Saturdays on the Porch
Welcome to the porch! Let’s chat for a while!
I wasn’t feeling well most of the week so I didn’t do much.
However, I did manage to repaint an old dresser that we had. We bought it off Craigslist years ago for super cheap. Our boys shared it for a few years, then it went to my daughter who used it for a few years. Eventually, the drawers had a hard time opening and closing, but my husband finally fixed them. I gave the dresser a new coat of fresh paint and now it’s going in our bedroom for my husband to use.
It would be so nice if furniture made today was as sturdy as furniture made years ago.
It’s hard to tell from the photos, but the dresser before was a two-toned dark grey with light grey drawer fronts. Now the dresser is black with white drawer fronts.
Last weekend I spent both days working on the bedrooms at our other house. Here’s what I managed to get done over 2 days:
- Bedroom 1
- Ripped up carpet
- Removed staples and nails from floor
- Removed all nails from walls
- Took down old shelves
- Painted closet
- Bedroom 2
- Removed vinyl flooring
- Painted closet
- Took down old shelves
- Removed all nails from walls
For some reason, the closet in my daughter’s bedroom was peach on top and white on the bottom. I can’t believe in all the years we lived there that I never painted that closet!
Lucikly when I pulled up the carpet and the vinyl flooring in both bedrooms, the hardwood floor underneath was fine. It just needs to be refinished and it will look good as new! Next on the list of things to do in the bedrooms is clean the walls and paint them and repair parts of the ceiling and paint it. And refinish the floors, of course.
Home Update:
The guys finished our roof earlier in the week and Friday they came back and replaced the facia boards. (The long, straight boards that run along the lower edge of the roof.) Then hopefully next week the new gutters can be installed.
Yellowjackets have found a home in the side of our back deck and while the guys were working the vibrations must have made the yellowjackets mad. They were flying around and managed to sting one of the guys 6 or 7 times. Luckily he’s not allergic, but I still felt horrible that he got stung. I absolutely hate yellowjackets!
What’s on the menu this week:
- Monday: Hot dogs, Chips, Potato Salad, Maccaroni Salad
- Tuesday: Beef & Bean Taco Casserole, Brown Rice
- Wednesday: Chick-fil-A
- Thursday: Picante Chicken, Shells and Cheese
- Friday: Leftovers
- Saturday: Eating out
- Sunday: Spaghetti & Garlic Bread
Positive Story of the Week
The story of the giant beach ball rolling into a Wisconsin town left me smiling this week.
Apparently the beach ball escaped from its yard. Someone posted on Facebook asking if it belonged to anyone. After that, people started signing the ball and moving it around to different streets. There’s even a map on the town’s Facebook group that shows where the ball is!
Fun Photo of the Week
My daughter noticed this week that one of the markings on Balto’s back looks like a cat sitting down. How cool!
Can you see it? The ears and the tail off to the left side?
Deal of the Week:
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On the Blog this Week:
In case you missed it, this week on the blog I teamed up with some great DIY bloggers for our monthly blog hop challenge. This month’s theme was a DIY of our choice, so I made a summer grapevine wreath. It was a quick and easy project to put together. Plus, it didn’t cost me a dime since I already had everything on hand. And it will be easy to change out for fall, which is just around the corner!
Last week I shared that my husband and I got some funiture pieces from our favorite online auction site for pretty cheap. I didn’t get a chance to share photos of those pieces, so I thought I would share them today. (These are for you, Alicia!)
We were able to get a Bassett Furniture China cabinet for only $30! Bassett Furniture is very expensive and I’d never be able to afford any of their new stuff. Also, we got a dresser that I put upstairs in the “nook” area at the top of the stairs to store bed sheets and pillowcases in. The dresser looked like it had recently been painted, so all I needed to do was clean it up a bit.
The glass in the left side of the China cabinet is missing, but that’s ok. There’s wire that covers the glass (you can kind of see it on the right side) which looks similar to chicken wire. Whenever I get the time to paint the cabinet, I’m going to remove the glass from the right side and just use the wire on both sides. I think it’ll give it a country vibe.
Your turn!
How was your week? Did anything exciting happen? Did you accomplish any goals you made at the beginning of the week? I’d love to know!
I love seeing your house progress! The before and after pics are amazing.
Thank you! I’m so glad they got the roof done. I wish they could have put the gutters on yesterday since it’s raining today. Oh well. ?
