From Our Front Porch: A Year of Seasonal Porch Decor on Our Missouri Farm
Updated: Oct 21
After the unexpected loss of Beauford Wilson near his beloved farm, our family needed something gentle and grounding: a way to make something beautiful in the middle of heartache. So we started decorating our front porch each month, as a small way to celebrate life, togetherness and the moments we still get to share.
The porch became a gathering place for family and friends who stop by as we travel. Now we'd love to share it with you: twelve months of front porch decor from Highland Dale, our Highland cattle farm in the Missouri Ozarks. Most of it is made from things we already had, found on the farm, or made by hand.
November: A Harvest Welcome
We began the series in the fall, with rocking chairs, bundles of dried flowers from our fields and a pillow sewn from a well-loved pair of denim jeans. Simple, warm and ready for company.
December: A Farmhouse Christmas Porch
Small evergreens in galvanized buckets, buffalo plaid pillows on white rockers, vintage snowshoes and sparkling star wreaths. Inside, quilted stockings hang from the stone fireplace beneath a Highland cow portrait, and a vintage Santa collection gathers on the table.
January: Frosted Windows and Tin-Can Lanterns
Ms. Em sketched the animals we'd spotted on the farm (a deer, a fox and a bird), and we turned her drawings into stencils to frost our January windows. At night, the grandchildren's handmade tin-can lanterns glow beside paper snowflakes and a soft white throw.
February: A Valentine's Porch
An old wagon holds red roses in a heart vase and two glasses ready for a toast. Barbed-wire hearts tied with plaid ribbon hang on the wall above Adirondack chairs and a heart-print pillow. To the love that shows up, and the love that never left.
March: Beau's Pot of Gold
Daffodils planted across the farm, "Beau's Pot of Gold," pop up like sunshine coins in the grass. Ms. Em gathered lucky horseshoes, wrapped them in dried flowers from our fields and arranged them into a four-leaf clover. Warm mugs on the porch, and spring on the way.
April: An Easter Porch Swing
Our porch swing gets a golden cushion, a basket of tulips wrapped in tulle and a bunny "Welcome" sign. Our favorite Easter games are the egg toss, egg-and-spoon races and HABA Dancing Eggs.
May: Derby Day on the Porch
It's the season of thundering hooves and bright silks. Show ribbons strung across the window, red roses, a silver tea service and a quilt on the rocking chair. Grab a seat, stay awhile and enjoy the race.
June: Game, Set, Summer
A vintage tennis racquet and tennis balls on the door, lavender in bloom and evenings that run past sunset. Here's to fresh starts, backyard matches and keeping life out of the fault zone.
July: A Fourth of July Front Porch
Flag bunting on the railing, stars on the door, red, white and blue fans, a picnic basket and a vintage cooler full of glass-bottle sodas. Sitting on the porch with family is a cherished time here. Happy 250th birthday, America.
August: Little House on the Prairie
Wooden crates stacked with corn husk dolls, toy tractors and well-read books, an old window frame clipped with keepsakes, and cow skull art on the door. A nod to slower, simpler days on the prairie.
September: Sunflowers and Rocking Chairs
Sunflower pillows on the rockers and sunflower art on the wall: the first easy step into fall. What does September look like from your front porch?
October: A Warm Welcome
We love gathering around the firepit with our kids and friends. And the kids love cooking over the fire and telling stories.
Bring a Little Highland Dale Home
Our farm store is full of things made with the same spirit as the porch, from the Buttercup White Highland Cow canvas to the Lucky Highland Cow Paint Kit for a family craft night.
From our front porch to yours,
The Wilsons
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