When I think of my favourite spot to smoke a pipe I cannot think of a better place than on my front porch. I live in an old Victorian cottage on a side street in East Vancouver. The house is about 112 + years old and has had many face lifts in its long life. Since the photos were taken I have replaced the stairway with more solid new one. Other than that it looks much the same throughout the warm parts of the year. The porch sits about five feet above the street and the rhododendrons along the front of the porch give some privacy while you are sitting and enjoying the spot.

It is a comfortable place in terms of situation but I always like to make it a bit homier by adding to the natural setting. I put a reed mat rug (made of recycled plastic) on the floor of the porch. It is more decorative than necessary, but it adds some ambience to the space. I set up my two wicker chairs and love seat with a wicker and glass table for the accessories and tobacco. The table also serves as a resting place for a cold drink and also the laptop should I want to scroll through a forum while sitting there. There are hanging baskets along the front and side beams of the porch and fichus trees and other trees and plants on the railings and the floor. These also add to the setting. My cocker spaniel Bailey generally joins me on the porch as he enjoys the setting and the scenery. He commandeers one of the chairs as is his spot. And together we sit and observe life on the street out front and walking down the sidewalk outside the fence. Many a time it also serves as a spot to do a bit of quiet reading and writing when the muse moves.

From the porch my small yard is a garden that I enjoy filling with perennials and some annuals to give colour and depth to the foreground. The light green picket fence and gate surround the yard and give a bit of privacy setting it back from the sidewalk.

This spot has become a favourite and comfortable place for me. I find it a spot to relax and unwind throughout the late spring days and on into the late fall. For us here in Vancouver it means that I can set things out about the end of April and use the porch until mid to late October. I can also use it a bit later but it gets cold with the damp winds and rain so it is relegated to the months I have mentioned above. I thought I would share the favourite spot with all of you. Won’t you join me on the porch for a bowl and a visit?

Cheers!