Sunday, July 11, 2010

Is It Monday Again? Porch Love

It's good to be home.


I've been catching up, still not there, but I'll get there.
I miss my grandson, his little noises and cuddles and, oh yes, my daughter and her husband...
but I've been home a week now.

And since the spring has gone since I left and turned into summer-ness,
and the plowing and planting that goes on all around us is done,
and the giant tree has shed:
first, its leaf covers,
next its millions of seeds,
and the busy mama birds have built their nests and
the eggs have hatched,
and the resulting poo
has landed...
SPLAT!
(everywhere!!)
and spider webs were making the house look haunted!

Honey,
it was time to clean the porch.

The bonus?
It was HOT.
We put on old clothes with the intention of getting a little wet.
And that felt GoooooooooooD.


So...this weekend, since we were both here, we embarked on a power-washing adventure.
Not without a hitch or two.
I swept it down, and broomed the cobwebs.
Luke and I decluttered the porch and moved all the furniture off it.

Hubby made a trip to the hardware, sweated and worked hours to get the gas-powered washer running and got it going,
and it lasted about halfway through the job.

Then it died!

Stupid power washer!

So...we did what any respectable person would have done before the advent of the power washer.

We dragged out buckets, brushes, brooms, soap, and rags and used the sprayer on the garden hose, as well as a ladder and lots of elbow grease to get the place clean again.
(The Magic Eraser was great for the stubborn spots of poo.)




This place is our little respite, our little vacation,
beckoning just outside the front door.




I wish you were here to enjoy it, too.




We could kick off our flip-flops and rock and visit quietly, while we sip our lemonade...



And, of course, listen to the critters --


as they laugh at us for "cleaning" their habitat.










This season,
and its SIMPLE PLEASURES
last just a short while....


24 comments:

Nana's Fun Stuff said...

Oh I just love your front porch. It is a vacation all within itself. I could just sit and chat all day long :)

Unknown said...

Absolutely lovely. I get a peaceful feeling just looking at it.

Carmen at Old House Homestead said...

Very lovely, indeed!

I need to get my porch tidied up! I have a few spiders that need to be relocated! I am thankful for their bug-catching abilities and all but their webs are huge and not too pretty to look at!

Thanks for the inspiration!

Lisa~A Cottage To Me said...

Beautiful pictures of your porch! I definitely need to do some cleaning of our porch too. Dog hair, cobwebs and little bits of tree seeds, I guess that's what they're called, are everywhere on my porch. Just sweeping no longer does the job! Thanks for the inspiration!

Jeanette said...

Yes, this season is much too short. Love your porch. Isn't it nice to spend a long weekend up north?

Paula-Pieces from the Past said...

Love your porch-I want one like that!!!

Enjoy
Paula

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pics of such a relaxing time. And it does take all that elbow grease to maintain it. But well worth the effort. Your home looks like the setting for a great American country novel.

★Carol★ said...

I love your porch, and the view from it too! I know our porch could use a good scrubbing too, but it isn't going to happen until it cools down. Alot!

Anonymous said...

I love how homey and patriotic your front porch looks. Don't you always feel a sense of accomplishment after getting something clean that really needs it? I certainly do!

Our front deck has a very old walnut tree shading it. In the spring the seeds drop from it, in early fall walnuts start dropping all over the deck and in late fall the leaves start coming down. It is a never-ending job! :0)

Mandy said...

Beautiful! Our back porch is our get away spot.

Parisienne Farmgirl said...

I wish I was there to enjoy it too! Sometimes you gotta drag out the bucket!
Come by for a giveaway if you'd like!

Unknown said...

What a beautiful front porch ... adorned with patriotic touches & vintage treasures. Awesome ...

Have a lovely week.
TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

DEBBIE said...

Your beautiful blog is such a treat for the eyes!
I like it in here... and don`t want to leave!Lol
So I will be back for more lovely inspirational photos!

DEBBIE MOSS

Thistle Cove Farm said...

One of the things I do best is holding down the porch furniture! Yours is a lovely porch.

Donna said...

Fresh, clean, and gorgeous! Sure wish I was there to enjoy it too! Your front porch is an all-American classic.

mary your sis said...

What a beautiful porch and i know you all work hard to make it so spiffy, clean and soul-warming. It does look like a vacation to us, but then, we don't have to do all the scrubbing you do, we can just enjoy the photo's! Glad to have you home...

mary your sis said...

p.s. Sorry to be out of touch so long... we are just returning home after 3,200 miles in just a week. We wa in New Hampsha in a nice scenic pat of tha countra. The best pat of the trip was I got to know some CONSERVATIVES from the notheast; I didn't know there was any such animal. But, as nice as it was it does feel good to be home doesn't it?

aimee said...

What a wonderful home you have! I LOVE historic homes and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their covered porches!
Blessings & welcome home,
Aimee

Lori said...

What a beautiful front porch you have. If you're red table comes up missing, I have it! :)

Mrs. Cherry Heart said...

It must be porch cleaning season!
:-)
We power washer the front porch at the new/old house this weekend! It needed it....no one has lived there in 2 years so it was pretty dirty!
Now its so fresh and clean!
I love it... time to decorate it!

Hugz, Dolly

Elenka said...

Wow, you are so lucky to have that porch. Everyone should have one. Looks very inviting......

Carey's Farmhouse Kitchen said...

I just love it, it's everything a porch should be comfy and cozy looking!

Kathie Truitt said...

Oh, I AM 'there' Joni as I sit here under the tree focused on your porch in all its glory, those beautiful plants cozied up to the bottom. Then with a touch of my finger on the down-arrow key I suddenly find myself standing on the porch getting ready to take a seat....but then....the phone rings. RATS!

Happy@Home said...

I wish I was there too. The only problem is, I don't think I'd ever leave. :). Your porch and the surrounding views are the stuff dreams are made of. The big tree is fabulous too! Love it all.