Coco, relaxing.
Read my latest Charleston Daily Mail column about the importance of the porch.
And check out The Strainer of the Gods at Farm Bell Recipes!
Vote Front Porch
Jun
7
7
Comments
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Shelly says:
Chair, broom, flowers, dog. That’s what makes a nice country porch. Just need some cold lemonaide and a good book! Coco’s got the right idea. :happyflower:
On June 7, 2010 at 1:31 am
Barbee' says:
Love the daisy touch :happyflower:
On June 7, 2010 at 6:40 am
Johanna says:
It is a sad commentary on our culture that we hide out on the back deck and hope no one stops by rather than welcoming the neighbors by sitting on the front porch. When I was a small girl, we lived in a post WWII subdivision of boxy houses on slabs. No porches, but no matter — people brought their lawn chairs out on the driveway to catch the evening breeze and be sociable.
I live out in the country, but I was in town last night and delighted to see kids on bikes and parents sitting on the porches, overseeing the activity in the street. Gave me a bit of hope!
On June 7, 2010 at 6:55 am
CindyP says:
Johanna, I’ve never thought of that….. This weekend there was graduation open house across the street and all the neighborhood gathered afterward just to socialize…because there was a tent. There aren’t any front porches…….
Your front porch just screams WELCOME!
On June 7, 2010 at 7:17 am
Kieran says:
I wish I had a front porch! The other day I followed the example of my neighbors. They put two chairs out in their driveway and just sat there, watching the world go by.
So the next day or two, I did the same. It was great! People stopped by in cars and yelled hello out the window. One neighbor threw down his gardening tools and came over and talked to me and my husband for an hour.
I think another definition of “front porch” should be “any place at YOUR place where you’re open to visits.”
For me, it’s my driveway.
On June 7, 2010 at 7:17 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
Kieran, that is such a good idea about the chairs on the driveway!
On June 7, 2010 at 7:22 am
Cousin Sheryl says:
My parents live in a small subdivision that is out in a the country (15 houses). There tradition of porch sitting is alive and well there. There are houses where the coffee is brewed (my folks) and those who stroll with coffee cups in hand! Lots of nice visits every evening. I have really missed this where I live now. We are so far out in the country that nobody stops by – there is no “neighborhood.” People come by sometimes but they have to call first to see if you are home. Suzanne and I would sit on the old farmhouse porch and people would wave or sometimes roll down their window and say hello as they drove by.
On June 7, 2010 at 8:13 am
Eunice Moore says:
My grandparents had a front porch with a swing and wicker chairs, ferns hanging from the porch posts and pots od geraniums on the railing. However, my parents enclosed the porch about 30 years ago. This post brought back memories of porch sitting from my childhood. Thanks for the memoriws.
On June 7, 2010 at 9:06 am
Maura @ Lilac Lane Cottage says:
Suzanne I just read your article about the front porch. I AGREE!!! When we lived in the city we built a front porch onto our house. People walking by would holler out that they loved the porch and some of our closer neighbours would stop by and ‘sit a spell’ if we were out there. I think if all homes had a front porch it would be a different world. THANK YOU for writing about the front porch. Enjoy yours. Chic :hungry2:
On June 7, 2010 at 10:41 am
Ulrike says:
NPR did a series on the Front Porch a few years ago. Check it out: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5627856
I’ve seen some new housing developments emphasize that all their houses have front porches to foster community. The front porch is trying to make a comeback.
On June 7, 2010 at 11:43 am
bonita says:
Don’t forget stoops!!! Lots of us in the city used to sit out on the front stoop. It served the purpose of a front porch, lots of visiting, but sitting furniture was restricted to stairs. Once there were three people, a child was dispatched up the stairs for lemonade or other refreshment. If there was an important game, the transistor radio was brought out so all could cheer on the local team. [stoop: from the Middle Dutch stoep. Originally brought to the Hudson Valley of New York by settlers from the Netherlands. Common the Northeast, but spreading]
On June 7, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Miss Becky says:
there is no better place in the world than a front porch to sit and watch a thunderstorm. on my. and Coco knows it :yes:
On June 7, 2010 at 2:12 pm
LauraP says:
I spent so many hours with my grandmother on her front porch, learning various handicrafts, visiting with neighbors, catching up on local news. That’s the one thing I miss living out here in the boonies, no people-watching from the front porch.
On June 7, 2010 at 5:41 pm
rileysmom says:
If we see anyone from our front porch, they’re lost!! Isn’t that about how it would be at your place, Suzanne?
On June 7, 2010 at 6:04 pm