Reviews from

Front Porch Education

Childhood memories from our Front Portch

34 total reviews 
Comment from Sarah Robin
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I loved this story. It reminded me of my childhood. We used to sit on the porch and talk about everything. We visited with each other and had a treat which was pieces of an apple sliced by my Dad. I think that time was helpful in developing our value system. Thanks for sharing. Sarah

 Comment Written 14-Aug-2022


reply by the author on 15-Aug-2022
    Thanks so much for reading and commenting. I appreciate your sharing your own thoughts as well and I agree our value system is based in those times. ann
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

This is a delightful piece, that takes us back to simpler times, when people knew how to communicate directly. Now the email and textmessage are king, and direct human contact has been superceded - even before the intervention of Covid. This is a negative evolution to my mind. Kate xx

 Comment Written 09-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 09-Jul-2022
    Thanks so much for an encouraging review and for sharing your thoughts ann
Comment from Judy Lawless
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This is beautiful, Ann. It reminds me of the big porch we had when I was a child, but I don't remember being in on any conversations in the evenings. I do remember shelling peas there though, with my mother. Reading your story it felt cool and calming. I was there with you and the interesting topics. Well done.

 Comment Written 08-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 09-Jul-2022
    6 stars from an admired writer blows me away! Thanks so much Judy for reading and for a wonderfully encouraging review. I remember shelling peas and shucking corn -- but that was done on our back porch. The same place sheep were sheared and chickens were plucked. Front porch was peace and visiting only. I preferred the front porch. lol Again thank you. ann
reply by Judy Lawless on 09-Jul-2022
    You are very welcome, Ann. Fortunately, because I wasn't able to do much reviewing while away, I still had all my sixes left when I came home. This is a feel good piece. :)
Comment from irishauthorme
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

What a great family story!
I can tell you relive those precious days, now precious memories.
Amazing that my wife and I do that same thing, after work and supper we sit on the deck and watch the wild Canaries and Finches squabble over the socks holding the thistle seed. Robins land on the lawn and search for earthworms.
I am retired and work in the yard and garden, my wife is a pharmacy tech and we talk about our day, tomorrow, and our dreams.
Good work,
irish

 Comment Written 08-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 09-Jul-2022
    I am so pleased you identified with my story and the point of it -- relax, rejuvenate and remember who we really are. It is nice to hear of others who share that ritual in some form or another. Thanks for sharing with me. ann
Comment from evilynne
Excellent
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You have shared a lovely memory of life with your family and the important ritual of evenings together. It is well written, fascinating reading. The picture and author's notes are a great addition to the story. Evi

 Comment Written 08-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 08-Jul-2022
    Thanks so much for your encouraging review and your time in sharing it. ann
Comment from Whitewave
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Front (Portch) - small typo here.
Annmuma,
What a truly wonderful, touching, uplifting story. I feel as though I am there, and would love to be. Having that 'space to learn to think and talk and appreciate the simplest things in life' is more important than any intellectual endeavor or degree. Beautiful memories of being 'immersed in the quiet surrounding us' are so valuable and so much missing from today's frantic frenzy of life.
When we return 'to a place of peace, self-awareness and the joy of laughter', then yes, Life is Good!
.

 Comment Written 08-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 08-Jul-2022
    Six stars adds a lot of 'shine' to my day!!! Thanks so much. I appreciate your words and your time in sharing them. ann
Comment from Kevin McNeany
Excellent
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Someway, somehow, we must take some time for ourselves in quiet thought and the peace that comes from getting to know who we really are.'Virtual six. This is magic. At times I have felt so lonely in crowds or a roomful of people. This is a wonderful piece which is a strong contender for the competition I really loved it good luck and kindest regards Kevin x

 Comment Written 07-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 08-Jul-2022
    I'll take a virtual 6 any day -- thanks so very much for reading and for sharing your thoughts with me. ann
Comment from nomi338
Excellent
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That is I think, the secret bond that can hold a family together in trying times. The idea of a family where some members do not speak to each other, do write, call or visit, is foreign to me. I have told my stories so often that my wife, my kids and my grand kids can repeat them verbatim. I hardly see my son these days, mainly because of his job, but on the rare occasions when he visits, it is like he never left home. My grandson visits quite often, more than his sister or his uncle. My youngest and surviving daughter still lives at home and we see her every day. My grand daughter visits with her husband and kids from time to time as well. Above all we are at all times a family that loves and appreciates each other very much. I thoroughly enjoyed your account of your family and its traditions.

 Comment Written 07-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 08-Jul-2022
    You are so, so, so right-- communication and sharing of time, space and ideas are the glue that holds families together. Too many times, I've heard people say something to the effect, I love my sister, but we are both so busy, we have no time to connect. My response is make time! Thanks for reading and commenting. ann
Comment from estory
Excellent
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I think it's a wonderful celebration of that time when families gathered on the porch and just talked, provided their own entertainment. I loved that little anecdote of your father's about Huey Long; the four dollars in which one dollar went into their pockets. He tells us something about most public figures, there and our experience of them. It seems to me now a much healthier way of interacting. It takes much more cerebral activity, it demands more respect of each other, and those things are missing from our societal interactions today. estory

 Comment Written 07-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 08-Jul-2022
    Thanks for reading my work and for sharing your thoughts. I agree that we need to learn to talk to each other again and to listen to replies. We need to get to know who we are and from whence we came. Thanks again. ann
Comment from elainec4
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I so enjoyed this excellent work. Needless to say, it spoke to me. I am 73, and I live in Louisiana--I experienced exactly what you described. Of course, I miss those days. How sad that many will never have what we had. Thanks for sharing. elaine

 Comment Written 07-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 08-Jul-2022
    Thanks so much for the wonderful shiny 6's. They add a glow to my day and I appreciate them, especially from a writer I admire. Did you grow up in Louisiana? I remember when I first moved away in 1962. I would go back to visit my dad and it seemed as if everything just slowed down! It was a good break. Thanks again. ann
reply by elainec4 on 08-Jul-2022
    Born and raised in South Louisiana--90 miles southwest of New Orleans in Morgan City area. About 20 years ago, we moved to Grand Isle on the coast!!
reply by the author on 08-Jul-2022
    Do you remember Hurricane Audrey -1957? I was at a Girls Auxillary camp near Lafayette when it hit. I have written about that experience. When gathering information to back up my memories, I found a lot of stuff online, including a couple of diary entries. It was interesting. ann