Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Porches

I LOVE porches!! While riding on our Sunday drives, I notice porches and windows before anything else on a house. To me, a porch makes a house a home. Every home I've lived in has had a porch. Living here for the past five years, I have been fortunate to have many porches. Every one of our five out-buildings except the barn has at least one. The cottage has two and our home has two.

If you've been a faithful reader of this blog, you will remember my post about enclosing the back porch. I really liked the open "farm" porch that was here when we moved in, but I LOVE the enclosed porch. On a blustry winter day the temps may hover around zero to ten degrees in Michigan. If the sun shines, the temperature on our enclosed south-facing porch can rise to 70 degrees. It has been my salvation this winter!

I've decorated our many porches over the years and, last year, decided to share them on Shabby Lane Shops where they have a Porch of the Month contest. I am pleased to say that Aunt May's Cottage has won this distinguished honor many times (see side bar).

I hope you like my entry for March...........



Some Details.........


Many items shown in photos are available in Aunt May's Cottage.......





After two months of physical therapy, I am now able to sew on the sewing machines, but still cannot do much hand sewing. For some reason my right hand has decided to swell like a balloon when working with it. If I am idle, it seems OK. WELL, I'm not an idle person, so most of the time it's a chore to do any intricate work with it. The doc says it will all come in time, so I'm trying to be patient (not my strongest trait). I'm so lucky to have a wonderful physical therapist that is relentless. Because of her and the hours of "homework" she gives me, I think the arm will be back to about 80% the first part of April.

15 comments:

Connie said...

I'm with ya on the enclosed porches, chickee! Around here it's either too hot or too cold for a porch so enclosing one would be wonderful!
xoxo,
Connie

Secondhandrose said...

Very pretty! I really like the lt. green container on the table that you used for the flower arrangement.
karen

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

How wonderful to see you posting some beautiful pics again, Bertie! I love how inviting everything looks.

Love you,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

vickie said...

Oh Bertie, great to have you posting porches again! This one is beautiful, as always.

Nancy at ManicForMosaics said...

Bertie! I'm so glad you're back to blogging. The porch looks wonderful and if I were a leprechaun I would love to live there!

Katie said...

So fresh and crisp and yet so romantic and cozy all at the same time! I don't know how you have made it thru your ordeal with such a sense of humor and determination! It is so nice to see your porch creativity again!

Jennifer said...

Bertie I too love porches.I think your porch looks great.Glad your feeling a bit better with all the PT.My favorite porches of yours are on the cottage.I love the lace and rusticness of it so much with the wood rail and all.Hugs,Jen

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Bertie,
So wonderful to see you sweet friend. I so hope you are doing better and glad the PT is going well. I know you are not an idle person and I can only imagine the challange the past weeks have been for you.

I love your porches and this latest is so inviting and just outstanding. It sould be on the cover of a magazine. Congrats on winning for Shabby Lane so many times. I am not surprised!

Thank you for the birthday wishes it was such a joy to see you today.

Continued prayers for your full recovery.

Big Hugs, Celestina Marie

Mrs. Cherry Heart said...

Hey Miss Bertie,
It is so nice to have you back!
I have missed you so much!
Love love love all your beautiful porches!
I too am a porch fanatic!
Another opportunity to decorate! :-)

Have a wonderful weekend,
Hugz n Blessings,
Dolly

P.S. Happy 1st day of SPRING!!!!

Unknown said...

Bertie Dariling! You have such a flare! And of course I am so wishing I had some type of porch so I could pretty it up just like you do!

Hugs..Lorena

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

I'm sooo glad to see you back to blogging & creating & decorating your pretty porches again!! Why should anyone else even enter, as it is certainly no contest! You are always the sure-fire winner in my book!!

Beautiful greens this month ~ I especially like the container for the floral arrangement, so pretty & vintage!

Love you,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

joyh82 said...

Love the porch and all the great details. I especially love the tea cart.

Shirl said...

Hello Bertie, thank you so much for stopping by! I'm so glad to see that you are able to blog again and able to do some sewing. I love porches too! We have two but I'm trying to get hubby to build a small one off the back of the house. Another thing to add to the list! LOL
This porch is just stunning. It looks so peaceful and romantic. I have followed your blog and love all the porches that you have decorated. Your blog is one of the first blogs that I had looked at. Jen sent me your link knowing I would love your home and Aunt May's Cottage!
Bless you, Shirl
Shirls Rose Cottage

Ele at abitofpinkheaven said...

You have had a long winter, haven't you? Glad you can sew at the maching. Thank youf or the complimetns on the flowers. I could have used your input as everything you do is beautiful. I love porches too and yours is always gorgeous.

Reflections from the Stone Nest said...

Your porch is absolutely beautiful, Bertie. Love the happy look of spring/summer that it shows! So happy your arm is coming along. It is a slow, painful process, it seems. God Bless you, I'll say a prayer for you....

Have a wonderful day,
Kitty