Chickadee Home Nest: Porch

Showing posts with label Porch. Show all posts

Saturday, August 10, 2013

A Summer Rain—from the Porch

On a Saturday morning a couple of weeks ago we woke up to [more] rain, but it was a hard-enough-to-hear rain that makes you want to stay in bed all day and just listen to it. I admit it…I did do a little bit of that, but then I was anxious to get out to the front porch to enjoy it in a different way.

One of the good things in life is having a front porch—with a swing—and sitting on that swing, warm cup of coffee in hand, listening to the rain and watching as the drops hit the ground and make their own little splashes.

Listen….do you hear it?! Do you hear the quiet??

Yes, siree! It was some awesome sort of summer rain! No thunder, no lightning, just sweet, sweet rain.

My wellies, jacket, and umbrella at the ready, in case I decide to venture out for a walk. Do you have rain boots? If you do, what do you like about them? Do you wear them often? I love mine! In fact, I find them kind of freeing—I can walk anywhere, through anything, without getting my feet or pants wet or the back of my pants splashed!

One of my favorite mugs—from Starbucks—was perfect for my morning on the porch.

And as I enjoyed the rain, I enjoyed our porch, taking the time to enjoy the little “vignettes” that are often overlooked.

This old crate that I’ve had for so long and use so often. Not a clue where/when I got it, but it sure has been enjoyed!

I’ve already mentioned this geranium this year—it’s been absolutely beautiful! It’s hard to tell in the picture, but the red is a black red; the flowers look almost like velvet. The wicker table? A fabulous auction find!

And the “painted” geranium—see how it looks like each petal has brushstrokes? Another favorite this year that I’ve mentioned before. I’m going to try to keep them over the winter in the garage. We’re in Ohio—any advice on how to do that? I would love, love, love to have these again next year.

P.S. After this sweet reprieve on our porch my husband and I ventured out in the rain—yes, I in my wellies—to a nearby town that has wonderful antique shops. Before wellies I may not have been too interested in that, but have wellies, will go out!

Are you a rain lover? Do you venture out in it? And if you own rain boots do you love them and wonder why you didn’t buy them longer ago like I do?!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you’ll leave me a comment to let me know you were here—I read every single one of them! And if you like what you see a lot, maybe you’d like to Google+ this post or pin it on Pinterest too! Thank you!

I invite you to follow me. If you’ll let me know that you’re following, I’ll be sure to follow you back.

Mop it Up Monday at http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com

Metamorphosis Monday at http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Masterpiece Monday at http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

Tuesday’s Treasures http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/

Wow Us Wednesdays at http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

DIY by Design Party at http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/

What's It Wednesday at http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

Share Your Cup Wednesday at http://jannolson.blogspot.com/

Thursdays at StoneGable http://www.stonegableblog.com/

Home and Garden Thursday at http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

Tablescape Thursday at http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Open House Party Thursday at http://nominimalisthere.blogspot.com

Transformation Thursdays at http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/

Feathered Nest Friday at http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Home Sweet Home Fridays at http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/

Potpourri Friday at http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com/

Inspiration Friday at http://www.atthepicketfence.com

Thrifty Things Friday at http://thethriftygroove.blogspot.com/

Vintage Inspiration Friday at http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/

Show and Tell Friday at http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Fridays Unfolded at http://www.stuff-and-nonsense.net/

Fall Around the House at http://theinspiredroom.net

From my nest to yours~

Zuni

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

At the Beach ~ in Cannes

When my husband and I spent three weeks in France and Spain several years ago, we were in Cannes a good part of the time. We were traveling solo—no tour guide—and we literally stumbled into Le Suquet, the old part of Cannes. What a loss it would’ve been if we’d missed it! The streets there were laid out 400 years ago! The main streets are now pedestrianed, and feature lovely, tiny restaurants and shop after shop after shop of beautiful, colorful French linens and dishes. I was in heaven! Because the streets climb up to the clock tower (where the view of the Bay of Cannes is incredible), the restaurants build tiny platforms, where they manage to squeeze in as many tables as possible~it’s so charming!

Unfortunately, theft is a “bit” of a problem in Cannes, and our cameras were stolen while we were there, so we have no pictures of that leg of the trip. :( Local Nomad Blog has this picture of Le Suquet’s restaurants and the ingenious “wedge” platforms~

Le Croisette is the famous beach in Cannes, seen in its full glory in many, many movies. So recently I did a tablescape using the tablecloth we bought at one of the sweet little shops in Le Suquet, and let it be my inspiration. What a wonderful souvenir it has been!

I decided to keep the additions to the table at a minimum, so as to not detract from the design.

The early-morning sun casts lovely shadows on our screened porch. The yellow and blue dishes are Big Lots finds—and a perfect match for the tablecloth! The fish dishes are by mudpie.

And the lavender—after all, this is a table of the south of France—is from our garden.

The wine/lemonade goblets and the Mexican on-the-rocks are from Pottery Barn.

I’ve had the gold tablecloth and napkins for years—a happy match to the Le Suquet tablecloth!

A simple jar with lavender and Stella d’Oros, also from our garden, for the centerpiece.

The service table, with the candles at the ready for evening dining.

The beach motif continues…

Sunflowers add to the French beach decor. Oh, the fields and fields and fields of sunflowers we saw, all with their big and little faces turned to the sun, and the pictures we took of them…

Did you know, that in French and Spanish sunflowers are called “tournesol” and “girasol” respectively, which literally translate to “turn to the sun”? What a perfect name for them!

As dusk arrives, time to light the candles and enjoy the shadow play. The Chocolat window piece is quite befitting the event, yes? It was a Mother’s Day gift from my husband, because the movie
Chocolat, and the music from it, are favorites of mine. He somehow snuck it out of the French Hen Barn Sale without my seeing it! Love it!

Please come right in…

…and enjoy a glass of icy-cold lemonade with me.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’ll leave me a comment to let me know you were here—I read every single one of them! And if you like what you see a lot, maybe you’d like to +1 this post or pin it on Pinterest too! Thank you!

I invite you to follow me. If you’ll let me know that you’re following, I’ll be sure to follow you back.

Cozy Home Scenes Tuesdays at http://cozyhomescenes.blogspot.com/