The Front Porch

Here in Tacoma many of the old houses in the University of Puget Sound neighborhood have front porches, because the houses are old. Our house was built in 1917, and an old couple lived in it well into their 90's. A contractor bought it, gutted it, took out the floors, walls, old plumbing and wireing, and added everything new. He designed a modern interior, with a sunroof window over the stairwell. Our house is tiny, with a den, kitchen, living room, two full bathrooms and our bedroom on the first floor. A stairway leads upstairs to a half-bath, a guest room (my studio), and George's office.

We bought this house ten years ago, planning for small living-spaces in an old house, on the outside, but new and modern on the inside. We have been really happy here.

We use this porch a lot, for summertime potlucks, for evening reading, and for bedtime chats. Our grand-daughter plays here when she comes to visit. And, as you can see, it is the favorite hangout of our two cats. I always have a big comforter on top of the sofa, for curling up in, because even in winter, I'll come out here to enjoy the morning rain. Tacoma is gentle, in the wintertime. Just the sound of rain.