If you were at Papaw's house on a hot summer night, it meant everybody was moving to the front porch because it was too hot in the house. There were three porches at Papaw's: the back porch, the front porch; and of course, the "dog porch" (also called "dog trot hall" because that's where they cut through.) Nobody ever sat on the back porch unless they just got in from baling hay or walking through tall grass, or maybe the garden. It was the mud porch, and you didn't dare go in the house 'til all the ticks and dirt got picked off. The dog porch ran straight down the middle of the house, with the living and sleeping areas on one side and the kitchen on the other. Naturally, the dogs slept close to the kitchen door. ( It was their job to dispose of scraps). The front porch however, was a respectable distance from the outhouse, and afforded the best view of the neighbors.
Monday, August 17, 2009
"The Porch"
If you were at Papaw's house on a hot summer night, it meant everybody was moving to the front porch because it was too hot in the house. There were three porches at Papaw's: the back porch, the front porch; and of course, the "dog porch" (also called "dog trot hall" because that's where they cut through.) Nobody ever sat on the back porch unless they just got in from baling hay or walking through tall grass, or maybe the garden. It was the mud porch, and you didn't dare go in the house 'til all the ticks and dirt got picked off. The dog porch ran straight down the middle of the house, with the living and sleeping areas on one side and the kitchen on the other. Naturally, the dogs slept close to the kitchen door. ( It was their job to dispose of scraps). The front porch however, was a respectable distance from the outhouse, and afforded the best view of the neighbors.
