Rain Rain Go Away........

Well, as I sit here in front of my laptop it's another beautiful Summer day in Cincinnati. Did I mention I was inside. It's 10AM and 90* with humidity and dewpoint it feels like 102! Here in Cincy there is a saying 'if you don't like the weather wait a few minutes...it'll change'.

For last few days we've been having weather like all the Midwest states. The day starts out sunny and blue skies,(of course while I'm at work) but after a while ( around 5p) clouds move in and BOOM storms.  Last night was the worst around our house.

I got this pic off our local televison station that someone sent in from Mason, Ohio, which is about 10 miles north of us. That is lightening. Sorry, but I will not go outside my house to get a pic for the blog. Suffice to say this is a typical pic of what it was like in our 10 mile radius. 60 mile an hour wind, torrencial rain, lightening show, and  tornado warning. Made for an exciting hour. We will get a repeat performance again tonight, according to forecaster. Hoopee.

Why the weather report? I have been trying for days to get out on my porches and get them 'decked' out, but with the wind and rain abnormally strong I'm afraid it'll just blow away. We usually get this type of stormy weather in April, before I decorate my outside rooms, but it's held off.

Goody, April Showers with August heat.

That said I think I'll show pics from last year of my relaxing porch that weren't posted.

You might recognize this picture on the sidebar of my Blog. This is my porch swing decked out in a patriotic Old Glory throw I found at Kohl's years ago. The pillow was brought home from the Lawrenceburg Flea and Antique Market about the same time. Alas, as I said in my last post, that throw has seen better days, so it'll be replaced. I may be able to salvege parts of it tho for an idea I had. If it works you'll see it. If you look close up those apples look real in the wicker basket. It's lined with muslin edged with tatted edging. Those vintage aqua glass mason jars make the best citronella candle holders. Jim loves vintage trains, so that new train lantern usually held citronelle oil to burn, but last Sept. a freak windstorm blew up hitting the swing causing the table to  topple with everything on it. The poor lantern's glass didn't make it, but that mason jar didn't even crack! The coffee table in front of the swing is actually a modern tubular ocassional table. It made the best form to cover with some vintage red stiped ticking and new navy cotton material.

I love empty walls. They are a blank canvas just waiting to fill. The first peice I found was the Smiling Sun metal plant holder. I knew it was made for small red geraniums. That wreath at the end was next. it's wire and resin in a bird and flower motif. Next came Big Mouth Billy Bass.....yes I know, (my one tacky moment)but when we saw it at Cracker barrel years ago he just made us laugh...he still does. The Rusted Metal Star was a must have. That large wrought iron and amber glass candle lamp came from my MIL. It too is vintage from the late 40's early 50's..it was a wedding present back then...I love the rusty patina it has acquired. Those bird plaques are 1960-70 CopperCraft pieces. When I was little my Mom like all housewives had Home Shopping Parties. Mom didn't do the usual Tupperware tho, she did the CopperCraft and Sarah Coventry...remember those parties?.....I loved that stuff. I still try to pick it up at fleas and antique malls when I see it. 

 Believe it or not I found this metal tea cart thru Publisher's Clearinghouse, of all places in 95'. It fits perfectly betwen the 40's style chair and front door. I love wind chimes so the little watercan has the tinies clear chimes when a breeze blows thru. The plate was a cracked $1 find at an antique place. It's a brown transferware commerative plate of Lincoln's Birthplace. As you can see the crack was hidden quite nicely with faux red geraniums and other flowers and foliages. Last year I found the matching cup and saucer for $3 in great condition. I filled with with some Thyme. It sits atop a stack of old Reader Digest books. Faux violet fill a 1940's ceramic log with squirrel planter that has a metal gold-tone bottom still attached...usually those are missing. The blue oil lamp is another vintage gift from my MIL. I love the blue glass bottom, but the lamp top was alos blown off, so a new one will replace it. Oh I almost forgot the vintage floral print from the 30-40's that hang on the wall too. I love the watercolors of reds, yellows, and pinks. I found some others and they will join this one. Yes...I use them outside...I figure this is an 'outdoor' room and every 'room' needs a little artwork.

This seating area of the same vintage style chairs sit across form the front door. I found the 1940's coffee perculator with black handle on the Longest Yard Sale in Ky.  Farther down in Tn. I found matching creamer and sugar....all together the set was $7 and yes that is another peice of my hand-wrought aluminum, but this one was in such poor shape I don't worry about keeping outside. I was surprized when I found a 1960's metal and redwood table that matches the look of the chairs. Most of you recognize the iconic black pottery bears of the Pigeon Forge Pottery Co. from Tennessee. my porch wouldn't be complete without them.

