Just in the dreaming stage, but I figure that maybe this year if I can swing it, Id like to add a little deck/porch to the moby something nice as a overhang for the front door, and covered so I could sit out and enjoy the rain and enjoy a little porch area.

Of course, wed build it ourselves, with the help of talented friends, but still, I got to thinking that I really had no idea of what I really want. Ill know it when I see it, and so far some of my searches seem close, but not quite right yet.

Here are some of the near misses Some are a little too big and some are a little too small, but they sort of have a similar look and idea with them. I definately want a roof over it. Something that you can hang shades on or even bug netting in a nice simple manner. A railing, that would be nice. And of course, elevated to the level of the Moby floor. Mostly because my front steps are a real doosy of a first step, without a railing, and all that. And a covered porch would give us a nice clean area without snow and ice and such, and could even be blocked in a bit in the winter to make a sort of draft stopper from the front door and all.

What do you all think? Am I heading in the right way? Anyone have any cool pictures to share of their moby deck/porch? Please let me know!

Email here if you wish!

Thanks!

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Decks and Porches | The Mobile Home Woman

The Porches residences are some of the most spectacular and impeccably crafted homes ever built in Steamboat Springs. The interiors feature hand-hewn beams and hand-distressed floors, which blend seamlessly with the finest cabinetry, granite counter tops, and luxury finishes.

Custom ranch stone fireplaces and generous outdoor living spaces contribute to the overall sense of enduring quality and mountain ambiance. All the Fractional / Private Residence Club homes are furnished with the same care and attention to detail that goes into construction. From the down-filled couches to the top-end billiards tables in each residence, everything is of the finest quality and built to last for many generations to come.

The exteriors at The Porches pay homage to the great western legacy of Steamboat Springs. With varied exterior materials including natural color palates, stains, and corrugated metal, the entire project has a distinctly natural and classic appearance.

Not only do the exteriors of our luxury homes for sale look beautiful, they are also specifically designed for the rigors of the Steamboat climate in both summer and winter.

Other features of the residences include double car garages, professional kitchens, air conditioning, air cleaning and humidifying systems, Pella brand professional grade windows, and, of course, comfortable and inviting porches.

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The Porches of Steamboat - Luxury Homes For Sale Steamboat ...

Jim Weiker The Columbus Dispatch @JimWeiker

Why do dogs get to have all the fun, with their fancy-schmancy dog houses and dog runs and dog beds?

Cats deserve some love, too.

And with "catios," theyre getting plenty of it from some central Ohio homeowners.

Catios, like their occupants, can be many sizes, but they are basically screened porches for cats.

They allow indoor cats to leave the house without wandering off or getting exposed to other animals.

Larger catios can be closed off from the house with a door, just like a screened porch, but most are connected through a pet door or an open window, allowing cats to come and go as they please.

Owners say catios have revolutionized their pets lives. (The cats declined to comment.)

They spend hours out there. My boy cat especially, Marley, begs to go out, catio owner Linda Blount-Jacobs said.

She built a second-floor catio on her East Side home two years ago with the help of her father, Dave Blount.

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Blount-Jacobs catio is a screened space, 2 feet by 4 feet, that rests on the roof of her Florida room and is accessible from a second-floor window.

Dana Russell went a step or two, or three beyond. He built what amounts to an addition onto his South Side home for the eight indoor and two outdoor cats that he and his wife, Debbie, care for.

Two screened porches one about 12 feet by 20 feet, the other about 4 by 8 are attached to the rear of his home.

"They love it out here," Russell said.

On the Northwest Side, Linda Orenchuk built a catio onto the back of her home for her five cats that, like Blount-Jacbos' catio, is accessible through a window. The space is more modest than Russell's, but the goal is the same.

"It just bothers me that a creature cant have sunlight or fresh air," Orenchuk said. "But if we let them out, theres the danger of disease or injury and they'll get the birds."

