On the Back Porch

One of my favorite things about our new house is the back porch.  It is like we have an extra room added onto our house, except that it has the added benefit of being outdoors.  The living room has that big, lovely window that looks out onto the back yard and directly onto the porch. It is one of the modern elements that we loved about the house immediately.  That whole idea of bringing the outside in really works.  

The boys love the porch too.  Within the first week I saw it had the potential to be a great play place, put out a colorful indoor/outdoor rug and thus our back porch was born.  Now the first thing the boys do when they wake up is run outside to play.  Since they sleep man style, in their underwear, they are often running around outside in jammies or underwear.  Hey, it's the back yard, I'm cool with it.  

The other day we put their tent out their and they spent the afternoon reading books in the tent.  James said he liked having rest time out there because he could have "peace and quiet". And he could hear nature, like birds.  The very next morning they were back in the tent, James reading a book to William.

Sometimes they play out there alone, lost in an imaginary world of pirates, knights or firetrucks.  I like to sit in the living room and watch them from a distance.  They don't seem to notice I am there.  These are some of the sweetest moments of my day.

Oh I have plans for this porch.  Do something with those bricks.  I don't much like the look of them.  That patio cover has to go.  It is termite infested, not to mention too ugly for words.  I'd like some spiffy new, vintage patio furniture.  It will be grand when we're all done. 

But, it's pretty nice right now, too.  It's a good place to be that back porch.