Sunday, May 31, 2009

a living dream

Rhondi is having a porch party. I don't often participate in "blog parties" but could not resist this one. Stop by her blog if you love porches, and want to see more!

I grew up with a back porch, and took it for granted. And my entire adult life I have dreamed of having a back porch again. I love to be outside, but bugs love me too much. So a screened porch would be just great, I thought to myself, year after year.


The Gardener had some serious health scares a couple of years ago, reminding us to be grateful for each and every day we have together. Around that time we were given a big gift, enough to build a porch. I'm not one to spend money easily, but knowing that life is short, we put two and two together and decided it was time to enjoy a porch. 
It took a long time to build it, and we found one thing leading to another, as happens with construction, but eventually it was finished. We found the couch and coffee table on Cr*ig's list, the table and chairs at the Salv*tion Army, the wicker chair at Ha*itat for Humanity, and the bench and rocker have been in the family for years. Talented friend Susanna made me the quilted table runner.

And what a wonderful thing it is for us. It's like having a mini vacation every day. Not a day goes by that I'm not thankful for our screened porch.  Our friends are drawn to it, we eat out on it, we take naps there, we read there, we sit and talk there ... we love our porch and are forever grateful to the dear friend who gave us such a gift.

34 comments:

  1. Hi Dotsie
    I love your porch and having it screened in is so perfect for NC. Thanks for joining the party.
    Hugs, Rhondi

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  2. Your porch is absolutely lovely, but the story behind it even more so. What a wonderful gift and what is better than one that you can use? Thank you for sharing it with us :)

    rue

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  3. Anonymous5:27 PM

    You have a beautiful and enviting porch. I know that you and others enjoy it so much.

    Willow

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  4. I'm so glad that you are participating in Rhondi's Porch Party, and I am so happy that I got to come by to see your lovely porch.

    Your porch is so welcoming and inviting. Thank you for sharing with us what a blessing it is for you, your family and your friends.

    The greens and blues you have used give such a peaceful sense of nature's beauty.

    I'll be having a party on our porch tomorrow, and I hope you will have time to stop by for a visit.

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  5. What a beautiful place. I miss it!

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  6. Anonymous6:14 PM

    Your porch looks so comfy - thank you for having us in for a visit!

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  7. This is a lovely and comforting place to be. Thank you for inviting me to your porch.
    ♥, Susan

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  8. Your porch is lovely! I love that you thrift.....so do I. Please come visit my porch party too.

    I am so happy that Rhondi did this party, it gave me a chance to meet you.
    Penny

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  9. Your porch is simply lovely. I love the story behind it and what a blessful gift you have to enjoy. I love how you have the furniture arranged and the table runner is very special. I can see that you have many happy days here. It was so nice to visit you and I so enjoyed your porch party.
    My porch party is ready to visit when you have a moment.
    Have a wonderful day.
    Blessings, Celestina Marie

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  10. I love your porch. The way the light streams in through the windows,and the fact that it is enclosed. I love that brick wall, which really accents the white wicker.

    Happy Porch Party,

    Karen

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  11. Seeing photos of your porch brings
    memories of how you have hosted book
    club and birthday dinners and bible
    studies OUT on that lovely porch!
    It is quite lovely!

    Bonnie

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  12. Your porch is lovely! It's wonderful to have a screened one (no bugs bothering you). It's great that you found so many things thrifting - I like to do that too.

    Manuela

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  13. Your porch is more than a gathering place, it is a blessing. What a beautiful porch and story!!!

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  14. Anonymous11:03 PM

    You have beautiful porch...I could just lose some time sitting back there ;0)

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  15. I love screened in porches better than just about anything. I, too, grew up with having one. Out here in West Texas, tho, it is too hot in the summer for one without glass and air conditioning...just not the same so we never built one.
    Thanks so much for showing us this adorable porch of yours. My entire house if furnished with thrifted items and I love it.
    Come on over to my porch and have a snack...
    xo bj

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  16. Love your porch... it's so comfortable and cute... the quilt runner, the rocker, the wicker... all so cute!

    Happy Porch Party...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  17. I had NO IDEA you built a screened in porch! It looks awesome! I love it and I'm sure you're enjoying every moment you can out there.

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  18. Oh, I just love your porch. I especially like the green star and the white wicker sofa. I would probably take naps on that. Thanks for inviting. It is a very relaxing space. Enjoy!

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  19. I think you've said it best... a vacation everyday... a porch party is an irresistable thing... glad you joined in and shared your lovely porch with everyone today... just beautiful...

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  20. What a wonderful place to enjoy and just "be".
    Thanks for sharing!

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  22. I am so glad you got your screened porch-it is lovely. We live in ours in summer also.
    Carolyn

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  23. Nice space tucked away from the pesky little flying bugs.

    Enjoyed!
    Candy

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  24. I love your porch! It's the perfect little haven. It is a dream of mine to screen in my little porch. Someday. I truly enjoyed your Porch Party!

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  25. What a wonderful screened porch. That is right at the top of my wish list. It all looks so relaxing. :)Nancy

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  26. I'm so glad you got the porch you alway wanted. You are getting so much enjoyment from it. That white wicker sofa if such a great find. I think white wicker is the perfect porch furniture. Thanks for sharing.

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  27. What a lovely place to sit. Here in Belgium you don't have these kind of porches. I think it is because our country is so much wetter and people don't sit as much outside. I would love to have one of these porches they seem so nice to sit on. Come and visit my (porch)garden party.

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  28. Love the wicker and one day I hope to have a porch but I am enjoying looking at all the posts today. Thanks for sharing.
    Joyce

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  29. I would love to have a screened in porch as well. Yours is lovely, so glad you decided to do it! Your furniture finds are perfect.
    Yawwwwn.. I could certainly take a nap out there too!

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  30. What a great porch and a great story! Glad you took the leap! I have a green star just like yours over my back door!

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  31. It's wonderful! We had a screened in porch when I was growing up in Oklahoma. It is nice in that part of the country to have a screened porch.

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  32. Anonymous1:12 PM

    Your home is so lovely. I am inspired by all the green - and having a sunporch sounds divine! Living in the desert, we do enjoy our patios, but a sun porch would be filled with sand in a short time! Your home is lovely! Hugs, Patti

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  33. You are so lucky to have a screened in porch. We have a screened in gazebo but it is unusable in the winter. I wish I could use it all the time. It looks like you can - lucky you!

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  34. I love your porch. It is exactly what we are hoping to add to our home in a year or two. I'm bookmarking your post for inspiration. Thanks for sharing! ~~Rhonda

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