Cat experts say catios can serve important functions for cats, beyond simple exposure to the outdoors. Catios provide entertainment and exercise, especially if they are outfitted with climbing structures.

"Theyre happier, like any of us, when they get a little exercise. Theyre less stressed," said Kellie DiFrischia, co-director of Columbus Dog Connection, an East Side rescue shelter for both dogs and cats. "It's visual stimulation. Its really invaluable.

"Giving the cats an opportunity to climb is important," she said. "Its such a natural behavior for cats and gives them an opportunity to get up high."

Columbus Dog Connection includes a 16-by-16-foot catio outfitted with logs and other play things. DiFrischia said the staff is hoping to expand the furnishings with some donated lumber.

For cat owners considering building their own catio, experts caution that it's important to take the specific cat into consideration. Not all cats enjoy the outdoors, said Michelle Matusicky, an assistant professor at Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

"Although plenty of cats are in need of enrichment and a catio could certainly provide it plenty can either be outright frightened or overstimulated, which could result in further behavioral issues in the home," she said. "So watch your kitty closely if you are going to attempt to take him/her outside."

Some experts also cautioned that catios can potentially expose cats to fleas and diseases.

Matusicky advised pet owners who are building a catio to make sure it includes no sharp edges or isolated ledges that would require a dangerous leap. She suggested designing a space that includes plenty of interesting spaces for a cat to explore paths, hiding spots and perches.

And finally, pet owners need to make sure any catio is secure. Orenchuk learned that lesson when she discovered an opossum in her catio one morning before letting her cats out.

Ohio State's Veterinary Medical Center and other pet experts will be on hand next weekend during the Fall Home Show & Pet Alley at the Ohio Expo Center to answer pet owners' questions on catios or other topics.

jweiker@dispatch.com

@JimWeiker

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Screened-in 'catios,' latest home trend, give felines safe places to enjoy outdoors - The Columbus Dispatch

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If you've ever had the pleasure of sipping sweet tea on a sun-drenched wraparound porch down South, you might have looked up to find a colorful surprise.

Porch ceilings in the American South (and parts of the Northeast) are almost always painted blue whether the rest of the home's exterior is white, yellow, pink or any other color of the rainbow.

It's no coincidence.

It's not a trick of the light ... but it is a trick.

"First, theres the folklore," explained Ellen ONeill, the director of strategic design intelligence at Benjamin Moore. "Then, theres the feel-good factor."

Color us intrigued!

The folklore piece refers to the concept of "haint," a Southern variation on the word "haunt" that refers to a ghost or spirit. "Blue represented water, and apparently spirits cant traverse water," said O'Neill. "People would paint the ceilings, the window trim, and sometimes the doors (to keep spirits away)."

What started as superstition has since translated into a design trend. "No one would think twice about painting their porch blue, because their grandmother's and their parents' (porches) were blue," ONeill explained. "It's permeated into porch design."

In fact, the pale blue-green tint is now known in design circles as "haint blue."

These are the most popular porch ceiling hues among Benjamin Moore customers.

Even if you don't believe in ghosts, a blue ceiling adds plenty of benefits from a design perspective. "A blue sky is an optimistic thing to look at. It reminds us of daybreak; it wards off gloomy weather and delays nightfall," said O'Neill. "Painting a ceiling blue brings in nature and the sky."

Plus, you don't have to worry about it clashing with the house. "Regardless of the rest of the paint colors we see houses with yellow or pink facades with blue ceilings, and it doesnt look like paint palette," O'Neill explained. "It looks like 'Oh, of course, thats the sky.'

And there's one more perk: Blue paint is believed to keep bugs and birds from nesting. While some think this is due to the heavy doses of lye that used to be in the paint supply, there's a psychological argument, too.

"If an insect perceives that a ceiling is really the sky, it instinctively wouldnt nest there," said O'Neill. "It depends how deep you want to go into the brain of an insect ... but it's not unlike how ladybugs will land on a white house. It's a visual trick."

