Thursday, March 22, 2012




5 Ideas on How to Prepare for an Outdoor Easter Party

If you live in the Northwest, you can't rely on a dry, blue sky on Easter Sunday, which makes it hard to plan an outdoor party. However, by preparing your yard for rain, you can take advantage of any weather that comes your way, rain or shine. Here are some tips on how to prepare.

1. Tidy up your yard.

Engage in some yard maintenance, like pruning and removing dead foliage. Check your fence for damage, and touch up chipped paint. Provide a splash of color for the yard--put some daffodils or other spring flowers in your flower beds.

2. Prepare the deck.

If the weather cooperates, your deck will definitely be the focal point of the party, and after the long wet winter, your deck will certainly need some sprucing up.

If you have a wood deck, check for safety hazards like rotting boards or loose nails. Also, inspect your deck for areas that become slippery when wet--particularly deck boards with mold. If you have PVC decking, you won't have to worry as much, since the wood-grain texture helps provide traction.

Next, give your deck a good cleaning. If you own PVC decking, cleaning can be as simple as hosing off the winter dirt, spot cleaning with a mild household cleaner, and removing debris lodged between boards. If the deck is wood, you might want to use a deck brightener to remove leaf stains.

3. Provide backup shelter.

Spring weather is unpredictable, so it's wise to have a backup plan in case it does rain. You could put up a temporary canopy over your deck, or anticipate bringing the festivities indoors. Another way to provide shelter for your deck or patio is to install an aluminum patio cover; they're low maintenance, easy to install and have a long life span. Consider installing it over the picnic table since that's the perfect location to decorate Easter eggs.

4. Decorate with colorful eggs.

Color a batch of raw eggs and hollow them out by poking a hole in each end and blowing out the contents. Glue ribbon to the tops, and hang them between the rails of your deck, along your cedar picket fence, or from tree branches. Transform hollowed-out eggs into bud vases, table centerpieces, an Easter wreath, or even a clever votive by filling them with wax and wicks.

5. Arrange an attractive spread.

Use bright, festive tablecloths, and, if outdoors, anchor the corners with ribbons attached to a plastic, jellybean-filled Easter egg. For centerpieces, arrange tulips in an Easter basket filled with floral foam.

Consider a spin on the traditional baked ham by firing up your grill. If you have a patio cover, there's no reason you can't barbecue while it rains.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_C._Nichols

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