My Front Porch

Even though I probably won't be home for Christmas I wanted to share a little bit of Christmas
with my neighbors.  I started to decorate the day after Thanksgiving and behold, my two neighbors started in to decorate too.  We are in a small neighborhood of about 13 homes but I know only three

                          Still have to add an iceskater or two to this scene, maybe a santa too.

that started to decorate.  I put lights on a cherry tree this year as I like to add a little something extra each year.  I have them on a timer along with the other lights so they go on at 5P.M. and off at 10P.m. even when I am elsewhere.
Now the second photo is my Christmas tree - Easy Peasy this year.
Third photo is my Fireplace - Should have lit the fire though.  Will do that again.

I am also in a swap in a group called "The Front Porch" so I thought it would be a cute idea
to make a photo postcard or a heading on some stationery of their front porch.  I think maybe
this one will be my swap.  If any one has not joined in Swap-bot they are missing out on some
great crafting in every type of crafting etc. and it is a great way to meet other crafters whether
it be your interest in quilting, photography, writing, pen paling or just hashing over things with
someone you probably won't ever meet in person, then again you may.

Stage 2 And final Deck

We had our back top deck redone and just love it as it is now undercover and permanent.
Best time to sit there in the AM with coffee in hand especially now that

the weather has improved from being hot to cooler. Dinner in the evenings fantastic.

DH took down all the wooden rails on the deck and installed all the
white pvc that you see here.  We did have the roof put on by professional
installers.  I think my DH did a fantastic job.  We now have two decks under
cover one above the other and then an extended part of the deck in case
someone (not me) wants to sunbath in the summer.

Birds of a Feather

I haven't been posting too much lately of items in my crafting room I am doing, but

I did take time to do a little photography.

It was exciting to see this Hawk fly down and land in my neighbors tree. She/he didn't stay to long but I did get this snapshot. Can you see it?

My husband saw a lot of red wing birds on our feeders today and as he walked out to photograph them they flew into a tree. We were surprised because there must have been at least 10 and we never saw more than one or two at a time. We did put up a new suet for them and maybe the peanut butter feeder attracked them. At first I thought they were just blackbirds until they spread their wings and we could see the stripped red on them. Bluebirds are building in my birdhouse. Maybe Spring is just around the corner. Oh Please!!

It Is Cold! -

My little boston terrier Kate, loves the sun so she has a habit of sitting in the front doorway when I have the door open to the storm door and the sun shines in. She and her friend, now deceased Miss Kitty, the cat would do that every time I had openned that door.

But a storm door is just that, for storms of coldness and we have started November with a

bang! So Kate has found a warmer place to rest, the couch.

I thought I would share with you Miss Kate bundled up under a blanket that she pulled up over herself on the couch sound asleep. However, naturallly as I got my camera to take her picture, she sensed I was there and looked at me. So here is Miss Kate.

Just Barns -

I have this affinity for barns. I love them and the older and run down they are the better. You would think it brings back memories of my early years; that maybe I was brought up on a farm. No, I was brought up as a City girl. But as I travelled around part of the USA you would see a barn pop up on the landscape. Some were really falling apart, most were still standing regally as if to say "I am still here". You may see some that have been taken care of in their old age with a new roof or paint being gently taken care of.

It sometime reminds me of age. I feel like an old barn too. I stand there also as if to say "I am still here", yet my timbers creak and my siding is worn and I may even pop up on your landscape sometime.

I wanted to share some of these wonderful barns in Tennessee.

Spring has certainly sprung. After a loooong cold winter, Mother Nature decided to grace us in all her glory and beauty. Outside my front windows are proof of that. A Cherry Tree blossoms first in white then in pink and my two forsythia bushes gathered up all their muster and this year profusely showered us with bright yellow blossoms. Happy Spring!

Will summer treat us as well.....

Pictures of my favorite hangout

This is my hammock under the deck where I spend my napping times. I also get a lot of crafty ideas this way as in my writing. Dave put the deck on himself with a hammock for me and a swing for him and dog Katie.