Whatever the reason, it sounds like spending some time under a blue ceiling won't leave us feeling blue!

Go here to see the original:
What is 'haint blue'? Here's why Southern porches have blue ceilings - Today.com

What kind of porch should I add to my home?The size and type of your house porch is primarily dictated by your budget, space and overall look. A typical one is integrated into the roofline, so keep that in mind that youre likely looking at an expensive remodel. Wraparound porches takes up quite a bit of yard space and often require a change to multiple areas of the house, while small sun porch designs out back are a little less tedious. Adding a front stoop is a quick way to enhance your curb appeal, and is a less expensive option as well. In general, all of them have a predominantly traditional feel, so you might try a patio or deck if it doesn't fit your desired style.What type of porch railings should I have?The railings, or balustrade, you decide to use can help set the overall style of your porch design. While you can always go with simple vertical balusters for a more craftsman look, there are tons of other porch designs that will make your railings pop. Try turning those same vertical posts diagonally or varying the spacing to create unique patterns. Alternatively, traditional turned railings give a more classic look and will surely make your space sturdy for years to come. For an intricate showstopper, go with a custom sawn wood design that will instantly give a Victorian vibe to your space. For industrial or modern styles, consider metal railings, or sleek horizontal cable railings. To keep your views from being obstructed, glass is always a good option (plus, all of your gorgeous decor wont be hidden from neighbors). Regardless of the style you decide on, make sure you adhere to local building codes and implement your porch ideas safely.How should I decorate my porch?There are no formal rules when it comes to porch decorating ideas, other than to make sure they reflect your lifestyle. You can easily create additional living space by adding plenty of outdoor furniture. Try creating an afternoon nap spot by adding a hammock, swing or daybed, or include simple rocking chairs and adirondack chairs for sipping and chatting with friends. Many porch ideas Include a table or two to set down drinks or snacks, whether it be a small side table or a larger bistro set for summertime meals. Be sure to leave enough space to walk around any furniture, as climbing over your friends and family is not ideal. In general, remember porches are outdoor spaces, so some metals and fabrics can rust and absorb moisture, or fade from being in the sun. Bring in sensitive items when the weather worsens, and opt for more versatile weatherproof pieces overall. To bring your personality into the space, add decorative items like wall hangings, potted plants, throw pillows and rugs for additional color and comfort. Ultimately, its all about relaxation and simplicity, so be sure that's reflected in your porch decor and furnishings.

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Best 100 Porch Ideas & Remodeling Photos | Houzz

When the lights went out in downtown Norman Saturday night, the Porch Fest party didn't stop.

Normanites strolled through the Miller Historic District, mostly ignoring the power outage, voices soft as they stopped to visit with friends and listen to acoustic performances. Some seemed hardly aware that a major portion of downtown Norman running through the Porch Fest area had lost power.

Others thought it added to the community-friendly atmosphere of the event.

It's kind of cool because the power did go out, and it makes it more intimate, said Stevie Michelle. We have amazing talent in Norman. Our community is so cool.

Irrational Consumers, a skunk (ska-punk fusion) band comprised of middle and high school students, performed with gusto in front of McMichael Music despite losing their microphones and amplifiers during the set.

Parents and fans joked that they had blown out the power in the whole block.

Porch Fest is really magical, said Kyle Bergersen, the father of two Irrational Consumers members. Bergersen said the family had been out of town for last year's festival and only returned shortly before Porch Fest, so this was the boys' first chance to participate as performers.

We just accidentally stumbled on it last year, and it's awesome, he said.

For some, enjoying the Miller neighborhood was a big part of the draw.

I came last year and loved it. I've always admired the porches on this block, said Lauren Hale. It's pretty amazing. They're going to power through despite the power outage.

Elaine Kumin said she's old enough to remember when people sat on their front porches and strolled along the sidewalk visiting with neighbors, then air conditioning and garage doors came along, and things changed.

