August 6, 2012

I've Been Keeping a Secret...


The suspense has been killing me...

This project has been in the works since the beginning of June.  It's a project that I've been begging  asking my husband to build for a while as I'm not so handy with razor sharp blades.  Honestly, they scare the bejeebies out of me. 

I've pinned multiple styles for inspiration.  Dreamed about one, visualized one on my porch.  Imagined all the ways our family would love this.  I've obsessed actually. 

One perfect day my husband came home and said he was ready to build it.  I was beside myself GIDDY!

Now, it's not completely finished yet.  Which is my fault.  My husband finished up his part long ago and we've been using and loving  it for well over a month. 

But I wanted it to have a kind of grand introduction, you know?  I wanted it to be all fluffed and dressed pretty before I had the big reveal.

Then in one moment it happened and I just couldn't stand it any longer.  I had to share with you because you, dear readers and fellow gardeners, understand the joy when a garden dream becomes reality.

My youngest {who is now 6'1"} was in NYC for the week on a mission trip and he returned exhausted.

My husband and I were on our way out the back door when I saw this...



I grabbed a quick shot with my phone camera {he would kill me if he knew; fortunately 16 year old boys don't read their mom's gardening blogs}.  In that little moment my heart swelled.  We did it.  We created a sleeping porch!  And everyone in the family loves  it.  All the imagining and daydreaming and obsessing about this bed swing is now a reality.



This post isn't quite the big reveal I had hoped for.  The pillows aren't made and it's not quite dressed the way I see it in my mind's eye but the most important part is finished.  It's a porch that draws you in and welcomes you comfortably.  It's a porch where we will find respite.  A place to daydream, read, laugh, sleep, chat.  It's a place where memories will be made.

It's everything I imagined and more.  ♥ Thank you DJ ♥



39 comments:

  1. that's really neat, cat. looks well-shaded and comfy!

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  2. Wonderful! Your son enjoying it is the best possible reveal. What other "decor" do you need when the family is enjoying it so much.

    I want one too!

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  3. Looks pretty tranquil and inviting to me! And I kinda like it with the blanket messed up - it makes it look like something I could (and would) have at my place.

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  4. That is so perfect and if had that it would be my favorite place.

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  5. awesome !! I want one too !!!

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  6. Very nice! Will you be showing more details? I'd love to see the supports, connections, design details, etc.

    Now I really need a nap...

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    1. I do plan on doing a more comprehensive post, Alan. I just couldn't resist a sneak peak.

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  7. That is so cool! Love it. What a relaxing spot.

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  8. Oh cool! I was wondering when you would post about it, cause K. had told me and I thought: what a great idea!!! He must have described it really well cause this is how I pictured it. Next time I visit I will probably never wanna leave again ;-)
    Oh, and I promise not to tell your youngest ;-)

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  9. Congratulations Cat for achieving your dream in a short time. That is what's good when there's a man in the house who make things happen. If i have someone like that i might already have a tree house now! That's why when i read Randy Emitt's blog i am always envious, if only he is a housemate! BTW, i laughed when you said 16yr-olds don't read their mom's blogs. I don't have kids but have 14yr old nephew, so i can relate very well with you. Again i am happy for you!

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  10. Makes me want to take a nap, also. Nice!

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  11. Oh, my gosh, I LOVE IT!!!! It's a great setting with the fountain behind it and the rug underneath. Good job. Enjoy!

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  12. I'm ready for a nap. That must be the perfect setting for some zzzzzs! Sweet!

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  13. Oh that looks so inviting... I'll be right over!

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  14. That looks amazing! I love sleeping outside, but normally I just put out the hammock between two trees. (Not this summer, though; the weather has been too unpredictable to sleep outside without any shelter from possible rain.)

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  15. Cat that is so cool and sooo cool. I love it and remember sleeping on the porch as a child but usually screened in since the mosquitoes here are big and love me. I have dreamed about sleeping in our gazebo...maybe next summer since now I have your inspiration to do it...to be child like and enjoy. Can't wait to see more posts with the sleeping porch.

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  16. That is totally. awesome. I love how it looks like a little outdoor room with the screens and the plants! It looks so comfy and like such a great place to spend a lazy afternoon. or morning. or evening.. I think if I had one of those I would live in that room! Great job!

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  17. Wow - congratulations all around. What a great outdoor space you created. I can imagine spending hours out there reading, napping, but mostly simply soaking in the surrounding beauty. The only thing "missing" is a little bedside table for my, ooops!, for YOUR glass of wine. A stunning result and I can't wait to see the nuts and bolts details in your promised followup post to the sneak peek. You have every right to be pleased with your cooperative efforts. Y'all make a wonderful team.

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  18. That looks so comfortable and inviting and what a wonderful outdoor space! I bet you will be spending a lot of time there...enjoy!!!

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  19. Cat, that is simply beautiful! I LOVE it!! You are going to love this space so much! Your hubby is very clever and its a fabulous design. Love the chains, the bed ... its very "You"! :) Beautiful!

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  20. That beats my hammock! Quite a generous size, and even though we have centipedes, etc here, it would be worth having something like that in every home in the foothills. I bet we could use that at some point most days all year?

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    1. I always give it a good once over before I climb on. We use it almost daily and everyone has called dibs the first cool night to sleep out there! It's a really nice spot for reading the paper and in the evenings, a glass of wine ;)

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  21. Wow, DJ! Nice job! now then, I hope you lend your husband out for projects, Cat... ;)

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  22. It is beautiful. I love the decorative work on the upper woodwork and the colors you have chosen. It looks like something out of a magazine. You should be proud of this wonderful garden addition. You will have to allot sleeping times rather like we did with our one fly rod when on vacation with our boys when they were little. No fighting now!

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  23. What a perfect spot to relax! I love it down to the orange color on the bed.

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  24. It's wonderful!! I'm ready to take a snooze in it. Our hammock functions in quite the same way. We even bring it inside during the winter so we can keep laying in it.

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  25. That looks so inviting, Cat! I'm feeling nappish already. ;-) And what a great capture of the sleepy boy enjoying a nap on it.

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  26. Oh that looks so inviting...and there are no mosquies? I hate mosquitoes....we can barely sit outside some nights because of them.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  27. Your project turned out fantastic! I am not sure that I would get much done around my garden or house if I had one of those! I can imagine taking lots of afternoon naps!

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  28. How COOL!!!! I LOVE it! Looks like everyone in your family loves it, too! That really is a dream come true!

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  29. What a great idea! Clearly someone finds it to be a comfy spot.

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  30. What a fabulous idea, so much better than a swing seat, wish I had the climate to do something similar but will have to content myself with working out where to hang the hammock. Enjoy!

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  31. I love the swing bed. Must be a great place to have a nap. Good job!

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  32. You are so lucky! It will be so nice on cool nights. Someday...in the future.
    David/:0)

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  33. Oh that looks so comfy! Perfect for those hot lazy evenings. :)

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  34. Oh, how fun!!!!! I can remember as kids sleeping outside on lawn chairs. This looks so much more comfy :-) Isn't it great when that vision in our minds comes to life?!! Great job :-)

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  35. I love it. That looks so comfortable. Now we just need fall to arrive!

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  36. Very Cool! Looks like a great place to read a book. So creative and pretty:)

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