Porch Rules

Once again, I haven't been posting or reading blogs ~ not sure what's wrong with me ~ just busy I guess with my hands in too many pots.This post is for Dawn, my cousin, who I didn't realize not only faithfully reads my blog, but knows exactly when I posted last.  I promised her a post, so I thought I'd share my partially finished porch.  I say partially because these changes are cosmetic.  The structural changes will come when the weather cools ~ if ever.Anyways, this post is titled "Porch Rules" because of a sign I made this spring to hang on my porch.  

 I found the idea on Pinterest and you can buy this lady's version at her Etsy site.  

 I must admit I copied her sign word for word, just changed the layout, colors, and fonts to match my decor.  Her signs are on wood and I did mine in Photoshop, then had it printed on poster board and laminated.  I found the perfect chippy window for mine at a flea market this spring.  Because the outside of my sign is exposed to the weather, I put a layer of foam board and cut glass on the back side with caulking around the edges to keep any rain or moisture from getting in.  My sign obviously hangs on the porch where I can see it when relaxing out there.  I was going to hang it on a porch wall of the house for better protection from the elements, but it just didn't look as pretty as when it has the outside trees and sun as a backdrop.  I do bring it in when there is a threat of a nasty storm.

The Adirondack furniture is probably twenty years old by now, but a fresh coat of paint makes it look new again.  The pillows are new, but I haven't had time to make seat cushions yet. 

 On the table between the chairs is a beautiful planter I bought from a friend's sale this spring.  I haven't found anything to put in it yet.  With the intense heat this summer, it might just be wise to go with artificial flowers this year.

Next to it is a sweet tree-shaped candle holder that I found at a yard sale for $3.  All I had to do was paint it white.  As you can see, I haven't bought any candles for it yet.

How do you like this Christmas cactus?  I've had it for over 40 years and it is almost too heavy for me to carry, but it loves to come outside for the summer.My screened porch is very small, but I made room for a small wrought iron table I also purchased from my dear friend, Nancy, who was getting rid of lots of things this spring.  

The table came without glass, so I needed to replace that,  and it was originally intended for the deck, but the glass was so expensive, I was afraid a branch would fall on it, so I brought it inside to enjoy. 

 Some of these pictures look foggy, but it's just the sun coming through the leaves and screen.

Last summer I installed sheers on the corners of my porch, more for looks than anything else, and to soften the edges.  This summer I added a couple more panels and decided to actually close them on the west side of the porch to help filter out some of the hot afternoon sun.  I love how they soften everything, blow in the breeze, give a little privacy, and yet still let you feel like you're outdoors.And last, but not least is a new chandelier, also bought from Nancy.  She found it at a flea this spring and I traded it for one I found this spring too.  This one is so unique and I think my favorite of all that I have. 

It is wired for electricity, but I haven't had an electrician come and remove the ceiling fan and hang it over the table yet.  I love it's charming rusty petals and sweet flowers, and I can hardly wait to see it lit at night.

Unfortunately ~ like most of the country ~ it has been unbearably hot this summer, so I have hardly had a chance to sit or enjoy a meal on my porch.  I'm hoping that soon we'll get a reprieve from the heat so I can apply some of my porch rules and enjoy the sweet outdoors.
Linking with
The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays~Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday~A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday  

Everything is Coming Up Roses

Gee ~ I've been away so long I forgot how to use the new blogger.  Where does time go and how does one get so busy they don't even have time to post or read any blogs?Just wanted to share a few pictures of my backyard roses while they are in full bloom.  They always put on such a magnificent display that no words are necessary to describe their beauty.

My garden shed and greenhouse arbor is covered with New Dawn climbing roses.

The view from my deck. 

There's nothing quite as old-fashioned and lovelyas roses climbing on a picket fence ~ sweet and simple.

 

The Perfect Chicken

I've always wanted to keep a few chickens at my house and have been tinkering with the idea for several years now.  There are a few important obstacles in my way though.  First of all, I don't need one more thing to do, take care of, or feed.  Next is the issue of building a chicken coop.  There certainly are many pretty ones out there to stir the imagination.  Then, there are the wild critters that already live in my yard, like the possum who lives under my deck, and the raccoon that lives in the eaves of my garden shed.  And last, but not least are my own pets, who would torment them ~ most likely.  Beside my two cats, there is Moby, a miniature dachshund.

