Porch Journal: Come Along for an Evening Stroll

What historic homes can reveal about living well

Well hello there, dear reader!

I’m so glad you’re here. Today is National Historic Preservation Day, and I wanted to share my evening strolls through a historic neighborhood in the high-country of northern Arizona.

Welcome to the ‘Porch Journal’, a short-letter series where I share small reflections and behind-the-scenes thoughts on living a smaller, simpler, more beautiful life. These are quick, easy reads, about a minute or two - just enough for a mid-morning coffee break.

Almost every evening, my little shadow, Ibis-the-yellow-lab, and I head out for a walkabout.

Often we wander up into the hills and national forest behind our home. But other times we stay on the sidewalks and meander through town. She’s an old girl now at 13, and the sidewalks are a bit easier for her to navigate.

And for me, I simply love noticing the details on the old historic homes in this part of town. And very often, the best part is saying hello to the owners having a little porch sit.

As you may know, our home is a 1924 Craftsman bungalow listed on the National Historic Register. This part of town, in and around the lovely Courthouse Square, is overflowing with homes dating from the mid-19th century through the mid-20th.

Over the past several months, I started photographing these scenes as we walked and began sharing them on my Substack Notes as a small bit of daily inspiration.

So today I thought I’d share a few of these little gems here, since I know most of you don’t see those daily Notes, which are on the Substack app.

These aren’t large houses or grand architecture.

More often, they are small cottages and porches that seem to carry their history and quirks with quiet pride. Some are a bit ragged with age, while others have been lovingly maintained.

None of these homes are particularly large or polished - or impressive by today’s standards. But they have something many newer houses seem to be missing.

They feel welcoming. They seem to have soul.

They sit close to the street. Their porches invite you to pause. Some have plaques proclaiming their age and historic designation. Many do not.

These homes and porches have witnessed so much of the history of our little village. A few still have old hitching posts out front for horses.

But more than anything, it’s the tiny details that make me smile each time I pass by - the workmanship and artful touches that you simply don’t see very often anymore.

When I think about the time, care, and creativity that went into building these homes and porches, I’m always a little in awe. Much of it was done by hand and without the benefit of mass-produced materials. That’s true craftsmanship.

These little cottages are a joy to wander past.

So the next time you’re out for a walk, I hope you might slow down and look, really look, at the homes and spaces around you. Notice the details - perfectly imperfect and all.

Happy strolling my friends!

With contentment & possibility,

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Did you know you can ‘like’ and comment on this letter?

If you’d like to join the conversation, you can follow the link below to read and respond in the Substack app. It’s free and ad-free.

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P.S. I have so much fun sharing beauty and design with you. As ever, thank you for being here with me.