Chickadee Home Nest: screened porch

Showing posts with label screened porch. Show all posts

Monday, September 2, 2013

Extending Summer—Propagating Summer Plants

Goodbye, August…you were lovely this year, and I really, really didn’t want you to go. But September came rolling by with no regard for my wishes, knowing that I’ll eventually fall in love with her too. It will take a while; I hope she’s patient with me.

We have an old, chippy green shutter in our screened porch that’s been a perfect corner backdrop for potted plants. I have no memory of having bought it; it’s as though it’s been with us forever, and I’ve always loved it and have been glad we brought it home whenever it was that we did. It has served us well~~

~~but for several years now I’ve wanted to add some plants to the upper part of the shutter itself…thinking…thinking…thinking… Small pots? Probably too heavy (and leaky). Those metal pots with the hook built into them? Maybe…but not quite clicking with me…thinking…thinking…Pinterest-ing…thinking, while at the same time bemoaning the waning days of summer. Eureka! A picture on Pinterest of a Ball jar used by a teacher to store chalk! (http://thecreatedhome.blogspot.com/2011/08/homeschool-classroom-makeover.html)

Picture a big, bright light bulb right over my head—BIG AND BRIGHT. I have been positively enthralled with our geraniums this year (you can see close-ups of them HERE), and our coleuses have gone wild. Strong, and tall, and healthy. (I love coleuses because my grandmother loved them—they always remind me of her.) I had started to root some of the coleus, just because, and my thinking paid off! Hang Ball mason jars from the shutter and root them there! Voila—a way to root them AND add color and texture and interest to the upper part of the shutter!

I wrapped twine around the ridges of the jars, starting with a loop from which to hang them, added water, added cuttings, and I was pleased.

If you look real hard you can see the loop on each jar, hung with a S hook to the wire that just so happened to be in the perfect place (I wonder why it’s there?! It’s rusted and beautiful, so it’s been there a long, long time).

And now, be forewarned…the light and shadow play and reflections were just perfect on the days that I photographed them, so LOTS AND LOTS of pictures, to share how much I enjoyed taking these pictures.

And this is Miss Calliope Dark Red…I hope to winterize the plant too, but rooting cuttings are a bit of a back-up plan. I’ve heard of just taking the plants to the basement and not watering them much, but haven’t researched it much, so any tips would be very, very welcome!

This one has no tag, so I named it `Brushstrokes,’ because if you looked at it in my Porch in the Rain post linked above, you’ll know why. Each petal looks like it has a brushstroke of white on it. B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.

Can you tell how happy I am with my “rooting jars”?

TWO perfect solutions in one!

So are you ready for fall, or are you extending summer as much as you can? And have you been successful in overwintering plants in cold climates (Ohio, in my case). Call to all gardeners out there: Your advice is needed!

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.

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

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://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/

Wednesdays at Ivy and Elephants: http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com

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

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

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

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/

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/

From my nest to yours~

Zuni

Friday, September 14, 2012

Sooo Versatile, Blue and White

Hi! Boy, I’ve been a way for most of July, all of August, and part of September…not too sure where the time went, but I do have great memories of summer—family vacation at the beach, time with babies, evening rides in our convertible. So as you can well imagine, I’m not…quite…ready for fall. Getting there, as I always do, but not there quite yet.

Earlier in the summer I did a blue and white table, then made minor changes to it with different color accents to explore the versatility of lovely, bright, serene, blue and white.

Today’s post is about, well, BLUE AND WHITE.

Isn’t it serene? The table was set for a romantic dinner for two.

Let’s take a closer look:

Blue, white, crystal, and silver.

Salad plates: Spode, The Blue Room Collection

Dinner plates: Spode Delamere

Chargers: Silverplate, a purchase years ago.

Sterling: Lunt Eloquence

Individual salt and pepper shakers: Sterling, purchased years ago.

Linen napkin: Pottery Barn

Napkin rings: Sterling, baptismal gift to our firstborn, from his godmother. One has his name engraved on it, and the other was left blank for his future bride. Isn’t that a sweet gift? We must get hers engraved now; it’s time to turn them over. But it’ll be hard…I’ve loved being their keeper for 30+ years.

