I love to do many things. But some of my top three things to do are read, eat cookies, and nap (not necessarily in that order). This screened in porch is one of my favorite places in my home . I enjoy this space because there’s a couch for me to nap on as well as a chair and ottoman for my hubby to do the same. There’s a vaulted white bead board ceiling with a ceiling fan that cools off Bubba when he usually joins the fray. The porch is three season and due to the love affair my skin has with mosquitoes, the screens are essential. I placed some grape vines across the tops of the windows and interlaced silk ivy through the vines so as to add color before my yard fills out each spring. The furniture is covered in Sunbrelle fabrics in a sunflower pattern that really holds up to the elements.

Another feature I love is my collection of plants, baskets, and plant stands. Because the porch faces east it doesn’t get terribly hot so I can water the plants once or twice weekly by just dropping in a bunch of ice cubes. Once every other week I fertilize them with miracle grow using a watering can. When using baskets you want to put a plastic saucer (Amazon) that measures slightly bigger than the bottom of your plant. Then place the saucer in my the bottom of the basket (Homegoods) before the plant. I buy my plants at the grocery store, garden stores, or even Costco (the big potted palm). The trick is to keep a list in your phone “notes” as to how many plants, what size and what types of plants work well in your space. If on the other hand your thumb isn’t green I’ve included a photo of all the beautiful silk or plastic plants I just saw this weekend at Costco. They’re lush and very life-like.

As for cookies (to eat before the nap) I’ve included a new recipe for a ginger snap cookie from Dawn Blatner’s cookbook, The Superfood Swap. It uses Medjool dates instead of sugar as well as unsweetened coconut flakes and sesame seeds.

Laatly, I’m reading Time after Time which is a historical romance novel set in the 1930-1940’s. It’s written by Lisa Grunwald. It was initially a slow read but is gaining momentum the further I get. Happy baking, reading, napping to all of you!