Inside My Home: My Front Porch and My Front Room

Hey y'all,

Today we're going to pretend like you just rolled up outside my home. Maybe you're coming over for our regularly scheduled game night; or maybe you're getting off work and dropped in for a pick-me-up cup of coffee or tea before heading to your own home to begin your evening routine. 

If the kids were still snoozing away the late afternoon, I would invite you to sit a spell on my front porch and watch the sun cast shadows through the pine trees out front. 

And I would surely brag about my ferns. But we'll get to that later.

Hey, I said shadows.

 Yes, my front porch is a little bit of a mess. That garbage can is full of Joey's sweet feed, I have mismatched seating, and there is a cooler sitting in a chair I need to dump because I was teaching Loki that I don't place furniture outside for him.

But my ferns.

This would be your view to the right of the front door.
That's the horse trailer we borrowed to move Joey. His paddock is just a few
yards beyond that; so he's pretty much right outside my front door.

Our driveway curves around those pines. (Hello, Loki.)

BEHOLD MY FERNS.

Have you ever noticed how strange new growth on a palm tree is?
It's just a spear sticking out of the middle of the plant. Then somehow, there
are fronds that unfold outward from the center. 

 Clearly, my favorite part about my front porch are my ferns. That goes back to the fact that I do not by any means have a green thumb. This is simply a freak year, evidently; and I am enjoying every success. I pretty much grew up in the South, which meant I grew up with fresh ferns on my mama's front porch every summer. I couldn't even help keep those alive, and there was more than one person responsible. How terrible is that? But I suddenly have a home of my own, buy some knock-off plants, and -- KABLAM! -- lush, tropical green all summer. Like, I had no idea fern tendrils grew that long.


Ok, now I'm inviting you in for that cup of tea (and the babies are probably complaining at this point); so we step through my front door and this is what you see:

 A cat on the windowsill in the living room. Ha.
I'm just kidding (although, yeah), but -- welcome to our front room.
Originally we had talked about taking out the dividing wall between the living room and this front room and making it one massive open-concept living space. Still would be pretty cool; though I would like to add some indoor stairs leading to our then-to-be-finished attic. Maybe a spiral staircase? Ooooo.
At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about all the doors; but with two babies taking naps, they are nice to have. Especially to keep the cat out of the bathroom where she likes to sleep in the tub full of draining water. Yeah, whatever, you weirdo.

That dresser is part of our master bedroom set. With the way our master suite is laid out (which you shall see for yourselves sometime) we still can't fit all of our bedroom furniture, though it is the biggest master bedroom I have beheld.
So here is our dresser acting as office supply and crafting storage, perhaps someday to host homeschool textbooks.

You see all my fall decor on the ground?
Milly....

This room is clearly somewhat of a mess, too. Notice my fan because I can decorate like it's autumn all I want, but that doesn't mean it's less than 90 outside with anything other than 100% humidity.

That door leads into the kitchen, by the way.

 And that door leads into the hallway that connects the kids' bedrooms and bathroom. (What you see from here is Katie Jo's room.)

There is a random desk because I want to keep it for the kids because it's so small and perfect; but I have nowhere practical to place it right now. So it's one of those "key tables" where you throw your keys and purse when you come in my front door.

 That is a leather armchair we inherited with the house. I love it, and maybe when we have less of a need for toys in the living room, I can swap my toy cabinet for it. But for now, it's my cozy nook to read, write, sit with my laptop and work on the budget -- whatever.
Usually it's one of Katie's favorite hide-aways from her brother. She loves nothing more than a good book and a cozy corner. She definitely takes after her mother.

Also, that is, indeed, a telescope. Because we're those people.
I kid. It's a hand-me-down from my super sciency brother. Jacob and I are avid learners -- something I hope never dies in our home and gets instilled in our children.

Right now, this is kind of an awkward room in our house. I've envisioned a long dining table big enough for all friends and family for our frequent get-togethers and holiday meals.

I've also pinned some ideas on Pinterest about an informal school room. I'm thinking I'll call it our "navigation room." Stay tuned for updates. Maybe I'll get my spiral staircase.

So anyway, that's what you would see upon entering the front of my home. (Remember? I started with the back. )

You are always welcome to drop in for a soda and a chat or even just to love on some babies, whether they have fur or not. I find all of those things can be a wonderful balm to my soul.