Doin' That Front Porch Thang...

<em>With news of the devastation in Oklahoma, I want to say how very sad I am, as we all are, for those who have lost everything. Praying for some relief for everyone affected. </em><br /><br />Things are coming along here. Several days ago I posted ideas for decorating my front porch, which you can read <a href="http://happyhouseandhome.blogspot.com/2013/05/front-porch-decor.html">HERE</a>. <br /><br />I am nowhere near finished, but have been making a start at the porch re-do. It has been somewhat hindered by our new tenants, the bees. Several phone calls and no one seems able to give us a quote on removing said bees. Therefore, I'm trying to garden and decorate, albeit a little jumpy as the bees get too friendly. Dive bombing bees can be disconcerting! So far I haven't been stung, so I carry on. <br /><br />Here are a few things I've been working on: <br /><br />The easiest quick fix I've done so far for the porch has been painting the pots. I've decided to go with black, although I'll probably add in some more colorful pots as the summer goes on. Funny how much difference a quick coat of paint can make.<br /><br />From YUK: <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaysatTUFodKBRhlLbBf-GSggd18X8pV0XqjJU2gGprVBfW8RGeU4tHVGYAXp2rz7M12c8Uc2yiltfgUWukB43TA7_11LwSx1msUZJaCILPtyJ_NVGhh2EEx2M-sVuyymiofiBxYeL92E/s1600/5-21-13+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaysatTUFodKBRhlLbBf-GSggd18X8pV0XqjJU2gGprVBfW8RGeU4tHVGYAXp2rz7M12c8Uc2yiltfgUWukB43TA7_11LwSx1msUZJaCILPtyJ_NVGhh2EEx2M-sVuyymiofiBxYeL92E/s320/5-21-13+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><em></em><br />To NOT TOO SHABBY:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKXCYyd4V438S3I50ZDmDJbaPsllhEH35ydfspDp8IXUZPEOYOZFkyut8ytPEzdqdBn1poey9nNoTxSkq-srY2f98FZ942Gm8ObweWZIu7s7vG1TYGAD7lEmkHqlanIzU-9ceZGfCUgg/s1600/5-21-13+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKXCYyd4V438S3I50ZDmDJbaPsllhEH35ydfspDp8IXUZPEOYOZFkyut8ytPEzdqdBn1poey9nNoTxSkq-srY2f98FZ942Gm8ObweWZIu7s7vG1TYGAD7lEmkHqlanIzU-9ceZGfCUgg/s320/5-21-13+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><em></em><br />(Look how much more the details on the planter show up.) <br /><br />After I dusted the pots, making sure to rub off any chipping paint, it took two coats of black spray paint to give them a good cover.  I've got quite a few more to do, but need to make another trip to Home Depot to replenish my spray paint supply!<br /><br />A few weeks ago I made a wreath for the front door. It looked pretty cute for the beginning of Spring. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img class="CSS_LIGHTBOX_SCALED_IMAGE_IMG" closure_uid_754794670="19" height="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgYOcEj_oSWw1SB35vhpzwLuWyd1FNsn1rT85mAKd6zsk3UB_mhNsXG52rO3sMGMzYXE2QXIPO7HjMY29XsX_JNZUl_98xeR1EnDp6cpjYD74V10YZTD8jT-yOZY6N2Yuv_FjCKiE9lc/s1600/4-26-13+009.JPG" style="height: 592px; width: 394px;" width="1064" /></div><br />But I decided it should be in full bloom by now! Enter the glue gun and some more fake flowers from the dollar store:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQss-leFejR32K5SAPVQp2Vs9v17lkenEJfNsCbzd6y5J4pcvBMlCU3tFcQOgjZdCwmbYSASBKQAb59lNJ9stL2lfipW92ymp2Vm6NseWDT6uZlAXMDhiUkx9qrO6MWkRKpsMOehB0AAA/s1600/5-21-13+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQss-leFejR32K5SAPVQp2Vs9v17lkenEJfNsCbzd6y5J4pcvBMlCU3tFcQOgjZdCwmbYSASBKQAb59lNJ9stL2lfipW92ymp2Vm6NseWDT6uZlAXMDhiUkx9qrO6MWkRKpsMOehB0AAA/s320/5-21-13+022.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />Next up I bought some curtains. I found some sheer panels at Big Lots, which were on sale for $5. I was thinking of something more colorful, but now I'm pleased that I chose a more neutral light brown. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTKkkZHgNsN1fdR6zKRQEDHCzc0JB5sWAfam_M9luMlRx_E9NN4uKCI57FkXI4XFXivOdgmVEolr4JqCCSuRhZ_9sPHqPyWiYjFriHIPvvK6U8ERNgb82Uplyx5AarQKcmaYkESEutZA/s1600/5-21-13+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTKkkZHgNsN1fdR6zKRQEDHCzc0JB5sWAfam_M9luMlRx_E9NN4uKCI57FkXI4XFXivOdgmVEolr4JqCCSuRhZ_9sPHqPyWiYjFriHIPvvK6U8ERNgb82Uplyx5AarQKcmaYkESEutZA/s320/5-21-13+016.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaguv11e3n2RB7yN8NHvRwE8qN70uZtcH-2oYzD9MVdEy4IU6P3k0uKlBx_3i90A4-uzSLdgELy6aTmGw2pYCXsCJsFX8-wPPpUgTBm3D-9V_1LPj66dIN6iWRNV-SCIHb5Ojsk3OhIE/s1600/5-21-13+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaguv11e3n2RB7yN8NHvRwE8qN70uZtcH-2oYzD9MVdEy4IU6P3k0uKlBx_3i90A4-uzSLdgELy6aTmGw2pYCXsCJsFX8-wPPpUgTBm3D-9V_1LPj66dIN6iWRNV-SCIHb5Ojsk3OhIE/s320/5-21-13+018.