Busy as Bees

   My favorite part of life in a large family are the casual meals and get togethers that we share. Bread broken together, children running around, and then the animated conversation afterward as we pile willy nilly into our tiny den.
   We are a family who can certainly roll with the pressed napkin, sterling goblet and flat silver table settings, but my favorite meals are those informal gatherings on the porch. A couple of weeks ago, it was take-out time from one of our favorite Tex-Mex places, The San Antonio Taco Company, otherwise known as SATCO. We are all addicts of their cheese dip. Seriously. So much so that every adult gets his or her own and often (very often) will look askance if asked to share. I think we all wolf down the fajitas and trimmings just so that we can have an excuse to get to the cheese dip. Even Little One and Little Two can do some serious damage in this department.
   Here are some pics of our last gathering...called to order around the birthday celebration of one of our daughter-in-laws. Please note the table setting complete with the aluminum foil, the mismatched tablecloths and an odd assortment of glass and silverware. But what you can't see or hear is the uproarious laughter, the delightful young voices of Little One and Little Two as they talked to one another, or the good time had by all.
  I love my family.

Little One and Little Two go for a spin in the driveway before dinner

Suppertime on the back porch

Now pajama clad girls waiting for their meal!

Son-in-law with the newest member of the family, Little Three!

She's a White baby through and through!

Nonna with her arms full of love

Happy Birthday to a precious daughter-in-law

Getting some help with candles from Little Two

What is my daddy doing with that baby in his arms?

Some Deliciousness

    There is nothing better than brunch on the porch. Laid back family style. With all of the Southern food groups represented. Bacon. Grits. Sausage. Eggs. Big yeasty sweet rolls. A warmed-up yummy Almond Ring from Merridee's. A big bowl of fresh fruit. Fresh squeezed orange juice, cold milk, and a fresh pot of coffee! Good food. Lots of laughter. But the best part is not the food, it's always the family. Children and grandchildren. It's what The Husband and I love best!

This needs no explanation. I fried up a pound and a half and it was still not enough!

My grandmother Lou Lou's grits recipe...slathered in butter, of course!

Merridee's Almond Ring

Breakfast on the porch

Little One and Little Two diving in! 

Little Two says it's time to explore!

Uncle Bro Bro helps Little One into her favorite tree

Concentration is required

Little Two and her precious Momma

Pappy has the cheese part covered!

And who says you can't have an ice cream sandwich to finish off your breakfast?! Looks good to me.

Come By and Sit a Spell

  Southerners know what a good porch is. Open to the breezes. The slap of bare feet on painted wood floors. Fans twirling lazily overhead. A couple of comfortable rockers. A couch or maybe even a bed. Lots of pillows. Places to curl up and read or stretch out and relax. Some ferns. Some flowers. A dog bowl.
   My porch is my idea of heaven. I designed it a hundred times in my head before I hired the person who actually drew up the plans for me. There were a few of my great ideas that didn't translate well to actual design, so they went the way of dust. Everything else turned out almost exactly as I thought it would be. Except for the cost. That one set me back a bit.  I worked a few extra years to pay for this beauty, and I don't regret even one of the many many many pennies it took to to build it.
   Nearly every single day I walk outside and go "Ahhhh." It may not be your cup of design tea, but it sure is mine. Here's some porch love, The Mom style:

I found this old wicker in a consignment shop and kept my eye on it for a long time. I also prayed that it would not sell until I had a place to put it. Then I prayed that they would lower the price. 

Suffice it to say that God was good.

The porch has three distinct areas with varying ceiling heights to delineate the spaces.

Obviously the space above is part of the dining area. I bought the wood table at our local Habitat store and use mismatched chairs that I picked up here and there.

The white wicker and this table anchor the other end of the porch. That door in the background

 leads to our bedroom. We can enter the porch from the house via the den or the master bedroom.

The stacked stone fireplace is a beautiful focal point. 

We draw the sofa up closer for a "winter" furniture

arrangement where we love to cuddle up with blankets

 while we toast our toes and our marshmallows.

View from one end to the other

Looking the opposite way

   I told you I was serious about making this porch a relaxing place.

This little Victorian bed frequently calls my name. I love to nap here or curl up to read a favorite book.

Now you see why my porch is my Happy Place!

Thanks to the Baby Sister for her photography skills!