Recently, we toured this adorable waterside cottage in Connecticut. Cottages, especially those that are quite old, often have quirky rooms that present design challenges for even the most seasoned decorator. (If you missed this wonderful cottage, you'll find the tour here: Tour a Charming Connecticut Dream Cottage)   You'll occasionally run into tricky situations, especially in bedrooms where … [Read more...]

When I decided to start a blog back in August 2008, my biggest supporter was my sister, Glenda. Being 10 years older, she has always watched out for me...the best big sister ever.   Since our mother (pictured below) was ill for most of my life starting when I was very young, Glenda took on way more than the usual big sister's share of responsibility caring for me as I was growing … [Read more...]

Are you a Pinterest fan? Yep, me too! I've been noticing lately, folks are already pinning ideas for Fall, Halloween and even Christmas! It's never too early to start planning and dreaming, is it? Pin Beautiful Tables With Me! Do you create beautiful table settings OR just love pinning them on Pinterest for future inspiration? I thought it would be fun to create a few group boards where we could pin … [Read more...]

Happy Mother's Day!   I miss Erma. Happy Mother's Day to Mothers everywhere! Source: The Gettysburg Times … [Read more...]

He's here! A beautiful miracle! I won't get to hold him in my arms for a couple of weeks but I'm already in love. Mom, Dad and baby are all doing great!  … [Read more...]

Remember the ice storm we had a couple of weeks ago--you know, the one we had right before we had two earthquakes? Yeah, life's been interesting around here lately.  I kept worrying during the storm that my magnolia would lose its top for the third time. Ice storms are its only nemesis.   It fared much better this time, only lost one small limb. Not bad at all.   My clay … [Read more...]

Remember all those pictures I had stuck on my phone, the ones I couldn't download to share? Among them was a shopping trip I took to Ikea back in December. Ikea is only about 30 minutes away from my home, but I so rarely drive in that direction it feels like it's in another state sometimes. Do you ever shop there? I love checking out the unique pieces they get in. I had never been there around Christmas … [Read more...]

Merry Christmas! Hope you have time to sneak in a nap today! (Painting by Norman Rockwell) … [Read more...]

Today, I'm in here... Up under the eaves... Doing this....   And this... So, hopefully by the end of the day, things will be looking like this. (picture from past year)   And this. (Photo from a previous year.) For a little tutorial sharing how to hang wreaths on exterior windows, go here: How to Hang Wreaths on Exterior Windows   The … [Read more...]

A few months after I added a screened-in porch onto the back of my home, I wanted to soften the hard edges of the porch. I decided the way to do that would be by adding curtains to the windows. Since there were a lot of windows, I needed to find a frugal way to do it. On a whim I decided to try sheers and I found them for just $5 a panel at a big discount store. They have worked out beautifully in … [Read more...]

I'm spending the day outside on the porch, scrubbing down the walls and cleaning off the mildew and yuck caused by months and months of almost constant rain. Boooooorrrrring job. To pass the time, I headed upstairs and grabbed my iPod so I could listen to some of my favorite podcasts while I cleaned.   I noticed in iTunes, the ladies at The Skirted Roundtable (Linda, Joni and Megan) have a … [Read more...]

Welcome to the 260th Tablescape Thursday! As summer winds down and we start planning for fall, I thought I'd share a recap of some of the tables I put together this summer for Tablescape Thursday.   If you one of these table settings and you would like to see it in detail, just click on the title to view. Dining on the Porch for the 4th of July   Tutorial for making these … [Read more...]

Back in May 2012, Nathan with Fish Window Cleaning sent me a can of Fish Foam, their fab window cleaner.  You may remember I tried it on my windows, and loved the results. I didn't think they were that dirty but once I saw how they looked after cleaning, I was pretty impressed! Amazing how windows can look clean but the grime is there dulling the view and blocking the light. I loved how much more light came … [Read more...]

It's Crazy Town here today!  So much going on but I love it.  The painter has been painting--more on that in a sec, the sod guy has been here measuring and the stump removal guy is due any moment. I'm loving all this activity because it means progress! Progress, at last! I'm finally getting some things done I had hoped to get done earlier in the spring before Mr. Max got sick. Keeping busy is good for me … [Read more...]

Just wanted to let you know, Max is gone. Thank you so much for all the well wishes and contributions you made in helping him fight cancer.  In the end, the cancer and his failing heart were too much. I'm devastated and it will take a long time for me to feel close to normal again.  The last few months have been brutal and heart-wrenching. For the last 13+ years, Max was a constant companion, … [Read more...]

I've been kind of in a deep funk all day.  I was so busy on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, getting everything ready for the small dinner party I had Sunday night, I really didn't have time to think about much else.  Over the last few days I've been listening to the news about the horrible tragedy in Connecticut and reading a good bit about it online.  I think the culmination of it all just finally got to … [Read more...]

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway from Canvas Photo Company!  Chosen via a Random Number Generator, the winner is Diane.  I'll be contacting Diane at the email she entered with her comment.    Thanks again to Canvas Photo Company for Sponsoring this wonderful giveaway!   A few months ago my son, Chip, married his beautiful sweetheart, Nancy in a ceremony held inside the historic … [Read more...]

