One of the things that first attracted us to our house is the huge wrap-around porch with its grand staircase — it reminds us of something you’d see in the South, not here in northern New Hampshire. And so we call it the veranda and when weather is permitting, we like to go and sit for a spell and watch the world go by.

I should clarify “weather permitting”. We love to sit on the veranda and watch thunderstorms come rolling in, the rain falling in sheets on the lawn, until the wind turns and finds us soaking wet. We love to sit on the veranda those early days of spring — or late days of fall — wrapped in blankets and constantly moving to find that little bit of sun that will make it bearable. And of course on a glorious day in April when the mercury rises well above 70°F. There’s only one kind of weather that I find completely unpermissable no matter what the temperature may be or skies may bring — black fly season.

So on a glorious day like today we enjoyed our morning coffee on the east side of the veranda, and quickly moved to the front (south) to get out of the blazing sun. Now at mid-day the temperature has hit 80°F and the wind has picked up; we’ll be back on the veranda later this afternoon watching the thunderstorms roll in. And from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day (traditional black fly season) we’ll be hoping for a nice steady breeze so we don’t have to abandon the veranda to the black flies.