Wednesday, June 4, 2008

FRONT PORCH PARTY

Hello and welcome to my porch party being hosted by Rhondi of Rose Colored Glasses. If you click here you can go to her blog and get all the links who are participating. When I heard about Rhondi’s Front Porch Party. I was so excited about it. I have always loved porches and I’m so happy to finally have a house with a porch. Our first two houses only had small little porches not even big enough for a chair. When my husband and I started looking for our retirement home that was one thing it had to have. First on my list! This house has two so the one in the older part of the house we are going to turn it into a four seasons sun room. Perfect because it is south facing so we will be able to grow lettuce, tomatoes and beautiful flowers all year round. Well I just couldn’t wait to get started on taking photos for this fun post! I thought since our porch railings and my shabby white furniture was due a coat of paint this summer I would go ahead and do that before taking pics. Well just about the time I got all my materials ready to paint the sky’s opened up with rain, hail and wind, and it has been doing that for three days. We have had awful floods in WV from this and I pray for the people who lost so much! I thought I would wait until this morning to take pics when hopefully the sun would be shinning. I was up and out on my porch bright and early today and the sun was out but I never thought I would find the mess I did. It had rained so hard the porch flooded with water and mud. What a job to get that cleaned up before taking pics. Needless to say, no freshly painted furniture and railings and the floors are a little messy, cleaned up best as I could. But my pretty porch is still there and Oh how I love it! Take a look, please click on the pics so you can take a closer look!


Some close ups for my little table scapes!

We spend so much time on our porch, it's quite large so we have picnic's out here also. Sit and relax at every chance we get!

Most of the hand painted items on my porch were done by my daughter Jen from Jennifers Petal Palace.

A view from our porch.



Wisteria at one end of the porch. Really makes a cozy place to sit. When in bloom it's just beautiful with a heavenly scent.

Roses are just now starting to bloom.

A few pics of other season with our porch. This is a view from my porch during a cold snowy winter in the hills of West Virginia.
My picket fence was another must have for me, it took quite a few years to get hubby to put that in. Coming from a farming family he loves wide open spaces. He did not want any parts of a fence but now loves it as much as I do!
Below is the older porch on the pre-civil war part of the house, this is the one we are going to make into a four seasons sun room. We will put steps on this side so we can enter from the picket fenced area. Windows that we have purchased will be from ceiling to floor. We are going to keep the old wainscoted ceiling, we love it. We will be putting a fire place in here also. A very cozy place to sit in the winter while the snow is coming down! It has two front doors, one entering into the office and the other into our bedroom. The rooms used to be front and back palors. If you scroll down to my first post you can read about the history of our home.
A warm misty evening last summer!


Now how is this for a porch? This beautiful place is a resort in Bedford, Pa. My daughter works for this chain called Benchmark Corporation. My husband and I used to stop in Bedford on our trips to NJ and admire this beautiful place before Benchmark purhased and restored it over the past three years. We plan to spend a few days here later this year.


This is what it looked like before it was restored. My husband and I always stop at places like this, we just loved it here and hoped one day it would be restored. Our wish was answerd.

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed this little tour of our porch! Now I'm going to take the rest of the day to relax with my kitties and puppies, take my lap top out and look at everyone else's porch. I'm sure I will get some wonderful decorating ideas. A home is never done!

43 comments:

Anne Fannie said...

Hi Shirl, thanks for sharing the pictures of your porch. It is just gorgeous! Love how you have it decorated and how you shared the different seasons. Very nice! I also noticed your son's picture. You know, I sleep good at night because of boys like that. May God bless him and keep him safe.
Love, Ann

mommyholly said...

What a gorgeous porch!!! :) My favorite picture is the snowy one.. here in Southern California that is something we do not have, so I am always jealous when I see beautiful pictures in the snowy weather! xo!

Rosemary said...

Wow,
You have a great porch!!!
It looks so inviting. I could sit there all day sipping lemonade.
Your other photos were wonderful too!
Nice to meet you,
Rosemary

Heather said...

Oh my goodness your porch is dreamy!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!
Have a great day!!
-Heather :)

Rue said...

Hi Shirl :)

Your home is absolutely enchanting and your porch looks like something from another era. I'm in love LOL

West Virginia is so beautiful. I lived in VA for a short time, but while going back and forth before moving to Ohio, we would pass through your state all the time and I would just sit there in awe over the gorgeous mountains. I can't wait to read the history of your home!

