Facelift: Summer on the front porch

Well, we have been plugging away at our 10 Things: Spring + Summer Projects. The list is slowly dwindling!

Here’s a wrap-up so far of how things are going:

We failed, failed, failed miserably at planting a small vegetable garden. It turns out it takes more than just daydreaming to make it happen! Oh well, we have grand plans for next summer. Such as, actually planting vegetables. 

Our front porch has received a small dainty facelift with room to improve next year. All the closets have been reorganized. The garage’s workbench and shelving are currently in the works, and as the garage is Rust’s domain I am not messing with it! Trees have been planted and watered almost daily. Our living room is, for the most part, complete. And that leaves the bathroom mirrors to be framed (which is most likely NOT going to happen anytime soon!) and an indoor terrarium. While I think I’ve changed my mind about any indoor moss terrariums, I do have a project I want to do this weekend that involves succulents!

Rust and I love front porches! In fact, it was almost a non-negotiable when we were house-hunting. We knew we could live without one, but we also knew we would put one to good use. And we certainly have with ours! If the heat isn’t unbearable, we are hanging out there almost every night.

Here is our front porch this summer:

{white rocking chairs, hanging ferns, flower carpet roses–you should see the blooms on them right now!!}

Even a bird couple (not a couple of birds… they are a pair and always seem to be together!) has taken a liking to our front porch.

Though I know our front porch doesn’t seem like anything major has been done to it, we are nonetheless happy with it. I mean, this time last year there were a few scraggly bushes and camping chairs on the front porch! So this is considered a major improvement to us.

And, we are finding that making a house a home can be addicting. We already have some great ideas for next summer… add a stone border/edge around the front flower bed, decorate with potted geraniums, hang a living wreath or one of these beautiful wreaths on or beside the door, a trellis (to the right of the front porch) with a climbing hydrangea vine, and on the other side of the porch, we want to plant annabelle hydrangea bushes. (Okay, I am already looking forward to next summer even though this one’s not even over!)

So while I’ll keep daydreaming about all the projects that can keep me busy in 2010, I will also make sure I take time to enjoy the summer evenings on our porch…