Waterford Kinsale vase, silverplate pitcher, and Bombay Company blue and white cut votive cup.

Waterford Lismore Tall goblet, vintage Alana wine stem (now archived by Waterford). Vintage pressed glass dish for lemon slices to brighten the water in the pitcher.

Do you love the sweet, intricate detail of vintage linens? I can hardly resist them when I see them in antique shops.

Dessert will also be served.

Pressed glass dishes: I haven’t researched them yet, but they’re a recent, and now favorite find.

The sweet cordials are very vintage, and very special—they were a gift from my husband’s dear, dear aunt.

The two bowls are sterling, from my collection, and the serving tray? A garage sale find years ago (a set of 3!)!

The beautiful vintage linen napkins are in perfect condition; a purchase this spring at the Springfield (Ohio) Antique Show.

If you really are looking closely, the dessert spoons are not from the Lunt set. They are 1847 Rogers Brothers vintage silverplate; a hostess gift from my SIL.

Champagne flutes were a wedding gift from another SIL. I don’t know the pattern, but they have been used for many, many Mimosas over the years, because I love them. The stem is frosted.

The lavender is from our garden.

Evening arrives…

Did you think that the daylight table was perhaps a little empty? There was a plan…for candleholders.

And yes, we DID have a candlelight dinner.

Do you love blue and white as much as I do? I’d love to hear what colors you have woven into your table settings that started out as blue and white.

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.

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/

Saturday Nite Special at http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

Seasonal Sunday at http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com

Show Off Your Cottage Monday at http://houseinroses.blogspot.com

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

Metamorphosis Monday at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

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

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

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

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

Tabletop Tuesday at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

Cuisine Kathleen at http://www.cuisinekathleen.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/

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

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

Tablescape Thursday at betweennapsontheporch.net

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

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

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

From my nest to yours~

Zuni

Sunday, July 8, 2012

July Birthdays Birthday Party

My husband and I have five children (he, 2 boys and a girl, and I, 2 boys). Three of the 4 boys have birthdays in July (one of his sons and my July son were born a week apart—same year—and my July son and his other son have birthdays 2 days apart—(did you follow all that?). PLUS, two of our DILs have birthdays in July, and my husband’s birthday is in July! Whew!! It would be impossible to celebrate each one individually, so this is the party for the 4 who will be able to join the July Birthday Party!

First let me warn you, though. The heat wave that’s hitting much of the country has not missed us in Ohio…so this was the fastest table and picture-taking session on record. My husband wondered why I wouldn’t be doing it inside—well, we can’t have a BEACH birthday party inside! To the screen porch I went! I actually set most of the table the night before, and got up early the next morning to “beat the heat”… but the heat beat me! I finished the table and took pictures so fast that if I didn’t use Picasa you’d think you were suffering from vertigo—quite a few were NOT straight. It was truly a point-and-shoot day! And you’ll notice not evening shots…Let’s just say the heat won.

But here we are—the table got done, the pictures were taken.

Happy birthday to all my July sweeties!

Let’s start with dessert first, shall we?

With this heat we can’t have real ice cream, so how ‘bout ice cream cone candles?!

I know, I know…we’re in Ohio. But that won’t keep us from pretending we’re at the beach! We’re BEACH people! We have SAND from our favorite beach in Siesta Key, Florida, shells galore from there too, and . . . FLIP FLOPS!

I’ve had the flip flop plates for years and had planned to use them for this table, then I saw Mary’s Home is Where the Boat Is post with flip flops she made from Nutter Butter cookies….HAD.TO.HAVE.THEM on MY table! No worries, I let her know I would be “stealing” her darling idea and giving full credit.

Are these not the cutest things ever?! Mary made hers with icing, but I take shortcuts—it was 10:30 at night when my husband and I hit Kroger. So I bought two tubes of gel icing, and I, too, had flip flop cookies! I sprinkled them with nonpareils and added the little stars.

Served on my vintage Tiara tiered server.

