Outdoor Carpeting

  I admit that I am not a big fan of carpeting.  While the hardwood floors in the Little Bayou House may be cold in the wintertime, it is sure a lot easier to keep them clean than to shampoo carpet.  Give me a broom, a mop and bucket and I am good to go.  Trust me, living on a bayou accounts for a lot of mud being tracked inside so that cleaning is a never ending chore.  Of course, I do not lay claim to being a nitpicky house cleaner since I have far too many other things to do and most of those things are a lot more fun.  Carpeting (to me) is a grime trap just waiting to happen so I have ditched most of it in exchange for wood flooring.

  Still, I have to agree that "outdoor" carpeting is fine.  Not that man made junk that people insist on putting over everything from garage floors to decks but the nice, natural sort of carpeting.  Down the hill where the old dog and I like to hike, there is one place that has the nicest carpet of pine needles that you would ever want to see.  I am not nitpicky about the yard either. A stark yard barren of any natural element is boring, to say the least. I prefer my place to be as it was intended and not look like some destitute desert where plants are not allowed to grow, leaves cannot fall and critters are not allowed.  Wild and free suits me to a T!  The pine needle carpet stays put and I admire the beauty.  This particular spot is nigh on six inches deep with the layers of straw.

  The pine  needle carpet serves a dual purpose.  Not only does it keep the land from eroding, it also provides shelter to numerous critters.  Insects, lizards, toads, small rodents and even snakes seek refuge there during the cold winter months.  They are all welcome since I figure the carpet might as well be utilized in every way possible.  To me, that makes it the perfect outdoor carpet!