Sunporch switcheroo...

or...

I can't make up my mind.

but more on that momentarily.

First I want to show you a sweet pillow that my talented and creative friend Judy Clark sent me awhile back. Judy's blog is 20 North Ora and she has an Etsy Shop by the same name. I featured Judy's wonderful Mother's Day Memory Pillows yesterday at The Marketplace. If you haven't seen them you'll want to grab one for your mom or yourself. Each season I tuck in something that reflects the mood or holiday of the season. This month that cute little pocket is filled with vintage French seed labels, and sitting out here in the sunporch.

Don't tell anyone,

but I take out my frustrations on my sunporch decor.

That may sound a little weird, but when I need a change or to freshen things up, this is where I usually head. I've been fantasizing thinking of new sofas for the living room, but that's not a reality at this moment, so it's much easier and less expensive to come out here and change up the quilts.

The sunporch is my playroom.

My homemade vintage seed boxes are here on the baker's rack..

along with my only two pieces of Bluebird China;

Little cups sans saucers.

I found this little oval birdie tin a few years ago,

I think it might be a "See's Candy" promo candy tin.

one side...

then the other.

The weather has been so strange;

80's and sunny one day and snowing the next.

I think we have missed most of Spring and will now head right in to Summer.

I tried a few other quilts on the wicker settee, 

but they didn't stay long.

too much red for May...

maybe later in the season.

Love this Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt from my m-i-l,

but I needed sunglasses.

but in the end they were too bright and summery for now.

so I opted for a feedsack quilt and my "go to" floral and ticking pillows.

There is a floral on the other side of this little quilted throw,

but I changed it our for the little geometric stripe instead.

My three little glass and iron nesting tables,

and my chalkware French Girl lamp.

I always have some Ivy "taking root" in this little English Cottage Teapot.

And this is the coffeetable as it looks this morning with the picnic tin and old tools...

OK, I'm feeling better...

do you have a spot that you wear out changing up?

therapy session now in progress...

I'm joining in for these great weekly parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Tidbits and Tips at Stone Gable

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Blissful Whites at Timewashed
House Party at No Minimalist Here
TTT at Stone Gable
From My Front Porch to Yours
The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage
Jennifer Rizzo

Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life

xoxo,

Christmas on the Sunporch

I've said it before... I get so much of my inspiration from all of you out there! I pinned a few ideas from last year that I wanted to try. One was a tote full of Christmas Kitch. Last year I filled some little drawers on my kitchen counter, so this year a white wooden tote became home to a congregation of Christmas goodies.

I've been using Tartan wool blankets out here on the porch each year since we've lived here. Always love a good ole Christmas-y plaid!

The old mini muffin tin has cranberry tealight candles this season,

and my old green metal tackle box is filled with my stash of paperwhites and another candle.

Another fun trend I'm copying this year

 is a toy truck hauling bottle brush trees.

Sorry, shameless copy catting here.

I found this cutie last January at an antique show.

Perfect red and white.

More plaid Thermoses and lunchbox on the Baker's Rack.

The lunchbox held an Angel Vine plant until last week 

when it turned too cold.

And a trio of little elves have found their way here.

These are the vintage variety,

and they're up to lots of crazy antics.

This one's pretty cute...

this one's sorta creepy.

but I AM digging those great eyelashes.

While we were in St. Louis earlier this month I picked up these

wonderful winterberries at of all places, Schnucks. (grocery store)

and placed them in this old French watering can, 

along with some Holly from our big old bushes out back.

Here's my Santa jingle bell door ringer,

on my old picket gate.

You've seen him before, 

but I smile each time I look at him!

These next few photos were from earlier in the month

before I put together the tote,

but wanted to have pics that showed more out here.

(oh yea, here's the angel vine in the lunchbox)

found the red plaid umbrella at Leola's last year...love it!

And I won this adorable Drummer Boy pillow

 from Dear Lillie earlier this Fall.

Thanks so much Jennifer!

Gotta dress up the birdcage too,

 with some vintage bottle brush trees and a reindeer.

Can you see the patch of furry cat carcass on the lower left chair?

Yep, that's HER chair for viewing birds and squirrels.

 It gets a little nippy out here unless the sun is shining. Miss Wrigley is a Maine Coon, so she's oblivious. Miss Jenkins on the other hand is a shorthair and like to sleep next to the heater in the bathroom...she'd rather stay toasty than bird watch.

Couldn't let Christmas go by without sharing the sunporch.

I think I have 4 or 5 different Christmas Pinterest boards,

run by and check them out if you have a minute.

\
joining in at 
Savvy Southern Style
Stone Gable
A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

Hope you have a great weekend.

Planting Paperwhites

One of my late Fall traditions of the last few years has been planting Paperwhites for the upcoming Holidays. Each year I look forward to their wonderful pristine white blooms filling the darkening days of Fall and Winter.  I've collected quite a few vintage "containers" in the last few years, so part of the fun of planting the bulbs is digging out my stash and deciding which ones to use.

I unbagged my bulbs and have them in an old strawberry flat with boxes that I've whitewashed. I just enjoy looking at them, while they wait their turn to be planted.

I'm going for a Nature themed Christmas this year,

so these will be just the first of that inspiration coming up.

As you can see, my helper is here.

Now if I can just keep her away from them.

I don't want chewed shoots...

A McCoy matte vase, an old chipped sugar bowl, and a new find, which is a French measuring pitcher, are readied for my first planting.

I use pea gravel as a base, then just a little potting mix. Just enough to cover the bottom 1/3 of the bulb. Too much water or soil will cause them to rot. In a day or two I'll sprinkle moss on top, which helps hold in the moisture.

They'll be here on the baker's rack for a while,

so they can have some good light to get started.

If you haven't planted them before I'll encourage you to try it,

the kiddos love them too.

You can hardly mess them up,

and I love to see them grow each day!

Hope you'll run by and check out my 

Paperwhite Pinterest Board too.

And if you haven't stopped by

The Marketplace

then just scroll down to the next post.

More of my Paperwhite Posts Here and  Here

Joining in for these parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Blissful Whites at Timewashed

All Star Block Party at Red Hen Home

Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

House Party at No Minimalist Here

From My Front Porch to Yours

Primp

Stuff and Nonsense

The Charm of Home

Shabby Art Boutique

At the Picket Fence

French Country Cottage

Rooted in Thyme

Craftberry Bush

Jennifer Rizzo

My Romantic Home

xoxo,