Porch Rails and Party Lights

The porch has been waiting for some rails to help "define the space," so in honor of the first visit by my good friends Sarah and Scott, all the way from Italy, I hustled up and got them made.

Naturally I couldn't just have plain ordinary rails and balusters, so I incorporated the four-square design element often associated with the Craftsman style.

The rails are purely decorative of course, since the sides of the porch are wide open.  Someday I plan to put a swing on the North side, and maybe some kind of combination bench/firewood box on the South side.

For Christmas, Jami had given me a set of commercial string lights, and I added a smaller set in the back. These are party lights.  Now I need some kind of a lawn or patio between the house and the shop, and I'll be ready for a party!  I've always liked this kind of white, heavy-duty lights, and think they add a festive touch anywhere they're used, even in the daytime.