Pleasures of the Cabin Porch

Right now we are in the midst of a couple of weekends where we won't be able to escape to the cabin. Luckily, they are all good reasons- family birthday parties and fun celebrations. We have been trying to take advantage of that extra weekend time home at the cottage to get some more projects done- a swingset for the girls, some more landscaping.

So while we are checking things off our 'cottage to- do list", I am also trying to tackle a few projects for the cabin as well, one of them being our porch.

I have two Adirondack rocking chairs just waiting for their cherry red paint.  Here are a few inspirational photos I have found of other cabin porches.  I'd take a cup of coffee on any one of these anyday. They are holding me over until I can get to mine.

Country Living

Jean Allsopp, Whisper Creek Cottage

Better Homes and Gardens

Southern Living

Link Parties

Winter Windowboxes: Stretching the Season's Sparkle

De-decorating is depressing. Every year I dread taking down all of the  "merry and bright" from around the house. I am always looking for ways to extend the holiday season's sparkle and shine well into the New Year. This year I figured out a way to go no further than our little front porch. I left our traditional crimson Christmas bows in their box and purchased some silver mesh wire ribbon. At the craft store I also picked up some inexpensive silver berries to mix in with the pinecones. Collecting the pine cones was a breeze; our neighbor's trees have been dropping them into our garden for months now. I just added a few branches from our Christmas tree being trimmed  and ta-da windowboxes that should be festive enough to leave all winter.

I added to some pinecones to the garland we draped around the porch.

Even the top of the mailbox got the pinecone treatment!

Linking to Melissa's other fabulous winter ideas!