My carport is right next to the front door. I noticed Mom loved to see outside the solid glass door, and ran with that, giving her the best view possible.

First thing had to go was the red Corolla, lol. Put some of her fav flowers in her "view" from her recliner, and added bird feeders.

That left me finding a new spot for my car. I was killing the grass really bad in the front yard, in no time flat. So I moved a flower bed, and started parking it on the side of the house, where I wanted my carport to begin with. Long boring story why it didn't go there at that time.

At least there, I could go through most of the driveway, and not kill too much grass. I could also enter and exit the house through the side door. My newer neighbor said they didn't care if the "portable car cover" went a little in their yard. I have great neighbors!

To keep from going in too much of their yard, I veered from the instructions a good bit. Instead of 3 poles on each side, one complete side is attached to the eaves of the house. Other side is on the poles provided with it. Without doing that, my storm door or storage room door wouldn't open. As the height on the sides was 6'3", not 8 foot like the doors. So with the all the poles on it, my storm door would have hit the top poles going in and out.

Really good neighbor helped me on this. Being female, I'm not used to "veering from the instructions". I'm used to following word for word, step by step, and scratching through with a pencil each step as its completed!

When we had the frame up, then I had to take up the tarp to attach it to the frame properly. This was the fun part, NOT.. Searching the city for the "a spool of white upholestry thread" so the thread wouldn't rot. Your regular thread is made from cotton. I pinned, I know 3 hours, getting it to fit right. Then took my 1974 sewing machine out to the back yard, and sewing 2 seams, that were 20 foot long each!

Now Mom has her flower and bird haven, in view from her recliner, and my car is covered from the southern sun, which gets pretty hot!

As much as I'd love to put pics up, I can't find the right tools here. Suppose I'm kinda low tech still.

bnot, you will never regret the effort. My Mom's world has gotten so small these days, that it must be enriched close to home. Flowers, birds just out the window or door, fresh cut flowers on the table. All these little touches help keep the days worthwhile.

bnot,
sounds like you have created such a santuary for your mom to look at. I'm sure she will enjoy not only the colorful flowers but the birds as well. I give you a lot of credit for the carport. I have to get another shed up before winter (the last one blew down) and keep trying to figure out what is best.

Now you see what makes a great care giver we constantly become more an more creative LOL!
Good for you bnot and glad you have a pretty great neighbor there bless her heart.
Gonna hafta get some pics up in here to show us moms new sanctuary