Page 72 - Flathead Living // Spring 2015

HOME EXTERIORS
ABOVE Many earlier home designs centered on the porch quite literally, as this fine Bungalow-style home shows. The porch
has its own roof with
a dormer and wide, bracketed eaves, and columns.
compared with previous styles. Meanwhile, Bungalow and other contemporary styles somehow transformed front porches into cozier and more comfortable outdoor places.
Yet, while appearances may have changed, the purpose of a porch remained somewhat constant, in one form or another. Thus, the front porch was the place where dandy bachelors called upon available ladies (as mothers kept a watchful eye from the parlor window). Porches were the place of last goodbyes for soldiers going to war and the place of heartfelt welcomes upon their return. Since the 1950s, anxious parents increasingly used the front porch to look out for their teenagers, after nights of who-knows-what.
And all the while, porches were the place where libations mellowed in the evening haze, or otherwise permitted the passing of time in general. And oftentimes, porches provide a somewhat ironic sense of place, especially considering that majesty and awe surround the Flathead Valley, yet some of the most memorable views are had just beyond the front door. Likewise, while
there are countless places to enjoy nature, hummingbirds at the feeder on the front porch forge some of the most cherished memories.
The front porch is a special place, no matter the activity (or lack thereof). For those who indulge, relaxing about the porch can be a sublime simple pleasure (one uniquely capable of changing one’s perspective or easing one’s apprehensions). More experienced practitioners of “front porch sittin’” know that taking the time to enjoy life on the front porch (that is, taking time to actually think) is a way of life, if not an art.
So, if you happen to see someone enjoying life on their front porch, they’re preserving a bygone way of life, one deserving of acknowledgement (whether with an enthusiastic wave or the ever-so-slight nod). And if you endeavor and enjoy sitting on the front porch, realize you’re doing more than leisure: you’re connecting the past with the present – and forwarding a lifestyle toward the future. FL
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FLATHEAD LIVING | SPRING 2015