Have a beautiful day. You've just made mine :)
rue

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Hello Sweet Shirl!

Can you hear me screaming all the way from California?!!!!!!!! Your front porch has brought tears to my eyes! It is just breath taking Shirl! I bet you NEVER want to leave your home and if you do, you are not far from it! You have done a darling job getting it ready for the Front Porch Party! I must say yours is my favorite! Thanks for the inspiration! You are truely a lovely lady to know!

I pray each night for your son and all those keeping us safe!

Hugs,
Maryjane

Jillian's Bella Rosa Antiques said...

Your porch should be featured in a magazine! Fabulous! All the work you put into it...wow.

I just recently heard about the Bedford Springs place...now I have the picture to go with it. Thanks!

I posted pics of our little porch from our last house...but I may be too late to make Rhondi's list.

Pop on over if you get a chance!

Jillian

Unknown said...

Shirl...your porch is justthe best one ever! It's what I would have if I had one...love all the pictures esp that resort. WOW that sure looks like a wonderful place to stay. I just knew your porch would be special...ya didn't disappoint!

Hugs...Lorena

ROSE VINE COTTAGE said...

Your porch and property look like my dream of what I want some day! Thanks for having me. Kelly

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

HI Shirl! So glad the weather finally cooperated with you so you could get some good pics of your gorgeous porch! I knew this was just right up your alley! I've been oohing & aahing over your pics & showing them to my DH, too! Everything is just picture perfect, as I expected it would be.

Love all your little tablescapes, too. Very pretty! Where ever did you get that adorable little hanger to cross-stitch in the center of?

Love you,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

Connie said...

I might just as well shoot myself now; I'll never have a porch that gorgeous, sweetpea!! You got us all beat!!!
Smoochies,
Connie

Secondhandrose said...

Oh Shirl , I love that you have put all these pretty linens on your porch. Is that a tablecloth made of hankies?! Pretty and inviting porch. I'll be right over.
Karen

Elizabethd said...

I did enjoy touring with you. What a lovely rocking chair, I would so like to be there!
Thank you for visiting me in France.

Mya said...

Wow your porch is just perfect. So beautiful. I love the way you set the table. You have such a lovely home. The pictures were great.
-Mya

vickie said...

ahhhhhhh, I could really relax on that porch with the wonderful view you have. A little bit of heaven!

Anonymous said...

Your home, your porch, your lawn, your property - all just beautiful.

It must be like a dream come true for you.

Thanks for sharing.

Theresa @ Take A Sentimental Journey said...

Pretty porch, you lucky girl !

Katie said...

Wow just so romantic and pretty! See, that's the very type porch I see Syllah May sitting on, in a white gauzy flowing dress, sipping lemonade......sigh.....love it Shirl!

Nikki via The Scarlett Rose Garden said...

Lovely porch! Wonderful linens and colors. I really like the snow picture too!
Nikki

Jennifer said...

Mom the porch post looks so beautiful.After the heat we have been having the snow veiw looks so great!!!I can't wait to go to Bedford Resort too!I notice the aqua blue shell lunch plates.I have always loved them.EVERYTHING looks great,looks like a magazine setting!!!Well I'm on my way to work.Love ya,Jen

Unknown said...

Such a beautiful post Shirl! Everything is so cozy and inviting! Love all the pink goodies!

Thank you so much for sharing with us!

Love ya,
Amy

Nancy at DeClutteredCloset said...

Shirl - Your porch is GORGEOUS! It's so inviting and the way you decorated it is wonderful. I loved reading your blog!

I see a familiar birthday card in one of the pix! I have it up on my bulletin board and I look at it every day. The kittens make me laugh at their antics!

Rhondi said...

Hi Shirl
Do you live in heaven? It sure lookslike it. What a beautiful setting you live in. Your poorchis So comfortable and charming. Evrything you have done, allthe wonderful quilts and other coverings onthe chairs and tables are beautiful. I am speechless at it's beauty.
You are a blessd girl to live there. And you have 2 porches...I think you're living in my dream home. I'm sure it's your dream too.
Just beautiful! I'm glad I met you.
Hugs, Rhondi

Miss Rhea said...