You my dear are making lots of progress in both houses.
I wish I had half your energy.
I do see the cat on your dog. How neat. So your cats should love him!
Have a lovely weekend my friend.
I think I used up all my energy last weekend. Today I’m so tired! Lol!
I thought that, too about the cats! Hopefully they’ll become best friends soon. ?
I hope you have a great weekend!
I agree that old furniture is superior to new furniture. I am 69 and I am using the bedroom suite that I got for my 13th birthday. When I left for college, my sister used it. When my daughter was born, she used it. And now I’m using it again. It has been in use for over 50 years! Here’s the best part: all the drawers are in perfect condition (nine drawers in the dresser and 4 drawers in the chest. I think that’s pretty amazing. It was purchased from Sears!
I hope you get your new home all fixed soon. Blessings, Michelle!
That’s amazing!! Newer furniture would never last that long, yet it seems to be more expensive, too.
Thank you! The house is coming along finally! ?
Love all the updates on your new home! Everything looks AMAZING! And girl, for someone who wasn’t feeling well all week, you sure got a LOT done! Great finds on that furniture. I totally agree. They just don’t make things like they used to. Happy weekend!
Thank you!! I’m so glad they got the roof finished before the rain came in today. ? We get so excited when there’s a new auction! Haha! I hope you have a great weekend!
Hope you’re feeling better by now. Wow that dresser looks beautiful, I also like the china cabinet you got, it’s great. Thanks for sharing about Tailwind, I’ll have to look into that. that summer grapevine wreath looks great, love it. Don’t laugh but I still have my Christmas wreath up on the front door, I love it, it’s all red berries, I did want to change it but I haven’t gone looking for one, so it’s still hanging there. Well, have a great weekend xo
Thank you! I’m feeling better, just really tired today. I think it was just allergies from changing weather and ripping up carpet last weekend. Ugh…
I’m not judging your wreath at all! Berries look good all year! And before you know it it’ll be Christmas again anyway. ?
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
You are making good progress in the house. You started with saying that you were not well and so didn’t do much- after all that I read, it doesn’t look like that. I was like wow! Michelle did a lot.
Glad the roof is fixed. The dresser looks good.
Have a wonderful weekend ?
Thank you! I didn’t realize how much I actually did until I started writing about it. ? I’m glad the roof was finished because it’s a rainy day today. I wish they could have got the gutters on before the rain but hopefully it’ll be ok.
I hope you have a great weekend!
Great to hear the roof is done! I hope you’re feeling better. It was a productive week, despite being under the weather.
I’m so glad. They’re putting the gutters on today. I’m hoping they can start on the inside soon. Thank you! I’m feeling much better now. ?
OMG! It seems like a never-ending story with the house. But I am sure that you will get through all this harassment and can take a deep breath! Have a beautiful pizza… I mean the weekend! ????
That’s exactly what I keep thinking. One thing after another. ? Thank you!! I hope you had a great weekend! Or pizza! ??
I’m sorry you weren’t feeling well. I pray you feel better. The dresser you painted looks great. I love the black and white. You got a lot done at the old house. That’s great about the hardwood floors. So glad the roof is done! But yikes about the yellow jackets! Something similar happened to us recently. We went to look at a house for sale and the realtor got stung by yellow jackets about 8 times on his legs. We felt so bad! Yes I do see the cat on Balto’s back! How cute!! Great finds on the furniture! Both look to be in excellent shape.
Thank you! I am feeling much better now. I’m sure it was either allergies or just my body telling me to rest. Which I did this weekend by doing nothing. ? Oh no! That’s terrible that the realtor got stung so many times! Yellow jackets are terrible!
The house is really coming together now, you should be so proud Michelle! Hope you’re feeling better, and it seems you managed to get so much done in one weekend! I totally see the cat shape on the dog’s back ??.
It seems like it’s taking forever but I know it’ll be done soon. Thank you! I’m feeling much better now. I did nothing this weekend and that was nice. ?
Sometimes doing nothing is soo nice!
I agree! ?
Loved it all but the best was the cat that isn’t a cat.
Thank you! The cat is so neat!
My gosh – you are getting a lot done! The dresser looks great 🙂
Thank you!! ?
You have made progress in both houses. I can’t believe you didn’t feel well and still was able to accomplish so much!
Thank you! After that I took a much needed break and did nothing this weekend. ?
Great post!