People go in their houses, and they don't come out, Kumin said. This is a taste of what was. It's great to see children out, playing. It's a wonderful sense of community.

Friends and neighbors greeted one another, kids ran through the grass and people brought their dogs on leashes with hosting porch owners often providing bowls of water for the visiting canines.

I like listening to this kind of music, said Abram, who added that he is four-and-a half before jumping up and running circles through the grass.

We were listening to some acoustic around the corner, said Jeff Mlekush, who said they hadn't realized that Porch Fest was affected by the power outage, though he and others had been at nearby downtown businesses when the power went out and decided to come on over to the neighborhood music festival.

Despite the positive attitudes, many performers were affected and a couple of porches shut down performances, but most kept going. Only three participating porches, all located on Miller Avenue still had power.

We shifted a few people who were electric only over to Miller where they had power, said co-organizer Sara Kaplan. There were only a couple of people who cut their sets short.

The early crowd was smaller this year with temperatures back on the rise Saturday, but with darkness descending, the crowds seemed to expand, even around houses with torchlight or no lights at all.

It would be better if the power would come back on, said Janelle Powers. It's hard on the musicians. We like singer, songwriter music. We came last year and were looking forward to it this year. We like this neighborhood.

Carol Danko said the heat and the bugs made for a lighter crowd this year, but the event was still worth showing up.

It's amazing that this all happens in people's yards, said John Sandridge. I think It's really good for the community.

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Porch Fest lights up community spirit - Norman Transcript

Long before a lot of Oklahoma artists made their way to big stages and bright lights, they were playing on front porches, sharing good times with friends, writing, laughing and dreaming.

Its a natural habitat for a songwriter, watching the world go by with a guitar in hand, picking along on a summer afternoon. Its a side of the music life that fans dont often see, but it will be on full display when the second annual Norman Porch Festival returns from 6 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 19 to the Miller Historic District.

Last years festival was the first of its kind in Oklahoma, and organizers Wess McMichael and Sara Kaplan didnt know what to expect. People showed up by the hundreds, on foot, on bike, towing toddlers, walking dogs and soaking in an evening of music as they bounced from one front yard to another.

Singer/songwriter Kierston White will make her Norman Porch Festival debut this year, but like so many other artists, she said shell feel right at home.

Itll be more like going camping than playing a show, she said. Front-porch picking is how a lot of us started. Thats what we do at home, thats how we write. You just sit around on a front porch and play.

I think its more organic. You wont have the noise of a bar and well all be outside during a perfect time of year.

White said shes not sure who shell have playing with her, but like any good front-porch jam, shes not too worried about the details.

Im going to grab whoevers around that day, she said. We like to get together and jam any chance we get and I think itll be perfect.

McMichael said he was pleasantly surprised by the turnout and the reception last year, and is looking forward to a similar block-party atmosphere this time around.

It was up in the air, he said. There were a lot of unknowns there, but it was an overwhelming success. Some people asked me to do it twice a year, some people asked if we would do it in different neighborhoods. We were very excited and its something were going to try to carry forward.

McMichael said he had worked with the Dreamer Concepts board, and after Midsummer Nights Fair folded in 2016, he was looking for a new way to showcase Normans musical talent.

Norman is the City of Festivals, and to that point, McMichael treated Midsummers end as a means to exercise the law of conservation of festivals.

This year, McMichael said he was initially worried about securing enough artists, but when he started making calls, he found a lot of enthusiasm. And when he secured Norman legend Mike Hosty, he said it upped the cool factor.

Theres a lot of goodwill involved, he said. This town has some of the best musicians per capita of anywhere in the world. Maybe not all of them are famous, but people in Norman get it and they like to hear them. So, putting those two things together is easy.

It really wasnt that much of a deal. Once I let people know I needed PA systems, they started coming out of the woodwork. It really made itself and it really kept the grass roots vibe going. No sponsorships, just a lot of good will and people volunteering to make it happen.

