Porch Oasis

During this time of staying home our front porch has become an oasis for me. The sun shines in during the morning hours which is great during this cooler time of year. It was also great during the summer months because the shade would cool things down as the sun rotated around to the other side of the house. I have enjoyed sitting out there and watching the world go by down the highway that runs in front of our house. I'll take a tablet out there and check my personal email and catch up on blog reading. I'll peruse some online magazines or Instagram and pin some inspirational photos. 

Sometimes it would just be my loyal companion and I and sometimes we might have a few visitors.

I was so grateful to have this space as an outdoor room where we could read a book, watch the world go by, take a nap, and just relax.  One thing I did notice during July and early August is that even though the space was shady after lunchtime, it still was a bit hot. Plus, late in the afternoons when there was no air stirring the mosquitos tried to feast on me. So, Mike and I talked about it and decided a ceiling fan might be a good investment.  As with most home choices, Mike left it to me to decide the style and location. So, when we had Richard Stanaland from The Tool Chest here to do a few handyman jobs, I made sure to have the ceiling fan ordered and ready to install.

Since it was already October before we got around to having the work done, the dog days of hot weather were already past. We've had a warm day or two and I turned the fan on in the afternoon when I went out after finishing up work. So, I know that the stirring air discourages the mosquitos and bugs somewhat. I'm looking forward to the breeze it will provide when next summer comes, though!

A New Front Door!

This house was moved here in the year 2000.  It came from just down the road and around the bend. It was originally built by my mother and father-in-law. Most of the features of the house remained the same, I believe with just a few minor changes. The antique clawfoot tub was replaced with a garden tub with jets. There was a window seat added to the bay window. A tin roof replaced the shingled one. Some simple changes and upgrades. Over the years, some things have needed updating and replacing or repairing but by-and-large this house is very much like when it was built.

We have continued to maintain and update and repair as our budget allows. During the past few years we've replaced the windows and a couple of the exterior doors. At some point the storm door got caught in a wind storm that ripped the hydraulic closer out of the wood frame leaving the storm door where it would not close snugly. Then, last year, we noticed that the sun peeked through the panels in the door each morning. So, we knew it was time to start planning for an update. I started searching and dreaming for what I wanted. Looking through blogs and magazines and Instagram posts. I started pinning colors I might like and styles of doors.

At first, we thought it would be a matter of simply swapping out the door itself. Then, we noticed that it seemed to be connected to the sidelights. So, that became a bit more of a budget planning issue. We had a few other odd jobs that needed some attention - a plug for the pellet grill, a patch in the ceiling drywall, etc. So, I called on my cousin's husband who had recently started a handyman service, The Tool Chest. We shared our ideas and he set up a projected date when he would get started.

First, Richard came and completed the small projects. Before he left for the day, he sat with me here at my computer and we ordered the new door with sidelights and the hardware for the door.  I was somewhat nervous about it because I know so very little about construction and that sort of thing. So, I was glad to have his guidance and knowledge. I mean, I didn't know if I wanted left-hand swing or right-hand swing. I thought I knew but it was so assuring to have Richard confirm what was needed.

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Mike said he wasn't picky about it and trusted my judgement. So, I knew I wanted glass in the top half. Being home so much this year made me come to appreciate having the wood door open and the sun streaming in through the storm door. I loved how that lightened up the whole room. I also knew that I wanted a wood finish. The porch furniture we had gotten last year has a wood finish and I really have enjoyed how it feels cozy and makes the porch seem more like an outdoor room of our house. So, I wanted to do the same thing with the door. I also came to the decision that a lighter color would be better because wood usually darkens over time. So, sight-unseen, I pulled the trigger and ordered our front door!

I also debated on changing the hardware. We'd replaced the lanterns on the front porch a few years back and I got black ones that were also easy to swap out the light bulb for. So, I seriously thought about going with oil-rubbed bronze or a black finish for the hardware.  In the end, though, I decided to stick with the brass that was there before. I knew that I liked the handle on the outside that was on the old door but I also wanted the lever-style handle on the inside. I've had arthritis for years and just find the lever handle easier to open. I had read years ago that when you have a glass door, you should have a keyed deadbolt instead of a lever deadbolt.  So, that was also added to my cart - again, sight-unseen. 

The one bobble that I made was with the doorbell. I ordered a brass doorbell that was all metal because the plastic button on the previous one had cracked and broken over the years. The one I ordered was too wide to fit on the door facing. So, we wound up having to go with one that had a plastic button after all.

When the door came in to the local store, Mike and I went over and picked it up. There was a crew of three women and one guy who put it up on two palette jacks and pulled it up onto Mike's trailer. We strapped it down and carefully hauled it home to sit in the barn for a few days.

We commented that we were a bit concerned that it might be difficult for Richard to get up onto the porch but decided that he knew what he was doing and recalled that he had said he would wait till a day when the boys could come help him. So, when it actually came time to unpackage the door and get it up onto the porch, Richard and his bonus son, Noland, had a bit of a struggle.  That thing was just as heavy as it looked! They took the door off the hinges to lighten the load and got it up there.

First the old trim, windows and door came out.

Then, the new went in.

