The changing spring weather means a lot of things each year.  It’s time to get the garden going (my own is well on its way, with peas, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, onions, radishes, beets, lettuce, spinach and carrots all in and doing well), getting that first lawn mowing in the books, and setting up one of my favorite “rooms” of the house.

The front porch.

For those of you who may not know what I’m talking about, I cannot express the sheer joy and contentment of having a large and covered front porch.  My house (a large craftsman-style brick home built in 1927) has a great one.  It wraps around the entire front of the home and extends well down one side.  The floor is nice and wide, the planks are solid and sturdy, while the ceiling is painted a traditional light blue, almost an extension of the sky above.  There’s a porch swing hanging in the front corner, gazing down the street.  My grill has a permanent home there as well, allowing me year-round access to cook up anything from chicken wings to fresh asparagus, free from the worry of Mother Nature’s wrath.

I’ve set out just two chairs and an end table for right now, as I’m waiting for the weather to improve before I go “whole hog” and add in a sofa, coffee tables, citronella candles (to keep it bug-free), and plant stands, turning the porch into a true outdoor living space for the warmer months.  Soon, I’ll replace the glass of the storm doors with screens, giving my home that true Americana feel as the screen door slams shut with a satisfying “thwap” as we enter and exit the house, a light breeze cooling the front room.  Large ferns will hang from the ceiling between each porch post, and you’ll generally find me out there almost every night, sitting quietly in my chair in the fading light of the evening, watching the cars go by, saying “hello” to folks walking by the house, or just reading a book.  I half expect Andy Griffith to be sitting out there with Aunt Bee and Opie, lounging away another summer night in Mayberry.  It wouldn’t be a stretch.

Whether its for morning coffee or a seasonal cocktail in the evening, the front porch is the perfect spot to read the newspaper headlines or re-cap the day with my wife, listening to the tweeting birds or watching the bees flit from blossom to blossom in the trees along the street.  It’s also a great place to enjoy a rainstorm, listening to the drops bounce off of the street pavement or my neighbor’s metal roof, feeling the cool breeze and smelling that fresh, spring shower smell (as long as the wind doesn’t blow too much).

Sure, I’ve also got a back patio, but it just doesn’t compare or compete.  People comment on how great our front porch is, and I couldn’t agree more.  If you’ve got one, you know what I mean, and if you don’t, well – you really don’t know what you’re missing.

So, if you happen to be strolling by my house on a warm night and see me out on the porch, stop in and sit a spell.  I’ll rustle up some lemonade, a glass of iced tea, or maybe something stronger (wink-wink).  We can enjoy some conversation and get caught up on the local gossip.  You may leave with a little porch envy, but that’s okay.

You’re always welcome.