Backyard Fun, Outdoor Lighting Ideas

Unique Hammocks for Relaxing Outdoors

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Double Rope Hammock

Looking for a great way to relax outdoors? Traditional hammocks are great, but there are some modern alternatives that you are sure to love. A double rope hammock will look great on your porch or on your lawn. No where to hang it? The steel swing stand option will allow you to swing anywhere. It has the beautiful look and feel of a regular hammock, but gives you the ease and comfort of a chair and allows you to swing side by side with a friend or loved one.

A hammock lounger requires not hanging at ALL! This hammock is ideal for instant relaxation at poolside or on the patio. Escape to the backyard and into a hammock that is great for kicking back.  The four point mounting system makes it very sturdy and secure for ease getting in and out. It even comes with a small foam pillow, which is green to match the stylish green and white stripped pattern.Hammock Lounger

Backyard Fun, Portable Fun, Shade Solutions

A Little Slice of Shade for Outdoor Loving Kids

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Kids Chair with Shade Canopy

For many kids, going indoors in summer time is simply not an option.  It’s summer, after all, and outside with friends is the only place to be.  On super hot days, kids can get pretty resourceful when it comes to staying cool — they sit together in the shade under a tree, soak in the coolness of a shallow backyard baby pool, or make a homemade shade shelter using a tarp and some patio chairs.  

Creative approaches to staying cool deserve some kudos, but most parents like to know that their kids have access to reliable shade at all times.  Providing kids with an easy to carry, kid-sized canvas folding chair with an attached shade canopy gives them a comfortable and shady spot they can use any time and any place.  Kids can take a portable chair like this to friends’ homes, to the pool or beach, or to the park, and they never have to be concerned about lack of shade.

All too soon, the days will grow shorter and school will begin again.  Kids can feel it coming.  So, even if intense heat and sun prevent them from engaging in high-energy activities, outside is still the best place to be.  With their own little slice of shade, kids can stay comfy and cooler during the doggiest dog days the summer has to offer.

Healthy Ideas, Innovative Solutions, Shade Solutions

Tips to Keep Your Pets Cool and Healthy

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With heat waves sweeping the country, its impossible to forget to take care of yourself. Most people manage to stay hydrated, protected, and cool, but what about your pets? Pets need to be cared for during extreme heat just as people do. It is important to remember them and keep them safe. Below is a list of what, and what not, to do for cats and dogs during this extreme summer!

  • Pets can get dehydrated quickly. Be sure to provide plenty of fresh, clean water.
  • Make sure that pets have a shady, cool place to rest when outside. A Coolaroo pet bed is a perfect option because it raises your pet off the ground and allows air to circulate under them. Place it under a shady tree or porch for a perfect outdoor comfort spot.
  • Never leave pets outside for long periods of time during extreme heat. Even with food, water, and shade, pets can become overheated leading to death.
  • Never leave your pets in a parked vehicle, even with the windows cracked. This is very dangerous and even short periods of time can cause extreme dehydration or death.
  • Maintaining fur is a great way to keep pets cool. Trim dogs fur down to 1 inch. Be sure to leave 1 inch of fur for sun protection. Brushing cats more frequently than normal can help regulate temperature.
  • Exercise is important, but overexertion during hot weather commonly causes heat stress. Avoid excessive exercise during hot days.
  • Know the signs and risks! The ASPCA states that the signs of dehydration in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. They can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees. You should also know if your animals have an increased risk of heat related problems. Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, the elderly, overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool and inside.

Backyard Fun

Options Abound with Vinyl Playhouses

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Vinyl Playhouse

Does your swing set have a space at the bottom? Perhaps a sandbox that has gone unused for years or an open area that seems like wasted space? Spruce it up with a custom vinyl playhouse. You provide the dimensions of your fort, and we create a custom solution that will fit perfectly. The options are abundant. You can choose windows that are open, marine grade vinyl rollup flapped, clear plastic, or sturdy mesh. They are all weather resistant and mildew repellant. Strong seams and custom fasteners are also standard. You can pick red, green, blue, yellow, tan, or a combination of these colors. Since they are custom, these playhouses will fit all major swing set brands (including Rainbow Play Systems, PlayNation, Swing-N-Slide, Plan-It Play, and many more). Give your children a dry, creative retreat today!

Backyard Fun

Dig Up Summer Fun with This Ultimate Outdoor Toy

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Outdoor Toy - Kettler Caterpillar Backhoe Loader

Keeping kids active and busy over the long summer months while school is out can be a challenge.  It’s not always practical or possible to spend the day at the local museum or zoo.  Making sure that kids have access at home to plenty of safe and super fun toys is key, and the best kind of toys are the outdoor variety that allow kids to be creative while benefitting from fresh air.

Outdoor toys range from simple sand toys and bubbles to more elaborate toys that inspire long hours of dramatic and imaginative play.  The combination Kettler Caterpillar Backhoe Digger and Front Loader is one such outdoor toy.  Offering the ultimate in backyard construction play, the Caterpillar Backhoe and Loader appeals to kids of all ages who dream of digging, scooping, and moving tons of earth with their very own construction vehicle.

Provide active kids with a pile of sand, dirt, or mulch, and they can spend hours creating their own construction zone under the watchful eyes of the resident supervisor — also known as Mom or Dad.