Porch Party: Before and After pics

 

 

Welcome to Rhondi’s Porch Party! Please visit her at Rose Colored Glasses for a list of participants. Rhondi did this last year, and it was the second blogging event I participated in.  Thanks Rhondi for doing this again, so that we can all see the great looking porches of our blogging friends-both old and new.

When we bought our home in 2003, it had this hideous red deck on the back. We loved lots of things about the home-mostly the location-but this red deck was not one of them! It was my dream from the beginning to add a screened porch to the back of the house. It didn’t take us too long…we did it the summer of 2005, and were in the middle of construction when Katrina came along. The porch was a great help then since the roof was on and we were able to spend lots of time there since our power was off for 6 days. It was definitely the coolest spot in the house.

This is the outside of the house today with the porch added. The porch includes 2 sets of French Doors, but we screened about 3/4 of the porch and left one area open.

 This picture shows the area that was not screened in. We use this area for grilling out.

An interior view…..

 Another view that shows the wicker. The wicker was originally white or tan, and was bought at different points in time from garage sales, flea markets, etc and spray painted the same green color. The cushions were covered from tablecloths I bought on sale  for $1.00 each at Walmart. I didn’t sew them…took the lazy way and pinned the fabric to the back of the cushions. LOL

 Something I enjoy doing is picking up accessories at thrift stores and garage sales for my porch like this little rabbit in a planter.

 Pillows from the thrift store………………

A cute little ladybug house-found at a flea market.

And this Southern Living at Home basket to hold house plants. One of my favorite spots is the porch. I love to admire the flowers through the comfort of the porch. These purple coneflowers are really putting on a show right now!

A hydrangea planted next to the open part.

A view looking into the woods. I got the tea cup bird feeders ‘free’ at an estate sale…bought enough other stuff, so they were just thrown in! 

I hope you enjoyed visiting my porch! It is one of my favorite spots at my house.

Thanks for stopping by…be sure and visit the other porches on Rhondi’s site!

Diane

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PINK SATURDAY!

Today is the first birthday of Pink Saturday, hosted by Beverly of How Sweet the Sound. Please visit Beverly to see other pink posts. This should be a fun week with lots of birthday wishes for Pink Saturday!

And to celebrate my year of pink Saturdays, I’m showing the bug catcher that I used for my first Pink Saturday post which would be a year next week. I think I joined in on the second week, and have posted almost every week since.

Thank you Beverly for starting Pink Saturday, and for sticking with it for a whole year!

Hope you have a great day,

Diane

2nd Time Around: Faux plant and urn

Welcome to 2nd Time Around Tuesday. Here’s where you can show off your second hand treasures that you have gotten from garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, thrift stores, etc. Please create a post and link the post to Mr. Linky below.

This faux arrangement was bought a while back at a garage sale near my house. I was driving home from the grocery store, and just happened to ride in the neighborhood to locate the house for the next day, and the young couple was working on getting everything out. They invited us to stop and see if we wanted anything, so we got first pick on their stuff. I rarely ever do that, but am glad I did this time!

This is on top of my piano in the foyer (which had a two story ceiling). I love the rustic urn container too!

Thanks for stopping by, and please consider doing a post to link.

Have a great day,

Diane

Mr. Linky is different today...click to add link. I'm working on getting it fixed. Sorry!

Please click here to display and enter links for this post.

Pink Gardening Inspiration

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound is hosting Pink Saturday. Please drop by her blog for lots of pink inspiration.

It is the time of year when so many of us love to garden. Here are some photos with a little ‘pink’ to get you inspired.

Don’t you love this garden kit? I have pink tools, but would love to have this whole kit!

I used to think flamingos were a little ‘trashy’ in the garden…but not anymore!

I love these peonies in the painting by Monet. I’m not sure they grow in our area…I haven’t noticed them in the nurseries around here.

Hope everyone has a very happy and pink Saturday!

Antiques in New York City

I seem to have a writers block lately…can’t thing of what to blog about! So, I looked into one of my folders and realized I have not shown all the pictures I took at the antique shops in Brooklyn. So…here are some shots I took of things that caught my eye. Since the invention of digital cameras, I take pictures of any and everything. Sometimes later I wonder why something caught my eye!

I love these oak file cabinets!

A beautiful hall tree…I still haven’t bought one! Seems like all I do is photograph them. LOL

Oil paintings and art work…..

I’m not sure why I took this shot…I think it was the top of this little table that I liked.

Stained glass……….

An oak mirror and plant stand….

Lots of pretty silver accessories…..

One of the shops….In Days of Old….

And the Incurable Collector…..

And finally…I really adored this bird cage!

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed ‘antiquing in Brooklyn with me today!

Did you see anything that caught your eye? Tell me about it!

2nd Time Around: Bonjour Sign

 

Welcome to 2nd Time Around on Tuesday. This is where you can show off your garage sale, thrift store, flea market, antique etc. finds! Just create a post and link to Mr. Linky below.

When we first bought our house in 2003, I wanted to do one of the baths in a Paris theme which was very popular at that time. I found the wallpaper from Ballard designs and some accessories from TJ Maxx. Recently I found this framed sign at Moonbeam Vintage-a local resale shop that I recently discovered from my daughter. You can see a close up in the second picture.

It is always fun to have a new resale shop to explore…I will be going back to Moonbeam Vintage soon to see if any more treasures can be found. My daughter, from Sassy Southern Mom,  bought a really cute little table for her back porch the first time she shopped there. Click here to see it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Unidentified Blue Plant

Smiling Sally is hosting Blue Monday. Please join her for lots of Blue Monday posts-you will meet some very nice friendly bloggers! Thanks Sally for hosting this event!

A couple of Saturdays ago, many of you helped me identify a pink plant whose name I had forgotten that I planted last year. The plant was yarrow and I really appreciate those of you who named it for me. I won’t forget this time!

