The Peaceful Kingdom of the Back Porch

Home is where I unpack. Home is where I dream and plan, and love and work, and eat, and drink coffee.

Happy colors.

What is better than having one's meals al fresco?

It's Charleston y'all. Of course we are serving shrimp and grits. Thanks for the photo Amy.

Friends old and new come to visit. Some stay for a few days, some for a few weeks.  And everybody always winds up on the porch. (Some folks even meditate out here, Lee.)

Cindy, Amy, Lisa – girls' weekend

My Gypsy Sister, Joelle

Occasionally, I think about selling the house and 70% of its contents, and moving closer to the beach. But then I sit on the porch, listen to the birds and the neighbor kids giggling, and at night, the mournful wail of the freight trains in the distance, and I wonder if I can leave.

Yes, that's a cast iron tub. It's moved from Pennsylvania, to Maryland, to Charleston with me.

I live mostly in 3 rooms: the bedroom, the kitchen, and the back porch. The back porch consists of a brightly colored deck, and a screened in sanctuary.

The passion vine grew right through the door.

I spend hours out here. In Charleston, the weather stays warm enough, I can enjoy the porch for most of the year, even when I have to bundle up a bit. 

Working from home means my office view changes every few hours. Scooter makes a point of barking at me every so often, so I will stand up and move. We take a break for some belly rubs and a snack and a trip to the back yard, then I relocate to a new spot.

We get lots of company on this porch. Our foster puppies love to cuddle up with us while I work. 

Scooter shares his home with the fosters.

A perfect spot to nap

This fellow is a great listener.

And of course, Reagan stays with us while her Daddy G is traveling.

My favorite girl helps watch the puppies.

Some of the humans even sleep out here on occasion. Amy ; ) my Dear.

And there's a whole lotta coffee drinkin' goin on.

The porch serves as a workshop. I'm anxious for Kendall to visit again this summer.

and my art studio

Iron man and the Griffin guard the porch.

And a film crew even shows up every now and again.

Neighbors drop by to hang out for awhile.

It's a peaceful place to meditate.

And I'm constantly re-arranging the furniture.

My Gypsy Sister is off camping this weekend in Pennsylvania with our girls Flo and Annie. In between working on a very big editing project, I plot and plan and dream my next trip. I'm headed out again in just a few weeks and picking up a fellow traveler and yogi along the way. What adventures await us?