Hello, porch friend!
Welcome to Front Porch Appeal!
Can you believe it’s September already? This month brings a fresh start with the return of school for many, including college students It’s also a time to enjoy the beginnings of autumn’s charm. Did you know September is National Honey Month? Or that it's National Coffee Day on September 29th?
With the official start of fall just around the corner (9/22/24), it’s the perfect time to enjoy the cooler temperatures and vibrant colors that September brings. Whether you’re savoring the last warm days of summer or looking forward to the crisp, golden days of fall, there’s something special about this transitional month.
We’re excited to share this month’s topics with you. Please enjoy exploring what we have in store!
Easy Ways to
"Autumn Up" Your Porch
If you have a small stand or shelf, why not create a cozy autumn corner with pots of mums and a few seasonal touches? We added a pumpkin, a bunny statue (for a bit of charm!), and even a tree stump.
When the season ends, we plant our mums in the garden around our house. Now, if you’re up north, this might not work as well, but here in Middle Tennessee, these mums sometimes grow into gigantic plants by the next year. And the best part? The deer don’t seem to care for them—at least not yet!
One of the easiest ways to spruce up your porch in autumn (or any season) is by layering door mats.
Here, we’ve placed our autumn-themed mat over a neutral patterned rug. It’s a simple touch that adds interest, comfort, and texture to your entryway.
Here’s a glimpse of the materials we gathered to make our front door feel warm and welcoming. Once we had everything together, it only took a few minutes to assemble.
In the picture above, you can see our brown wired basket and a charming wooden spice container.
Now, take a look at the picture below to see how we put them to good use!
We crafted a whimsical bouquet of autumn flowers and leaves for the basket, and tucked vibrant fall blooms into the pockets of the spice container. What do you think?
Remember to add some pumpkins and autumn foliage to your porch steps. While these pumpkins are faux, they still bring a charming touch of fall that boosts curb appeal. We gave them a bit of sparkle with a touch of gold paint to make them really stand out.
As the season wraps up, we’ll be planting the mums into one of our garden beds. This way, we’ll continue to enjoy their vibrant blooms for years to come!
Decorating your porch for autumn can be as simple and charming as draping a cozy plaid blanket over your porch swing or rocking chair. Instantly, it adds warmth and invites you to sit back and enjoy the crisp air.
And don’t forget—Mother Nature will do the rest, painting the landscape with brilliant fall colors!
National Coffee Day, Sept 29th
It seems like there’s a special day for everything now. Did you know that Sunday, September 29th is National Coffee Day? Dave and I sure love our coffee, but we also enjoy a good cup of tea, especially in the evenings. How about you? Do you have a favorite way to enjoy your coffee or tea?
Every morning, like clockwork, we start the day with a cup of coffee. We keep it simple—no fancy flavors, just a splash of half and half. Dave likes to call it "no-fufu coffee," though we used to experiment with all sorts of flavors. What about you? Do you keep your coffee routine simple, or do you like to mix things up?
When the weather is nice, we love to sit on our side porch and watch the birds as we sip our coffee. It's the best and most relaxing part of the day. How about you? Do you have any morning rituals that help you start the day right?
On Sunday, September 29th, enjoy National Coffee Day!
By the way, I drew the coffee cups you see
above on my iPad. I had a blast adding those cute patterns, even if the cups turned out a bit wonky, on purpose! (Or maybe not. You decide.)
September School Days
Our grandchildren headed back to school in August, but for some, September still marks the return to the classroom. Do you remember when going back to school meant cooler weather? I can still picture our younger years, wearing sweaters, plaid skirts, and knee socks.
Back-to-school time is a cherished ritual for many families. It marks the end of summer’s leisurely pace and the return to structured days filled with homework and school activities. If I had a porch swing as a kid, I’m sure I would have done my reading homework right out there on the porch.
September also brings the promise of cooler, crisper weather and the start of autumn festivities! It’s the perfect time to enjoy a cup of spiced apple cider and a slice of iced pumpkin bars.
Celebrate National Honey Month
A Sweet Tribute to National Honey Month, otherwise known as Nature's Golden Treat...
How about a butter and honey sandwich on the porch? Sounds good to us!
September is National Honey Month, a perfect time to celebrate this delicious and versatile gift from nature. Honey isn’t just a sweetener; it’s a fascinating part of our culinary and cultural heritage with many benefits.
Here are a few fun facts about honey:
Bee Magic: Honey is made by bees from the nectar of flowers. They store it in their hives, where it undergoes a transformation into the sweet treat we know and love.
Variety of Flavors: Honey’s flavor can vary depending on the flowers from which the nectar was collected. Try different varieties like clover, wildflower, or manuka to discover your favorite.
Health Benefits: Besides being a natural sweetener, honey has been used for its antimicrobial properties. It’s also a soothing remedy for
sore throats and coughs.