Theres no committee. There are no meetings. I think Sara and I had pizza once. Theres a unique want to hear these amazing musicians and the musicians just want to be heard and the two come together naturally.

Last year, the festival had 33 performers on 11 stages. This year, there could be even more artists involved and a few improvements.

McMichael said the only issue last year was bathrooms, or the lack thereof. So, this year, McMichael said the festival has arranged to provide portable outhouses. To help people find their way to their favorite stage, McMichael said the festival will be providing an interactive Google map with band lineups and venues at mcmichaelmusic.com, though lineups have yet to be finalized.

McMichael said he will also be unveiling two new stages the new artist stage and a spoken words stage. To make sure everybody will get a chance to see their favorite acts, show times will be staggered.

White and McMichael said its a great time for performers, but theyre not the only ones who get to enjoy the atmosphere. Some of them, well, they live there.

This is my second year and Im ecstatic, said Sheila Dilling, who manages the stage at 503 S. Crawford Ave.

I think we need to keep it going. We had such a fantastic turnout and it was a great opportunity for neighbors to mingle purposefully, instead of just while were working on our yards or walking our dogs.

There was a lot of anticipation and immediate interest and I think everyone was pleased with how it turned out. Theres nothing like a porch in the summer and our neighborhood has some great porches. It was a neat opportunity to showcase our neighborhood.

She said 405 Brewing will be sharing some of their beers at her place, much like Lazy Circle Brewery did last year. She said thats the kind of community Norman is, and festival helps bring people together. Having the Miller Historic District host the event adds a little something extra.

I do think its fitting, she said. I think the porch fest highlights the unique character of our neighborhood, even though its just a few blocks. There are all these fantastic porches that you dont see so much now. I think its a sort of hidden gem. Its this little pocket of cottages. I would love to see the porch fest continue. I also think its a great close to summer. Its kind of that last chance to really spend some quality time on your porch and include as many people as you can.

Then, theres the music.

Sometimes youre lucky when youre hanging out on the porch and somebody maybe has a guitar and youre all having beverages, but this opens it up to the entire neighborhood, she said. Its like that times 10.

First-time porch host Allie Halford, who moved to Norman from Oklahoma City in May, said she wanted in immediately when she heard about the festival.

These are the kinds of things that we love, Halford said. We lived in a neighborhood in Oklahoma City that did a lot of things like that, and you really got to know your neighbors and feel part of your community.

Halford said turning porches into stages brings people together. She has a lot of musician friends and shes hoping Norman band Cedar House will get to perform on her porch. If they dont, she said its cool. Shell just get to meet more musicians.

Confirmed artists:

Mike Hosty

Caleb McGee

Susan Herndon

Camille Harp

Lacy Saunders

Kierston White

Katie Williams

Derek Paul

Dorian Small

Steven Baker

Clint Hardesty

Read more here:
Porch Pickin': Norman Porch Festival returns for second helping - Norman Transcript

Essex, Vt. - Police say there is a thief targeting an Essex neighborhood and packages are being stolen right off of porches.

According to Essex Police Department, officers have heard about stolen packages in the East Street and Mansfield Ave area and are looking for two teens on bikes. Only a couple people have filed formal reports.

Residents are talking on a community group called Front Porch Forum and have written that Pleasant and Arlington Streets are also involved. From speaking with residents, Local 22 & Local 44 has learned of one incident where a woman on Arlington Street had a package stolen. It was later found torn apart and thrown onto someone else's lawn.

Neighbors are coming together until police can catch whoever is doing this. Tom Stone lives next door to the affected home on Arlington Street.

"She did end up I guess recovering the merchandise but since then she has asked if UPS and the Post Office could deliver her stuff to our home and we said sure," Stone said.

Police suggest doing just this. Officer Kissinger said it is a hard problem to fix. He suggested having your package delivered to a safer place or picking it up at the post office.

Stealing packages is a federal offense.