I was working that day. So, I didn't have the opportunity to take many photos. This one came about sort of as a documentation. I was sitting at my desk here in front of the window working through Zoom meeting after Zoom meeting. I paused for a late lunch at around 12:30 or 1 o'clock when I was getting a bit toasty closed up here in this room. I had seen Mike go out the driveway to his haircut appointment. I had also seen Richard and Noland go out the driveway to pick up some needed supplies and their lunch. The day wasn't cold but there was a bit of a briskness about it.  So, when I came into the den and saw the door leaning up against the wall and the opening bare I understood a bit why I had gotten toasty. You see, the thermostat is in the hallway just off the den. The place where the door opening was left uncovered. So, the heat was running overtime trying to warm the space up! I just rolled my eyes and shook my head and said a little prayer that no squirrel or bird came in before the door install was complete.

I don't have a good photo from the interior as yet but I think you can tell how wonderful it is to have the windows and the light shining through.

The exterior view is absolutely beautiful if you ask me! I could not be more pleased with how it looks, the quality of the craftsmanship of the door and sidelights, the quality and beauty of the installation. I am quite smitten with it and think it looks so beautiful that I don't really want to do much decorating for the holidays because I don't want anything to be covered up!

It really does continue the warm and cozy feel that the wood furniture on the porch sets and it looks great from any angle!

We'd love to have you come knocking and walk right through for a visit!

Wreaths on the Fence

 I've enjoyed Christmas decorations all my life. I fondly recall piling in the car and Daddy driving to town just to look at the way folks decorated the outside spaces of their homes. I grew up on a farm and we lived a long stretch from the road. So, we didn't do a lot of outdoor decorating. Going in to town was a real treat and getting to see the decorations made it even more so!

When the children were small, we decorated a lot. We would add to our decor each year. It isn't something their father really enjoyed doing but I guess I guilted him into it for the children's sake. I kind of lost sight of that childhood joy for several years. Then, I moved into a new house and rekindled that love. A few years later, with a new grandchild to enjoy it, my joy seemed to grow even more. Then, Mike and I married and I had a new house to decorate and decorating became something that was a newfound delight. I just wanted to make hour home welcoming to his family and mine. 

Last year I admired so many homes decorated for the season each day as I went in to work. Many of the areas that I traversed daily were bordered by large homes and people paid somebody else to do the decorating. Some of them were lavish and some of them were relatively simple but all of them made my heart sing.  

One especially inspired me with plank fencing all around and lights strung across the top plank to frame the home and surrounding area. I told Mike I'd love to do that but the initial expense is just really prohibitive. So, we decided to just take on a wee bit this year with hopes of adding a bit each year. This year, I decided to tackle the entrance to our farm. I noticed that Mike had some old ring clamps that used to hold a top on a barrel and thought they would make perfect forms for a wreath. So, that is how my inspiration grew from a seed to a product.

First, we gathered the supplies. I picked up a couple of the rings, we rode round the fences and trimmed off some cedar clippings. Then, I got some twine and scissors and began to craft some wreaths.

I started by simply lowering the tailgate of the ATV and snipping some lengths of twine. Then grabbed a branch of cedar and tied it on. After a few branches were added, I hung the partial wreath on a branch of a crepe myrtle that stood nearby and kept adding sprigs of cedar with twine until I had the ring covered.

We loaded the pair of wreaths onto the ATV again and gathered some heavier twine to hold them in place. Then, off to the end of the driveway we trekked. I tied the simple wreaths to the top plank of the fence on either side of the driveway entrance. Rustic, charming, simple, and most importantly - FREE!

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A week or so before, I had ordered these relatively inexpensive, solar, string, fairy lights and thought I'd give them a try as a start for lining our top plank on the fence. So, I gave the wreaths a couple of swirls around and stretched the tiny lights down the top plank for a space and doubled back to the wreath in hopes that doubling up would give the little tiny lights enough umph to shine brightly and not be lost in the broad open space. I hadn't set the solar panels out to charge, hadn't tried them out at all, just decided to give it a go.

I completed the first side of the driveway and began working on the other. I had just clicked the on/off switch and the mode switch a few times and hoped for the best. I used the small brown twine and stretched the cord taught to hold the lights in place across the top plank of the fence. Just as I was finishing up the left side of the driveway, the right side came on! I quickly began clicking the on/off and mode switch of the left side to get the lights from blinking to a steady glow.

I was almost giddy with excitement! While it isn't blindingly bright, the solar lights provided a soft glow and really look pretty to my old childish eyes.

I dashed across the highway to snap a quick photo to show Mike before I made my trek up toward the house. I was truly excited and quite pleased with our first step of holiday cheer! I was so excited that Mike climbed into the ATV and we rode back down so that he could have a first-hand look. We decided that the daytime version needed a little punch of color. So, I've ordered some red ribbon that was advertised at clearance and plan to add a big red bow to the wreaths. Stay tuned for an update!

I was not compensated for this post. I'm simply sharing how we add a little glowing Christmas cheer with some inexpensive solar lights, a discarded metal ring, and some free cedar clippings. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

As we pause this year to give thanks for all our many blessings, we are facing different times and different measures of thankfulness.  I am so grateful for the uncountable blessings that have been bestowed upon me and my family.

We are celebrating separately this year for safety's sake. We are glad to have the option and we are glad to be able to celebrate. I truly miss having all my family gathered round me but I look forward to many years in the future of celebrating together as a result of our choice. 

I am especially grateful for the health of all my family members and know that as just one of the multitude of blessings we celebrate. 

We hope that you and yours are celebrating a happy and healthy Thanksgiving Day as well!

Happy Birthday, Sage!

 

Hope this year is a great one!

Happy Birthday, Bryan!

 

Hope it is the greatest yet!

Go Vote!

 

It's Election Day!