Granny Porch

 My friend was here for our Memorial Day picnic and said "I love your "Granny Porch!.""  I didn't even know it was a Granny Porch, but I like it.  To begin this creation, a bat who I named Barry kept roosting up in the peak of this porch and although I think bats are very charming and useful, I didn't like him looking at me every time I came and went.  Finally I made a muslin false ceiling and strung some twinkle lights.  That seemed to solve the problem with Barry.

This folk art painting of the cat and bird has been hanging indoors for a few years.  An outdoor spot seemed appropriate.  Then one thing led to another.  I found these wonderful rag rugs at a tag sale.... they are made of recycled denim ~ perfect for the porch.  The little half moon table seemed to fit. I added a vintage crocheted doily, a fairy lamp and a bouquet of lilacs. Pull up a comfy wicker chair and, voila! ~ a Granny Porch!

I found this painting at an arts and crafts fair ten summers ago.  The artist explained her inspiration.  She was watching "Animal Planet" which featured this story of an injured wild bird and a sympathetic family cat.  The cat kept an eye on the bird but never attempted to catch it.  Gradually the bird became well enough to fly away.  The bird and cat had become friends.  The bird returned daily for the rest of the summer to visit the cat.

We host the neighborhood Memorial Day picnic each year.  Potluck, of course.  Such wonderful salads and casseroles and desserts arrive with no assignments, no planning.  It always works out so well.  We have been having these picnics for at least 35 yrs. since we all moved here and had our children.  The group has grown considerably and most of us are now grandparents.  This year we had nine grandchildren present between the ages of 1 and 10.  Great fun!  Next picnic will be July 4th at another neighbor's home followed by a Labor Day picnic to close out the summer.

A Successful Treasure Hunt

 Yard sales and tag sales are underway in earnest here.  Thought you'd like to see some of what I found today.  Only the louvered shutters were in my treasure stash before.  Notice the cute little
spigot on the galvanized water can.  Love the chippy metal tool box.  And a Camel cigarette thermometer advertising sign!....  It's pretty rusty, but still a great find.  The vintage rose-covered hand-hooked wool rug is lovely.

Along a quiet country road I spotted some blooming "jack-in-the-pulpit."  These are getting harder and harder to find.  They prefer to live in undisturbed deciduous forests.  I consider this a treasure, too.

Changeable Weather!

For the past two weeks we had unseasonably warm weather nearing 80* each day!

It was heavenly.  Cherry blossoms and trillium!

With the help of one of my daughter's starving artist friends, I raked the entire yard from road to beach and then cast 25# of grass seed where it was appropriate.

Mother's day weekend it snowed for two days.  The minor snow accumulation wasn't a problem except for our moods.  Mother's Day picnics all had to be moved indoors.

Here's my oldest granddaughter having a tea party with 

Sadie, our corgi.... underneath the dining table.

All in all, it was a lovely Mother's Day here and I hope it was for you as well.