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Packages Pinched From Essex Porches - My Champlain Valley FOX44 & ABC22

There are some good ideas for bringing people together in simple celebrations of life, there are great ideas and then theres Play Music on the Porch Day.

It falls on the afternoon of Aug. 26, a Saturday. The idea is to go out onto the porch or deck or lawn or sidewalk and, mindful that many others around the world are doing the same, create music for free.

That could mean strumming a guitar, performing with a string quartet, humming into a kazoo, anything you regard as music.

At playmusicontheporchday.com youll see that people in 17 countries played along last year and the goal this year is 35.

In Santa Rosas Grace Tract off Fourth Street and Bryden Lane, Annie Cooper is encouraging neighbors to join in and make it a hoot. Annie envisions families and individuals making music, then strolling about to see and hear what others were doing.

If there are lemonade stands, bake sales and other neighborly activities to accompany the music, she figures, all the better.

Our friends in Napa are out in front of this phenomenon with its annual PorchFest, the most recent taking place just two weeks ago. Local bands played for free on 67 porches, many of them attached to historic homes. There were food trucks and happy hordes of music lovers of all ages.

Lets see how much fun we have on Aug. 26, sort of a music-unites-the-world day.

...

SPEAKING OF NAPA, our loss is Napa Countys gain as driven reporter and good guy Derek Moore leaves the PD after nearly 19 years in the newsroom.

Derek shone, you may recall, in reporting stories such as the Napa Valley earthquake, the Golden Gate Bridge suicide of 14-year-old Marissa Imrie, the rocky start of the BottleRock festival and the financial crisis of the regions state parks.

Derek leaves the newspaper to become public information officer for the Napa Valley Transportation Authority. A true newsman, he made clear as he said his goodbyes on Friday that theres much he will miss about his time with the PD.

But the resident of Napa and former reporter for the Napa Valley Register will not miss that daily drive into Santa Rosa.

...

GLENDA ANDERSON, who for the past 13 years covered Mendocino and Lake counties for the PD, just retired. Already were missing her, too.

Before she joined us, she worked for a decade on the staff of the Ukiah Daily Journal. Glenda may travel to Oregon to witness the eclipse and see how it feels not to be thinking all the time of how shell start the story.

...

IF THAT WAS YOU who quietly paid the tab of the diner at Bettys Fish & Chips whose cap identified him as a Vietnam veteran, know that he is grateful.

He told me that whoever bought him his dinner almost certainly could not have known that his wife passed away not long ago.

The loss has him appreciating the kind act all the more.

...

THAT FIBERGLASS in the crawl space and between the walls can be fairly irritating to work with.

Excerpt from:
Smith: Grab your band or kitchen pots for Music on the Porch Day - Santa Rosa Press Democrat

August is a tough month in Bloomington for coming up with new Homes stories. Many of our neighbors are out of town, enjoying a few final weeks of calm before the whirlwind of the school year. Others are home, outside by a pool, working in their yard or, as I discovered last August, enjoying their porches. The popularity of last years porch story led Homes to ask: Why sweat out the Dog Days when there are great conversations to be had with people chilling on their porches? Most are willing to chat with a drop-in visitor, even an inquisitive, camera-toting writer.

Few Bloomington neighborhoods show off their porch culture as robustly as does the South Dunn Street development. This example of neotraditional urban infill, begun in 2005, quickly became one of the citys most desirable neighborhoods. Most of its homes offer modern takes on early twentieth-century Foursquare or Craftsman-style designs. Set on narrow lots, they feature large front porches oriented toward the sidewalk and street, encouraging interaction with neighbors and passersby. It was exactly these qualities that attracted Padraic and Iza Kenney to South Dunn Street when they moved to Bloomington from Boulder, Colorado, in 2008.

When we first came to Bloomington to look at houses, we were shown around Elm Heights, and Iza said, This is lovely, but I want to live in a new house, Padraic recalled. At that time about half of these lots were not finished. We watched it fill in for about a year and a half. I loved watching the construction and seeing our new neighbors move in.

