Phil Hugo: View from the porch invigorating in all seasons – LimaOhio.com

Its a late summer day, high noon, and Im standing in the doorway that connects our study to the screened porch. A pleasant breeze out of the south wafts over me, making its way through a north window to who knows where. Perhaps the breeze will cool someone else.

In the backyard a gray squirrel forages for an acorn, then hops onto the trunk of the giant oak tree. Its one of many porch moments Ive experienced in more than 40 years of living in this house.

Many nice features make up this domicile we call home, but that porch is something on which Im glad previous owners chose to spend their hard-earned money. It is a place to read, write, snooze, dine out, listen to music and enjoy the view of the small but interesting landscape. Sitting there listening to the sound of rain watering the flowers is a relaxing way to while away the hours.

Back to that squirrel. Whether it is foraging or chasing other wagtails (my late fathers name for squirrels) up and around the trunk of the oak, the porch affords a 270-degree view into the world of those critters and others. Watching the squirrels could be described as cheap entertainment.

On a recent summer evening I was out back studying the night sky through the boughs of said oak when my wife, Karen, said: Phil, theres a raccoon on the side of the tree! I walked in a quiet manner to that side of the tree, and sure enough, a few feet above me the animal with the black mask looked down on me, illuminated by the rays of the floodlight that showcases the white oaks character. We watched until the raccoon climbed up and beyond, out of the light. A view from the porch.

Being on the porch does not always allow us to observe the feathered, furry or six-legged inhabitants of the place. They may be out of view in the shrubs and treetops. Thats when you train your eyes in the direction of the mating calls made by cicadas, katydids and tree crickets. Known but often unseen, all are part of the tableau.

Birds also fit into the picture, often seen and heard concurrently, other times known to us only by their songs or calls. The pair of cardinals that were nesting in a shrub next door let their presence be known to us when they flew into the boxwood adjacent to the porch and started yelling at our cat, Maisie. The alarm calls of ticked off robins, fearing that the cat might get after their fledglings, made for quite the vocal assault on Maisie. In the end neither species had to worry because the screen thwarted any loss of avian life by the resident predator.

Other birds making themselves known to us in this movie enjoyed from our screening room are woodpeckers, barred owls, bluejays and Carolina wrens that announce themselves with their ringing song.

When it comes to porches, a screen can be a nice feature in more ways than one. Because of its charcoal color, the screen acts somewhat as a blind, making it less easy for the critters to see us watching them. That barrier also keeps mosquitoes and other six-leggeds from annoying us as we do whatever we wish to do on the porch.

Dining al fresco is something we enjoy, be it the two of us, a foursome or when we have several guests at our home. For large parties, the porch acts as a nice transition between the interior and the backyard party scenes. Considering the options our guests can choose from, the porch is prime real estate where some folks spend the better part of the evening. Throw in the glow of oil lamps, good food and conversation: The ambiance could not be more enjoyable.

Its late September, and summer is merging into autumn. A May Sunday morning on the porch, when I sat in my late father-in-laws tattered recliner, the suns warm rays on my neck, casting a head shadow on a page of The Lima News, is now two seasons in the past. Then the breeze was a welcome thing. Now it means going from T-shirt to light jacket apparel to remain comfortable while writing. Its time for the conversion.

Conversion means installing poly film on the screen panels and acrylic sheets on the screen door to keep autumn breezes and winter winds that sift snow through the screen at bay. It means that as the sun goes lower its rays will be trapped, and the porch will be a more comfortable place to enjoy life. Maisie will hang out as well, and while the poly film does not afford a clear view of the yard, the door will allow the opportunity for her to satisfy her feline curiosity.

With little effort and expense (the poly film lasts four to five years) I convert the porch to a four-season sunroom. I suppose one could argue the point, but it does extend the use of the porch.

On a cold January day, say 25 degrees with bright sun, I slip on a jacket and hat, and I am warm. It may not be everyones picture of comfort, but its 55 degrees on a cold winters day. Its the simple things in life.

If I put the book down and take a nap that January afternoon, I will awaken and perhaps recall a dream. It might be one where I am standing in that aforementioned doorway, enjoying a cool breeze and watching the wagtails forage for acorns.

Phil Hugo lives in Lima.

See more here:
Phil Hugo: View from the porch invigorating in all seasons - LimaOhio.com