Spring Cleaning the Front Porch

One of my favorite things to do come Spring is clean the front porch! Somehow it really makes it feel like the warm weather is back. Mom and I started in on the porch bright and early Saturday morning. We weren't sure how the weather was going to turn out as we had planned on starting our cleaning on Friday, but there was a stiff North breeze.

 It always amazes us how dirty it gets! Floors, windows, walls and furniture all get washed down. The cushion covers also get taken off and put through the wash.

And any miscellaneous flotsam and jetsam that has accumulated over the winter gets put somewhere else. Including the salt bucket and shovels!

You can see I have already put out my pinwheels!

We also drag the rug on the porch and the rug in the entry to the backyard and give them a good scrubbing. We always marvel at these Waterhog rugs. They have to be going on 15 years and they still look good! They are so good at keeping all the snow and dirt in check. And nothing sticks to them! Muddy boots, plaster dust, dog throw up, greasy car parts; it has all come up. After a good wash, we hang them over the rocking chairs to dry in the sun.

Saturday turned out to be a beautiful day! 65 degrees and so sunny! So we decided the floor needed a bit of sprucing this year. I happened to have a pint of Sherman William's floor paint on hand and off I went!

It always feels so fresh after a good clean! And a faint aroma of new paint helps too!

These little lanterns we found at the dollar store. They have battery operated tea lights in the bottoms. We can't wait to try them out!

 I never seem to know what to do with this side of the porch. This is the side that chronically get piled with odds and ends. It is getting better though! The bench has helped! I would like to get another little table to use as a plant stand.  

Last year I wasn't sure if I like the green, but as you can see, it is still green! I love the new pillows for it. I think it compliments the green very nicely, yet ties it to the colors on the other side of the porch.

How could I resist houses!?!

Have I ever showed you my doorbell? It doesn't work, but I couldn't take it out. It's so cute!

April Snow

Did everyone survive the April snow? I am so thankful our snow only lasted a few hours on the ground and then it melted. It sure was crazy when it was snowing though. More ice balls then snow flakes!

I also put another mitten pattern on Ravelry. Which I thought was perfect timing! These mittens are a basic fingering weight mitten, which I happen to be wearing in the photo above! They are our favorite for the in-between weather. And because they aren't too bulky, perfect for keeping in jacket pockets for just-in-case. You can find the pattern HERE for free!

 The daffodils and tulips didn't even notice the snow, they are growing like crazy! Actually, this photo was taken a couple of weeks ago and they are huge now! We have four buds about to open!

Since this post is full of Spring randomness, I thought a Kerri photo would be nice to include. She loves the Spring!

I also put a cowl pattern up on Raverly! This was such a fun make! It is the Inside Out Upside Down Cowl. Anyway you wear it, it is pretty! I love the Woolstock yarn I used, so fluffy and wooly.

Isn't this the prettiest cereal bowl? I found two of these at a thrift store recently. The are Fire King milk glass. I had no idea what I was going to use them for when I bought them, but they were too pretty to pass up!

Project Update: Not much left on the to-list! & Before and After

I can't believe there are less than ten items on the to-do list!! The end is in sight! Anyway, I thought it was time to share some before and after pictures. The upstairs bedrooms and bath are completely done, so we will start there!

I don't have a whole lot of before pictures of the back bedroom (a.k.a. the purple bedroom.) And honestly it wasn't that scary to begin with. It just needed a lot of paint!

No more purple walls and no more weird glue on the floor!

This picture captures the room the best. The door to the right opens onto a very small balcony. It is not my favorite. I think originally there was a window there and they must of put the door in when there was an enclosed porch below. Now there is just a deck.

I love these hooks! There are in all the closets and are original. Simple and perfect.

This is the front bedroom before. No closet doors and the floors were pretty rough. Aren't you glad I got rid of those yellowing switch and outlet covers?

I had almost forgotten about the awnings! So much brighter without them!

 So much brighter! And the floor came out quite good, considering all the gauges in them. This room has two closets, one on either side.

 This closet is quite deep, a good amount of storage here!

This is the other closet, a cute little square! But still a nice size.

And last is the middle bedroom. Another awning taken down, more glue under the carpet and a closet door restored to it's right place.

The middle bedroom has the largest closet, it is practically a mini bedroom!

I will be back later with more before and after photos! Now to go get those last to-do list things done!