This past month found the addition of a sunroom to our backyard.  We have tried our best to combat the mosquito problem we have in our yard – seven years of candles and repellants came to no avail.  We even put up a bathouse in hopes of attracting bats that eat thousands of mosquitos per hour.  Since none of this was working, it was decided that a screened-in porch was the answer.

The contract was signed in late December and then we waited for 10 weeks while our room and windows were custom built.  About a week before we were to leave on our trip to the Bahamas, we were informed that the crew was ready to build our room.

First , we had to deconstruct the small privacy fence that surrounded the patio.  This was done by a good friend, Jamie.  We also had to remove half of the brick patio that we painstaking placed about 4 years ago.

About 2 days before our trip, the old concrete patio was removed.  It was necessary to place a new pad that was level and had appropriate footings and foundation.  Unfortunately, I was working night shift during these few days – sleeping through jackhammers can be tricky.  Ear plugs and moving to the guest bed helped.

Upon returning from our trip, the new concrete pad had been poured.  The crew arrived the Monday morning and by Wednesday it was completed.

I celebrated the completion with a cigar from a new box of BOTL (Brother of the Leaf) cigars that had arrived.  The room was promptly named “The Doctors Lounge” and a buddy came over to test out the ability to withstand cigar smoke from two seasoned cigar aficionados.  However, the installed ceiling fan didn’t quite cut it.

Linda found an awesome patio furniture set at Costco.  She brought it all home and placed it in the room prior to my even knowing she got it – what a surprise when I got home from work.  The furniture is comfortable; the room is even more comfortable when the windows are open and the breeze is gently coming through.

I’ve figured out the ventilation and have fans that face outwards.  Any cigar smoke quickly exits the room with the breeze from the fan.  The Doctors Lounge is open!