Spring Porch

I have longed for a porch that I could lounge around on for years now.  We've had uncovered decks or patios but they were never very user friendly for me because I burn and get overheated easily especially since menopause.  So this home having a huge covered porch upstairs and down just made it even better in my mind....then factor in the views and I was sold!   We had no furniture but I had lots of décor to repurpose.  And I had lots of ideas and supplies that could become furniture for  just the cost of the treated lumber and some mad hubby engineering skills.

  I had bought an old rope bed about 4 years ago for Mark to turn into a bench but instead we moved to Germany so it sat and sat and sat in storage.  And we downsized with this move so I had 2 more "extra beds" and no where to put them so what's a gal to do?  Well I say shame her husband into finally building that bench and at least one more since he's already figured all the details out with the first one.  LOL 

This bed probably dates to late 1800 and the wood is smooth as silk.  I still need to paint the "bench part" but I couldn't wait to start using it right away so that will come in time.  That afghan is a family treasure from my growing up years and the colors are just perfect for porch living.  This is Clarice's new favorite spot because this bench has sun on it most of the day so she just lazes around.

This one is my personal favorite because it's narrow and I've already proven that it's just a perfect napping spot for Momma.  I bought the twin size quilt for $5 at an estate sale because I loved the colors and I used these pillow covers in Germany on our guest bed.  They are from Restoration Hardware and I got them for $8 each along with 2 matching lumber shams but I'm still looking for inserts for those then they will go on the bench. 

Sometimes inappropriate thoughts just fly out of my mouth without a filter and this is proof.  I was marveling on the age of these beds and all the stories of life that they witnessed. Then I said"Think of all the babies that were made and born in these beds....wow quite a history".  And then the inappropriate comment was "So this was your grandparent's bed and I bet your dad was conceived in this bed just think about it"  Now he's so skeeved out that his butt cheeks will never touch this bench.  Sorry I was just making an observation!

Simple and sweet

Was having a hard time keeping Clarice up here so I thunk and thunk and thunk about a solution.   Then he got an idea. An awful idea. The Grinch got a wonderful, *awful* idea!   Sorry I just had to put that in there....anyway I remembered some chicken wire fencing that the old owners left and I invented a "Cat Containment System".  See Mark's not the only engineer in this family and I think I should patent it because it's ingenious. 

Better view of my CCS

Reason we got this house....sigh

Copper barn lantern holders

Now for the downstairs sitting area and it only cost us the price of the 2 "wicker chairs".  I had everything else including the awesome table which belonged to Mark's grandmother along with the rocker and pink rose pillow that she kept on her porch for as long as he can remember.  We've had these things and used them in various rooms since we got married. I still love them so knew I had to find a place for them in this house.  Just added an estate sale mirror that was free because it was literally stuck in the walls and no one knew about it until I pulled it out,  various pieces of a croquet set that I snagged for $2 and thrift store lamp made of popsicle sticks $1.99 along with .99 crocks and pillows from our old guest room that I made from various table linens.

Finally I'll leave y'all with Zeva's first Easter pictures.  She got the shades from the Easter Bunny so she's styling now.

My beautiful great niece and her gorgeous mommy, Athena

Do something today that makes you smile my friends!