It's tempting to crank up the air-conditioning, pull down the shades, and watch DVDs or baseball games on hot afternoons. But summer's too short to hide indoors. If you have paperwork to catch up on or just want to nap, find a spot in your backyard where you can make the most of the fresh, fragrant air.

Take cover. If you don't have a porch, you can create an alfresco home office with a sturdy canopy, which can double as a dining pavilion on rainy nights. The ones commonly used at farmers' markets are rugged, easy to assemble, and reasonably priced. Galvanized-steel-and-plastic canopy, 10 by 10 feet, $99, www.harpster-canopies.com.

Stay connected. You don't need a cord running across your lawn to check e-mail. Apple's AirPort Extreme is a wireless way for Apple laptop users to connect to the Internet. Apple AirPort Extreme, $199, and 12-inch PowerBook G4 in aluminum, $1,599 and up: www.apple.com.

Set up shop. Laptops are not really meant to be perched on laps. A lightweight aluminum rolltop table gives you a place to write letters to the kids at camp or balance your checkbook. Travel Chair Canyon Table, 27 1/2 by 27 1/4 inches, $50, www.riversports.com.

Sort it out. Overwhelmed by your mail? Collect a week's worth of catalogs, bills, and solicitations and take everything outdoors to peruse at a leisurely pace. Folding plastic Tote Le Monde Canyon Basket, $60, www.totelemonde.com.