Sometimes all you need is just a quiet place to sit...

   Compared to other places along the East Coast, the sun comes up pretty early in the morning in Maine and the closer one lives to Downeast, the earlier it seems. But the early sunrise also means an early sunset. Either way, there is an opportunity to view some of nature's artful handiwork, with its blend of light, colors and sometimes even sounds. How and where it is enjoyed can be equally as Maine-like.

   Although still an hour or so before sunset, a walk to the top of the local ski slope gives a 365 degree view of the surrounding area and even during the short visit, the area changes in appearance as the sky begins to darken, first with the  colors, then with the long shadows cast across the river valley as the sun sets behind the surrounding mountains and evening settles in.

   The early morning can also offer a different view of nature's work. Lucky and I are often on our early morning walk (waving at passing cars, remember) as the sun peeks over the horizon, lighting up the sky with a rainbow of colors and accented with rays of light poking between the trees. And just in case you need a reminder, while this is not a city and we do not have many tall buildings, we do have trees, lots of them and some of them get  pretty tall too.

   But there are other ways to enjoy sunrises and sunsets and not ever leave the comforts of the house. It's called having a porch and with some comfortable chairs, wicker perhaps, it  can be just the right place to sit and read, watch the sun come up in the morning or drop below the horizon at night. It can serve as a place to enjoy the peace and quiet of the surroundings, with the exception of the occasional chorus from the frogs and tree toads at night or the early morning songs from the birds.

   Like most other things, the porch has a history and development of its own and while one may think the porch is a uniquely American invention, it's history dates back to the medieval time in Europe.

   Porches became very popular in the United States, especially in the Southern states, just prior to the Civil War. They were an important part of many Southern homes, most commonly built on the front of the house, as a place for people to get away from the heat of the daytime sun or a place to cool off in the evening. Often being located near or surrounding the front door, they also served as a place to welcome guests and weary travelers.

   Porches became a bit more popular in the Northeast after the war when returning soldiers, having enjoyed the pleasures of the porches in the South, began adding them as additions to their homes. But their popularity never seemed to catch on due in large part to the styles of the New England houses, not being conducive to the architectural features of a porch, and the short season to enjoy the outside. Who likes sitting on a porch in the middle of a snowstorm?

   Now, what is interesting is that our house looks like a home that belongs in the South on a plantation somewhere, white, two story with lots of windows and four large columns across the front supporting the roof over... a porch. It's a very southern style look and some in town refer to it has the 'house from the South'.

   On the back of the home is an additional “sun room” similar to a porch, with windows so it can be used in the winter months and screens for the warmer weather. The view from the sun room looks out over the pond and woods of the back yard. And, the sun room faces to the east, a place to catch the early morning sunrise with that first cup of coffee.

   The front porch faces West, a place to in the rocking chair and view the evening sunsets, if Lucky and I haven't climbed to the peak of the local ski slope.

   Now I know that every day does not necessarily begin with a beautiful sunrise or end with a picturesque sunset. It's just like life. But regardless of the time of day, having a place to enjoy a few quiet moments, even with the frogs, during what sometimes turns out to be a very busy day, can be peaceful.

   Oh, by the way, even in the middle of a rain storm it can be comforting and peaceful to sit and watch the lightening dance across the sky and listen to the thunder roll. It can still be a quiet place to sit and......             
                                         

 

                                         Crab apple tree in full bloom in the evening sunset.