I would have to say that some of my favorite summertime memories involve sitting on the porch.
Snapping beans and shucking corn with my grandmother. Swinging on the old porch swing with my grandfather. Playing board games on the screened porch at the beach with my cousins. Playing paper dolls with my sister.
Laughing. Talking. Crying. Sharing.
Summer. Porches. Family. What could be better?
In the south porches are an integral part of life. It doesn't matter if the porch is big or small, it is the place to conduct business.
In days gone by, before air conditioning, it was a place to escape the heat of summer, to read the morning newspaper, to sit and sew, to greet neighbors and share a glass of sweet tea, to kiss a sweetheart goodnight.
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People didn't have to form neighborhood watch groups back in the day. Neighbors sitting on their porches knew what was going on and they monitored it.
They knew where the children were. They knew if the teenagers were misbehaving. They knew if there was happiness or sadness in their neighbor's family. They knew a sense of community.
Summer is here. Maybe it's time to bring back those old porch traditions. Come out of our air-conditioned houses. Turn off the TVs. Put down the cell phones. Sit and smell the roses. Talk to our neighbors. Spend time with our families. Enjoy the moment.
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A porch is the only thing I don't have at my house that I really want
ReplyDeleteSince I am down sizing to move guess I won't build one since my
estimate made me set down in a chair LOL several thousand $$$$.$$
I don't have a porch now either. I do try to make the most of my patio though :)
DeleteI agree - summer, families, and porches is a recipe for summer memories :) and a good glass of ice cold lemonade :)
ReplyDeleteYes, ice cold lemonade is always welcome :)
DeleteLove all the images and the lovely words too :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vicki.
DeleteHi Laura...Nice post. People really don't sit out much on porches anymore, do they? I still love our little enclosed side porch so much. Thanks for your visits to my posts, Laura. Always nice to have you visit. Susan
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan. It is always nice to visit you. I think people have gotten so acclimated to a/c that they don't want to be out anymore. Unfortunately it has contributed to people's isolation.
DeleteI do wish I had a front porch. I grew up with them and miss them so much!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Me too, Brenda.
DeleteSounds delightful ... I remember those days when I was growing up in Vermont. But here in Lake Havasu it's going to be 115 today and the thought of turning off the air conditioner is mind boggling ... and sitting on the patio only works for a few minutes after you get out of the pool! :)
ReplyDeleteProbably not a good idea in Lake Havasu in the summer. Winter might be better time for porch sitting :)
DeleteI used to love sitting on the porch with my husband in the summertime. I really miss that!
ReplyDeleteSounds like that was a wonderful time for you, Beth :)
DeleteLaura, When my sister and I walked today, we admired lots of porches. I like a deep porch , that if it rains lightly , you can still sit outside. It must be so good to remember being with your grandmother. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
ReplyDeleteThat memory with my grandmother is a wonderful one. I love a deep porch or a screened porch, too for the same reason, Susie.
DeleteThe first one is my favorite because my granny had chairs like those only yellow. She had a swing too and there was ivy that grew behind the swing to keep us all cool. I never remember feeling the heat as a child. I guess we were having too much fun. Yes, when my great grandmother died there were 96 children, in laws, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great grandchildren listed. Of course this included husbands and wives, but there was always cousins to play with. Families were larger then and it felt like community. Now my family and children rarely see each other. So sad. Love this post.
ReplyDeleteThank you, and thank you for sharing your wonderful memories of your family. Families are so scattered now. I think children miss a lot because of it.
DeleteWe walk outside in the evenings to watch the sunset and chat with neighbors. A lot of people walk in the evenings in our community so it's a good time to say hello. It's nice to get outside....but you would need a screened in porch here in Florida. Enjoy your week my friend! Sweet hugs!
ReplyDeleteHow nice that you have that neighborhood community, Diane. My parents used to have a screed lanai on their Florida home. I know all about those bugs :)
DeleteI agree that we need to enjoy our moments more. I love that first porch picture.
ReplyDeleteI love that one too, Michelle.
DeleteSo true Laura we need to get back to basics sometimes. What a great post. Happy 4th I hope you get some time to sit out on the porch!
ReplyDeleteKris
Thanks, Kris. Happy fourth to you, too, and I hope you get some porch sitting time, too.
DeleteI am blessed with a couple of porches, but I can’t help thinking those of you that put so much time in on your blogs have also formed that sense of community and well-being we miss from earlier times. A new form of stoop sittin’
ReplyDeleteI too am a child of the porch. My great aunt had the best--a swing that my cousin and I would play "catch the school bus" on. She'd swing high, and I'd see if I could jump on. Otherwise, I'd miss school. I regularly get my dose of what I know refer to as porch "therapy." Thanks for this beautiful post!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that I have a porch / especially since my house is small. My grand parents had no porches in the home that they built to retire in but the backyard was shady and my memory is always of the green glider on summer days : )
ReplyDelete