And how about a high-heel server?! My husband bought that for me at an arts festival several years ago.

Pottery Barn shell pewter hors d’oeuvres picks, also from a number of years ago,

and Pottery Barn crabs—can’t be at the beach without them! (They’re really place card holders.)

We also have our table-size sandbox—a darling gift from our son and DIL…perfect for Mom the beach lover! At the top corner you see the “trunk” of the palm tree, and the starfish could go there instead. It’s a Nora Fleming dish with interchangeable embellishments/add-ons.

Water!! Lots of water!!

And now I have to tell you about my dishes…the serving tray--$26.86 originally—is a Zak Designs, and so are the teal plates and the glasses. Got them all—and the pitcher—for $3.00 at a auction! I didn’t even know what was in the box lot, but I saw teal, and that was good enough for me! I couldn’t be more excited about them! I’ve never had Melamine dishes before, but to settle my heart’s desire for teal dishes for this table, they are perfect! Take a look at the “glasses”—they look like glass! Boy, do I wish I could find glass ones just.like.these!!

Thank you for stopping by our July birthday party. I hope your imagination got a good workout and that you enjoyed our beach in the screened porch! What do you do when you have multiple birthdays in one month? Are you able to celebrate them individually like I’d love to do? And do you do beach themes even though you’re nowhere near the beach—just to bring it a little closer?

I’d love to hear from you to know you stopped by…and please tell me what you thought. Love your visits/love your comments.

I invite you to follow me. If you do, please let me know and I’ll be sure to follow right back!

I wish you happy beach days,if only in your dreams. Here’s where I’ll be this week; I hope you’ll stop by and visit me and the great selection of posts you’ll find at these great parties!

Seasonal Sunday at http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com

Show Off Your Cottage Monday at http://houseinroses.blogspot.com

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

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

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

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

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

Tabletop Tuesday at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

Cuisine Kathleen at http://www.cuisinekathleen.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/

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

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

Tablescape Thursday at betweennapsontheporch.net

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

Share Your Cup Thursday at http://jannolson.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/

Saturday Nite Special at http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

From my nest to yours~

Zuni

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Dining with the Birds

Do you remember when I invited you to my screened porch here ? We’d “gone to the birds” with our wrought iron shelf decor.

Well, the weather here in central Ohio has been absolutely glorious—clear, bright blue skies, a nice breeze, and in the high 70s—perfect for outdoor dining~ BREAKFAST, LUNCH, or DINNER ~in our screened porch, of course!

And it was the perfect opportunity to once again use my PB bird plates (thanks to Yvonne at Stone Gable, who used them on a lovely table of hers). I had to have them, and off my husband and I went to the PB outlet about an hour from home.

You can see the bird touches on the shelves in the background.

The water bottle was a fun purchase last summer at White Magnolia, the loveliest of shops, in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. And the little birdie is a pitcher—I guess like a creamer or a vase?? I’ve only used it as a vase.

My Nicodemus robin that I’ve had for years, and has made appearances on many of my tables, because I love this chubby little guy!

Good morning, Sunshine!

Twig place card holders, from Pottery Barn, I think, seemed just right for the occasion, along with the PB goblets from PB’s early years—a gift from my MIL that I’ve enjoyed over and over and over. I guess they’re “vintage Pottery Barn” now!

edie rose home Bloom collection S&P, by Fitz & Floyd, a gift from our son and DIL. :)

The Blue Hour is upon us…lovely time for dinner.

When I saw the twinkles in the goblets I couldn’t resist adding this picture…I hope you like it as much as I do.

How’s this for perfect for our Dining with the Birds centerpiece? A robin’s egg I found in our landscaping this spring. Never fear…I researched what to do with it and learned that by the time I found it it had probably gotten too cold, and besides, there was no nest nearby, so it had been stolen by some mean critter, so I gave it a home for a little while before disposing of it.

Do you like to have every.single.meal outside during warm weather? I find that I’m as bad as the little ones—I don’t want the lovely warm days to end, and I don’t want to go inside!

The table is set…please come join us!

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