Lanai

All of the units in Liz and Alyson's complex have a lanai.  And just to give you some perspective...over 3,000 people live here....so it's like a small city within the city of Denver. What that means is.....there are a lot of lanais.

It's kind of a funny word with origins in Hawaii referring to a porch or verandah...an indoor/outdoor space intended to expand your living space.  

Today we decorated one end of Alyson and Steve's lanai.

Alyson had already hung the stained glass....a piece I had made for her parents, Margie and Dave, for their home in Greeley Colorado.  Her older cats love this new space....and the steps make the new loveseat totally accessible.

When Margie and Dave downsized from their home in Loveland with a fabulous mountain view I gave them a new mountain view with this piece.  You can see it in place in this post: 

https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-mountain-view.html

We repurposed an old sofa table Alyson was going to get rid of behind the loveseat and hung the world map print. We put together an arrangement of some of her bone collection....yes you heard me right....along with a few other things from nature. It's now a cozy, colorful, and inviting space.

Alyson's bone collection goes WAY back.  Paul and I recently made a contribution to it....which also has a place on the table. You can read that story here: 

https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2021/08/alysons-bones.html

Alyson found this funky chair yesterday at a consignment store....a salvage from hurricane Katrina. It's not only another seat for someone on the lanai....but also an interesting art piece and the bright colors coordinate well with the rest of the room

Alyson's first floor lanai looks out to a courtyard between buildings....and Liz's second floor lanai looks out to wild green space next to the community gardens.  This was the sunset last night from Liz's lanai.