Winter has a way of settling in and making itself at home. It sneaks into the cracks, piles up in the corners, and leaves behind a mess that no one asked for. By the time the snow finally melts and the air starts smelling like something other than frozen regret, the porch, the eyes to the soul of a good home, looks like it’s been through a battle.
Leaves that got buried under last fall’s first frost are now a damp, matted mess. Cobwebs cling to the railings, old grow bags caked in last year’s soil, dirt and dust layer the floorboards, and everything just feels a little… tired.
Much like life, sometimes we don’t realize just how much has piled up until we step back and take a good look. And holy buckets! It’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed.
Rolling Up Our Sleeves and Facing the Mess
There’s no shortcut when it comes to clearing off a winter-worn porch. You can stand there, staring at it, sipping your coffee, and hoping it’ll clean itself (which is exactly what I did this morning), let’s just be honest, that’s not how this works. It takes effort. It takes a broom, a bucket, and the willingness to get your hands a little dirty.
The first sweep always kicks up more dust than it clears, much like tackling any problem in life. At first, it might feel like you’re making a bigger mess (and you very well might be with your allergies!) You start uncovering things you didn’t even realize were there! Gardening tools in the corners, a rogue mop bucket, the remains of last summer’s potted plant that never quite made it 😢.
It’s overwhelming at first, and step by step, the space starts to clear.
Letting Go of What No Longer Belongs
Not everything that winter leaves behind deserves to stick around. That’s true for porches, and that’s true for life!
Some things, like the porch swing that just needs a fresh dusting, are worth restoring. Others, like the rusted-out tiki torches you’ve used once, need to go. As we clean, we make choices. What’s worth keeping? What’s just taking up space? What’s weighing us down, and what’s ready to shine again?
It’s the same kind of reckoning that comes with the changing seasons of life. We gather what’s useful, sweep away what’s not, and make space for what’s next.
Preparing for the Good Days Ahead
Once the dirt is gone, once the broken things are cleared away, once the floorboards have been scrubbed and the chairs wiped down, the porch feels different. Lighter. Warmer. Full of possibility.
That’s the reward. A clean porch isn’t just about getting rid of winter’s mess, it’s about making room for spring mornings with coffee in hand, summer evenings with a cold lemonade, and the everyday moments that happen when a space feels welcoming again!
Life, much like a porch, gets messy. The seasons will always leave their mark, storms will always pass through, and things will always need tending. The trick is to keep sweeping, keep clearing, and keep making space for the good things to come.
Because no matter how long winter lasts, spring always finds its way home!
Yard 2 Yield! 