The Whiskey Porch
  • Resources
    • Home
    • Garden
    • Art & Color
    • Simple Living
  • Local
    • Porches of Prescott
    • Cottages of Prescott
    • Historic Neighborhoods
    • Gardens of Prescott
    • Picnic in Prescott
  • Services
    • Booking
    • Testimonials
    • Portfolio
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

Dragonfly Journal
~ The Whiskey Porch Blog ~

Fika: the nordic coffee ritual

10/1/2023

2 Comments

 
​Today is World Coffee Day. 

Sweden is one of the top coffee consuming countries in the world, but we do it with a special touch, and not just once year but virtually every day.  "Fika" is a Swedish cultural ritual that we need more of here in the U.S., and I thought that today was the perfect day to inspire you.  

Fika is a treasured tradition that is in that sweet spot between the elaborate English afternoon high-tea and the American coffee-to-go. 

​Growing up in Sweden, no matter where we were or what we were doing, we would stop mid-afternoon, take a short soothing break, and enjoy an earthy cup of hot coffee along with a little sweet and some company. In Sweden, we have quite a sweet tooth, and indulge often, but always in moderation.

Fika is all about celebrating the simple pleasures in life, with others.
​
a swedish fika coffee break set beautifully on a small tray with bullar and a silver coffee carafe
Photo: Ea Ehn/pexels.com

~ post continues, click Read More" ~

Read More
2 Comments

the truth about tiny homes

9/10/2023

1 Comment

 

Today is "Sustainable House Day" - actually, the beginning of a month-long celebration that takes place in Australia every year now since 2017.  https://sustainablehouseday.com/ 

Many things go into defining whether a home is "sustainable" or not, and it depends on who you ask.  

Of course, most of us would assume that efficient energy use, low environmental impact during the build as well as use of greener materials, products and technology would always apply.    

​The result of much of that is to also end up being budget friendly for the inhabitants of the home over time (although I'm not certain that the up-front investment in these higher end materials and technology is less of a budget drain currently than standard materials, and that's part of the hesitancy.)

Bumblebee Cottage on the edge of a steel pot

Here in the U.S. (and around the world) we are still in the throws of the Tiny-House-Craze.  One of several reasons so many find it an intriguing concept is that it's assumed to be a vastly more sustainable option than your typical American home.  

​I would tend to agree with this idea theoretically, for some individuals.  

However, I would argue that when viewed from the collective perspective of making a real and ongoing impact in our larger communities, tiny homes are NOT a sustainable option.  And that there should be a wider, more vocal dialogue about small-not-tiny homes as the path to meaningful sustainability for both the environment and the larger community.

Let me explain.

~ post continues, click Read More ~


Read More
1 Comment

getting ready for spring

2/17/2023

0 Comments

 
This in-between seasonal 'angst' that we can sometimes feel, right around mid-February, is real.

We've enjoyed (and survived) the holidays, the freshness of New Year has begun to wear off, and the days are ever-so-slightly getting longer. Those blue skies and sunny days are so promising.

​But, especially for us up here in the high country, the winter storms just keep popping in to remind us that it's still winter, and it's not quite time to let go of the hygge-vibe just yet.  
​
Picture
My dragonfly kitchen garden gate glowing in the early morning.

~ post continues, click Read More ~


Read More
0 Comments

Featured on houzz.com

2/1/2023

1 Comment

 
Our biggest motivation is always to meet and exceed the needs of our wonderful clients. 

We get almost all of our business through referrals from happy customers and colleagues, and choose to keep it that way.  And this allows us to keep our pricing more competitive without having to cover advertising overhead.

But I gotta say, getting recognition is pretty cool, especially when it's not something we pursued.  


​Voted best of houzz 2023
​

I am proud to share that we have just been voted Best of Houzz 2023!

That means we've been recognized as one of the top 3% of design professionals @ Houzz.com.  

​That's a big deal!
​
~post continues, click Read More ~


Read More
1 Comment

5 Ways to Celebrate Simplicity day

7/12/2022

1 Comment

 
National Simplicity Day is today, every year on the 12th of July. 

This is sort of a special "holiday" for us here at The Whiskey Porch because it's at the core of what we are all about.  After all, our tag line is "cultivating contentment & possibility in a smaller, simpler & more beautiful lifestyle."  

And, now more than ever, it just feels like we are all seeking refuge and inspiration to lift our spirits as we recover from this wild insanity of the last few years.  So it goes without saying, that finding pleasure and calm in simple ideas is something many of us are striving for now.

Ibis the Yellow Lab enjoying simple pleasures with a BIG stick
Ibis the Yellow Lab. #belikeibis

​The celebration originated in honor of Henry David Thoreau, who lived in Concord, Massachusetts from July 12, 1817 to 1862.   

First, who was he, and why does it matter?  And then, I've got 5 Great Ways for You to Celebrate Simplicity Day.
​
~post continues below ~

Read More
1 Comment

What makes porches so alluring?

5/21/2022

7 Comments

 
I've always been enamored with the Craftsman Bungalow - but didn't even realize it at first. 

I remember spending time in the Pasadena California area house hunting for a possible job move decades ago and just being hypnotically drawn to the older bungalows that abound there.  I didn't know then, but it was a truly American architectural style that was also common all over San Francisco where I'd lived most of my life. 

