One of our favorite companies is Viva Terra. Their gorgeous catalogs full of eco-friendly furniture, accessories and gifts get passed around like candy, as we ooh and ahh over their contents. This week, we’ve partnered with them to give you the chance to win one of five Temple Bell sets. You get one large and one small of these rustic, brass-plated bells. The bells are easy to hang and add a relaxing touch to your backyard. For a chance to win, answer this week’s question before 12/11c, Monday, May 24. Be sure to provide a valid email address so we can contact you if you win.
This week we want to know, what is your favorite part about outdoor living? Is it listening to the birds sing as you read a magazine? What about lounging in a hammock drinking fresh-squeezed lemonade? You have until 12/11c Monday to answer. Click for official rules.
My favorite part about outdoor living is feeling the breeze outside and all the smells that the outdoors bring (from fresh flowers-currently lillacs, fresh mowed grass, campfires, etc). Being able to sit in the sun and feel the breeze on your face – Nothing is better!
My favorite thing about the outdoors is relaxing in the sunshine while my four small children play in the backyard. After being cooped up all winter, they are so happy to run freely about the yard — exploring the plants, sneaking a taste from the garden, and inventing silly games. Even the baby will sit on her blanket and look around contentedly. Such a calm, peaceful shift from the more irritable, rambunctious, TV-blaring play that happens inside.
I love to sit out on the covered deck, watch the humming birds feed on the flowers along with the bees and butterflies, and listen to the birds and chimes sound in the wind. Of course, one of our neighbors is a rooster, so he definitely has some input-day and night!
The best part of outdoor living is enjoying the flowers blooming, trees swaying in the breeze, clouds drifting by, birds singing, the smell of fresh cut grass. Ahhhhhh………
it cant get better than being outside in north carolina.i have lived in over 15 states and i reside in north carolina for the freshness and beauty of the outdoors.
I love to relax outside and close my eyes and just let everything from the day melt away. The sound of the wind, birds, even traffic is so relaxing that I feel rejuvenated even if I can only spend a few minutes outside.
I love being outdoors simply for the freedom. My outdoor living space is mine and mine alone. I can be and say and think what I want. I have no restraints, time logs, agendas or dress codes. I am simply alive and able to be myself. Life is short, enjoy it while you can is my motto.
My favorite thinga about outdoor is to enjoying my garden/flowers, feel the breeze, watching and listening to the birds singing while watching my two girls playing in the back yard.
I love to sit in my sunroom and listen to the birds sing and every once in a while a bunch of dear come in my backyard to eat so it is very relaxing watching them too, there have been two babies born so far, I missed the actual births but watched their first steps.
My favorite thing to do outdoors is sit around a campfire with good friends and of course smores!
My favorite part of outdoor living is the sound of a breeze through the trees and plants. I live in Seaside, CA by the ocean so there is always a light breeze through my yard. That little rustle of leaves is so relaxing and pleasant. I also love the speckled sunlight that filters through tall trees on a hot sunny day. It creates the perfect temperature to sit under when it is too hot to sit right in the sun.
My favorite part is going out and seeing what beautiful new flowers have bloomed, inhaling the crisp clean air, taking pride in what I and mother nature have accomplished and watching my dog and the other wildlife here in Alaska explore it all as well.
I love to spend time on my porch, watching all the blue and red birds eat off their feeder and walk around my yard looking at my rose garden. This helps me relax after a long day with my six children and I forget about all my problems.
My favorite thing of outdoor living is to sit on my front porch in the mornings and watch the sun come up…it will take your breathe away…our house sits on a small rolling hill,overlooking a pastures with cows.Oh and the birds singing with a glenty breeze…oh my…And people think there is know "God"….Awesome
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Sitting in my garden drinking a latte, reading the morning newspaper. Listening to the birds singing. watching the squirrels hustling for food. My two year old chasing the dog and listening to the day unfold in complete serenity. Watching the bees fly from flower to flower and, praying that they do not enter my direction!
