Munger Porch Swing
Most homes built at the turn of the century, including those found in Dallas’ historic neighborhoods, embraced the iconic front porch, a piece of Americana bridging nature with cozy interior space. Before air conditioning, the porch was an outside living area enjoyed by the entire family, the porch swing the perfect place to catch a breeze.
As we count down to Halloween, a highly celebrated event in East Dallas, our thoughts turn to ghosts and goblins and haints. Haints, as explained by my grandmother and her mother before, is a restless spirit who can’t seem to move on from the earthly world to the next.
According to southern folklore, one way to keep your home and family safe from haints, is to paint the porch ceiling the proper shade of blue. Although our home came with a ghost (he’s friendly), we have experienced no new visitors since changing the porch ceiling color to traditional light blue.
Another theory maintains that because blue paint replicates the sky, insects are fooled into thinking the porch ceiling is the wild blue yonder, repelling them elsewhere. Based on the occasional wasp nesting on my ceiling, the insects have figured this out. Interestingly, the milky paint our grandparents used included lye, which possibly did deter bugs.
In Munger Place, under these blue porch ceilings, neighbors can be found each Friday night at a Munger Porch Party. These outdoor rooms bring folks to the front yard, turning neighbors into friends, building better communities. After a busy week, we catch up over wine, discussing century old topics – family, sports, politics.
Whether or not the color keeps away wasps and haints may be a topic worthy for the next porch party. One thing is certain, blue is a cool color, calm and peaceful. In hot, steamy Texas, a haint blue porch ceiling shared with good friends simply helps us get through to autumn.
Friday night Munger Place porch party
My favorite porch ceiling shades are Sherwin Williams Soar #SW-6799 and Benjamin Moore Cumulus Cotton 2063-70. Perfect names, perfectly soothing colors. Of course I select paint, like I select nail polish. A great name is essential.
