It was a summer of porch parties at our house; now with colder weather on the way, the porch needs a seasonal lift. In the age of Covid 19, outdoor entertaining is the way to go, but, the cold does put a damper on things!
The weekend before this past one, the weather got cold. It got quite chilly once the sun went down. I brought out individual blankets for everyone to use on the porch, but the weather change had everyone shivering. Now, we are considering buying some kind of porch heater, and also buying some electric blankets!
No matter the season, spending time outdoors is wonderful if you are dressed properly for the weather. In the midst of a pandemic, celebrating outdoors is the safest way to host a gathering. The trick is trying to keep everyone comfortable if it is very hot, or very cold! It does bring a new dynamic to entertaining.
It is strange that in the worst possible times, we find these wondrous pockets of joy. These past months, the porch has served as our ‘window on the world’; it has been a marvelous window, capturing the heart of our family life together, making room for conversations deep into the night, and shining a light on our hopes and dreams for the future.
Sometimes, we play music on the porch. Other times, we simply talk. Over the months, our little grandson explored our porch, week by week, noticing all the changes of the seasons. Extended family came to visit. We have shared much ‘together time’, just in a new and different way. We have missed our friends terribly, but most of our ‘pandemic parties’ have been with family…just to be safe.
Much of the time, even when outdoors, we wore a mask. Other times, if we were six feet apart, basking in the fresh air, we did not use the masks.
The most incredible thing is that even under the most dire circumstances, we still found a way to celebrate ‘family’. We still found a way to be together. For those who could not ‘meet us’ on the porch, we often spoke on the phone. And where was I sitting in the midst of those conversations? Oftentimes, I was out on the front porch!
I look forward to a time when this virus is over. I look forward to a time when we need no longer wear a mask. But, I will always remember our porch parties in the midst of this pandemic of 2020. I will remember the laughter and the tears, the sighs and the smiles, the endless chatter on the porch.
The year 2020 will not come again. I like to think we have learned much in these pandemic hours. I like to think that we have come a long way in appreciating the people we love in a deeper and more meaningful way.
This pandemic will not last forever. Years from now, God willing, I hope to remember how in the summer of 2020, I found the time to sit on the porch and listen to the birds. I found the time to watch a praying mantis. I found the time to pray beneath a deep blue sky.
Most important of all, from the very young to the very old, we all made room for each other on the porch; we made memories there that I will never forget.
One way or another, we ‘held hands’ together; be it the small hand of a grandchild, or the more aged hands of a grandparent, we never let go. Somehow, that has made all the difference in my life. And, to think we did all that right on our very own front porch!
Enchanting!
Oh, Linda. Love, love, love that porch! I really like the phrase you used, “found time to”. In 2020’s bumps and bruises, it’s simply vital finding the quality time. God’s grip, Alan
We have a little bird’s nest on the porch. I never have the heart to take the nest down! We have to be careful because sometimes a bird will fly into the house if we leave the door open. It is not a screened in porch, so we do have our share of outdoor creatures! But, I believe I like it best that way. One bird may move out, and then another one seems to move in! 🙂
I did wonder if you had it screened-in. My grandparents had a similar porch that was screened.
There are nights when the bugs get the best of us! 🙂 There are advantages to the porch your grandparents had!
I 💗 porch swings & rocking chairs. You will have these memories forever
We have lived in our house for almost thirty years. Since we had four children and a large extended family, we always used the back deck for parties. Oddly, we never used the front porch much. Now, that the children are grown and on their own, we use the porch all the time. It is like a little gift we never opened. We watch some of the young families walking by with their children, or we see a little one learning to ride a bike. I love that feeling of community within the neighborhood.
👍
How lovely to have such a beautiful porch! We’re trying to get out to places as much as we can before it gets too cold, but we’re not holding hands with anyone else.
You are wise! Our hand-holding is confined to a very few! My mother is almost eighty-seven and lives in her own house. I take her shopping and run errands for her. She feels safe with us and with our children that work from home and are extremely careful. Beyond our own immediate family, we are cautious. We have gatherings on the porch and out on the lawn with the chairs spread six feet apart. For my husband’s birthday last weekend, I carried the cake out there to the middle of the lawn…:)
😀 A belated happy birthday to your husband!
Thank you! 🙂
Linda, I love how you shared your pockets of joy in this different and sometimes difficult season we are all in. It really helps to try and find the good in all of this. Thank you for sharing this uplifting post!
It certainly has been a difficult time! Praying for better times ahead, praying for healing. This virus has taken such a toll on everyone. Finding ‘pockets of joy’ keeps us going.
you describe the simple joys of life we’ve found again being confined to set priorities in the radius of our own homes … this is the real bonus 🙂
In the end, it is the simple joys that carry us through the day. Life is such a precious gift from God; He blesses us in countless ways. Sometimes, we get so busy that we forget the beauty of the hour…nonetheless, it is there. Even in these difficult times, our hearts grow lighter when we reflect on all good in our lives.
well said O wise one!
🙂 🙂 🙂
We don’t have these sort of porches in the UK! I love them so much and they always look like a lovely place to relax x
I spent one wonderful semester in Cambridge, England. I cannot begin to tell you what a happy chapter in my life that was! I did a ‘literary tour’ of England and it was beyond my greatest expectations.:) I do remember that wherever I went, there were gardens. It seemed every home had a garden, and many had roses. We did drink a great deal of tea in the gardens…I thought it was the most enchanting thing in the world. I fell hopelessly in love with England and with her people. We did not sit on porches, but tea in the garden was pretty spectacular.:)
The year 2020 will not come again…
Sobering indeed. No matter how strange and difficult the year has been, there are so many bits to it which can only be described in your own words, pockets of joy.
I love your front porch and I love the way it has become the defining focus of the year for you. It looks so beautiful, well-worn and loved, strong ‘white arms’ waiting to gather hearts in a loving embrace.
On the one hand, Covid is ugly and painful; on the other, it is bringing people together and strengthening bonds, lifting the scales from eyes so that we see where our true pots of gold lie.
May you have many more happy days with loving hearts on that grand dame of a beautiful porch, Linda! It is indeed a gift and one to be treasured.
I do believe that God wants us to find these ‘pockets of joy’, no matter our circumstances. I also believe that He wants us to see what really matters most in life. Somehow, in these strange times in which we find ourselves, our hearts have discerned that the most beautiful things have nothing to do with things at all. It is what is in our hearts to begin with that defines our lives. The more love, the more joy. The more of living in the moment, the greater the sense of peace. Thank you for sitting ‘porch-side’ with me and sharing your thoughts; this too, is a gift for which I am grateful. 🙂
TIt was so good to read your celebration of front porches and family. The world slows down in the best possible way on the front porch.
You are so right! Sometimes, we need to slow down a bit to really appreciate life. It goes by quickly enough!
It certainly does.
Like you, I love porches, rocking chairs, fresh air, and sharing time with family and friends in/on all three. Today it rained and the wind blew and the temperature dropped. Snow’s expected at 5000 ft. We are at 4900! I hate saying goodbye to our porch days and watching the evening sun reflected on the Madison Range. But, I pray when the warm weather returns next spring, we resume those porch parties. Thank you for your lovely post! 🥰👍🏽
It was so nice to hear from you! Yes, the colder days are coming! Every season offers its own beauty. I too, look forward to spring and the return to our porch once again.