Once the unpacking is done, it’s time to see what neighbors are in residence. Fair warning: not every photo in this post is perfect. For instance this first one was taken in somewhat of a hurry with my phone because this neighbor is always leery of spending time in close proximity to the rest of us. But this isn’t so much about the photos but about the story told by those photos, about shy but always welcome neighbors and inhabitants of the mountains.
Although it was hot and getting close to the end of July, I was pleased to see plenty wildflowers, many of which were hosting their own guests. These guests never overstay their welcome.
The first two neighbors, although always enjoyed, aren’t as rare as these next drop-ins. Since we moved to Arizona at the end of March in 2020, the so-called monsoon season hadn’t produced much rain at all. I felt we were getting a good rain if there was enough water so that individual drops melded into the wet pavement look. (This year we’re thankfully getting lots of rain; lots for a place averaging 9″ a year.) So I was thrilled to see more drops in this photo than our back patio sometimes got in rains past at home.
Once the walk or walks are over, there’s always the porch. I like porches a lot. Spanish-style houses don’t have porches; they have patios. Patios are fine but they aren’t porches.
There are lots of good sayings about porches. Here are a few I really like.
Nowadays, people are so jeezled up. If they took some chamomile tea and spent more time rocking on the porch in the evening listening to the liquid song of the hermit thrush, they might enjoy life more. ~Tasha Tudor
True luxury is being able to own your time – to be able to take a walk, sit on your porch, read the paper, not take the call, not be compelled by obligation. ~Ashton Kutcher
My ideal summer day was reading on the porch. ~Harold E. Varmus
I dream of land, cut only where streams glistened with birdsong wander through quiet hills burnt hard by the scrape of wind, and of a porch from which a single road leads only homeward. ~Nancy E. Turner
This, that and the other thing 
I can’t remember a day I ever spent reading on the porch but with that view it has great appeal 🤗💗
It’s the perfect place to read for a bit, then drink some tea, take in the view, which might include a moose or something else of interest, and just relax.
Coffee please 🤣💗
I’ll have some ready. 😘. It would be nice if you really could stop by.
It would. I’ve just said goodbye to my son. I’m sure you know how that feels 😢❤️
I do.
Great neighbors and wonderful quotes to go with your images.
Glad you enjoyed them, Deborah. 🥰
🥰
Oh, what a great outlook from the porch
It is and you never know what you might see. I’ve been buzzed by a hummingbird, seen moose, etc.
Yay!! I’m coming over….!
There’s plenty room. 🙂
👍
What a nie view of nature. I can sit on a porch and spend hours just quietly looking at the view. Loved the view in the last photo and the quotes were so perfect. Ah relaxation.
Ah, indeed. We all need it.
Great photos, and I love a porch. I am though feeling fairly old reading a quote from ‘Ashton Kutcher.’
😁. I felt the same but it was a perfect quote so I went with it.
I enjoyed all of these. Thanks for sharing them. Southeastern New Mexico is enjoying the monsoon season too. Although this week, aching joints in my hands and shoulder remind me of just how much I appreciate the extreme lack of humidity we usually have. Still love this rain though. Hugs on the wing.
Pros and cons, right? But the rain is so vital that we’ll put up with the humidity and whatever else, although I’m sorry about your joints!
Lovely neighbor visit, Janet!
I wonder whether anyone else thought of Mr. Rogers. I did after I published the post. 🙂 Glad you liked the neighbors. I certainly do.
Mr. Rogers 💖💗
We met him once at a wedding reception and he was just as nice as he seemed.
Love the view from that porch. Reminds me of the porches at Boulder Creek, CA that I used to read on while the hubby was golfing. I love the way the dew drops look on the leaves. I’ve taken quite a few pictures like that when I walk Benny in the morning. In my crafter’s eye they look like the bling I use in my scrapbooking.
I can see the comparison to the bling. I guess it’s natures bling. The view from the porch is hard to beat. I enjoy it immensely every year.
Hello Janet
I really liked the Tasha Tudor quote and also the way you differentiated between a price and patio!
So good and of course your photos are wonderful as usual
/
Oh and the Ashton Kutcher quite wasn’t my fav because for some reason I kept thinking of movie stars and inflated luxury that led to no obligation for him – and I know I was reading too much into it – but obligations can be good and we can still own our time for part of the week.
Normally I wouldn’t post anything by a celebrity but the quote seemed so spot on that I had to use it.
I’m glad you enjoyed the photos and although a patio and a porch might both be used for relaxation, to my mind there’s a huge difference, not the least of which is that a patio is usually in the back and a porch is in the front where you can see and interact with people going by or neighbors.
After I left this post j think I did read way you much into that quote – hahaha
–
And your porch notes reminded me of sometimes when on a road trip I hear “back-porch music” on some small radio station –
And it is usually so chill and really diverse.
I really enjoyed these photos and the quotes about porch-sitting. I’m not sure which to me is better between patios and porches, though it does seem that an elevated porch does offer a better view sometimes! I hope the rain you are getting there is manageable and not so much at once like some of the other areas in your region are getting.
The rain’s been manageable where we are although there have been plenty of flash floods and flash flood warnings. During the last heavy rain recently, all the overflow areas filled up and people were wading and even paddle boarding in them. 🙂
To me the difference between a patio and a porch is that the former is usually in the back and more private whereas a porch is in the front allowing for interaction if desired and views of people and life passing by. Both serve an enjoyable purpose although it’s too hot here for many months to enjoy either.
Great post but can’t say more. I’m going to the kitchen, make a cup of chamomile tea and go out on my purple porch swing for a while.
Perfect. My job is done. 😉. Enjoy. I love porch swings.
Of course you know these photographs speak straight to my soul!
I’m glad. 🙂
I love your “neighbors.” The butterfly was having a great time with his host. We’ve had lots of rain while you’ve been gone – almost every day. It’s hard to believe we only get 9 inches a year.
The 9 inches per year is here in Gilbert. One place that I looked online said Prescott gets 16 inches a year. Big difference! I’m glad you’ve been getting rain. It’s so desperately needed.
Wow, I guess I never looked. We only had 9 in Woodlake. My friends are jealous of all this rain.
That may or may not be in your part of Prescott but it should be close, I’d think.
There’s always something to learn. That’s what I love about life. 🙂
[…] Hi, neighbor! […]
The photos tell the story beautifully and the raindrops photo is superb.
Thanks for the like on Pauline post. The Carpenders song on YouTube hit the right note.
Thanks so much, Jack. I’m always happy to see a post from Pauline and read about how you’re both doing—quite well it seems. I always appreciate your visits and comments as well.
janet
You, Pauline, Jackie her daughter and her girl friend Margret all love horses.
Your blog is always nice and interesting to visit and it is all come about via Pauline.
Thanks, Jack. Always a pleasure to have either one or both if you visit.
I do miss Wyoming too. So tranquil, all the time. True luxury is being able to own your time. I love that. I love the raindrops on the succulent, too.
Preaching to the choir, Donna. 😉 🏔
Hahaha. I guess.