After a long winter, the last two sunny and warmish days have been most welcome! In the early evening, I sat on the glider with the warmth of the sun on my back and it was heaven. There are no potted plants yet, no hanging plants, no leaves on the trees. But I’ve got my porch back.
I continued to work on cleaning up the porch, sweeping every corner, cleaning off the ‘greenhouse’ sign, cleaning the former kitchen island, which is now…what? potting bench? porch dresser? I’m not sure.
It was already very chippy when we brought it outside, and we covered it with a tarp for the winter, but it’s definitely much chippier than it was. I don’t mind; you know I like that look. At some point, when it gets to be too much, I will probably repaint it with something more durable like porch paint.
I also made some more ‘cleanup’ inroads on the big garden bed. I have yet to clean up the memorial garden bed or the garden beds on the far side of the house, but this week will offer plenty of time to tackle that.
For today, I’ll take it easy. Don is arriving this evening and I don’t want to feel as tired as I have the past two nights when I pick him up at the bus station. Luckily, the weather is supposed to be lovely tomorrow, so he can really enjoy his time here.
I saw a bunny outside the kitchen window this morning. And last night, I ran and grabbed my telephoto lens so I could get a picture of someone dining way over on the other side of the driveway, under the lilac. (Taken from inside the living room or he would have run away.)
That’s our boy!
Happy Sunday.
I can’t explain it, but seeing photos of Henry just gives me the warm-fuzzies! Sorta like baby goats in pajamas or Fox Terriers doing anything. Love that little guy!
Your porch looks beautiful. Have a good visit with Don. And thanks for the amazing conversation on Friday, which is still going on, by the way. I just received and answered a comment a few minutes ago. Such fun!
I know! We’re up to 270 comments! I love that it’s still going on. I decided to just read the comments and not interact because it’s just such fun watching everyone talk to each other! (And trying to answer all the comments would have been overwhelming!)
It must be pretty fun to see what you have orchestrated here!
It is! Far more commenters than I ever imagine there would be. I have Judy to thank for the initial idea.
All that hard work, but your porch looks wonderful. It’s so nice to have an outdoor space as an additional room part of the year, isn’t it? We still have remnants of snow in our back garden/patio, but the sun is shining and it’s going to be upper fifties – a perfect day for the “Walk 4 Clean Water,” the area my husband works in, we’re doing along the shores of Lake Michigan today. I also have enjoyed reading all the comments from the other day. Just amazing how many people from so many places congregate here at least once a day.
It is. The porch is what made me want this house! Thanks, Kay.
I love your porch, Claudia. I don’t have one at my current house, but when I relandscaped, I didn’t put plants in for the entire front yard. I had Kentucky blue stone laid on top of the dirt so I have an area where I could put out a chair and a table to enjoy the afternoon sun. I had a very small covered porch with a swing at my previous house and I loved having morning coffee out there reading the paper. Thank you for that wonderful opportunity to interact on your blog yesterday. I had a couple of conversations with your lovely readers. You really know how to pull people together! Enjoy seeing and being with Don.
Love bluestone. The porch here also has bluestone. Thanks, Wendy.
I love your porch. It’s one thing I miss so very much where I live now. That dresser is such a beauty and chippy gorgeousness makes me swoon. I love that the animals are coming around now that it is finally Spring (fingers crossed). Enjoy your time with Don.
Thank goodness they’re back. It’s like old home week around here!
Porch time is the best!
It is!
Glad to see the sunshine your way. We finally got a bit this morning. Thank goodness.
We got outside yesterday and cleaned up some of the woods on our place. Can’t wait to get back out there today. Haven’t seen our groundhog yet.
It feels so good to working outside again, doesn’t it?
Absolutely
Your porch looks so inviting…all it needs are plants…and the two of you. Our deck is our porch. And, with some piles of snow still on the ground…still seems a bit early for the furniture. Hopefully soon! Enjoy your time with Don! ;)
A bit too early for plants as it’s still getting a wee bit cold at night. But soon!
little Henry! YAYYY! and he looks so healthy!
and can’t you just see that beautiful white porch sideboard with cheery red geraniums in the pot?
i can! and i have a black thumb! but they would be beautiful especially with your cushions and all.
but must confess… you’re so clever and have such a good eye… i will await your magic with it! xo
I’m not sure what I’m going to put there but it has to be something that tolerates shade, Tammy!