Now he may look innocent enough, but he tangles with the possum every chance he gets and loves to torment the cats.~This weekend, at The Rural Society Antique & Garden Show, I found the solution to my chicken cravings. Wha~la.  The perfect chicken.

Saw this little lady and knew I just had to have her.  She was the answer to all my chicken dreams.

She was the perfect picture of weathered cement.

She looks so lovely resting by the rain barrel, but the best part is, I don't have to feed her or worry about her safety.She's just perfect.~Linking with Thrifty Decorating for Thrifty Thursdays~The Charm of Home  for Home Sweet Home

 

A Sweet Chandelier

I bought this sweet chandelier from my friend, Nancy, who had a booth space at The Rural Society Antique & Garden Show this past weekend.  I bought it to hang it out on my deck or screened-in porch for the summer.

But as you can see, it ended up outside where I usually hang a flowering basket.  I loved how it looks against the backdrop of all the lush greenery,  But the best part is ~ I don't have to water it or pamper it like I would a hanging basket, and I think it's just as pretty.As you can see, it's missing a few parts and pieces, but it's shabby rustiness makes it perfect and a lovely garden decoration.

Love those little flowers where the screws hold it together.

I can see it from the house, from the gardens, from the deck and from the screened-in porch.  This view was taken from inside the screened-in porch looking at the opposite side of my yard.

I think this was the perfect place to hang it. ~Linking with  
Faded Charm for White Wednesday~A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday

 

Potted Ferns

I've been potting up a few ferns this weekend.  

  I saw this idea at a local flea market a few weeks ago and was tempted to buy a couple, until I realized I could make them myself.  I already had the faux ferns ~ all I needed was the peat pots. 

  I smudged some dark wax on the peat pots to make them appear older.  Then I filled each pot with a chunk of oasis and topped it with moss from the yard.  Lastly, I arranged a few fronds of each kind of fern in the pots and ended up with a lovely collection of potted ferns. 

 I originally made them to sell, but after arranging this table vignette, I have fallen in love with them and want to keep them.  Isn't that the way it always is? 

 Rust and green just seem to go together.    I found this little tray at Hobby Lobby and added a few touches of green paint and then a layer of dark wax and now it looks old too. 

 

 I think I'll sell a few and keep a few. 

 Linking with ~A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday 

A Finally Finished Bathroom

Finally ~ a finished bathroom.  I started this project right after Christmas and have been dragging it out ever since.  It wasn't even anything major ~ just cosmetic changes.Here are a couple before pictures.  As you can see I was trying out paint colors and it looked like this for months before I finally began. 

 It is a really small bathroom and the only one in my house.  Two in this bathroom is a crowd.

This is a picture of the paneling that was on the wall when I moved in here 23 years ago, but then it was powder blue.  It has an embossed look and I painted it white.  I always wanted to remove it, but there were areas where the seams didn't lay flat, and I was always afraid of what was hiding behind that paneling.

I covered the paneling with Martha Stewart's paintable bead board wallpaper that can be purchased online from Home Depot.  It is wonderful and by carefully aligning the stripes, I could camouflage the uneven paneling seams underneath.

I painted the top of the walls a very pale pink to match the shower curtain and replaced all the trim on the window.

I added a very small piece of decorative trim to the bottom of the crown molding to hide the clumps of paint accumulated from years of painting.  It gave me not only a cleaner edge, but a slightly larger crown molding.

Then came the fun of decorating with a few old accessories and a few new.

A new soap dispenser from Target for the sink . . .

and a basket to hold toilet paper.

I've already shown you this wreath that I made from sweaters for the wall.

And I've shown you the fabric of the shower curtain that was the inspiration for the makeover.  I bought a second shower curtain and sewed them together to make it fuller.  My tub is the original one from when the house was built in the 1940's and it is not a pretty sight.  By adding the additional shower curtain, it not only made it fuller, but covered the ends of the ugly tub surround without stretching the curtain flat like a sheet.

I also covered the inside of the bathroom door with the bead board wallpaper and rehung the towel rack.  I can't rave enough about this wallpaper and how wonderful it is to work with and the dimensional finished look it gives you.

Like I said at the beginning, it is a very small bathroom, but then there is only me in the house now, so it's all that I need.Sweet and simple is my new motto.

Linking with

Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday

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The House in the Roses for Show Off Your Cottage Monday

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Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday