My Pretty Outdoor Space

I have dreamed of having a screened porch for years......

and just when I've figured out the design I want,

 just when I am ready to take the plunge,

 just when I'm ready to commit..............I put it off.

Then comes life- really big things; weddings, deaths in family,

 college loans, illnesses, daughter moving back from Cali, etc.

Then comes financial things such as getting all new

 whole house windows & entire downstairs hardwood flooring

so this "dream porch" still waits to be created!

 I/we will know when the time is right to build,
 but it isn't quite right now.

Years ago my wonderful hubs wanted me  to have shade
 while I was waffling deciding what to have built.

He also wanted me to be quite SURE about having a porch,

 so he and a friend built me a (was supposed to be temporary)

rough/rustic simple covered/roofed porch area
 over our professionally laid paver patio.

It is well built and has a high slanted roof with shingles.

It's withstood many really nasty wind storms, too!

Around here it is lovingly referred to as The Zen Room,

 as I have mentioned it often in my summertime posts.

Dang, just realized that I didn't catch my hanging candeliere
 in any of these photos.
Oh well, perhaps another time.

Little did we realize how MUCH  I would love
 and use this special "just for  me" space. 

 It's girlie and cottage-y and pretty and feminine

 and is my favorite place for coffee in the am

 and tea in the afternoon.

This space is especially nice in the evening
with lots of candles burning brightly.

I ♥ hanging lanterns in here!

I use those plastic flicker votive candles
because wax melts in the heat of the summer.

I bring out real ones in the cooler evenings.

I use simple & breezy white sheers that help

 temper the light in the heat of the day.

I occassionally hang hand washables from the chandy here

 or sometimes when it is really windy I use my clothespins

 and pin the laundry to a line that's hidden under the roof line. 

I have a somewhat green thumb & often re-pot plants out here.

No, I didn't "stage" my potting table and make it purdy-

there she is in all her functional glory!

(Just keepin' it real, folks.)


What she really needs is a simple drop cloth ruffled skirt

 or perhaps even better, some cabinet doors for it,

 to hide the yucky blecky bits.

But I DO use this table as intended....and....

But it's also nice when it's all cleaned up
 and used it as a buffet table
when we dine/entertain outdoors.

(It makes an awesome teatime service table!)

In the above pic you can see my vintage folding chairs

 tucked way back next to the house....

along with our tall rusty candle lamp and wind chimes. 

Every item in this picture was found by thrifting
 except for the flowers from the garden
 and my purple stained glass candle holder.

(That was a gift from my favorite Auntie in the early 1980s.)

~~~~~~*~~~~~~~

 Here's a closer look of that awesome candle holder.

 I know I blogged about it last year.

 Sorry, but I probably will every summer

 when I post about my Zen room.

 There really is Zen-like peace
 here in this space.

We are blessed to be able to witness nature's glory here.

All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voice and with us sing:
 Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou burning sun with golden beam,
thou silver moon with softer gleam,
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
                                  
 ~St. Francis of Assisi




As always, thank you for your visit!

♥

~Michele

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