I just know your heart sings when you are able to sit on the porch again. And tonight it will be a duet with the two of you sitting side-by-side ~~ together again!!
The snow has been rapidly melting here. We have a few areas that were quite deep from the Wed/ Thurs snow, but we are to be in the 60’s (!!!!) for the next couple of days, so it will soon be a distant memory. And Amen to that!
Enjoy the rest of the day and I hope it goes by quickly for Don to get there. Is Stella being called into duty for any biscuits or cookies?? Have a wonderful time together.
Thank goodness your snow is melting, Chris. I think Spring might actually be staying for a while!
Don’t know yet about Stella. Too tired from working outside to bake anything – at least today!
Henry is going to be taking naps on your glider. If I was there he would have to fight me for the spot.
He’s too shy, Tana!
Beautiful post today – – the sun on the porch, Henry, Don coming home; happy for you.
Henry is a good-luck name; my mom had a big ginger cat named Henry and he lived a long, long time.
I like the name Henry, Vicki! Our Henry is hanging in there, that’s for sure.
Those pictures of Henry are priceless. I love your kitchen island. The look is lovely. Enjoy Don’s visit.
Marilyn
Henry is pretty darned adorable, Marilyn! Thank you!
Your porch looks great!! I love your “use to be” kitchen island. That is a beautiful piece with such detail.
Enjoy your time with Don. This Spring weather is the best!
Take care.
Monica : )
It is. Thank goodness it’s finally here!
Oh my Claudia!…we finally have warmth for more than a day!…I am so happy for this..maybe Mother Nature kept us in the cold longer so that we would appreciate the beauty of Spring even more….I’m so glad that Don is coming home today so the two of you can enjoy it together!..Have fun!
I know! Miracles do happen! Thanks, Nancy!
that all sounds wonderful … especially for you and don to have time together at home … add in the sun, a pretty porch and seeing henry and i am happy for you!
sunny and 70 here today (and hearing amor towles talk about his book “a gentleman in moscow” tomorrow night) so i’m happy for me, too!
hope a nice night and good week ahead.
kathy in iowa
Hey, Kathy – I sent you an email. I need your address! Enjoy Amor Towles!
O.M.Jittles … so liberating to get out and enjoy the ‘sunny’ days after the longest winter ever here in the Northeast! Memorial Day is the rule of thumb for veggies & annuals in Zone 4 girlies! { wink } My wonderful hubby & I enjoy a ‘hot date’ to the local recycling center every Saturday, which in warmer weather includes indulging in the purchase of iced coffee. However this week he took me to our local greenhouse in our town just to get a PLANT FIX as part of our ‘hot date’ with our iced coffee… { He’s definitely a keeper … LOVE him so }
We already scored a recycling find of an all metal glider in need of a mere bit of T.L.C. to include stripping, power washing & new paint for under the Oak in the shade garden … I’m thinking of a pale gray, but unsure? I was going to do a sunny yellow, but I do not want to attract a thief since we’re near a main road. Yes, we’ve had hard goods & plants stolen in the middle of the night right out of the gardens even in the back yard! Hubby had me order this – https://www.etsy.com/listing/523123055/pollinator-friendly-garden-sign?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lp.d2.v1&share_time=1524117958000
to add to a rescued garden tool for the beginning of the small winding path within OUR pollinator bed we’ve poured our heart & soul the past couple of years.
Hope you enjoy your morning coffee out on your lovely porch in your glider, Claudia! So love visiting your HOME via your blog, so wish you were a closer neighbor to share gardening, coffee, laughs & little stories. Attempting a bit of raking to find OUR ‘Fiesta Time’ Holly hocks we both planted last season. Have you seen any signs yet? Lots of my perennial friends in various gardens are awakening to greet my ‘smiling’ face. So excited to see them again.
Enjoy your time with Don …
I love old metal gliders! So glad you found one! I haven’t seen any sign of the hollyhocks yet – fingers crossed that they show themselves soon! Thank you!