Front Porch Pottings. . .

At last,
our Winter has come and gone!!!

So~o~o. . .
"Mr. Ed" and I took advantage of the nearly 70 degree weather
and went potted plant shopping for the front porch!

A "New Look" Dusty Miller with silvery white leaves 
combined with a "Super Cascade Blue" Petunia 
with deep green leaves and dark purple flowers 
fill the top of a two~tier wrought iron vintage planter.

Froggy stands watch over the empty bottom planter
as we anxiously await for a new shipment of Sweet Potato Vines.

Moving around to the entrance of the front porch
we have placed our three~tier corner shelving unit.

Last February, while updating the decor in Studio One,
I painted these rose motif  brass fronts
on my galvanized planters a soft Versatile Gray.

One nice thing about paint. . .
if you're not satisfied with the results,
you can paint over it!

I much prefer the creamy ivory PaperWhite 
painted atop the Versatile Gray using a dry brush technique!

The smaller of the three galvanized pots 
is the perfect size to hold these abundant fragrant masses 
of "Wonderland Purple" Alyssum 
combined with "Silver falls" Dichondra.
Vigorous, fan~shaped silvery leaves exhibit cascading growth.

Directly beneath is a larger galvanized pot containing 
Gold Leaf Tansy "Isla Gold" Tanacetum. 
Yellow button flowers appear in the Summer
 from the golden foliage resembling fern leaves.

Silver and gold foliage ~
purple and yellow flowers ~
I'm swooning just thinking of the sight that will welcome guests
as they arrive On Crooked Creek!

The final galvanized planter 
holds a perennial "Indian Feather" Rosy Jane.
Soft white blossoms with an edging of fuchsia 
should bloom all Summer.

The sun turned to cloudy skies late this afternoon
here On Crooked Creek, and yes. . .rain is in the forecast.
However, the nighttime temperatures 
are not predicted to drop to freezing.

Front Porch Pottings are making a pleasing entrance
to our home On Crooked Creek. . .at last!!!


Until next time. . .

Feathering The Porch. . .

Wind on the Prairie is constant!
Spring officially arrives March 20th,
but our temperatures are cooler than they appear
due to the wind factor!

"Mr. Ed" and I recently took advantage
of the sun shine on the front porch
for a bit of feathering!

With "Mr. Ed's" assistance,
I designed this Spring basket for our front porch.

I was quite smitten with the texture of this half basket
and purchased it at an Antique Mall 
while on vacation this Autumn!

Using a faux green fern,
twigs and Spanish moss made this an easy design.
The only thing purchased were the eggs!

Across the top of the grate are two swags.
I adore the realistic appearance of the faux branches!

The outward appearance of branches, 
just beginning to bud and leaf out, creates a "tree top" effect.

The temperatures dropped drastically
with our howling wind, as is often the case
during Spring on the Prairie, forcing "Mr. Ed" and I indoors!

So~o~o . . .
for now, this is all the feathering of our porch
On Crooked Creek! 

Although the wind will remain constant,
the temperature shows promise 
of allowing "Mr. Ed" and I another nice
afternoon to continue feathering the porch.


Until next time. . .

Winterizing The Front Porch!

 

Just when I had finished organizing and labeling
all the storage bins in Studio One,
I pulled the Winter faux evergreens back out
to winterize the front porch On Crooked Creek!






















Once the red Christmas wreath was removed from the grate,
I decided to go with a Winter Theme
for the front porch decor.

















Filling my flat basket with ice laden branches
(@ 50% off from Bittersweet),
I added a few rustic SNOWflakes with bells
and my signature fat poofy bow to decorate the grate!

















Next, I wove some evergreen with miniature pine cones
through the open rods of the grate to accentuate the basket.






















"Mr. Ed" carried the Christmas Tree in the concrete urn
(aka un~decorated now it becomes a Wintergreen)
to the porch. Using a bit more evergreen,
I embellished the Wintergreen.






















I think the Wintergreen fills the corner quite nicely
and helps accent the new door mat.






















Thank goodness it has the initial for our last name
and not the initials for my Blog!!!






















Removing the red berries and the red and white checked bow
from the table left a nice "winterized" wreath around the candle.






















I placed the table in the other corner
keeping the white for a cohesive effect.

















