The Front Porch of Paradise

My front porch is our little haven.  I look forward to the mornings when the schedule is clear and the weather is nice.  I take my coffee and sometimes a blanket to enjoy the start of the day.  Usually Ron is with me and we chat and identify the bird songs.  This morning, he is off to a lake somewhere and I chose to have a slower morning and enjoy my front porch.

This is where I can slow my breathing and enjoy the quiet moments.  I can hear a few cars moving down on the main road.  People off to appointments or work but I just listen to them as the noise disappears.  The fountain in our garden gurgles and as the sun hits it waters sprays out into the bird bath.  

The birds are singing in their choir.  The Merlin Bird Ap has identified them as…

This morning I am treated to a new song.  The Bobolink has joined and added their sweet voice to the mix.

A buzz overhead causes me to stop and look up as a humming bird flew in to enjoy his breakfast on the porch.  

Yesterday, when we sat enjoying the morning sounds, a deer came up to grace us with her presence.  We have been treated to a turtle trying to get somewhere and even a fox trotting up the road all from our comfortable chair in front of our home.

There are very few vehicles that pass our house but when they do it usually is a neighbour who waves and smiles.  Sometimes there are morning walkers..the usual are the lady from the bake shop walking her dog and the United Church minister getting her legs moving before the day gets going.  Occasionally, others may pass and we wonder, are they local or just visiting the area?  Sometimes Penny, the cat comes for breakfast.  Oh…there goes the United Church minister…right on cue.

Last summer a friend had her porch lined with ferns.  They were beautiful but in the fall she was going to throw them away.  I took one and nursed it all year in the house.  It was constant labour of love….spraying, watering and cleaning up after it.  It made it through the winter but did not look healthy in the spring.  When the weather warmed up, I moved it to the front porch.  At first, I didn’t think it would make it and then the humidity came.  New sprouts shot up.  It became vibrant and full of life.

 I think I relate to my “Roxy” fern.  After I sit enjoying the gentle breeze, the warm air and beautiful sounds from my front porch I feel a little more refreshed and ready for my day.