Virginia Woolf has “A Room of Her Own.” I too have a room of my own; it is my sunporch. During the early Spring, Summer and early Fall, my sunporch is my favorite place of solitude. I happily retire to this part of the house with a book, a pencil, a craft project or just a place to close my eyes and rest.
The porch is upstairs, outside my bedroom. It is screened in on three sides. The screens are frames for the verdant view of the tops of the many maple trees surrounding the side of the house.
The view on the porch also opens a rainbow of colors: blue sky, green trees, our Japanese red maple, yellow cushions, white painted walls and even a sometimes orange sunset.
Sounds abound in a pleasant way. The chattering and giggling girls playing on the next-door trampoline. The repetitive tune of the Good Humor ice cream truck. Most welcome of all is the medley of birds chirping tunes and the sound of gentle raindrops on the roof.
The furniture on the porch is all white painted wicker. When we purchased the items, they were a rusty red color. We found the advertisement for the pieces in a Penny Saver brochure that was once available in your local candy store. It described the four wicker pieces: a couch, rocking chair, club chair ,table and 5 cushions for $50. We raced over and pleased the owners with a quick purchase affording them the chance to replace this “old stuff” with modern formica and aluminum motel style furniture
I have loved all this “old stuff” for the sixty years they sit on my porch. With my skill, I have covered the original cushions, welting, zippers and all with beautiful yellow patterned chintz. The only recent addition is a thrift store lamp with a base shaped as a large vertical standing pencil with the point facing upward. Perhaps this pencil base is a symbol for the writing I will be doing on this porch as I put down these words about A Favorite Place.
Ethyl Haber
July 2021
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