The Simple Pleasures of Life On The Porch
A guest post by J. Paul Moore.
My first memory of a porch is of my father’s parents, my grandparents, in rural Giles County where they maintained a modest farm. Their home, like their lifestyle, was simple. At the end of a long day, you would find them on their small front porch relaxing from the difficult work of farming with a cold glass of tea before repeating their task the next day.
The author, Paul Moore, with his mother and grandmother on their front porch.
This porch, with just enough room for a porch swing and a rocking chair, was the same one I had slowly backed off of and into a large shrub as I was trying to avoid the wrath of my mother after an episode of particularly bad behavior. I don’t recall if I ever got my spanking, but I sure remember that day and that porch.
Moore family farmhouse + front porch.
Porches have come a long way since those days. In many cases, they have moved to the back of people’s homes where they have more privacy. Porches in middle Tennessee and the Southeast now greatly benefit from being screened in to keep out no-see-ums and other pesky insects. No longer your grandparents’ porch, these modern versions can be anything you dream up. They can have tongue-and-groove flooring, skylights, wood-burning or gas fireplaces, bed swings, kitchens, and bars for your favorite beverages. They can range from small intimate spaces to multi-level designs, but despite all these changes and upgrades, one porch truth remains: they offer respite in this fast-paced world that we live in.
A porch can be so many things - a place to rest, retreat and relax.
Porches are an accessible escape, a private sanctuary, where you can unwind and be restored. They are a place to bring in fresh air and tune in to the sounds around you whether it be birdsong or your favorite song. They are spaces for gathering, where without the distractions of all our electronics, stories and conversations are born and memories are made. You can read a book, or perhaps, finally get around to writing that book you have always wanted to write. You can meditate or do your exercise routine. It can be a space for creativity or for relaxation. Your porch can be so many different things, but whatever you decide for your dream porch, it’s best as a reflection of your unique personality and needs.
As I reflect on my grandparents’ porch I am reminded of what simple pleasures we found there. On my current porch, my favorite activity is a good nap, preferably on a beautiful summer day, on a swing bed, lulled by the sounds of a nearby stream, wind rustling the trees, and birdsong gently ushering me to sleep–an uncomplicated, restorative pleasure I’m sure my grandparents would have appreciated.
The bed swing is ready for any and all nappers.
Written by J. Paul Moore
Are you ready to let The Porch Company design and build your perfect porch? Then look no further. You can give us a ring for a free consultation at 615-662-2886, email us at hello@porchcompany.com or click this link here.
About the Author: Paul Moore is a man driven by a curiosity about the natural world. As intrigued by the many varieties of moss as he is by the way light illuminates and animates the landscape, Paul is drawn towards both beauty and knowledge with a passion for sharing what he’s discovered through his photography, speaking, and consulting.
Today you will often find him speaking at conferences about moss or native plants, advocating for the Earth, leading hiking tours for local parks, maintaining his stock photography business, and hosting tours through his expansive home garden. He currently resides in Nashville, TN with his wife, Nancy Moore, and spends his free time exploring the mountains of East TN with their family. Learn more at jpaulmoorephoto.com.