Hope you’re feeling better!! The dresser you redid black and white looks great. I’m excited for you about your house getting repaired…finally! …And your old house is definitely going to make someone a nice place to call home one day.
I can totally see the cat silhouette on the dog, that’s cool!!
And thanks for sharing your online auction purchases—I can not believe that hutch was only $30, what a find!!! The chicken wire idea is gonna be awesome.
Sweet post as always, I get excited to read these. Makes me feel like I’m subscribed to a Better Homes and Gardens magazine without paying the price!?❤️
Thank you! I’m feeling a lot better now. After a weekend of doing nothing. ?
You’re welcome! I can’t wait to get the cabinet painted. I found some blue dishes in the basement that I think will look great in there!
Haha! Aww..how sweet! I’m glad you like these posts. I miss when newspapers used to share what was going on around town. So I thought I’d just try that with these posts. ?
I hope you have a wonderful week!
Yeah your ‘Saturday on the front porch’ posts are super fun, such a great idea!❤️I always look forward to them.
You have been so busy Michele, I did some coving and it is a total nightmare…. So glad your roof is fixed, it looks lovely again. You have such a wonderful house there. We did some house hunting again, and we need to wait what comes out. We liked one of them. Do take some rest, specially as you have not been feeling so well. All the best!
Thank you! I’m so glad it’s done. Today they’re putting on the gutters. I just hope they can start on the inside quickly, too. Sending up prayers for you on the house! House hunting can be so stressful. Thanks! I did take some time to rest this weekend. It was nice to do nothing for a bit. ?
I can’t imagine the workload you manage day to day, Michelle! Thanks so much for sharing Tailwind! I just experimented with my first post for the Blogger’s Bakeoff on Pinterest. I can just imagine the possibilities!
It’s stressful but I’d rather be busy most days. ? You’re welcome! I saw your pin and pinned it, too. It makes scheduling pins so much easier! And having templates is a huge plus. ?
Love catching up with you lady! The dresser you refinished is so fantastic and I can’t believe you got those other pieces at such a great price too. I definitely need to start shopping with you. I’m super excited things are moving along on both of your homes. It probably feels like it taking forever but it’s definitely going to pay off in the end so hang in there. Hope you’re feeling better soon and are able to snuggle up with your cutie pie pup. I can totally see the cat spot! Hugs for a happy week, CoCo
I’m sure we’d have a wonderful time thrift shopping together! ? Thank you! It does feel like it’s taking forever but I know there’s an end in sight somewhere. I hope you have a wonderful week! ?
I hope you’re feeling better! The work in the house never stops but you’re very good and organized! The dresser looks like new ?
The cat on Balto’s back is really a cute coincidence ???
Thank you! I’m feeling much better now. ❤️ I thought the same thing! I don’t know how I didn’t notice it before. ?
I can’t believe how much you got done in spite of feeling bad. Reread this post in 40 years and you will be amazed at your energy level in the “good old days!”
A productive week for you! Way to go, Michelle!
Thank you!!
Nice progress ❤
Thanks!
Pretty dresser. Your energy amazes me.
Thank you so much!
What a nice job they did on your house but it seems like it took forever! I see the cat, your daughter has a good eye Michelle! That dresser turned out gorgeous, I love black and white together, great job!
Hey girl!! Just checking in on you and hope you are well!!❤️?
Aww you’re so sweet! I’m ok. Busy and exhausted! Thank you so much for checking in. That means so much to me! ❤️?
❤️❤️❤️
Hope you’re feeling better, but you sure accomplish a lot even when you aren’t. Impressive painting and demo work.
Thank you! I’m feeling somewhat better so I can get more done. ?
Hi Michelle, do stay well. You have so many wonderful projects to fulfill and inspire us with. The love your are filling your new home with we grow into more. I love your Saturday porch. What a brilliant concept! ??
Thank you so much for your kind and inspirational words. They keep me motivated to keep going!
Sending you big loving hugs and coffee! ??????
I also love your renovation updates. ?
Thank you!! 🙂
My pleasure! ?
For me, your Before-After photos are the Positive Story of the Week.
Aww, thank you!! ?
Nice blog!
Do visit to my blog and follow it if you like.
Thank you so much! And thank you for the follow. I’ll visit yours as well!
Thanks for visiting,
Do follow my blog if you like my creations so you will get the notifications whenever I post something new..
Beautiful!