On a spring day enjoy cooking outside with my husband, listening to the beautiful songs of birds and insects, being around the trees and beautiful blooming flowers. After lunch work on our future garden, make our hands dirty, imagine how beautiful it will be. Watch birds and butterflies fly from a tree to a tree, from flower to flower. In the evening watch the sky turn dark. Talk about nature being in nature. Before going back into the house look at the night sky again and make a wish upon a star!
I love sitting outside just listening to all that nature has to offer: the wind in the trees, the birds chirping in the distance, the sounds of children playing down the street, etc. If you can hear water running in the background, even better.
My favorite part about outdoor living is the smell of fresh cut grass, watching the birds and squirrels, and just relaxing!
We have a small waterfall and pond in our yard. Whether I'm sitting at the computer with the door open, or sitting under the pergola with a glass of wine and friends, the sound of the falling water surrounded by green lush plants rejuvenates my mind and spirit.
Family dinners out on the patio, under the trees, smelling the fresh mint growing next to the house.
Sitting on the deck, enjoying the beauty of the late afternoon's golden sunshine, a breeze and the cooling of the day, surrounded by my tropical plants (a little bit of heaven in Missouri!). Sometimes we're lucky and we get to see a hot air balloon or two going overhead.
When I lived in a more rural area, I used to love going across the highway to a horse ranch, watching that spring's new foals play (by this time of year, only a few weeks old). It was great fun to "visit" with them fence-side, along with the yearlings.
My favorite is just being outside enjoying the weather ,whatever it may be. Listening to all the sounds and admiring all of gods creations and working to improve on the beauty of nature. Thankful for family and friends and that we all still able to enjoy this beautiful country.
My favorite part about sitting outside in the yard is just sitting there thinking about nothing at all and just watching the world go by.
chores are done and being outside puts the whole family in a good mood. We fill the cooler and hang out with the neighbors while the kids play.
just in case this is a winner…dawn.junkmail@gmail.com
I love to be outside listening to the birds, looking at trees, smelling the fresh air, just in awe of God's creation….trying to escape the fast pace of everything. And of course I love to watch my kids play and explore nature….
I enjoy sitting outside watching my dogs play.
The best part of outdoor living is fresh air and sunshine after being indoors all winter, and what better way to do that than to share it with friends and a glass of wine.
I AM IN LOVE with out door living AND this catalog!!!! We just moved into a new home surrounded by large pine trees. The smell is WONDERFUL!
My favorite thing about outdoor living is how you get both energized and relaxed at the same time; energy from the sunshine and the relaxation from the air, water and sounds of nature. It is amazing!
I think just feeling the warmth of the Florida sun on your face in my favorite chair with a cup joe, my 3 month old teacup poodle Cinnamon and my 3 cats Gia, Randy and Gem hanging out on the porch is the best moment of the day!!! Watching them stare at the birds and squirrels and geckos running around it is just wonderful!!
For me it will always be the time spent with my little boy teaching him about and enjoying our herb and vegetable gardens, checking them together as they grow, smelling them, harvesting them and the best part….enjoying the fruits of our labor at the dinner table
My favorite part of outdoor living is waking up on a peaceful, quiet, sunny Sunday morning, collecting a cup of hot coffee, heading outside and picking up the Sunday paper and relaxing on the Adirondak chair reading the paper, listening to the leaves rustle, the alyssum & impatients burst with colors in my garden and the birds chirping cheerfully.
All this while in the background you hear beautiful melodies playing from all the neighboring church bells as various services are 'announced'. Talk about home town America…it doesn't get much better than this.
Me time with a cup of coffee in the morning. (usually 6 am) I have a new small bench sitting in the yard surrounded by flowers. The birds usually sing to me. The local squirells and bunnies run around. Occasionally I am visited by the neighbor's cats or chickens.
In the morning a cup of coffee on the front porch listening to the birds. In the afternoon on the deck with a glass of wine watching the kiddos play.
