A "Reasonably Clean" Welcome

Like Mother, Like Daughter is having a linky party similar to their "Pretty over the Kitchen Sink" from last December. This time we are focusing on entryways. Leila of LMLD has written a series of helpful posts on the Reasonably Clean House, which you can find in the LMLD's sidebar; hence the "Reasonably Clean" Welcome!

As I may have mentioned once or twice *wink*, we moved in mid-June, and I've been swept up in a flurry of nesting ever since. I don't mind because I enjoy nesting, but the focus of said nesting has not been on any of the three entryways this house is blessed with. In fact, one of them is still downright dismal as the room it opens on awaits paint, furniture, and general unpacking. Unfortunately, that seems to be the one lots of people use. But I'm not showing you that one . . . yet. I put my energies into the front entry, the one I *wish* people would use more often and the one that had the least to do to pretty it up a bit. First, some "before" pictures.

This is the front porch:



It's pretty non-descript and not thrilling, isn't it? We brought the geraniums with us when we moved and I just sort of plopped them there to get them out of their box and into the sunshine, although I don't think they are getting enough sunshine judging by the lack of blooms. The marigolds were planted for us before we arrived and thankfully they are blooming. Next year I plan to have a lot more flowers in the beds, but it was too late this year and I was pretty busy with more essential things. (Did I really just say that???) Nothing says welcome more than flowers!

I decided that I could create a more welcoming front entry by accomplishing just a few tasks. First I spraypainted the metal cross that was left here by the previous occupants. Before:




After:



Better, don't you agree?

When I was rummaging around in the garage, this red wagon caught my eye and I had the thought that the flowers would look better sitting in it. They do!



I scrubbed off the sidewalk chalk from the wall . . .



. . . but we are stuck with this little bit of utilitarianism for the time being:



There is also a new doormat where there wasn't one before:



The end result is not strikingly different than what was there before, but it is spruced up a bit. By the way, there isn't much I can do about the storm door. This is a parsonage, and such upgrades are not really up to us. I'm looking on the bright side, though: at least it works well. :-) Next year, I'd like to add a plant stand or something similar and maybe a chair.



If you'd like to see what the inside looks like from the front door, go here. Thanks for visiting! I wish you really could come through my entryway and we could chat for awhile!