September 30th Really?

September oh, September! Where are you? You've come and gone in a flash. My head is spinning you've gone so quickly. I just can't keep up!

xo rachel

I Didn't Mind

Thank you for your sweet comments about progress here at "A Romantic Porch". Remember a couple of blog postings ago when I told you about a summer thunder shower that blew over with great fury? I'd just finished painting a small section of the dark shingled area up high. The rain washed part of the wet paint away. I sat on the back porch while the rain pelted to the ground and savored watching the rain drops bounce as they landed. Our little girl ran around with the umbrella laughing and twirling. Our son went to the street and pulled leaves from the metal grate that was restricting a large volume of water from gushing into the city storm drain.
Soon the rain was gone, the sun appeared and then slowly in the eastern sky this beautiful miraculous bow arched its' way across the horizon. In fact there were 2 rainbows that day, but for some reason our son only got this photo of one on his cell phone camera. We stood in the back yard and watched in amazement as their colors slowly painted the sky and then as they reached peak brilliance, they lingered for probably half and hour as we enjoyed them.
So the next evening I repainted the small section of wood that had the paint washed away. But I didn't mind...not one little bit.
Who would complain after witnessing such brilliance after a thunderous rain shower?
It was a great reminder to keep watching for small joys and blessings. Sometimes the reminders are written across the sky.
xo rachel

Here It Is!

It is still raining. See the rain dripping off my umbrella?
But I took this photo to show you.
When I was going through all of my house photos, I realized that I did not have a single photo of the front of our house, except this one that I took last year after we took off a layer of cement siding and painted the original siding. This is the reason my blog is called "A Romantic Porch" and I love to feature other porches. Some day we hope to have our own "romantic porch" restored to the front of our home. Years and years ago, probably 70 or so, our home was converted into an upstairs and downstairs apartment, and the porch was ripped off...gasp!

Mr. Romantic Porch spent his birthday money on trim boards for our house. They were torn off when the "modern cement siding" was put on! He could have paid bills or bought himself a new pair of jeans, but he's sweet like that, so he just bought wood! And he bought himself several hours of hard work. smile sigh

This is where a door for the apartment was. The hole obviously was quickly repaired before the modern siding went on.

Before the door was put in for the apartment, a beveled window like you see on our neighbor's wall was taken out. I hope we can find a window to put back in our wall, sometime.

But for now, the wall is all fixed nice and smooth. I painted right along behind them as quickly as they could get the wood up. Yes, we worked as late as we could, Saturday and Labor Day and a few other evenings since then.

He found the wires for both doorbells, downstairs and upstairs. Our downstairs doorbell works.

Looks like they were walking on the wall up there doesn't it?

So that's it...3 sections done. The side, front, and right side that wraps around to the chimney. I didn't take a photo of that. We don't have safe ladders or scaffolding to do the top part yet, so we will work on another section of the bottom...um, I guess when we have more birthday money! And someday, there will be "A Romantic Porch" right here on our house.

Have a great day!

xo rachel

You Can Almost See

On Tuesday evening it rained so hard it washed the fresh paint away. Uugh!
I love to sit on the back porch with the candles lit while a summer thunderstorm rolls overhead.
On Wednesday, neighbors periodically came by to look and talk and eventually darkness set in before I had the final photo.

And so I will ask you to wait just one more day. I'm sure the suspense is killing you...or not!

xo rachel

Just A Hint

Mr. Romantic Porch had a birthday a few days ago. He received some money for his birthday. I will show what he spent it on in a day or so. I just have to take one more photo...when it stops raining! ;)

But we need rain AND it's supposed to rain for 3 days. However it has been raining in short bursts, so there's still hope!

I'm really not teasing you. OR am I?

xo rachel

Contented As A Cow

I climbed the fence, tiptoed past piles of cow plops, sloshed though a muddy little creek, walked up a tiny hill along a path cut by the hooves of the cattle. Mr. RP, a land surveyor, knew that there was an iron pipe nestled up against a fence post to which he needed to shoot a distance. Our instrument is extremely sensitive and though I could stand by it and push the buttons to measure distances and turn angles, what if something scrambled or messed up the accuracy of the numbers, with Mr. RP way over there by the fence post? The survey when completed would be incorrect. So I'd rather climb, tiptoe, slosh or walk...whatever the situation requires.

As I stood there with the prism pole exactly where he told me I'd find the iron pipe, I looked at the cows. They were so contentedly swishing their tails and chewing their cud. I chuckled and through the walkie talkie could not resist making this completely ungrounded comment, "These cows over here think I'm cute! He said, "How do you know? Are they mooing at you?" "No" I replied, "they are swishing their tails and batting their eyelashes at me!" Oh my have you ever seen a cow's eyelashes? They must be at least

2 inches long!

Old Testament Psalm (NIV) chapter 50 verses 7 - 10: Hear, O my people,...I am God, your God. I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.

