A Morning on the Porch

When we designed our current house at the end of the last century, we included a screened porch in the plan. Everyone, from contractor to electrician opposed the plan, saying they could not do it. The electrician said he had never seen an outdoor ceiling fan that could withstand WY winters. The contractor said, it would be hard to put up a good screened barrier that would not let bugs and other critters in. The only person who thought it was feasible was the man who installed the siding, and he helped us convince the others it was feasible. 

We had screen put under the flooring of the porch, so bugs could not get inside. We had individual screens made for each opening, and we bought a special outdoor ceiling fan able to survive a cold and snowy Wyoming winter. All the trades-men chipped in with their specific knowledge and the porch became a reality. And, what a porch it is. It is the best feature of the house and the place where I spend a lot of each day. The porch is the gateway to solitude in the forest that sings the songs of the "quakies" (as aspens are called up here). The birds and deer inhabit our little hunk of land, and I get to see them from the porch. The porch acts as a "blind" where I can see them and they cannot see me. The animals can hear us, but can't see us, as we are hidden behind the screens.   The porch is a little bit of heaven and I love it.

 

We use the porch all the time. We have meals out here; there's TV and wifi on the porch, so we're connected to the rest of the world BUT we don't have to use any electronics to enjoy the beauty of nature. It's always magical to see a mama deer emerge from the forest with her twins following in her shadow. Or, to see a small herd of deer lounging right next to the porch, as we're eating dinner. I've seen birds up close and personal from my private porch.  My friends have told me it's the best porch and can hardly wait to visit it again.  Priscilla said it best. She came from Florida with plans to see the Tetons and Yellowstone but stayed on the porch her whole vacation.  She said she had never seen a sweeter place than my back porch. I have to agree with her!

The porch after a brief late-spring snow -- and it's still a wonderful place.