 

This last shot is at the steps coming up onto the porch. Again you see one of the red  train lanterns, but this one is old and heavy and small. We bring this one in in stormy weather. It was from Jim's Uncle Gus. I found the wicker and aluminum basket at HomeGoods and new it had to come home with me. I filled with my favorite flowers....violets. Next to it sits another Pigeon Forge find, a hand-painted jug. Sorry the sun glares, but I love the colors of the reds, gold, browns, blues,and greens of the Water Mill scene. Under the red, white, and blue calico table cover is a very vintage 1940's metal table. You know the kind that only the rust is holding together, but it's still sturdy.  I hope you enjoyed my porch. As soon as the weather lets up I'll show you what I did this year. And, I'll take you around to the side at my kitchen garden porch so you can see how I decorate that 'outdoor' room. Lol, even Jim is trying to create a little porch down by the garage with some of his garage 'collection' shall we call it.....inspired by the Ohio Valley Ant. Mall display which you can see Here

Don't forget Wednesday Is Rednesday over at Susan's It's a very Cherry World so I'll be linking my post with her and with Liz  at brambelberry Cottage on Thirsday for it's Time Travel Thursday This is a new meme so I hope you do a little time travelling and check it out....Oh go ahead show off your retro redo when you get there! She'd love for you to join in.

I'm back.....

.....Here we go. A nice glass of iced tea. Um..so refreshing and nice breeze going. Someday I'm hoping to get a fan for out here. That'll really make it cool on sultry days. Hm, the old aluminum coffee pot, yes it works..at least that's what the guy said that sold it to me at a booth in Kentucky on the Longest Yard Sale route a few years ago. For $5 I didn't really care I love the Bakelite handle and the filigrees design etched on the front. A ways down the road in Tennessee I found the creamer and sugar that matched. They make great citronella candle holders, don't you think? The Aluminum bowl is a Rodney Kent Tulip pattern, but it was so stained in the bottom that I just keep it out here to hold fruit sometimes. Aren't the trio of bear cubs cute? They are from the Pigeon Forge Pottery. I collected them over the years. That is my fav place on earth. When I started going down there River Rd. in Gatlinburg was partially gravel..lol..thats been 45 years ago!! We still go down as often as we can, but I still love the countryside more than hanging around the city.

That bottle on the table over there was hand-painted at a shop located in a log house between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg called AuntieBellum's...I'm not sure if they're still there..a resort cabin place moved in across from them..so they could've gobbled them up. Yes I do have a lot of candle holders out here and I usually have citronella torches too. They keep the mosquitoes and pest away very well.

My Mother-In-Laws old

Oil lamp is filled with citronella oil too. The fragrance?

Well, there's mint all around in the beds and Chameleon plant too...no..oh...it's the lemon thyme in the teacup there on the stack of books.

See right there in the Abraham Lincoln Commemorative teacup and saucer. It matches the plate hanging behind the lamp with arrangement on it. They were both $2 finds..one was chipped and one cracked, but they work fine outside. Yes I leave that old watercolor botanical print all year round. It doesn't hurt it at all. I change it out at Christmas and winter though.

Here you get a better view standing here.

The little ceramic squirrel on a log is my vintage planter it sits atop a brass filigree base. Right now I have faux violets in it, but in the fall I fill it with nuts...somehow I go out and mysteriously..one by one....they go missing...one of these days I'll find the little thief.

Yes, you've noticed. I have a problem with bare walls...can't stand 'em. They're like a blank canvas waiting to be filled. Yes, those geraniums are so pretty and so easy to care of...fooled ya didn't I..hehe..they're fake. For some reason anything planted in the plastic pots die. They dry out so fast and I thing the plastic heats up in the sun and cooks the roots, sooo, I "planted" faux geraniums. Those birds..I can't remember where I found those, but they are Coppercraft wall pieces. I don't know if you remember the home parties women used to have thru this company, but they carried beautiful home accents , serving pieces, and jewelry. Mom had a home party when I was really young, but I remember those pieces. These were a steal at $3 for the pair. Isn't the Amber glass and rusted wrought iron candle pretty? At night it gives off the most wonderful glow. No, that is not Jim's catch of the day. That is our 'Big Mouth Billy Bass' and it is my one piece of funky junk that makes me smile. I have no idea why..it just does. Would you like another glass of tea? Aw...you have to leave already? Wish you could've stayed longer. Well, next time you stop by, we'll do lunch out back on the kitchen porch. You bring the cupcakes.