Sustainability: Supporting local beekeepers and honey producers helps promote the health of bee populations, which are crucial for pollinating many of our crops.
Celebrate National Honey Month by trying out some new recipes with honey, visiting a local beekeeper, or simply enjoying a spoonful in your tea. Another way is to plant bee-loving perennials such as coneflower, bee balm and lavender so that bees can carry on with their amazing work.
Being the New Kid
Speaking of kids returning to school, it's tough being the new kid. We'd love for you to check out my book, Molly Jo Daisy: Being the New Kid.
While Molly Jo's younger brother easily makes friends and loves new experiences, ten-year-old Molly Jo struggles to fit in and adapt to her new life in Maine. Everything about her new house, neighborhood, and hometown feels different and awkwardly unfamiliar. Moving to a new state is definitely not what Molly Jo had in mind.
Molly Jo's Grandma, her trusted confidante, never loses faith in her and encourages her to make friends and embrace her new surroundings. Through grace and determination, Molly Jo learns what it means to be the "new kid."
Some of my readers say this is a wonderful family book, filled with gentle humor that adults will enjoy too. Thank you for taking a look at my book.
And by the way, I'm working on another Molly Jo Daisy book!
Get Your Porch Garden
in Shape for Fall
As September rolls in, it’s a great time to start preparing your garden for fall. If you're like us, it good to wait until the temperatures are enjoyable for spending time outside.
Clear out spent summer plants and weeds to make room for autumn's growth. Add a layer of compost or manure to enrich the soil.
Now is also a great time to plant cool-season crops like kale, spinach, and radishes that will thrive as the weather cools. Trim back overgrown plants and mulch your garden beds to protect your soil and retain moisture.
As a side note, we're facing some big changes in our garden this year. For the first decade in this house, we enjoyed vibrant flowers and plants from spring through fall. This year, however, things changed. Deer and squirrels have enjoyed our flowers. Our beautiful yellow marigolds have been uprooted, and our begonias, hostas, and asters were devoured.
Dave diligently sprayed our plants with peppermint
spray all summer, but when we were gone for nearly three weeks, our gardens took a bad turn. The only plants left unscathed are our mums and lantana. Next year, we're planning a much more minimal garden and considering planting more herbs like lavender, which the deer seem to dislike.
The pic above is our garden from last year in early November. Wasn't it amazing? So glad we took pictures.
Popular Articles on Our Site
Making scarecrows is trending right now!
Perhaps one or more of these are of special interest to you:
- Mobile Home Porches
- How to Build a Scarecrow
- Fall Decorating Ideas
- Ranch Home Porches
- How to Make Privacy Panels for Your Porch
- Wheelchair Ramp Designs and Specs
Finding Joy in the Small Things
Finding joy in the small things can bring a sense of peace and happiness to everyday life. Noticing the changes in nature as the seasons evolve is one way to reflect on our blessings.
Taking the time to appreciate these simple pleasures helps us stay grounded and reminds us of the beauty that surrounds us.
We Appreciate Our Sponsors...
We greatly appreciate your support of our treasured sponsors. Each of them is like family to us and we are very proud of their products. They have been with us for a long time!
Isn't this a welcoming cottage? The porch railing panels surely add to the appeal.
The Porch Store products featured in this photo surely do level up the wonderful appeal of this sweet home.
- Drummer Boy 2.0 panels at the top of the stairs
- Picket Stair Panels
- Hermitage Sleeves and Cap Kits
- Timbertech Premier Rail Kits
We welcome you to take a look at all of The Porch Store products at their website.
They have long been sponsors to us and we could not be more proud.
Beautiful photo courtesy of VintageWoodworks.com
This beautiful home features twin Posts, with 3 at each corner. Though not traditional, they provide a wonderful look for this wrap-around porch.
We are very proud of our sponsor, Vintage Woodworks, a leader in handcrafted house trim since 1978. They can assist you in choosing just the right design options for your home.
PCA Products, one of our fine sponsors, takes sliding patio doors to a new level.
Look at this gorgeous, inviting door named Samson.
PCA Products believe that sliding patio screen doors should withstand an active lifestyle. They designed the Samson Patio Door to prevent against typical nuisances like screen blowouts, the door derailing from the track and the frame bending.
Please stop by their website for inspiration and to see for yourself what they offer.
Till Next Time...
We appreciate this lovely photo courtesy of ddzphoto on pixabay.
Imagine taking a leisurely walk down this path in the golden sunshine. Perhaps there's a chill in the air and a soft breeze blowing. How relaxing that would be.
We all live busy lives, so thank you for being in our porch family. We appreciate you.
May you enjoy the month of September and all that goes with the beginning of Autumn. We hope there are nice, cool days to enjoy your porch. How refreshing.
See you on the porch.
Our best always,
Mary and Dave
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