I enjoy relaxing in a comfy chair, drinking iced tea and just listening and watching nature around me.
I enjoy the rustling of the leaves and the lacy cast of sunlight and shadow on the lawn while drinking a tall glass of iced tea if it is warm or a cup of hot tea if it is cool.
My favorite thing about being outside is watching my dog(s) run around the yard in sheer bliss of being alive, they remind me what it is to be carefree and enjoy the little things. When I am sitting on my canvas swing with a glass of raspberry iced tea as they run around, the sun in my face and the breeze in my hair, nothing can compare to that moment of bliss.
I have to say that my favorite part of outdoor living is in many parts! It's all about being in the yard with my dog , both of us sitting in the grass, while the sun hits out faces. We doze off for a little nap, (that the birds helped us with by singing their songs). We then wake up to the smell of the Lillies and lavender that are in my yard. As our eyes become more open, the next best part is when my 17 year old comes home from school, coming through the gate and says..Hey..mom..what's up!.Now the three of us are there, waiting and watching as the sun begins to set, waiting and watching for my husband to come through the gate next! Now it is time for that outdoor BBQ!!!!!!!!!
Kelly would like a thumbs up for her entrance into HGTV contest, page two..halfway down.
I truly enjoy the interactive design play that happens every year in my garden. Every year is a little bit different, the vines spread further, the trees grow higher and I get to adapt. I've always worked with the natural growth of my garden, and the result of my work has led to the creation of a number of nature inspired (earth friendly) crafts. So I have to say my favorite part of outdoor living is the beauty of change, a constant in any outdoor getaway.
My Favorite part of outdoor living is the fresh air and smelling the flowers, injoying the smell of roasted marshmelows or the siziling barbeque. I also enjoy the warm and cosy furniture that fill my back yard space.
This one is easy! The best part of outdoor living is the sounds….the birds, the streams, the lawnmowers running that thankfully aren't mine, the crickets in the evening. Nothing better than grabbing a blanket and a book and resting and snoozing in the grass. LOVE it!
Breathing in the cool, clear, fresh air.
We usually have some sort of family project Saturday morning. We have been having projects for three years and have worked so hard to transform our yard into a retreat. When the work is done we jump into the pool or jacuzzi and look up at the trees and sky. There is a carefree feeling and we have worked hard to achieve. We want our yard to become a garden and a tranquil place to set aside the hustle and bustle of this world. The bells would add to our theme!
The sunshine, breeze, and general feeling of relaxation…
One of my favorite things is walking barefoot on the grass.
My favorite part of being outside is just sitting back and enjoying everthing and sound around me! Taking in everything around me! To have just those few minutes when you can just let yourself go and relax!
I love sitting on our deck, listening to the sounds of nature, and watching the quail and squirrels in our yard. It is so relaxing and there is NEVER a time I do not enjoy being out there…well, maybe when there is three-feet of snow, heehee, but outdoors is definitely rejuvenating to my husband and me! We have a fire-pit set on our deck, and love to have our grandkids, (ages 4 through 8 years), roast marshmallows with us and tell stories, with our Golden Retriever by our side! One other interesting thing about our outdoors is the bats that come out at dusk…fun to watch them flit and flutter, catching bugs in the distance.
I love the way nature seems to rejoice in itself. From evenings with light breezes, bird singing and fireflies lighting up to lazy afternoons feeling the sun beat down and listening to the birds as I read a good book. Our back yard leads to a field that is full of wild flowers and birds. My soul soars when I am relaxing outdoors.
My favorite part of my outdoor space is the way that conversation often slows down to match the serene environment around me. It is as if just stepping outside reminds us to breath deeply, think more critically, and enjoy the conversation, instead of trying to prove a point or get to the end…
My favorite part about outdoor living is relaxing in my lounge chair with a good book and only the sounds of my wind chimes, birds and the rustle of the trees in a light breeze.