On Neighborliness

I was hesitant to answer the doorbell last night when it rang as darkness fell, but I was glad that I did. One of our neighbors had come to borrow some vanilla. Becky was in the middle of making cookies when she discovered she had none. I had just enough left in the bottle for her recipe, and off she went, promising to bring us some cookies today. And so she did. A plate of Scottish shortbread cookies is now awaiting us for an evening snack. Going to be delicious with a glass of cold milk!

This is something I had hoped for in our move to our new neighborhood--that feeling of neighborliness, where neighbors stop and chat and borrow from one another. So I'm already thinking about what I can prepare to put on her plate as a return thank-you. So glad she didn't bring the cookies on a paper plate.

The Front Porch ~ A Place to Welcome Neighbors

I had posted a few months back that when we moved to our new home near my parents, I wanted a welcoming front porch to sit on and greet neighbors as they passed by. It's a much smaller porch than what I had dreamed of, and there are still some things I'd like to add to it, such as another chair, but here are some photos of what we've accomplished in the past month or so.

(I'm not very good at photography -- it's actually more welcoming than it looks.)

Ours is a walking neighborhood, and we've met several very friendly people who stop and chat a bit along their way. Someone even stopped his truck a few days ago when we were on the porch and came up to welcome us to the neighborhood.

I can walk our neighborhood in about a half hour or so if I don't happen upon someone to stop and talk with. Yesterday I was given a tour of lovely garden areas as I passed a neighbor working in her yard. It's my desire to live out and promote the gospel in our new neighborhood, and looking for opportunities as I walk has been a blessing. I know neighborhoods such as this are not common place, and I am thankful for God's gracious gift to us.

This little guy greets folks as they arrive or pass by. Love those eyes!

He's also an extra seat for a short little person.  

Looking forward to the grands coming for a visit!

A Good Reason For A Front Porch...Sitting

It's that time of year when front porches become a focal point for seasonal decorating. Autumn, especially, lends itself to a warm, welcoming porch with colors that call out, "Come on up!" 

Porches are the transition from outside to inside. They're the first impression of the home and reflect the personality of those who live there. They're a place to take a break in the day, sip a cup of tea, read a book, flip through a magazine, do a little stitching, or just sit and relax and watch the birds or people passing by. Even just walking or driving by a welcoming porch gives a neighborhood a friendly feel.

I pass lots of beautifully decorated porches that lack the one thing I would love to see—people sitting on their porch. I can't cast any stones, though, because I'm not out there myself. I have reasons. They have reasons. But sometimes when I'm pulling into the driveway, I'd love to see my neighbors out so I could call out a "Hi there!" or walk over to chat for a moment. Just a moment. I wouldn't take much of their time.

So... my idea is that when we move into our new house with a front porch, I'm going to decorate it welcoming and comforting. And we're going to sit on the porch in the evenings and call out "Hi there!" to neighbors as they walk by or pull into their driveway. And maybe, just maybe, they'll come on up and sit a spell. And since it's evening, it won't matter how long they stay. And maybe, just maybe, we might gain some new neighborhood friends. 


If you're a fan of front porches like I am, I'm sure you'd enjoy getting some inspiration from front-porch-ideas-and-more.com. Just clink the photo below and enjoy!