WELCOME TO OUR PORCH...

Welcome to our porch - finally! The weather turned out to be beautiful yesterday and we got lots done. Dick raked out the front and side flower beds and I scrubbed the porches and porch furniture. AND IT FELT GREAT! I ran down to the shop to pick up my big mop and Abbey decided she would rather come home and "help" us than mind the shop with her mom. She had a ball running around barefoot and mopping. The flowers are just starting to peek through the soil, but it won't be long now. Come on up on our porch and relax with me. My poor old bike needs another coat of paint this year, but I still love it. It has 2 baskets on the back and one big basket on the front. I got it a few years ago at a garage sale for $7.50! It's fun to change out the baskets for the different seasons.

Just walk on up the sidewalk and come have a cold glass of iced tea with me. This is the front of our old homestead, but it sure looks bare right now. There are ferns all along the front of the porch and they are just starting to pop through the soil. We do a lot of "porch sitting" in the summer and watch the world go by. It's amazing the people you talk to when you sit on a porch! I think Abbey knows every dog's name that walks by! Can't wait for hanging baskets of flowers and geraniums!

This is one end of the porch (where we generally sit). I'd like to come up with something besides wicker, but I also want something comfortable. (I'd like it to be old - any ideas?)

The other end of the porch - before flowers. All of the Holly parades go in front of our house, so it is so much fun to sit out here and watch. We generally have a good crowd, coffee and donuts! The next one will be Memorial Day. The grandkids LOVE the parades and it is so much fun to watch them get so excited. They all have a great time picking up the candy that the floats throw.

This is the home directly across the street. Isn't it beautiful!? The previous owners had the most glorious gardens in the back yard. I have a thing for old houses and I feel so fortunate to live in the historic district and to be surrounded by these old beauties.

This one is also across the street, but not quite as old. (Built in the 1920's) That big screened in porch is wonderful.

These homes are down the other direction. One is sure a "painted Victorian lady" and the other is stone. They both have turrets and big wrap-around porches. One of these days I'll drive around town and take some pictures of my favorites to share.

We are supposed to have good weather again for part of the day, so we will be off to the back yard! My daffodils are open and everything else is starting to bud. Next month we will have hundreds of Lily Of The Valley. That smell is so intoxicating, one little bouquet can do wonders in the house. I have SO many plans for our backyard this year! I want to do an area just for little enclosed campfires, put in another flower garden, and add a small veggie garden. There is nothing like being able to be outside and it's so limited in Michigan!

Well girls, thanks for stopping by and visiting our porch. Maybe later we'll go sit on the back porch! Have a wonderful sunny day - at least before the rain gets here later - and we'll talk again soon...