Final Addition to the Front Porch for Spring/Summer–A Ladder and a Stool

I kept looking at my front porch thinking it still needed something.  I even had my husband talked into building a fence wall I envisioned and drew  for him.  Then I decided to see hwat my wooden ladder would look like instead.  Free and no building.  Win win situation.  And I like it.  Triple win.

I hung a basket with the top of a solar light on the top.

And I put a cone floral container underneath with some faux greenery in it.  Yep I am a faux flower/greenery lover.

I quickly dry brushed a bit of Annie Sloan chalkpaint in Versailles on the front of the ladder in the dark a few days ago.  My neighbor who knows what is always going on in the neighborhood probably thinks I am crazy for putting a ladder on my porch and painting it in the dark. 

It softens the corner though.

If you like the hanging basket better then you can let me know.  I still have it and I am not opposed to putting it back in the corner.

I really like how the solar light gives off a little glow from the top of the ladder at night.

I added my little bench I redid to the front porch too. 

It’s much easier to relax with your feet propped up.

Ok I really think this is my last front porch post for a while.  Maybe if my plants fill out and look good, I will have to do one more. 

Oh one more thing.  My little bush/tree has small white flowers on it and the small bees and butterflies like it.  I captured a pretty butterfly photo.

I am liking the butterflies, but the moth infestation we have had the last 2 weeks is a bit much. 

Linking to

Saturday Night Special (porches) @ Funky Junk Interiors

President Bush and the Warrior 100K in the Texas Panhandle

Today is the last day President Bush and injured Veterans will be riding their mountain bikes for the Warrior 100k in Palo Duro Canyon.   Bush has been riding among  a group that includes 19 servicemen and one woman over difficult trails cover 13.3, 29.4, and 19.4 miles on each of the three days.

The Veterans were greeted at Rick Husband International Airport here in Amarillo, TX several days ago. 

(All images via Amarillo Globe News)

The newspaper listed all the veterans participating in the ride.

■ Retired Army Sgt. Juan Arredondo, Universal City.

■ Retired Marine Cpl. Daniel Carter, Winchester, Calif.

■ Retired Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Chinn, Westminister, Colo.

■ Retired Army Sgt. Bryce Cole, Cypress.

■ Retired Army Staff Sgt. Zach Collett, Reston. Va.

■ Marine Cpl. Eric Elrod, Fort Worth.

■ Army Maj. Daniel Gade, West Point, N.Y.

■ Retired Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Chris Goehner, Ellensburg, Wash.

■ Army Lt. Col. David Haines, Elizabethtown, Ky.

■ Retired Army Sgt. Carlos Hernandez, Suwanne, Ga.

■ Retired Marine Lance Cpl. Adam Jahnke, Charlotte, N.C.

■ Marine Staff Sgt. David Lyon, San Diego.

■ Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Mike McNaughton, Denham Springs, La.

■ Army Sgt. Maj. Chris Self, Clarksville, Tenn.

■ Marine Cpl. Dave Smith, Berkeley, Calif.

■ Retired Army 1st Lt. Melissa Stockwell, Chicago.

■ Marine Gunnery Sgt. John Szczepanowski, Santee, Calif.

■ Army Pvt. Michael Walker, Sevierville, Tenn.

■ Marine Sgt. David Wright, Omaha, Neb.

■ Retired Marine Sgt. Matthew Zbiec, La Mesa, Calif.

Seeing the photographs daily in the paper is so inspiring.

The course is challenging.   How impressive that these men and this woman are able to take it on disabilities and all.  

Most of the photos show Bush leading the way.

Here are some shots showing the landscape.

I just think this is too cool.  If you want to read more you can do a search for Warrior 100K in our newspaper by clicking here.

RELAX Pillow

Before my lunch date with a good friend of mine, I stopped at Hobby Lobby to look around.  I spotted a pillow I had been meaning to make.  Do you ever see things that you dreamed up in your mind.  I hate when I don’t do it first except this time I was glad to just buy it and not make it. 

I love the pillow and it was 40% off! 

I really love numbers and letters.  I use to only like even numbers, but now I like odd numbers too.  Especially the number 3, but 2 will always be my favorite.

I have a pillow I made for Autumn/Winter that I hate putting away in the spring because I love the looks of it on my bench.  It says Autumn on one side and Winter on the other.

   

Now I have this pillow for Spring and Summer.

Can  you tell I like decorating my porch for the seasons? 

Linking to

Weekend Wrap Up @ Tatertots and Jello

Saturday Night Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

New Industrial Bar Stool

The other day Kim at Savvy Southern Style posted about some bar stools she bought at World Market.  I really liked the looks of them and thought they may be a great prop when I take photos.  On my way home from work this week I stopped by World Market and they had one left so I bought it.   I needed a place to store it.  It’s too cool looking not to display so  I moved the little blue chair out of the corner in my family room and added the bar stool.

The blue chair was cute, but I am kind of tired of the blue anyway.

Project 52 Week 17 Green

My husband is very proud of his green grass.  I laid down on the side walk and got this shot looking down the street from our front yard.  It’s nice to see the leaves green and full on the trees. 

Front Porch Flower Pots 2012

This past Friday my husband and I had lunch together.  As we were driving home I suggested we go buy some flowers for the front porch.  I told him he could pick them out. 

Since we needed some topsoil to fix an area of grass in the front yard he decided it was a good idea.  He has never gone to buy flowers.  He loves all bright and pretty colors.  I love all things subdued. 

I guided him a bit on the need for thrillers, fillers and spillers.  We didn’t get as many fillers as we needed, but when he realized the prices of flowers in greenhouses he slowed down putting them in our basket. 

So some of the small pots only have one little flower plant in them.

I like to put the pots at different heights for interest.

And it gives room for the spillers to grow.

I still need a plant above my bench, but I have an idea for something my husband and I can build  too.  I just need to decide which way I want to go with it. 

Anything to soften the brick back there will help.  Potting a plant will be the easy way to go, but building something would be much more fun to blog about. 

My violas are still looking good in this pot so I just added a spike and a plant for now.

I don’t think these guys will last much longer.  It was in the 90s today and it might reach the 100s Thurs or Friday.  I guess there goes Spring. 

After finding out how much flowers cost, my husband wants to know if we can grow them from seeds next year.  I told him he was crazy. 

Linking to

Wow Us Wednesdays @ Savvy Southern Style

Spring Engagement Photos

Friday evening I met my coworker’s daughter and her fiancé at Buffalo Lake Wildlife Refuge which is about 30 miles from where I live.  There is not much beauty or nature around here for photography backgrounds.  One day I will be surrounded by beautiful nature, but for now this is about as good as it gets. 

Yep in Texas we were boots. 

And we have beautiful weeds and brush when the sunlight hits them.

When it rains which thank you God it has this year, we even have some wildflowers.

And canyons pop up here and there.

There is always a windmill on the outskirts of town and most men own a pickup truck.

We usually always have beautiful Texas nights and sunsets.

What is special or native to your area?

Linking to

Sweet Shot Tuesday @ Life With My 3 Boybarians