratory “we made it through another day” glass of wine.

The last five summers spent here have been magical. We are going to miss this yard and this space so much, but we’re excited to make a whole host of new memories in our new backyard in the months and years to come.

If you’re ready to transform your outdoor space into your own little oasis, check out Yardbird. Yardbird offers design consultation to ensure your little piece of the outdoors is as comfortable as possible.

Ready to purchase outdoor furniture? Use code DELIGHT when visiting Yardbird to receive $100 off a purchase of $2000 or more.

Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.