Have a restful day as you enjoy HIS creation.

xo rachel

Fragile Sparkles

I couldn't resist showing you this. I was completely amazed to see tiny drops of dew clinging to the soft and fragile petals of a dandelion puff. Our little girl calls them wish berries.
We were out in the absolute middle of nowhere working on a boundary survey. The dew was "soakingly" (I know that's probably not a word, but it works here)heavy that morning. I wish my camera could have captured the majestic beauty I saw.

I knew you'd love to see this! Does dew amaze you too?

xo rachel

Fall Cleaning Time

It's time to do some rearranging! How 'bout you? Has the "fall cleaning bug bitten" you too?

xo rachel

The Old Photo

When we purchased our old home, the previous owners gave us a black and white photo of it taken soon after our home was built.

The little oval photo at the top of my blog is our home cropped out of that larger photo.

I've used a flashlight and a magnifying glass and seen all kinds of details in the trim that do not show when you are looking at the photo with the naked eye...so to speak.

In the New Testament chapter 13 verse 12 of First Corinthians (NIV) states:

"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know or see in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."

I don't see the full scope of God's plan, but one day I will. I won't have to use a magnifying glass or flashlight either! That is so totally awesome!

Have a restful day.

xo rachel

A Lighthearted Thought

I've heard people say the phrase "exact same". Have you?

As in, "I had the exact same thought." Or, "My house has the exact same floor plan."

Ev'.ry. bo.dy. do.es. it!

I've done it! Yes I have.

News reporters say it. It's written in books and articles.

I've noticed it.

Start listening. You'll hear it too.

Anytime we want to make sure that what we are talking about is absolutely known to be exactly the same, we say it.

Isn't that the exact same thing?

Is it just me, or have you noticed the EXACT SAME thing?

Just checkin'!

xo rachel

My Home Sweet Home

God Bless America

Land that I love.

Stand beside her,

And guide her,

Through the night,

With the light from above.

From the mountains

To the praires

To the oceans

White with foam.

God Bless America,

My

Home Sweet Home.

September's Porch

Wow! It's hard to believe that is is already September isn't it? This month I would like you to meet Traci. She is a new blogging friend who loves old houses and porches. When I meet someone who lives in an old house, I know I've met a person who shares the common joys of old home living! You will enjoy visiting Traci's blog, Cottage With The Red Door, but first let me share with you, her beautiful photos and what she had to say."My porch is a classic colonial porch. My home was built in 1920.We recently did a lot of work to the front porch. The previous owners had it confused for a Victorian and had painted the porch a lot of different colors. Colors I didn't quite understand such as gold, green, grey,
black and red. So with primer in hand we painted it more traditional white and I painted the front door red.

It is currently decorated for fall. I love the old gate. I tend to leave it out year round just changing the decorations on it.
That being said I tend to break all the colonial rules and lean towards cottage decorating on my porch. I love to decorate for every season.
The chair is a recent addition this summer and I just replaced the geraniums with mums for fall. You can't tell from the pics but on the front door I applied the saying "There's no place like home" and for me there's no place like my front porch!"


Traci, thank you so much for taking time to share your beautiful romantic porch with us. It brings me joy to see a home owner's expression of love through their porch. And you have truly expressed yourself in a wonderful way.

xo rachel

Labor Day

Is it for "labor" around your home? Is it a time to finalize all the little last minute house~y projects before falling leaves and winter's chill?

However you spend your September American Holiday...I hope it is safe and happy.

xo rachel

Hello!

Come on and have a seat. It's GREAT to see you again. One of my favorite places to chat with you is right here on the back porch. The sun is setting and there is a slight autumn chill in the air, but it is never to late to visit. And we have a little catching up to do! My schedule has changed a lot. Our family has transitioned to a new phase of life and we are adjusting. We've experienced loss of a close family friend. I still feel claustrophobic when I think that she is really gone from...her children...her husband...her parents and those she loved. Our son is doing great. We're happy he has this opportunity. Sometimes it seemed impossible. Each day we just keep putting one foot in front of the other like everyone else. There are no options. Our children here at home are adjusting to our new way of being.

So like many of you we've had highs and lows this summer. If we seek peace and joy, we will find it. It is strange to me how it is there mixed with pain and sorrow. But still it is there.

Peace.

I wanted to tell you how neat I think this plant is with the purple flowers rising from the center. I've never seen one like it. And I love the tiny acorn.
The ants love our new brick sidewalk. One morning I was amazed to see that they had build two ways to come and go from their ant hill.
With summer sun comes the arrival of gorgeous Morning Glory blooms.

I love to drive the country roads in the early morning and see the cheery blooms that have climbed their way towards the sunshine using cornstalks for support.

Horses grazing in the field ...ah it seems so peaceful...the scene is grand...all is right with the world.
These are just a few of the things that I've been wanting you to know. And I surely want you to know how sweet I think you are. Thank you for your loving comments and emails and all of your kind words. I'm so happy you dropped by. How have you been?

xo rachel