On Friday, Josh took some time to clean up our porch. Some dirt had fallen down onto it, as had an empty cardboard box or two and some dead leaves. There were a few spider webs hanging out (they seem to be spun daily), so I was totally hands-off of this household chore.

It’s amazing what a clean-swept floor and some new (free!) chairs can do for the decor of porch. For the first time since moving into this apartment, Josh and I were able to really use our porch space. And! Jude was finally able to play on the porch. Up until this point it has just been too dirty or cluttered. Now, after installing some screen around the porch railing and the rain gutter planters earlier in the season, and cleaning the space top to bottom, it’s finally a Jude-friendly space.

Since Friday, Jude has been going in and out and in and out from the living room to the porch and back. He has a spray bottle of water and a rag out there that he cleans with; he loves to spray the sliding glass door and wipe it clean over and over. Josh had the fantastic idea to make sidewalk chalk paint, so Jude has been having a blast painting all over the porch walls with that as well. I’m hoping to pick up a few cheap spray bottles so that we can try spraying the walls with our new “paint.” I’m really loving having access to our outdoor space. The other night, Josh and I had a cup of tea together while sitting out there, and just this morning I took my morning cup of coffee out there to drink.

I’m excited about getting to use this space year-round. I can imagine my family eating bowls of chili out there on cool Autumn nights, and I simply cannot wait to string Christmas lights all around the porch railing. Next Spring, I plan to expand our container garden… This place is really turning into home.