​Looking back, the feature that always caught my eye first and drew me in, was the front porch.

A generous front porch with a rocker
Craftsman bungalow front porch

​And now, owning and living in a 1924 craftsman bungalow in northern Arizona, I find myself excited beyond words that we opened up the front porch which had been enclosed somewhere in the 60's or  70's.  We started that whole renovation project in summer 2019, and it wasn't really finished until summer 2021, but it was so worthwhile.   (You can find out more about that project here:  Juniper Hill Cottage.)

It feels glorious to be in that space now without the constraint of the walls and windows.  Friends and neighbors come into the space and just marvel at how delicious it is.  We try to imagine why anyone would have chosen to enclose this fabulous space.

Every chance we get, which is pretty much daily, we end the day on this exceptional front porch.  Never get tired of it or the view.


I often find myself wondering --
What is it that makes front porches so alluring?

So I thought I'd write a piece to explore the idea.
​
​~ post continues below ~

Read More
7 Comments

Porches of prescott - May 2022 Feature

5/11/2022

0 Comments

 
Spring in Prescott means that we are running a few local porch features to share some inspiration and sweet sittin' spot ideas.

It's not about being perfect, or impressive or huge, but an authentic and lived-in porch that makes it feature-worthy.

Picture

Read More
0 Comments

Celebrating National gardening day

4/14/2022

0 Comments

 
​Technically, I missed National Gardening Day which was yesterday, April 14th.  But that's okay, I think we should turn it into a weekend celebration! 

​Honestly, for me it's a daily celebration year-round.  Even in the winter, while I might not be out in my garden actively growing things or enjoying the garden, I'm most definitely planning ahead for the coming season and dreaming up new ideas and projects.

To encourage you to jump into gardening if you aren't already obsessed, and to remind those of us that are in deep already why we do it, I wanted to share 10 Reasons Why Gardening is Good for You.
​
Picture

~ post continues, click Read More ~


Read More
0 Comments

Living with the seasons: Transitional Spaces

3/24/2022

0 Comments

 
One of the key themes I come back to at The Whiskey Porch is "seasonal living".  It's an aspect of a Simple Lifestyle that adds texture, and color, and variety, and a natural flow to things.

When we talk about living with the seasons, what does that really mean?

To me, it's simply shifting your lifestyle with the seasons.  Doing different things in different spaces, as the seasons progress through the year.

Picture

Focusing on the connection to the landscape and the outdoors is just as important as the creature comforts and floorplan that you incorporate into your home design.  So, the interior isn't entirely separate from the outdoors and the landscape that your home sits on. 

By creating this connection intentionally, we craft a direct link between our daily activities and the cycle of the earth. 

And.  We can greatly expand the amount of living space available to us.

Let me explain.

~ post continues, click Read More ~
​

Read More
0 Comments

Simple doesn't mean boring

3/23/2022

0 Comments

 
At this time of year, porch season is on my mind!  It's been a few months for us here in Northern Arizona and since early spring is often windy here, it's not quite porch sittin' time, but it's getting so close.

Meanwhile, what better to do than ponder some inspirational ideas on how to dress up that porch and put some projects on the honey-do list.  

I thought I might do a quick look at a few inspiring porches over the next few weeks to get the juices flowing and highlight a few design or layout concepts that I think are worthy.

First up:  Simple does NOT mean boring.

Picture

With this photo it's hard to know how big the entire porch is.  Could be just this bit and then the front door to the right or twice this large perhaps.  

But given that's it's a fairly shallow space and likely not all that large, there's a few things I truly love about this styling.

​Scroll down for 4 reasons this porch works.

~post continues, click Read More ~


Read More
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    Hey there.  I'm Miriam ~ and I've been doing this my whole life.  It's my passion.  ​

    Miriam Carlson-Maier

    Categories

    All
    Art & Color
    Before & After
    Cottage Garden Plants
    Cottages & Bungalows
    Cottages Of Prescott
    Downsizing
    Foraging
    Gardens & Nature
    Gardens Of Prescott
    Herb Garden
    New & Noteworthy
    Nordic Lifestyle
    Picnic In Prescott
    Porches
    Porches Of Prescott
    Prescott AZ
    Seasonal Living
    Simple Living

    RSS Feed

The Site

Home Page
​
Resources
Inspiration
Cottages, Porches & Gardens of Prescott AZ
Home & Garden Design Services
Project Portfolio and Testimonials
The Dragonfly Journal (Blog)
​Contact Us
​About Us

sister brands

Baldur Studios Art
Arizona Artisans Collective
​
Picture

LIFESTYLE & DESIGN NEWSLETTER

I want to receive occasional inspiration by email.
Inspire Me!

​Let's connect !

find & follow us  @thewhiskeyporch
Picture

we are local

We are a small, woman-owned independent business.  Think local.  Buy local.  Be local.
​

credits

Website Design, Graphics by Miriam
Photography by Miriam & Sonja
​Video Photography & Editing by Miriam
​Drone Footage by Michael
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Copyright 2019-2023  The Whiskey Porch LLC
  • Resources
    • Home
    • Garden
    • Art & Color
    • Simple Living
  • Local
    • Porches of Prescott
    • Cottages of Prescott
    • Historic Neighborhoods
    • Gardens of Prescott
    • Picnic in Prescott
  • Services
    • Booking
    • Testimonials
    • Portfolio
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact