Six years ago we downsized and moved to a “Front Porch” community, specifically designed to encourage engagement with neighbors. It’s the opposite of most new housing design known as Snout Houses by planners like me for their garage noses that stick out into the front yard obscuring the main front entrance to a house. I love my porch, but I love the neighbor porches even more. I count eight of them in sight when I sit in my porch rocking chair reading. People come and go making the neighborhood feel alive.
Hi Vickie! That's funny you say that, because this is something I'm still getting used to. There are four porches in a row on this side of the street and my neighbors next door are super sociable. They are young and often have family squeezed onto their small porch on the weekends and are always saying "hello!" to passersby. And I'm like some old curmudgeon who wants to sit alone (behind a giant, overgrown privet hedge) and read. I want to work on that knee jerk pull to opt for solitude and try to be friendlier. A little more neighborly to (really nice) neighbors. Thanks for the reminder. xo
Hopes are running high! "The best piety is to enjoy -- when you can. You are doing the most then to save the earth's character as an agreeable planet. And enjoyment radiates." MM
PS love your porch and your blueberry T! I’m a stay inside in summer person because my body hates extreme heat which is what we have in Johannesburg. However, that is also the reason we book a beach holiday in winter.
If I think NJ is hot, I cannot imagine South Africa. Woof. But also, who doesn't love a good beach holiday? Where do you like to go when you need to lie down and warm up?
Amy, I think you would like the Peachtree Bluff series. It’s about 3 sisters (I have a whole note in my phone - books about sisters) and their mom. I really LOVE the mom. That’s the author - Kristy Woodson Harvey.
Oooh, they mentioned that series at the event and there was a collective sigh from all the book lovers in the room! I will check it out! Thanks for the rec. Any other books you're gobbling up right now?
Enjoyed this week’s musings! After retirement I have come to really appreciate quiet time at home and am a homebody for sure. I like being with other people, etc., but treasure the peace of home.
Helene, I am right there with you! I could just putter around my house (and porch) day in and day out! Thank you as always for reading + commenting!!! xo
My millennial children identify it as either being an “indoor cat” or “outdoor cat” … I’m an indoor cat that occasionally escapes to the outdoors and then meows at the door to be let back in. A perfect summer day in the Colorado mountains involves food, a beach chair, toes in the river, watching my husband fly fish with a book in my lap. A perfect summer evening is at the beach in California with pizza, some cocktails and watching the sunset with my family.
Also: I just reposted a TikTok of a kid riding a bike on my Instagram stories fretting about not being an Outside Person bc it reminded me of your Indoor Cat note. ;) xo
Venetia, that is an amazing analogy and think that I'd be meow'ing with you at the back door after a little jaunt outside. One of my coworkers lives in Colorado and I can never get over what she and her little family get to do on the weekends. Like, sitting along a river and reading while someone fly fishes sounds amazing.
I screened in a section of our back porch two years ago and spend so much time out there working and reading. My favorite spot! Told my kids my ashes will have to be spread right outside it.
The beach/porch struggle is real! Do I want to sit in traffic to get to the beach where I am forced to be social with my fellow members or sit in silence alone? With the rain this morning my decision was made for me.
PS I got the roll down shades you have on your recommendation. Thank you.
Hi Beth! Oh, well I love a screened-in porch and yours sounds delightful. I'm glad the rain helped you get to stay home and hang there. Also, did you get the rattan ones I have on my porch? I love them and left them outside all winter and they still look great.
Tara, I need to get you on the porch with me!!! Oooh I just bought one of the nightshirts, too (which I'll wear with a sleeping bra bc I have rules). ;) You're such a prolific reader, can you share what's on your summer TBR!!!
I don’t really keep a formal summer TBR list. I pick as I go along.
I’m currently reading the delightful Beach House Rules. I’ll surely read The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau. I’d love to read The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb.
That being said, if you ever want recommendations, I love sharing them! I’ll go through my favorites list!
Porch is gorgeous!! I totally get the “should be doing” vs “want to be doing.” When you finish Safekeep, the NYT book podcast is a great listen! It’s so good. I just cracked open Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell and devoured close to 100 pages in one sitting ❤️ (atypical for me)
I love Rainbow Rowell so much that am actively campaigning for one of my kids to name a future grandchild Rainbow. So far, chances are very low they'll concede. In other news, I am excited to get into Safekeep and listen to that podcast. What else is on your summer TBR?
That would be amazing…another little Rainbow in the world. I just finished rereading Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver and loved it all over again. It totally holds up. I have My Friends on my nightstand in the queue. But trying to keep things light for summer!
Six years ago we downsized and moved to a “Front Porch” community, specifically designed to encourage engagement with neighbors. It’s the opposite of most new housing design known as Snout Houses by planners like me for their garage noses that stick out into the front yard obscuring the main front entrance to a house. I love my porch, but I love the neighbor porches even more. I count eight of them in sight when I sit in my porch rocking chair reading. People come and go making the neighborhood feel alive.
Hi Vickie! That's funny you say that, because this is something I'm still getting used to. There are four porches in a row on this side of the street and my neighbors next door are super sociable. They are young and often have family squeezed onto their small porch on the weekends and are always saying "hello!" to passersby. And I'm like some old curmudgeon who wants to sit alone (behind a giant, overgrown privet hedge) and read. I want to work on that knee jerk pull to opt for solitude and try to be friendlier. A little more neighborly to (really nice) neighbors. Thanks for the reminder. xo
Hopes are running high! "The best piety is to enjoy -- when you can. You are doing the most then to save the earth's character as an agreeable planet. And enjoyment radiates." MM
PS love your porch and your blueberry T! I’m a stay inside in summer person because my body hates extreme heat which is what we have in Johannesburg. However, that is also the reason we book a beach holiday in winter.
If I think NJ is hot, I cannot imagine South Africa. Woof. But also, who doesn't love a good beach holiday? Where do you like to go when you need to lie down and warm up?
Amy, I think you would like the Peachtree Bluff series. It’s about 3 sisters (I have a whole note in my phone - books about sisters) and their mom. I really LOVE the mom. That’s the author - Kristy Woodson Harvey.
Oooh, they mentioned that series at the event and there was a collective sigh from all the book lovers in the room! I will check it out! Thanks for the rec. Any other books you're gobbling up right now?
Enjoyed this week’s musings! After retirement I have come to really appreciate quiet time at home and am a homebody for sure. I like being with other people, etc., but treasure the peace of home.
Helene, I am right there with you! I could just putter around my house (and porch) day in and day out! Thank you as always for reading + commenting!!! xo
My millennial children identify it as either being an “indoor cat” or “outdoor cat” … I’m an indoor cat that occasionally escapes to the outdoors and then meows at the door to be let back in. A perfect summer day in the Colorado mountains involves food, a beach chair, toes in the river, watching my husband fly fish with a book in my lap. A perfect summer evening is at the beach in California with pizza, some cocktails and watching the sunset with my family.
Also: I just reposted a TikTok of a kid riding a bike on my Instagram stories fretting about not being an Outside Person bc it reminded me of your Indoor Cat note. ;) xo
Love it! And I saw that on your story today😀
Venetia, that is an amazing analogy and think that I'd be meow'ing with you at the back door after a little jaunt outside. One of my coworkers lives in Colorado and I can never get over what she and her little family get to do on the weekends. Like, sitting along a river and reading while someone fly fishes sounds amazing.
I love porches! Yours look very cozy.
I screened in a section of our back porch two years ago and spend so much time out there working and reading. My favorite spot! Told my kids my ashes will have to be spread right outside it.
The beach/porch struggle is real! Do I want to sit in traffic to get to the beach where I am forced to be social with my fellow members or sit in silence alone? With the rain this morning my decision was made for me.
PS I got the roll down shades you have on your recommendation. Thank you.
Hi Beth! Oh, well I love a screened-in porch and yours sounds delightful. I'm glad the rain helped you get to stay home and hang there. Also, did you get the rattan ones I have on my porch? I love them and left them outside all winter and they still look great.
I did get the rattan ones. Also left up all winter. They still look great too.
I am in love with your porch! That’s the perfect reading spot.
I love my Soma cool nights night shirt. Time to check out the ones with the shelf bras! Thanks for the rec.
Enjoyed reading your thoughts as always!
Tara, I need to get you on the porch with me!!! Oooh I just bought one of the nightshirts, too (which I'll wear with a sleeping bra bc I have rules). ;) You're such a prolific reader, can you share what's on your summer TBR!!!
I’m all in! Can’t wait.
I don’t really keep a formal summer TBR list. I pick as I go along.
I’m currently reading the delightful Beach House Rules. I’ll surely read The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau. I’d love to read The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb.
That being said, if you ever want recommendations, I love sharing them! I’ll go through my favorites list!
The porch is fab!
If you ever head south, I'd love to do some porch lounging with you! xo
Porch is gorgeous!! I totally get the “should be doing” vs “want to be doing.” When you finish Safekeep, the NYT book podcast is a great listen! It’s so good. I just cracked open Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell and devoured close to 100 pages in one sitting ❤️ (atypical for me)
I love Rainbow Rowell so much that am actively campaigning for one of my kids to name a future grandchild Rainbow. So far, chances are very low they'll concede. In other news, I am excited to get into Safekeep and listen to that podcast. What else is on your summer TBR?
That would be amazing…another little Rainbow in the world. I just finished rereading Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver and loved it all over again. It totally holds up. I have My Friends on my nightstand in the queue. But trying to keep things light for summer!
Me!