Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Sunday, October 4, 2026

My Back Door House.


Welcome 
 to my little country cottage. 
As most country homes go, 
everyone enters by the back door.



I tell people 
that the first time they visit 
they're company, 
but the second time they're family.



If everyone enters by the back door, 
you do want your back entrance 
 to look pretty.




I go one step further. 
When friends make a second visit
I start showing them the cupboard
 where the glasses are,
 the cupboard where the coffee cups are,
and
 I let them know there's usually something
 cold to drink in the refrigerator
and
if they are lucky there might be cookies.
 
Then I say, since you are now family,
 help yourself. 
That sure makes having company 
a lot easier. 🥰😁

I think it makes people 
 feel more at home as well.

🍁☺️🍁☺️🍁

So if you ever come 
knocking on my door, 
Remember first time you're company, 
next time you're family☺️


Oh, I almost closed the post 

without these last two photos.

This was the largest trunk 

from the trees cut down 

last week.




49 inches in diameter. 
I had no idea they were that big. 

🍁🍁🍁

Well that's my post. 
Thank you for visiting. 

God bless you all. 
You're blogging sister, 
Connie :)
 

48 comments:

  1. "Back door guests are always best!" You back door looks very cheery and inviting.
    That was a big tree!

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  2. Yes it was and I'm so glad that I don't have to worry about it falling on the house anymore 🍁🥰 thank you for your sweet words.

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  3. The entrance to your back door is beautiful and so inviting. I sure wish I lived closer to visit. That certainly was an enormous tree!
    Liz xx

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    1. I wish you lived closer to visit also. You certainly would be invited back a second time and be called family 🥰
      I do think that my chrysanthemums are showing off this year I really have been enjoying them.

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  4. I've always heard that back door guests were best. You're back door is as welcoming as your front. It looks beautiful.

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    1. Thank you so much Ann. I do believe my chrysanthemums are showing off this year. 3 years ago when I planted them they were those little 2-in pots that you get five for $10 at Home Depot. I can't believe how big they've grown.

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  5. Once again you have inspired me to continue sprucing up my small Ranchhouse!I am short on inspiration,so your posts help me alot.Enjoy the beautiful Fall weather.I am happy for you to be free of all the leaf raking you previously were doing!

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    1. I love it when someone says I inspired them. That's what I like about blogging because I get inspired by so many blogging posts. I love the camaraderie of sharing ideas.

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  6. That's a nice philosophy you have for your visitors!

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    1. I think it's good for both me and them. When they help themselves I have more time to visit and I think when they help themselves they feel more at home as well.

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  7. I like that you show people which cupboard the cups are in on the second visit, that makes it easy for everyone. Hoping the cookies are always there for the lucky ones. Lovely autumn photos too.

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    1. Thank you. I think when you make people feel like family in your home they're much more comfortable and so are you. It's a good thing 🥰

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  8. Oh Connie, your back door area is so pretty! So warm and inviting. I could sit there on your back step in the sun for hours and smell the mums. I LOVE how mums smell! I would love to knock on your door and visit for a while. So pretty!

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    1. I would love you to visit enough to be called family. Sisters☺️

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  9. And a lovely back door it is. They were sure some big trees that cut down!!

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    1. Thank you and yes they were. The next wind storm that blows through here will be a time to celebrate them being gone.

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  10. Well, now, you've made me want to come visit, for sure! I wish my backdoor area looked that good.

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  11. Your back door looks so welcoming and pretty! Do you buy new mums each fall, or do yours come back year after year? They sure are beautiful! I love your door wreath and the color of the door too. I wish I could come visit and be "family". That would be so much fun. Wow, that was some huge tree!! 4' across is huge! I know you are relieved to have them down so they can't hurt your house...and no leaves to rake! It must seem really different to you, however, without their shade, etc. But you will get used to it I'm sure. Thank you for the invitation to come knock on your back door! Have a blessed rest of your week.

