When we first dreamed up our porch, we were super excited. It was hot out and we ate dinner out on the front porch every night.
Then winter came, and although I do use the porch everyday for my photography, it has a long ways to go to become an outdoor room. We need to research furniture (we want a couch and two chairs but can’t afford Crate + Barrel prices) and springtime to come to really settle in.
But today, I ate lunch on the porch!
It was glorious and delicious.
I mixed up a bunch of leftovers into what became a really good combination.
Pasta salad. Canned salmon. Plain yogurt. The flavors went together so well!
A small slice of Dakota with jam for dessert
Matt taught me how to make sparkling water last night. I’m hoping to do a tutorial soon, but it does require a lot of beer making equipment, so it’s only easy if you already have that in place. But now that I know how to make it, I can bring it back into my daily life! Here it is mixed with a little lemon juice
I walked to Body Pump this morning. Didn’t even need a jacket!! But then I got cold when the other people turned the fans on full blast. Wish we could have stayed a bit hot!
I’m working for a while – possibly on the porch!
Krissy @ Shiawase Life says
It’s nice…then windy…then nice…
KathEats says
haha- indeed!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
such great weather! enjoy it! And I hate when people blast the fans, especially before class has even started!
Ashley @ Coffee Cake and Cardio says
I love it!!! Happy Friday!
The Mrs @ Success Along the Weigh says
Your porch is probably the perfect place to enjoy any meal. Yeah, don’t bother with Crate and Barrel stuff at least not big indoor pieces. Their paint is super cheap and our headboard has blistered and my nightstand is ruined over a tipped over chapstick. Higher prices is definitely not indicative of quality.
Reminds me, time for lunch!
Allie says
How relaxing to have lunch on the porch!! I would love to just sit outside and enjoy the day. I recently tried hot yoga and I think working out better in the heat just makes you feel like you worked for it!
Khushboo says
Make the most of the weather while you can!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
I’m eating salmon now too! 🙂 Your weather sounds lovely.. send some up our way!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
I wish I had some beer making equipment on hand–I love sparkling water!
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
That great you have such nice weather 😀
[email protected] Nutritious says
I think you will get much more use of the porch once the weather stabilizes in Spring.
Cait's Plate says
I’m literally obsessed with your porch. I think you guys did a fantastic job – it’s everything I would want a porch to be and more!
Anna @ On Anna's Plate says
Overstock.com and World Market can sometimes have great porch furniture for decent prices. It’s a shame that the porch wasn’t ready in the fall– we got our porch furniture from Lowe’s on MAJOR discount once the weather turned a little chilly!
Claire @ Live and Love to Eat says
Enjoy the sun for me – it’s a rare sight in Pittsburgh!
Kristen @ Change of Pace says
Gorgeous porch! We love our home but that is the one thing that is missing. A nice screened in porch.
Susan H. @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
I love being able to eat outside…how lucky for you to be able to take advantage of the glorious weather you are having on your beautiful porch! I just bought a Soda Stream for my boys for Christmas. It makes great sparkling water and you can by syrups to add to create your own ‘Sprite’, ‘Coke’ or ‘Orange’ pop. The boys love it! I am enjoying my glass of sparkling water with lemon juice at dinner…even my hubbie is enjoying a glass! Great way to increase our water intake! I can’t wait for the summer to mix it with my lemon syrup for sparkling lemonade…a touch of gin will be even better! Perfect porch cocktail!
Jess says
Read my mind, I was going to bring up soda stream! So easy to use, and you can usually get them second hand so you don’t have to pay full price!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
Yep, soda stream is the way to go!! SO easy. Love me some sparkling water.
I teach BodyPUMP, so I make sure and turn the fans on after the warmup <—because the squats track gets sweeeaaaatyyy! Good for you for going 🙂
[email protected] says
What a nice treat to sit out there! We’ve had a mild winter so far here in Chicago and I’m glad it will be over soon!
marnie says
i can’t wait to see how you make your water! i just got my husband a beer making kit for christmas….tonight we get to taste his first india pale ale!!!
Christine @ Oatmeal in my Bowl says
Salmon & yogurt always go well. Might try mixing a bit of dill in there. Yum. At first I thought that was cranberry (the jam). Though it was a good combo. Well jam & dakota are good too.