The Kenneys home has two porches, a screened east-facing porch on the back of the house, and a large west-facing porch on the front, where they spend many mornings drinking coffee and reading. The trees have gotten larger in the past nine years, so its shadier and very pleasant, said Iza. Between 4 and 9 p.m. the sun is very strong in front, so we mostly use the back porch at that time.

Both Padraic and Iza find the unspoken but understood codes of their neighborhoods porch culture fascinating. We are close enough to be interacting, and often do, but people also respect each others space and privacy, noted Iza.

If you want to see this place go crazy, porch-wise, come back at Halloween, Padraic interjected. Think of this place from the perspective of a candy collectorhouses close together, close to the street, everyone on their porch and eager to give out candy. I swear people come from all over the county to trick-or-treat here. If you were the parent of a small child and thought she had about 20 minutes to trick-or-treat before she melts down, this would be the street to do it.

A few miles to the east in Hyde Park, on their very private screened porch, Jim and Jeanne Madison recall a conversation they had with their homes builder in 1999.

The original house plans had no screened porch, but we insisted, Jim remembered. We had one at our former house, and it seemed a necessity to me. Its my favorite part of the house.

The Madisons comfortable screened porch is on the back of their home, overlooking a large pond. Its only three-season. We decided we didnt want to close it off with glass, said Jeanne. We use it as much as possibleeven when a bit cold or hot for breakfast, lunch, dinner, to after-dinner reading.

It rained steadily the only day the Madisons were available for photos on their porch; they were leaving the next day for the rest of the summer. But rain doesnt matter if youre on a screened porch, right? On this gloomy day, the light on the porch was fine for photos, and there were two vivacious bright spots: the Madisons grandchildren, Anna and James, were on hand to enjoy the porch, protected from the elements and the insects.

The next day I spotted Kaye Lee Johnston walking her dog Winston and literally followed them to her front porch. Kaye and her husband Blair Johnstons 1930s Foursquare in Elm Heights originally had a wooden front porch, but over eight decades the elements had taken a toll.

Last fall we replaced our leaky wooden porch floor with stamped concrete which has a slight slope. Water no longer pools on the porch, Kaye said. We love sitting on our porch in the springtime to view our yard. From the porch, the flowering trees are just divine to look at. I told Blair we could just move onto our porch and stop living inside. But the reality is that we typically only use our porch in the spring and fall, since I hate mosquitoes, but they love me!

In 2007, Dan Selvaggi and Cindy Lestikow decided to have a 9x 13 screened porch built on the original concrete pad behind their small historic home in Prospect Hill.

Weve been loving it ever since! exclaimed Dan. I truly believe wed have moved by now due to the small living space if not for this addition. Facing west means more direct sun in the late afternoon and evening, but coffee, breakfast and the newspaper happen there most mornings. Late evening is super sweet with loads of fireflies and an occasional passing skunk. Of course, our kitty loves it as it provides fresh air without the perils the outdoors can present an aged cat. More than a few acoustic music sessions have happened out here, too, and so far, no complaints from the neighbors, bless them!

This homes writer is sometimes a homesitter, and a good porch makes the job even more of a pleasure. This summer, good friends going abroad gave me they key to their home. There, I could work without any distractions except those generated by my restless mind. From the vantage point of their dining table, I could see baskets of lush ferns hanging on their wide veranda. When I reached a logical stopping point in my work, I would venture out to the porch and feel the breeze. Some days, when my work was done, my husband would drop by with our dog, and wed enjoy a glass of wine under the ferns before we walked home.

A porch is a very special place, indeed. Thanks to everyone who agreed to share their porch stories for this issue.

Editors note: If you love your porch and would like to have it considered for next years porch round-up, contact homes@heraldt.com.

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Come back and sit a spell on the porch - The Herald-Times (subscription)