Barb is hosting a PAAAAARTY.....

A Porch and Patio Party, that is!

Barb, over at Grits and Glamour is hosting a Porch and Patio Party!

OK, OK, I'll admit it, I am such a slacker (I know that comes as such a shock to you all). I COMPLETELY forgot about Barb's party today. Somewhere, in the back of my itty-bitty mind, I thought it was NEXT week.

Even though poor Barb as already had to reschedule TWICE because some of us just couldn't quite get our acts together....ahem....not to mention any names or anything.....(guilty).

I HAVE been trying to prepare for it for the past couple of weeks. We planted lots and lots of flowers, AND I even bought little tables and table cloths to put next to my rockers. I am embarrassed to say, that's as far as I have gotten.

HOWEVER, I did manage to pull together a couple of things and I wanted to join in all of Barb's merriment!

That woman KNOWS how to throw a PAAARTY, let me tell you!

I want you to pretend that ALL of these photos were taken on the same day, at the same time. Eventually, all of these elements will be put together and I hope it will make a cool looking front porch.

That is IF I can ever get out of "slacker mode" and get everything finished.

First of all, here are a couple of "Before" pictures:

The full front picture is older, but things pretty much still look the same. The foundation and steps are still not completed (waiting on the sell of our old house), and we do have a little more grass now....THANK GOODNESS! Nothing like trying to grow grass in Alabama red clay!

And here are some more recent photos!

Here is a picture of my front door wreath...

or at least that's what it looked like last year. You see, it is still hanging in our attic for now. I gotta convince hubby to climb up there and get it for me. I made it myself, and it didn't take too long at all. It took me longer to pry the flowers out of Jameson's hands than it did to actually make it. I plan to add some sort of ribbon to it, once it's out of it's storage place.

Next, I want to show you the main reason I love this front porch so much....my ceiling!

The plans originally had this ceiling lowered and boxed in. But during the framing process, I fell in LOVE with the height and shape of the roof line. I asked my builder if it HAD to be lowered, and he said "NO", so this is what we ended up with. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! I have plans to add a HUGE wreath above the front door, but just haven't gotten around to finishing the project. (Plus hubby WILL NOT let me do any damage to the siding, like nail or screw holes, so I have to find some siding hangers that will hold a good bit of weight.)

Now here are some actual pictures that I've taken over the past couple of days. I was hoping that the flowers would have filled out by now, but today has been the first day with ANY sunshine in weeks.

The rockers came from Lowe's last year for a great price. Even though the wind as knocked them over on more than one occasion, they still look as good as new! The green pillows came from the clearance bin at Home Depot. I think I paid around $7.00 for them.

The gorgeous flower is a recent surprise from dear, sweet hubby. The nest is a recent find inside of an electrical sub-station. Birds build their nests in the strangest places! I just added the adorable little eggs and the birdies that my good buddy Lisa from Living Upward sent to me!

Pardon the green wrinkled table cloth. I couldn't figure out how to get them out. The fabric on top is a piece of leftover fabric from my dining room.

The rest of the pictures are of my mother's day flowers. I am going with a PURPLE theme this year, can't you tell?

Well, there it is, my front porch! We still have a TON left to do to finish it....add steps, finish the foundation, decorate....but we still love it just the same! I hope to actually finish decorating it one day soon, and will post pictures of the completed project!

SO, head on over to say "Howdy" to Barb at Grits and Glamour, and tell her the Slacker Mama sent you! LOL!

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Oh, and don't forget my contest!!


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