Fall's Frolic

Leaves ready to weigh anchor and sail, once again.

Wind gusts run down the streets and across lawns, like a giant hand combing the sandy bottom of clear water, stirring vortex after vortex of following, eager leaves. Not a cloud in the sky. Herds of orange, red and brown, stampeding as if mustangs across dry, crisp chaparrals.

The cartwheeling sprinters arc curb after curb and some leaves dissolve, pealing apart into eddies of dervish, dusty must. Somewhere, southeast by the weathervane, across the contours of Indiana's fall harvest the wind delivers smokey scents of burning cornstalks.

The wind carries on, this fine afternoon; sailing maple sailors, poplar, ash, and hickory seamen too, past the porch and around the porch again.

Summer days, Dimples & Porches

No air conditioning required.

Of all the places this movie star's wealth and celebrity were welcome, a simple porch seemed the perfect suite. Simple, open, easy going and comforting just like the porch, Shirley Temple entertained her dolls, and friends of all ages, with sincere engagement, joy, tea and lunch. This young lass smiled, giggled, comforted, tap-danced and lead thousands of children to engage in life with love, courage and optimism.  She out grew Hollywood’s stage and eventually stepped upon the world stage as a public servant, becoming an ambassador of the United States to Ghana and Czechoslovakia.

Pansies and petunia's make for a perfect porch.

Shirley’s smile tells all; here’s a young lady that knows what really matters most is found within the shelter and grace of the porch; an honest, unpretentious place of sharing. Be it with the birds and bees or play pals and imaginary friends, time moves with the breeze, the heart spaces grow and people connect; the souls reward for just being present.  And that seems to be 'the present', of the porch.  

Best of all...the porch.

Don’t believe this point of view; go ask Shirley. More tea?

Powerful messages, on the silver screens' front porch.

New shoes on the porch; where will this go?

There within the story line of so many great films awaits 'the turning point'; pivotal, insightful, often critical key moments. And within the list below, turning points are delivered on a porch; a very believable place for insights and sharing.

So, how many of these great films' scenes do you know?

To Kill A Mockingbird 

Second Hand Lions

Road To Perdition

Forest Gump  

Grapes of Wrath        

 It’s A Wonderful Life

On Golden Pond

The Great Santini

Big Chill

High Noon

Bridge Over The River Kwai

In The Heat Of The Night

The Notebook

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Saving Private Ryan 

Goonies

The Man in The Moon

Breaking Away

A Christmas Story

Shenandoah

Deliverance 

Matewan

Post Man Always Rings Twice 

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Midnight in The Garden of Good and Evil

Gone With The Wind

Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Cold Mountain

Feel free to add to the list...and add your own insights.

Builder's porch-like faux, [societies unknown lament]

The front porch seems to have devolved, in step with the quickening pace of everyday life. Slayed with the sledgehammer of ignorance and impatience, "Faux porches", swiftly designed for the ‘up ‘n coming’ townhomies, is the builders’ answer. It's a superficial statement for the texting tweeters of self-importance; the zombies who are catalyzing societal manners into obsolescence. With the atom-smashing speed of a nuclear collider these plugged-in people don't see it, yet. 

Fake porch;who’ll notice? Can you sit there? Can you see the sidewalk? dog? neighbors? kids in the yard? Not while texting, definitely not with that absurd fear-based safety-coded railing in place; it's too high.

Porches were originally designed to create a sheltered transitional space of ease and comfort between the threshold of home and the natural world— a place for both, as well as rest, relaxation, and cooling breezes. A place to stomp the snow off your feet and remove your hat before stepping inside.  Many things can be attributed to the porch's decline, but none so much as air conditioning, remote-controlled garages, and entertainment suites. Yet despite modern conveniences, we can still revive the front porch. Restoring its dynamic purpose and enjoying its healthy gifts of community, social grace and ease, is our choice to act upon. 

Using this space  improves the quality of our lives, simply. 
It improves the look and value of your home. 
And it improves your outlook on life.

Ross Chapin Architects, Langly, WA
Danielson Grove, Seattle, WA

By spending more time with family, friends, and neighbors, all smiles arrive effortlessly. 

And stress can waft away with out coaxing; it simply goes “poof.” The incredible natural magic that surrounds us all, like dancing leaves, fireflies, and cherry blossoms, float across this transitional place everyday, and those seemingly simple wonders are good for heart and soul of all who sit upon it. 

...it also improves the health and value of the community around you.

So get out. Unplug it all. Get on the porch.

Have a sip of something cool and try not to smile.