Yeah for Body Pump!
Andrea @FrSeed2Stomach says
I had the same thought on the dill! And on body pump! just added it to my schedule for Sunday. 🙂
Kerry @ Totes My Oats says
Don’t you love days like this when the weather is beautiful? The fact that its Friday makes it that much better 😉
Krista says
Sometimes I get so frustrated in class when people turn the fans on. I like to sweat a little, there’s nothing wrong with sweating!
Jen says
Okay with weather like that – you are not allowed to complain about winter again! 🙂
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Your porch = heaven! Enjoy it Kath.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
Glad you’re enjoying your porch. I grew up with a porch and some of my fondest memories are of sitting in the wonderful, glowing, sunny area even if it was chilly outside, the porch got nice and toasty.
Kelly @ Vegolosophy says
The porch looks like a fantastic spot to enjoy meals! I bet the spring and summer will be amazing with it 🙂 Have a great Friday!
Dilek and Alba @TwoBaklavasStory says
Dear good weather, stop by in Minnesota sometime. I want to enjoy my porch too! 🙂
Heather @ Run Eat Play says
Your porch is so nice – you’re lucky to have such nice weather! It’s pretty mild here too for January (almost February!)
Sarah says
There is a system that you can by from Williams Sonoma called the Twist ‘n’ Sparkle that is $50. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/isi-twist-sparkle-carbonator/
It will carbonate anything with very little equipment! We’ve really enjoyed it so far and have made some really creative cocktails.
Kim @ Spoonful of Sass says
So jealous of your porch and slightly warmer VA weather. Enjoy!
West Palm Beach Physical Therapy says
Its so relaxing to enjoy a good meal out in the open air!
TeenyLittleSuperChef says
Oh man, your porch is so pretty. I would bundle up in my parka and ear muffs just to be able to sit out there every day. I bet you really can’t wait until summertime. What all patio furniture are you looking to buy? Do you want to get a swing like you had at your previous place? I’ve always wanted one but my husband doesn’t think we would use it enough to make it worth the purchase. I say, why not bring it indoors when the weather gets too chilly or wet. Good idea, or what 🙂
Allison says
It is so beautiful down here in Texas too! Wheres the winter? But, I am not complaining!
Molly @ RDexposed says
I’m loving the stained steps!
Angel7 says
I would love to have a porch like yours! We have a very small front porch, but it would be nice to have one on the back of our house.
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Margaret says
Love your porch, I spend many hours and good times with friends on mine in sunny Queensland.
I wonder if the clear plastic “Cafe” blinds would work well to keep the wind out and make the porch area more cosy and useful in the cold weather, you can just roll them up or down depending on what you need on the day, they work really well.
Michelle (Better with Berries) says
I agree with what you said about the fans at the gym – people at mine used to always put fans on full blast pointing at the treadmills. I like to get at least kind of hot so that I can leave nice and sweaty!
~Christy @ wonderofallthings says
Hooray for the porch! 🙂
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
Such a gorgeous porch!
I never like when all the fans are on in the gym either…I’m there to sweat!! …well that and it blows the pages of my magazine or book making it hard to read + cardio. 😉
Lily says
don’t you have soda stream in the US? over here, sparkling water is much more popular than still, but these days, many people have soda streams to make their own because bottled water is pretty much the environment’s worst nightmare, and it’s expesive, too. and soda streams are easy to use, and after the initial purchase much much cheaper.
here’s their homepage (in german, though) http://www.sodastream.de/deretail/default.aspx
and amazon: http://www.amazon.de/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=soda+stream&tag=googhydr08-21&index=kitchen&hvadid=10548068494&ref=pd_sl_8ze4ne5qzw_b
you can get glass bottles, too, and really pretty designs.
Cathy says
Of course we have Sodastreams! They’ll change your life! Just don’t make carbonated milk…
Katy says
The mild weather in CT has meant I have enjoyed time outside again. Your porch looks wonderful ans I love the idea of your leftover lunch….I’ll be giving that combination a whirl!
Kristin says
I have never tried canned salmon before. But your salmon does look pretty good. And I bet the yogurt added a great flavor and texture. That looks great!