Of course, the temperature here on the Prairie
is +40 degrees. Not one flake of SNOW in sight,
except, of course On Crooked Creek!
























Until next time. . .

A NEW Grate. . .

Christmas On Crooked Creek is well under way for 2012 ! ! !
"Mr. Ed" and I enJOY changing our home decor up a bit
every year. But this year, an even year, we will host our family Christmas Celebration !
So~o~o. . . we're fluffing ever nook and corner !

After moving the "painless window"
to my Art studio ~ Studio One, 
a huge void was left on the front porch.

I placed the vintage ladder
against the stone wall for Autumn ( click here),
but this was to be a temporary solution!

During a recent Christmas Open House,
I came across a grate for a door that intrigued me.
Cell phones are amazingly great when your
dear one likes to roam the Antique Mall on his own.
A quick call to "Mr.Ed", his nod of approval
and at 10% off the already reasonable price of $18.00
we loaded the NEW Grate in our SUV and headed for home !

Arriving On Crooked Creek,
I was filled with inspiration and began the task
of "fluffing" the front porch with Christmas decor.

 

 

Our NEW Grate wrought iron door

goes from plain ~ to ~ whimsical with

a cast ~ off red berry wreath and a Gingerbread Man Greeting

to welcome our family, guests and neighbors !

 

 

Red satin ribbon and bow adds

striking contrast against the white grate door

and the neutral brick background.

 

 

This  "Sweet Sweet Greetings"
Gingerbread Man sign is a past Christmas Gift
from my sweet, sweet son and daughter~in~law !

Now. . .
to fill the corner,
I brought out my black lanterns.

Red and white gingham check bows
combined with pine boughs and pine cones
help to make this Christmas On Crooked Creek bright !

"Mr. Ed's" frog statue,
all "decked out" with his Santa Hat and bow tie,
is a whimsical touch that changes with the season, also !

Who can resist that adorable "Froggy" ? ? ?

Continuing warm temperatures on the Prairie

have allowed for "Mr. Ed" and I to decorate the out~of ~doors

for Christmas On Crooked Creek without our

usual hot cocoa breaks.

So~o~o. . .
after a quick spraying of white paint,
my old black plant stand makes a striking accent piece
for my beaded garland turned wreath
and cast~off black porch lantern.

 

 

Adding a few sprigs of faux evergreen with miniature pine cones,

and inserting a Ball Mason jar with battery candle

brings a cherry welcome to our front porch !

 

 I added the red and white gingham check bow

to give a festive WELCOME to our Holiday guests !

 

 

 

 

Our front porch has quite a mix of Traditional,

Vintage and Whimsical. . .

something for everyone. . .

@ Christmas On Crooked Creek !

 

 

 

Until next time. . .

 

www.commonground-do.com

 

On Crooked Creek will be joining Debra @ Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration! Be sure to visit soon and see all the creativity for Christmas your heart could ever desire.

Hue ~ by ~ Hue. . .

Hue ~ by ~hue . . .
 Autumn  begins . . .
                      On Crooked Creek!

Seasonal change is one of my favorite ways to justify making decor changes here on the Prairie! With triple digits continuing from the end of May through the current, I am so ready for cooler weather.

Last Spring, I purchased this painless window at our local Roadhouse Antiques shop. I enjoy changing its decoration from Season ~ to ~ Season.

Autumn Cottage magazine was the inspiration for this floral arrangement. While I prefer the hydrangea and wheat used in their arrangement, I used what I readily had available. What's not to like about no cost decor?

Bringing my flat basket indoors,
I placed it on an adjustable wreath stand.
Next, I added faux ivy as a base and stability for the florals.

Truthfully, I could have used one more golden mum, but I am pleased with the outcome!

 Gorgeous inspiration from Invite Autumn Inside, page 86 of Autumn Cottage.

Football fan. . .I'm not,
but I would gladly welcome Football weather.
Cool mornings. . .
                              warm afternoons. . .
                                 cooler evenings!  Bring it on!!!

On Crooked Creek . . .
                    Autumn begins . . .
                                                                        hue ~ by ~ hue!


Until next time. . .



www.commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com

 On Crooked Creek is  joining Fabulous Fall Fun with hostess, Debra @ Common Ground!!! Embrace the Season with inspiration for your own front door and porches, tablescapes, mantles, diy Fall crafts and more!!!