It’s actually just a patio, but the word veranda has a more interesting etymology. Veranda was absorbed into the Portuguese language (and subsequently into English) from Portugal’s East Asian colonies in Goa. The word originally comes from Hindi. Fascinating. So, we did our own little outdoor blending of cultures today, in what will hence forth be known as The Veranda. Tim, our good friend Steven, of Scotch-Irish stock, Benedict Praneeth, formerly of Bangalore, Richard, a crazy Ukranian-Chilean-and-who-knows-what-else mutt, and Jefferson, the greatest bear of them all*, all built The Veranda in our backyard. It looks amazing! We are very excited to be hosting Kelly and Richard’s engagement party on this very Veranda in August. Twill be “A Night to Remember.” (we are thinking of giving it a theme like a prom. Mine from high school were “Wonderful Tonight” and “Ain’t Going Down til the Sun Comes Up.” For Kelly and Richard maybe “Tore Up from the Floor Up” or “Hotdogs and Butts: A Retrospective.”)

A quick before and after with links to see the process if you’re bored (click on the pics).

*added too late to count.

We did it ourselves, suckers!

The Veranda at Grayland