Greetings!  How is your week going?  It's 1:45 AM as I write this.  That may provide a hint as to how my week has gone.   I can't figure out where the days go but they are flying by as I continue "unpacking" and getting things settled at BNOTP's new home.  I've had a table set all week and can't find time to photograph it during daylight hours.   I'm determined to get some pics tomorrow.  I'm looking … [Read more...]

Update:  Winners Announced: Thanks to all who entered the Fish Foam Giveaway.  Using the InLinkz Random Number Generator, it selected the following winners: Congrats to Edith, Doreen and Jeanie A.!  Please send your full name/address to me at betweennapsontheporchatgmaildotcom and I'll forward that on to Fish Foam so they can get your product out to you.   Thanks for Fish Foam for a great … [Read more...]

Recently I took a shopping trip to IKEA in Atlanta and to the Ballard Design Outlet in Alpharetta.  Today, I'm taking you along with me.  These stores are very different.  It's hard to believe IKEA was here for several years before I ever visited.  I had this idea in my head that it was all super modern furniture...far from the truth.  IKEA carries a lot more than just furniture. I can see why folks plan … [Read more...]

Sometimes I think these are the most fun posts.  I've accumulated all these tidbits and ideas to share with you, but somehow I just never found the right day or time to do so.  So here they are, all lumped together.  I dare say, there's something in here for everyone. Before Christmas I found this cute little deer door hanger at Lowes for $9.99.  He ended up out here on the porch. I decided to leave … [Read more...]

Rhoda is having a Top Projects of 2011 Party and I am joining in with a few of the projects I worked on around the old homestead this year.  There were lots of small ones, but I'm just linking to a few of my faves for this party.Bedroom becomes home office/craft room/sewing roomBefore:After: Project (from start to finish) can be viewed HERE.Screened-in Porch goes through a transformation for the 4th of … [Read more...]

Greetings Dear Friends!  How was your day?  I've been working on all kinds of fun things today, including a tablescape for Tablescape Thursday.  One bit of exciting news:  the blue and white pumpkin I submitted in the Country Living Facebook Contest ended up winning the most "Like" votes.  Thanks so much to everyone who took time to vote! Several folks have asked what prize the winner receives.  The … [Read more...]

How was your Friday?  Anything special planned for today?  I had a unusually busy and fun Friday. I spent the morning visiting a local consignment shoppe and took a few pictures to share with you.  On the survey I recently posted, several folks mentioned they would love to see more shopping/thrifting/antiquing trips, so I think you'll enjoy today's post! My morning shopping trip was followed by lunch … [Read more...]

Something Just for Fun: Do you shop or sell on eBay or Etsy? Ever have a fabulous experience that makes you want to leave "feedback" for the Seller or Buyer that's just not your everyday, ordinary feedback? Maybe you'd like to leave something fun to make that awesome seller/buyer smile when they see it? Here's a fun collection of "feedback" that's sure to shake up your feedback-leaving experience. Just … [Read more...]

"Freshly showered and shaved, hair still dripping, Zeus hurried to the fence and puckered up in anticipation of the promised kiss." :-) The cute face of Zeus, along with my silly caption above, won me this fabulous prize below at Designs by Gollum! Isn't it awesome? :-) Zeus belongs to Michael, whose delightful blog is Designs by Gollum. If you've never visited or participated in Foodie Friday, … [Read more...]

Welcome to the 66th Metamorphosis Monday! New Linking Tool: I'm trying something a little different this evening for linking up...it's a Picture Linky. It should be self-explanatory, so I don't think you'll have any problem. Just click on the blue "Add your link" button with the froggy face...you'll see it at the bottom of this post. Please be sure to add your Permalink, not your general blog … [Read more...]

Recently I went shopping on eBay for a silver plated, champagne bucket. I had visions of tablescapes featuring chilling champagne. I saw floral centerpieces, starring a lovely champagne bucket filled to overflowing with big, beautiful flowers. So eBay a-shopping I went! I found this gem (seller's pic) and before long that wonderful e-mail arrived in my mailbox proclaiming, "Congratulations, You won this … [Read more...]

Do you have a question for me? I often have this nagging feeling that I've missed answering a question someone has asked. One day when I was surfing Blogland, I noticed another blogger had a "Question Day"...so to speak. So here's your chance! :-) Do you have a question for me? Would you like to know where I purchased something you have seen on my blog? Are you curious what I do all day that … [Read more...]

Recently, I was talking with Carol...some of you may know her as cedwards55 on RMS. Carol told me about a unique fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness that was about to take place in her area. This event had special significance for Carol and she explained, "October is Breast Cancer awareness month. Fourteen years ago (in October) I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My two sons were 3 and 7 at the time. … [Read more...]

On Monday, after a long, stressful day at work, I pulled into my driveway, hopped out of my car, opened my mailbox to get the mail and...SURPRISE!!! A package! I LOVE packages!!! :-) Look at this adorable box...it even has cute little pansies decorating all the sides! Could this be the package a dear, sweet friend, Diane, recently told me she would be sending my way? Diane, who has her own blog, Four … [Read more...]

Tomorrow...the Reveal. :-)   … [Read more...]

Friendships made on RMS are unique, because often times, we never actually get to meet each other face to face. We share so much in RMS land...the good times (front page) as well as the bad (troll, trolls, trolls). And sometimes bonds are made that in some ways feel stronger than many of the friendships we have right here at home. Then, every once in a while, if you're lucky, you get to meet face to … [Read more...]