Well-I have another one…this bluish purple plant is one that I bought on clearance from Lowes. I usually save the tags, but have hidden them from myself! So, if you can help me identify this plant, I would appreciate it!

And, I wanted to share this one too…it is Victoria Blue Salvia. I planted it last year, and it has come back this spring and looks great! I highly recommend this plant if you are shopping for perennials!

Thanks for stopping by, and hope you have a great Blue Monday! Please join me tomorrow for 2nd Time Around Tuesday!

Diane

Changes in teaching Math

I just got this from a friend…and thought I would share it with my blogging friends:

Fifty Years of Math 1957 - 2007 (in the USA )

Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King

for $1.58. The counter girl took my $2 and I was

digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from

my pocket and gave it to her. She stood there,

holding the nickel and 3 pennies, while looking

at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort

and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters, but

she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to

explain the transaction to her, she stood there and

cried. Why do I tell you this? Because of the evolution

in teaching math since the 1950s:

1. Teaching Math In 1950s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.

His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.

What is his profit ?

2. Teaching Math In 1960s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.

His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80.

What is his profit?

3. Teaching Math In 1970s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.

His cost of production is $80.

Did he make a profit?

4. Teaching Math In 1980s

A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100.

His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20.

Your assignment: Underline the number 20.

5.. Teaching Math In 1990s

A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is

selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the

habitat of animals or the preservation of our

woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of

$20. What do you think of this way of making a

living? Topic for class participation after answering

the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as

the logger cut down their homes? (There are no

wrong answers, and if you feel like crying, it's ok. )

6. Teaching Math In 2009

Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara

$100. El costo de la producciones es $80.

Cuanto dinero ha hecho.

Pink Saturday: Guess what this is?

Beverly of How Sweet the Sound is hosting Pink Saturday! Please visit her for lots of friendly bloggers and more PINK!

Can you guess what this is? Give up?????

Click here for a hint.

Now you know…fishing tackle! I’m not a fisherman, but my son in law is! I wonder what he would think of this pink bait? And more importantly…wonder what the fish think?

Pink makes everything prettier doesn’t it????

Hope you have a wonderful Pink Saturday!

Thanks for coming by,

Diane

Literal Caking Decorating

This pictures show how easy miscommunication can happen when placing an order for a cake!

And this one needs an explanation:

This story clearly illustrates the problem with ordering over the phone:
[answering phone] "Cakey Cake Bakery, Jill speaking! How can I help you?"
"Hi, I need to order a cake for my boss. We have a photo of him playing golf that we'd like to put on it, though - can you do that?"
"Of course! Just bring the photo in on a USB drive and we'll print it out here."
"Great, I'll bring it by this afternoon."
Later...
"Hey, Jill, what am I putting on this cake?"
"Oh, check the counter; I left the jump drive out for you there."
[calling from the back room] "Really? This is what they want on the cake?"
"Yeah, the customer just brought it in."
"Okey dokey!"

Hope these made you smile!

Have a great day,

Diane

My Mother’s Day Pot

Susan from A Southern Daydreamer is hosting Outdoor Wednesday. Please visit her for a list of bloggers participating in this weekly event.

This picture is a pot at the end of our front sidewalk that my daughter gave me for Mother’s Day. It has been planted with alyssum, Million Bells and profusion zinnias. I love the little wire trellis with the little bird perched on top. I usually plant my own pots, but it sure is nice to have one already done for you and filled in like this one!

This is the first time I’ve seen the profusion zinnias this color of yellow. I hope they do as well as the orange and pink ones I’ve had before.

Thanks for stopping by today, and hope you have a great day!

Diane

2nd Time Around: Free garland for the porch

Welcome to 2nd Time Around! Here’s where you can share your thrifty second hand treasures by creating a post and linking to Mr. Linky. Last week we had some issues with Mr. Linky…he was in and out all day. Hope he cooperates a little better this week.

These three pictures are some garland that I got at my daughter’s most recent garage sale FREE! Vikki from Magnolia Memories brought some stuff to Kelli’s garage sale including this green beaded garland. Kelli noticed it and suggested I get it for my porch. So, Vikki just gave it to me!

I love the way it dressed up this table on the porch and sparkles in the sunlight. This picture was made in the early evening with the flash.

Sometimes it is the most simple things that bring the most pleasure. Don’t you agree?

Thanks for stopping by!

Got computer blues??? Try the AVG free virus program!

My computer has been sick lately causing me to feel a little blue and not enjoy blogging as much. All of the programs were running really slow, and it was taking all the fun out of blogging and everything else because I was so frustrated. Somehow I had contracted a virus, and the McAfee that comes with Comcast didn’t have the fix for it!

I tried searching the internet and tried all the steps outlined on different sites for repairing a slow computer. Someone told me about the AVG free virus program. I downloaded it and uninstalled the McAfee, and within a few hours the program had identified a whole host of ‘threats, viruses, and infections’ that had taken over my computer! And the AVG found threats and infections for three days straight before the computer was cleaned up!

I can’t say enough good things about this program….I would have gladly paid for it since it found stuff that the McAfee had overlooked and let in!

Then, I had my friend’s son order some more memory and now I have double the RAM that I had before. This has made the computer so much faster! Someone explained it to me like this: The hard drive is like your file cabinets with all of your work stored in folders, but the RAM is like the surface you spread out on to work. The larger the surface, the ‘faster’ you can find things and get your work done! This put it in terms that made sense to me!

So if you want to try AVG, click here. Be sure to uninstall your other virus software first. Of course if you aren’t having problems, I think I’d let well enough alone!

For more Blue Monday posts visit Smiling Sally. Thanks Sally for hosting this event!

Have a great Monday!

Diane