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-rJnX6eZKEgZ8l38eG8PV1JVwiNS1m5CpQ6Vw0nHZteEz84y3GMul6IDDYIgAXUf5yjbalGlG1ifA3X9mQ1jqEJEFNrdFo7zc2l7qH9f97Pcww3z9-WD974-uA1hYoNam7-9CRNzMAo/s1600/5-21-13+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>I used tension rods to hang the curtains. I'm not too happy with the "brass", so the rods will get a spray with white paint in the near future. I love the way the curtains flutter in the breeze. They really make the porch look cozy. In fact, I took them down to adjust, and when Big A walked out he commented how boring the porch looked without them. They just seem to fit the space. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQss-leFejR32K5SAPVQp2Vs9v17lkenEJfNsCbzd6y5J4pcvBMlCU3tFcQOgjZdCwmbYSASBKQAb59lNJ9stL2lfipW92ymp2Vm6NseWDT6uZlAXMDhiUkx9qrO6MWkRKpsMOehB0AAA/s1600/5-21-13+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDIs0dqw8HM718vqdxCdWnd2QuhZNAP4z1y9sRMv2z6wL8MSV77qG6z6C4-tk7vDVppOA8GN1NvFWuAbFUrjDzucmZxFIl_vH05knDcY2f9IebBgS6rvZyyLIsNW_Px7ySnu9Zt2HyJ0/s1600/5-21-13+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDIs0dqw8HM718vqdxCdWnd2QuhZNAP4z1y9sRMv2z6wL8MSV77qG6z6C4-tk7vDVppOA8GN1NvFWuAbFUrjDzucmZxFIl_vH05knDcY2f9IebBgS6rvZyyLIsNW_Px7ySnu9Zt2HyJ0/s320/5-21-13+025.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br /><br />Next up is painting the rockers. They have a matching little table, which I guinea pigged and painted an "espresso" brown. I wanted to make sure that I didn't prefer brown before I committed to painting the chairs. Now that I've painted the table, I'm certain I want them to be a glossy black as I originally thought. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaysatTUFodKBRhlLbBf-GSggd18X8pV0XqjJU2gGprVBfW8RGeU4tHVGYAXp2rz7M12c8Uc2yiltfgUWukB43TA7_11LwSx1msUZJaCILPtyJ_NVGhh2EEx2M-sVuyymiofiBxYeL92E/s1600/5-21-13+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4IpeFox5CpDJy1u_C6Lhz1lDHkjJJRB57NGGjMrotWM0N1k1JWJAApE9Dx6KthhmfZdHzAoi7cY0zJoIQ9hN7tV8wXUPBcKksLjMou6iu8Pe3hxjcwopEfRwhEepB9COVxPJPKpSwh4/s1600/5-21-13+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4IpeFox5CpDJy1u_C6Lhz1lDHkjJJRB57NGGjMrotWM0N1k1JWJAApE9Dx6KthhmfZdHzAoi7cY0zJoIQ9hN7tV8wXUPBcKksLjMou6iu8Pe3hxjcwopEfRwhEepB9COVxPJPKpSwh4/s320/5-21-13+023.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The brown looks a little too BLAH to me. Don't you think?  <img alt="" class="image pinImage pinme" src="http://media-cache-ec2.pinimg.com/736x/e8/42/cd/e842cd6ebd6afb620b789962273284a8.jpg" style="height: 460px; margin: 0px auto; padding: 40px 0px; width: 360px;" /></div>Now, just to keep it real, let me tell you about a little mishap I had. When I went to take the lid off the spray paint to paint some of the pots, I happened to pop off the little white spray nozzle. This happens once in a while.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZrHRBTpkwGVwraURtaKPmN-DXZ8BSNJel1yyq259HrgQVC_1rWBkSGO2IXDhd9GwnUTcZw6zL_5pxefKULYgepqgRW1mbxd6VyVAGIzPgovufNF9BwOw7NawOtPhCuw769FAJfEQAno/s1600/5-21-13+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZrHRBTpkwGVwraURtaKPmN-DXZ8BSNJel1yyq259HrgQVC_1rWBkSGO2IXDhd9GwnUTcZw6zL_5pxefKULYgepqgRW1mbxd6VyVAGIzPgovufNF9BwOw7NawOtPhCuw769FAJfEQAno/s320/5-21-13+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />And it's an easy fix. But in my infinite wisdom, I tried to push the little white spray thingy back on, and proceeded to spray myself full in the face. (Not so smart. And not so pretty. Spray paint does not double as eye-shadow as it turns out.)<br /><br />With my face painted and my eyes burning, I felt my way (arms out, eyes scrunched closed) up the cellar stairs and down the hall to the bathroom to wash my face. And I thought, <em>"Ooh, that's why they say to wear protective goggles".</em><br /><br />So, regardless of my mishap - the show must go on. I have to paint the chairs, find rugs, finish the pots, and then <em>PLANT</em>. I also plan to paint the front door black, but I need help from Big A on that one. I'm planning on having this done by Memorial Day. Yeah, next week. <br /><br />In the meantime, hopefully, I will manage to get rid of the bees. And keep the air-headedness to a minimum. <br /><br />So what about you? Do you have any outdoor projects going on? 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Doin' That Front Porch Thang...

With news of the devastation in Oklahoma, I want to say how very sad I am, as we all are, for those who have lost everything. Praying for so...

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