You Win !!! lol You have the BESTEST porch EVER !!! :) I LOVE the crinoline lady !! :)

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi Shirl!
I really enjoyed your front porch party! The refreshments were delicious and the company was great! You have such a lovely porch!!
Hugs, Sherry

Irma's Rose Cottage said...

Hi Shirl! Love your porch, everything looks so inviting. Love your picket fence. I too am trying to convince DH to put one up for me. Maybe one day.
Thanks for sharing your photos.

Irma :)

Cathy said...

I absolutely love your porch! It's cozy and gorgeous and one of my favorites of the whole porch parade!

Cathy :)

ostwestwind said...

Thanks for sharing the pictures of your porch, it's nearly the porch of my dreams.

Ulrike from Küchenlatein

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

I could just move in and live on that porch! Plus, it is so roomy and spacious, you might not even notice me there.

Saucy said...

Your porch is beautiful and I am especially taken with the winter picture. I guess it's because I'm Canadian! You've documented it very well, and your tablescapes? Yummmy!

StitchinByTheLake said...

You might think your porch is messy from the rain but I think it's gorgeous! You don't seriously leave those quilts out there do you? I'd be scared to. I'm a quilt fanatic and I'd be tempted to walk away with that one on the rocker! :) I love the summer pictures but I think my favorite is the winter one. How wonderful to be in a cozy warm house and look out on that. Thanks for sharing. Blessings...

Life on the Edge said...

Oh my gosh, could this get any cuter! Love love love it all! So many beautiful fabrics and quilts, tablescapes with gorgeous glass and dishes, picket fence, oh my! You must love spending time out here! Don't you wish you could leave all of that out all the time? Glad you shared!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Oh My! You have the most lovely porch. I enjoyed seeing all of the sitting areas. It was great to see the snow picture too.

I bet your sun porch is going to be fabulous when you do it. I can see it now!
Penny

Calamity Jane's Cottage, Bonnie said...

Hi Shirl, thank you for stopping by and I don't know how I missed your porch. You have a beautiful place and so inviting. I think of the magazine Romantic Homes looking at your pictures. Thank you for sharing.
Have a Blessed Day,
Bonnie

Mary said...

Hello Shirl - I'm a little late for the Porch Party but hoping perhaps everything is still out there looking SO PRETTY - as they say "better late than never" Loved reading about and viewing your beautiful home in the countryside of WV.

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

Oh, how much I enjoyed looking at all the pictures. Your porch is beautiful. The dirt and wind has been blowing every day, leaving my porch in an inch of dust. As soon as I wash it off, it is there the next morning. I will be glad when the wind dies down. So enjoyed visiting, blessings, Kathleen

Lori said...

Shirl, OH MY GOODNESS!!! What a fabulous porch!!! I love everything but you must tell me about the tablecover with the hankies on it. Did you make it??? Please share! Now I love the misty photo and the flowers are over the top! Shirl, hold on to your seat but what I lved the most was the sensational winter photo!! I hope if I ever get out your way it's for a wonderful winter walk, seriously!!!! Lori

Theresa @ Take A Sentimental Journey said...

Hey Shirl, I'm backk-k-k-k-k.LOL
I came back to ask you if you would will me that jadite cakeplate
LOL ! I love cakeplates ! That one is really beautiful .
That pic of your table with the cakeplate and all ,it would make a beautiful header for your blog!

I'm gonna put you in my favorite places to visit so I can remember how to get back here. HUGS

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

Hey, Shirl ~ you've been tagged! Come to my blog for 5 easy questions!

Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

Anonymous said...

Oh I just love your porch and I am drooling over that quilt on the right with all the pastels, its yumnmy!!

Hugs,
LeAnn:)

Donna said...

You have a beautiful porch, Shirl! I would spend every waking moment out there. It's lovely.

Thank you for visiting me and leaving a sweet comment.
Have a wonderful day!
Hugs,
Donna

Celestina Marie said...

Shirl, your porch and surroundings are way way wonderful. My gosh this should be in a magazine. You live in a shabby rose and so chic heaven. Love ever single detail!!
hugs, Celestina
la rea rose

shaybert said...

Oh Shirl,
Thank you for letting me visit your porch! After your explanations of readiness I expected it to look drab like mine, but noooooo, it's gorgeous! Love your home! Blessings, Shay