There were hanging baskets of ferns and geraniums, sometimes with American flags, suspended from porch ceilings.

This is especially important on porch ceilings, overhanging eaves and other places protected from the natural cleansing of wind and rain.

In the huge old trees birds were chirping; a yellow canary in a white wicker cage hung from the porch ceiling began its cheerful song.

Other unusual features are the windows set in the floor of the second floor storage room, which allow light into the room from the porch ceiling below.

"Unscrew that light bulb," he ordered, pointing at the porch ceiling.

Eventually, he looks up at the porch ceiling.

He grinned up at the porch ceiling where a spider was spinning its web between two pole rafters.

A wicker swing, suffering from a bad case of chipped paint, hung from the porch ceiling, down on one side where a hook had pulled out.

Before painting, wash off areas not exposed to the rain - for example, overhanging eaves, porch ceilings, shutters and partly sheltered doors.

The decking had been painted a fresh gray, while the porch ceiling was sky blue with fleecy white clouds stenciled on it.