Sometimes a Porch is More Than a Porch

We kicked Mother's Day weekend off with a porch demo! After our stove died and ruined our plans to have our contractor build us a new porch, my Sweet Hubby decided he would tackle it himself instead. There may have been, and may even continue to be, a bit of nervousness on my part as I remember some of his diy failures in previous houses (bad drywall repair, cough cough. badly done crown molding cough, cough) I am encouraged by the way his skills have improved over the years and most rapidly since we bought this house. We have a bit of back and forth as I am a perfectionist and even though he is an engineer, he is not a perfectionist. He is an architectural buff and I am a design fanatic and so sometimes there is a bit of a give and take there. I think we are both learning to give in a little and to trust the other's opinions. Luckily we are almost always on the same page.

The before:

I've spent my whole life dreaming of owning a house with a front porch. I grew up moving constantly, usually living in rentals, sometimes with relatives, or in apartments, one year a trailer and even a motel for awhile, never living anywhere that felt like home. I don't have a home town, or house to go back to that represents my childhood. I'm creating that now. For me and for my family. And in my mind, nothing says cozy home quite like a front porch!

We didn't use the enclosed porch much. The cats loved it but the layout was awkward with the entrance being on the driveway side so we are moving the entrance off the sidewalk so it will line up with the front door, making the space much more usable.

We already feel so much more connected to the street and everyone is loving the change. It truly feels like this is what the house wanted. Last night my hardworking guy spent 5 hours breaking up the tile and smoothing out the concrete to prepare the porch for the wood flooring we are going to put down. The guy has hardly sat this week.

This is similar to what we have in mind. Bam! Hello charm!!

It hasn't all been back breaking work though. We did take a break on Saturday to watch Emma's ballet performance of Let it Go from Frozen. I fear I may never get that song out of my head. She was amazing! I cried. Maddie Cried. Daddy didn't but obviously he has a heart of stone.

On Sunday we had brunch out on my favorite courtyard on Main St. where all three of my girls were welcome to eat. Fried biscuits and mimosas. What more could a Momma want on her special day? After a trip to the nursery, thoughtful gifts and cards and a dinner of grilled pear, carmelized onion, blue cheese and walnut pizza, my day was complete and my heart was full. I really can't believe how blessed I am to go through life calling these people my family. This life is truly better than anything that little girl without a real home could have imagined.