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    1. Pamela, I loved reading your comment. I planted those mum's the year before last. They were those little ones at Home Depot that they sell for 5 for $10. I am amazed at how well they grew in those big flower pots. I'll probably have to thin them out next spring.
      I wish you lived close enough to pop in and visit 🥰

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  12. Beautiful welcoming entrance for sure. People can only come in our front door, the back is closed off with a fence that can't be open from the front anymore. It is nice when you can feel at home at someones house :)

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    1. I hope people feel at home at my house. I want everyone to feel comfortable and at ease.

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  13. Your Fall wreath is gorgeous!! And the Mums are amazing. They must be older plants to be so huge. Do you have any special tip for keeping them from year to year?

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    1. You know I've just put them in those pots and basically forgot about them, other than watering them. I am amazed at how big and pretty they are. The wreath is a Goodwill find. 🌱🥰

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  14. You've made your back door a most beautiful and welcoming place for your guests/friends.

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  15. How lovely to approach your back door and see that lovely colourful display.

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    1. Thank you so much. I really can't take credit for it all I did was plant them and make sure they had water. They seem to be very hardy with very little care 🥰

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  16. At our Virginia home, we never used the front door and everyone knew to enter by the back door. Your back door looks very nice and I would be happy to visit and enter that way, Connie.

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    1. Thank you, the welcome mat is out anytime you're in the neighborhood 🥰

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  17. Connie, I'm going to answer now since I missed this post a while ago. I just wanted to say, your mum's are absolutely gorgeous! The ones I planted in Madras from the little pots did really well too for a few years. When I first moved there in 2015 it was fall so I bought like eight mums and put them in my front flower bed. They did so great for a few years, and then I moved them to my back flower bed and from then on they didn't do very well at all. But they sure were fun while I have them, again yours are absolutely stunning! I love the color of your door. I wish I was brave enough to paint my front door that color. How do you attach your wreath to the door? I hate the idea of putting a nail or some kind of hook in my door. One of these days I may just come and knock on your back door and give you a big surprise! Hugs!!! Marilyn

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  18. My back door is a steel door so I bought the biggest magnetic hooks that I could find on Amazon. The kind you hooked to your refrigerator and put hot pads on. I'm happy that you like my mums, they are certainly showing off this year. 🥳

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  19. Oh Connie, I wish we were neighbours. Guess I'll have to make do with being long distance friends

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    1. Wouldn't that be nice if we were neighbors. I'm sure we find so much in common to talk about, over a cup of coffee or tea. 🥰

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  20. In the South, we open the back door and say knock knock! hahaha! I would be SO at home there and the flowers are just gorgeous! Hugs, Diane...your sister from the South!

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    1. Hey Sis, I'm so happy you stopped by and left a comment. You could knock and enter my back door anytime.
      God bless you!

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  21. So glad you came to visit me, Connie! Enjoyed seeing your home too and your flowers look so pretty!! Your back door is very welcoming 🌻 🌞 🌻 🌞 ☀️ 🌻 🌞 ☀️ 🌻

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    1. Thank you so much and thank you for visiting me back. It's always fun making new blogging friends 🥰

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  22. We have a front door and a side door, but never use the side door. Your back entrance looks very pretty!

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  23. Thank you! Our front door goes to a gate on a fairly busy country road, but our driveway enters right pass the backdoor, easy for all visitors to park and enter. ☺️

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  24. Connie, your back door entry looks so welcoming — I love the mums! That "company vs family" philosophy is so sweet. I found this via uploadarticle.com the other day and thought of your cottage!

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    1. Thank you for your sweet comment, all of my dear friends have increased the size of my family 🥰

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  25. Hello! I enjoyed my welcoming visit here today! Your home is lovely! Have a cozy October week, my friend.

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    1. Thank you, it's a simple home, but very comfy and cozy ♥️

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  26. Your way of welcoming returning guests as family is so lovely. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thank you, I love it when people make themselves at home in my house.

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