Thursday, June 25, 2009

I have written about porches before...they hold a special importance in my most favorite places.

Some porches look out onto the sidewalk and street, some give a wide vista of mountains or towns down below...others offer a retreat from the deadening sounds of TVs and radios from within the house. Some Porches are no more than a few extended boards from the front door and others wrap completely around the house. Today, they are for contemplation and relaxing but yesterday they were used as a place of relief to escape to on those August days before air-conditioning. You could sit on the porch unblocked by the walls and feel the breeze...although often a hot breeze...better than the hot stale unconditioned air inside.

This particular porch is my friend in the Smokies. I have spent days on the swing or rocker with aching legs after a day's hiking...aching but so relaxed and content. My favorite times on the porch are early morning where I can sit and anticipate the day while the sun rises...starting a new day with new adventures. Also at the end of the day where I can sit and think of the wonderful vistas and smells of the cold clear bubbling streams that I crossed earlier. Whether in anticipation or reflection...this porch has served me well over the years...a place I always look forward to returning again...no matter the season.

Looking directly out from the swing or the rocker is the blue haze covered multiple ridges of the Smokies stacked up in unending layers all the way to the distant horizon. I have seen the ridges clothed in the lime greens of summer, the green/blacks of mid Summer and the rainbow colors of Autumn...but never snow covered...that is still on my bucket list...waiting to be checked off.

17 comments:

Heather said...

We are such kindred souls when it comes to our love of the Smokies. This picture makes me crave a mountain retreat. I can see myself in one of those chairs, watching the sunrise with a big, steaming cup of coffee on a cool, crisp fall morning.
*sigh*
Back to work...

Dan Felstead said...

Heather...
Everything in your comment sounds so good...except "back to work"!

Dan

Dani said...

Many of your photos seem to glow with iridescence. It's lovely and eery and beautiful and....so much. :)

Dan Felstead said...

Thanks Dani,

I try to have them fit the mood of the image.

Dan

Heather said...

I'd like to sit and rest here awhile, have always hoped for a front porch with a swing chair or a rocker. Our porch is enclosed - not the same.

Our back deck could be nice....possibly...

Like this - very much.

Dan Felstead said...

Heather...I saw you enclosed porch on one of your photos...for that matter...your entire house and it reminded me of what Vermont must be like. Beautiful.

Dan

Mary Lamoray said...

No kings' palace can compare...You are truly blessed to have such a place!

Dan Felstead said...

Wonderfulwire...
I wish I could call it home but it is a cabin that we have rented for several years when we return to the Smokies...someday I hope to retire there.

Dan

aurbie said...

I just want to sit a spell there in my hippie clothes. I still have some, and yes, I still wear them!

Beautiful

Dan Felstead said...

Patty...I have to admit...I have a few stashed away myself!

Dan

Kathleen said...

Love the pic - made me want to grab a cup of coffee and spend the first hour of the day there . . . even before I got to the narrative about the view.

Dan Felstead said...

Kathleen,
Thanks for stopping by again. Hope you are having a great weekend.

Dan

Benedetta said...

Dan, I love porches and the picture and words make it all perfect! It's always great to stop back by your blog. Thanks for the lovely comment :-)

Jean said...

I think every dwelling should have AT LEAST one porch. The bigger the better. I love them. A dear friend once gave me a calendar that featured a beautiful porch for each month. Heavenly :-)

Dan Felstead said...

Jean,
I love porches as well. I would love to see a calendar of porches...what a great idea!

Dan

Dan Felstead said...

Thanks for the kind words Benedetta. Stop by anytime!

Dan

Anonymous said...

Верно, грызть над чем задуматься. Причинность! [url=http://profvesti.ru/o-stroitelstve-bani/]ремонт машин на дому[/url]