M Day

 I know Memorial Day is more than nice weather, BBQs and fun so I want to start off with saying that I appreciate all the people that defend our country and the ones that have given their lives in that pursuit. 

Today was a lovely day.   I usually attend a parade but it wasn't in the cards this year.  Instead I spent the morning drinking a big coffee and getting some of my projects done.  I was wildly productive.  I adore mornings spent organizing and doing stuff at home.  I'm finding with the close of the last chapter of my life, I actually want to be at home, in my own space.  It's so nice to concentrate my own world again. 

Anyway, I have been going to yard sales with some friends on Saturday mornings and I pretty much use my back porch as a storage area until I do the projects that I bought stuff for.   BUT, I couldn't take it.  The entrance to my house is through this back porch and it was so awful looking.  It really started to look like an episode of hoarders. 



Before

After

 I actually have a few before/after posts to do just on this alone but I wanted to give you an overview of what the back porch looks like now.  I wanted to add a rocking chair so I could actually sit out there on a rainy day and read. ( Note the screen hanging on the wall.  That will be a later post because I have to finish my vision for that at some point.)  I also need to paint the table to coordinate.  The best part of this is that everything for this was under $20 thanks to yard sales last summer and this.  I can't wait to finish up but it's WAY better than before.

My favorite part of this "vignette" is the crate.  I added  a coat of spray paint so that it looks a little weathered.  I'm going to add some different plants to it but for now I put the flowers from the graduation ceremony on there (and added the flag in honor of today).  I think some green plants will look great on this. 

 After I finished a few other projects (stay tuned), I went out to our campus lake for the afternoon with Jill, Gillian and Cedar.  It was so hot but wonderful.  I don't swim in this lake (too much stuff floating in it for my taste) but I like being near the water.  Cedar had a great time swimming though. 

 We then headed over to a different lake for a BBQ with Jill's parents.  They house sit for people that live out of state so they are there often.  It's a really lovely place.  The weather was outstanding and the view was so relaxing. 

 Here is the house (with Jill and Gillian) It's so cute.  I wish I could live here.

 Here the ladies are by the hot tub.

 We stayed until it was dark and headed home (it's only 10 minutes away).  It turned out to be a really great, relaxing day.  I feel more like myself than I have in months, thankfully. 

I hope that you all had a great weekend!