April 22, 2020
Making the front porch the place to be. Good company, family traditions, and old-fashioned relaxing.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35
THE DESTINATION
The front porch at our house has become a place of relaxation, togetherness, and tradition. It’s always been there, but hasn’t necessarily always been “the place to be.”
The road we live on, once a country road, is now a busy route for commuters and school traffic. Thankfully there’s a lot of space between the house and the road. So we can sit and watch folks go by, and often we get a little horn beep from a friend.
Once our first grandson was here, sitting on the porch became a really important pastime (Pastime: An activity that someone does regularly for enjoyment rather than work; a hobby). GrandDaddy spent lots of afternoons with that little fellow on his lap, pointing out the different vehicles traveling by. By age three he could recognize all the major auto makes!
And sometimes I would let that little boy get up early with me and go out in the quiet to listen to the birds sing, and watch the sunrise. Those times became so special, our own little tradition that we still enjoy, even if we have to wrap up in a blanket!
Now it’s turned into an after-supper tradition with the whole family.
Porch Memories. Front Porch, Screened Porch, Back Porch.
I’ve got a long-time friend who has a wonderful porch, and everything else about her is wonderful, too. She created a little tradition with our group of friends, inviting us to breakfast on her porch every so often. She cooks amazing food and is a true coffee lover. It’s sweet to remember the time we spent together on her pretty porch.
I have another really creative friend who has a huge screened porch, beautifully decorated. We gathered there for friendship, refreshments and relaxation. Once she even supplied colored pencils and pages for us to color. Surrounded by green plants, we were enveloped in tranquility as we snacked, colored, and retreated from the stresses of the day.
Is it the people? The activity? The location?
Maybe it’s not all about the porch, but what if that’s important? What are your porch memories? I think there is definitely a connection. I want to have that. The rich things that happen when two people (or more) sit down and spend time together.
This is why you’re invited to the porch. It’s virtual with you and me, but I’m working to make it as real as I can. Don’t you need a safe place, a quiet place, to spend a little while refreshing your spirit?
THE STUFF
Sigh. The porch. Always a work in progress. We had new steps and rails built, which really freshened up the look. Now we need something to make the floor pretty.
Why is it like this? You can drip paint on concrete by accident and you will never get it off as long as you live with anything less than a jackhammer. But decide you want to paint concrete and you have a series of important and absolutely necessary steps to take so the surface is prepared and the paint will stick.
I just don’t get it!
The rockers are old — almost 40 years old. That seems impossible, but they are. They are well made, oak that was originally stained before it was painted. Soon they will have to be replaced. Some of their little cracks just can’t be repaired any more.
It’s been fun to add a few things to pretty up the porch, and it usually is cute in a rustic sort of way. It gets neglected during winter, which in Georgia sneaks in for some of January and February, and maybe some other months. We never know.
I styled the porch for winter, just for my blog guests. I borrowed the furry blankets and refreshments from indoors. I love a lamp on the porch, and pretty plants.
Spring Porch Decor
Usually in the spring I get really excited about refreshing the porch. I wash off the rockers with powdered oxygen bleach and water (less stinky than chlorine bleach). Then I fill our same old planters with young plants, and get ready to spend more time there.
Check out the pictures below.
Some days I’ll get out the festive dishes, and hang around to watch the hummingbird feeders. The grandchildren will drink lemonade and dance to some crazy tune I find on my phone, and we will watch for company to arrive. Maybe you.
And if you’re on your own porch, I hope you get to make some sweet memories there.
It’s a great place to pray, and to just be still. If you’d like, take a quick look at My Current Prayer. It changes sometimes, but not daily, so you can always come back and see what’s on my heart.
Thanks for being here.
The gray rug is here, at Walmart. It’s made of recycled plastic bottles.
I am loving these pink pillows.
I usually go for the simplest hummingbird feeders.
Thank you! At GFP company is always welcome!
If you liked this topic 🤗, feel free to 👉 share 👈 on Facebook or Pinterest, or send a link to a friend.
Are you on Pinterest? That is a crazy fun place! You can find so many helpful things. Take a look at what I’ve saved for you! A lot of things that never make it to the blog. Here are my Pinterest pins, and I also have categories/boards if you’re looking for something specific.
-Grammye
I’m Grammye, and I’m collecting and sharing ideas that can help you embrace the life you have.
When things are difficult, come here to refresh and relax. We’ll have coffee and talk.
You’re invited
to the neighborhood of GFP.
Accept by signing up
and I’ll send you a letter right away.