Sharing Shadymont, My Mountain Cottage

Today, it's only 76 degrees here!  Yay!! There is a cool breeze blowing, and it feels like fall has arrived.  What better time to show you the front porch, and the green spot nearby. This is the area to the right of the front door steps.  The plants are about spent, but I'll leave them until later on. The black iron pot below belonged to my mother, and maybe her mother.  I got it out this year so I can enjoy it. These steps go into the mud room and laundry room.  That's a rain chain hanging beside the plants.  My husband hates it, but I love it, so it stays.  It's not in a place where it works, but, I like the look of it.  Greetings from the front porch.  This weathered sign came from Dollar Tree. I love the way it looks! Do you see the little scare crow peeking out of the metal container? The rocker above is mine, and this one is the hubby's.  (see the chippy paint?)  Gives them charm. ...

You may remember the bi-fold door (below) that I painted and waxed and placed in the corner of the dining room.  I had another smaller bi-fold door in the basement that needed a makeover too.   I mixed some gray paint with plaster of paris and water to make some chalk paint.  It has just a hint of gray. I painted the smaller with it, rubbed on some dark wax, stenciled a tree design (using the same stencil I've used on numerous projects), and our street address number on the door, and stood it on the front porch.  I placed it behind this turquoise table and added faux mums to the clay jack-o-lantern. Just an additional bit of fall decor for the porch. I already had all the items, so no money was spent.   ~~~ This arrangement was a gift from my sister-in-law.  It stands between the front door, and the french door entrance to the dining room. I'd love to run up on some new cushions (clearance) for the rockers,...

Whew!  I'm too pooped to pop!!! We had an outdoor workday today.  Hubby pressure washed the front porch, mud room stoop, and the patio outside the basement.  While he did all that, I re-painted our front porch rockers, and a small table to go between the rockers.  I moved some of my plants around to the screened porch.  I had some on the front porch, and some on the screened porch.  Now most of them are on the screened porch.  It will make it easier to water them plus we can see them from the family room.  I also mowed about 2 acres of yard, and threw a flower arrangement together for the front porch.   I re-painted the rockers because I had painted them earlier in the Spring with a flat black paint.  That just didn't look good.  So today, they got a coat of glossy black paint.  So much better!! These steps lead to the mud room.  My verbena wasn't doing well on the front porch, so I will see if it does bett...

There's just something about sitting on the front porch.  After working outside for several hours, it's great to have a spot to sit for a spell and relax, and enjoy nature.  Or at least we think so.  Our porches get lots of use.  The front porch is L-shaped, stretching from the front door, around the corner of the house, and half way down the side where there is always a breeze. We love sitting on the front porch in the evenings, and on the weekends after we finish with our yard work.    My $10 table from consignment.  Spray painted this color last year. Extra chair for visitors. The rockers are waiting for a second coat of paint. They were white, but it's impossible to keep the mildew from getting on them in the winter, so I have put one coat of flat black on, and will next put on a coat of glossy black.  Don't look too closely, you'll see all the places I missed.  The white french door goes into the dining room....