Back Porch Project: Balusters Done

Continued from Back Porch Project: Balusters Begun

Anyone who has done many home improvements has likely run into a similar problem. It's where the next step requires a major change elsewhere to continue the project. Oftentimes it's a repair job that was hidden beneath the floor or behind the walls. For our back porch project, it was the jalousie windows . . .

Jalousie windows open outward with a hand crank. But as you can see, the height of the new porch railing is taller than the bottom of the windows. The old railing was right under the windows.

The 220-volt outlet you see is for Dan's welding machine. The bundle of
cables connects our solar charge controller to an inverter on the back porch.

What to do? These are the options we discussed:

• Replace the windows. This is what we considered the best solution, but it was a whole 'nother project in itself. Not for now.
• Put an end post in line with the rail, finish it at the same height, and leave the windows permanently closed. There are two problems with this idea:
• The back porch is my laundry room and summer kitchen. I need to open the windows for ventilation.
• The railing would be in the way when we do get around to replacing the windows.
• Angle the railing from the porch post to the door frame. 
• Shorten the height of the railing for now, to not block the windows. It can be replaced after we eventually replace the windows.

We went with the last option. 

The first thing Dan did was to move the electrical outlet. 

Then it was a matter of finishing it from porch post to window.

In the above photo, you can see the outlet now situated on the floor sill (right below the cat dish), and the conduit containing the solar cables going from the battery box, between the balusters, and into the house.

Lastly, the stairway balusters.

The railing cap will be next.

Back Porch Project: Balusters Done © 2026

by Leigh at https://www.5acresandadream.com

Back Porch Project: Balusters Begun

Once again, lots of pictures of our porch project progress. I'd like to preface them by saying that for this task, Dan pretty much did his own thing. Installation instructions for balusters weren't clear, plus there seem to be many ways of doing it. So if it all looks unconventional, it is.  

There were two areas that required extra think time. One is where the floor railing and the stair railing share an end post.

He couldn't hang the balusters on the outside, like he planned for the others, because they are so close. So he recessed them.

The ready-made parts have pre-cut spots for the balusters,
but, we chose alternate materials (here a 2x4) to lower cost.

The screws will be eventually covered with a bit of trim.

The spacing of balusters is dictated by building code. Many people measure and mark for each one, but Dan found a video with a guy who made a jig.

A 2x4 is the right width for spacing.

The snoopervisor for this part was Katy.

With the jig, installation went quickly.

The weather has been beautiful so lots of progress was made in just a couple of days. Still to finish: the stairway and the second area of special consideration.

Back Porch Project: Balusters Begun © 2026

by Leigh at https://www.5acresandadream.com

Sweater Season

Seasonal living was one of our goals when we first started homesteading. Infrastructure was the priority in the beginning, and as we've gotten house repairs, outbuildings, food production, and fencing established, our lives have indeed become more seasonal. 

Over the years I've learned that spring, summer, fall, and winter are more than just designations on the calendar. Because we spend so much or our time out of doors, I've discovered is that seasonal living is actually quite nuanced. 

Sweater season is notable in my mind because it's pretty much the end of hot weather. There's no fixed calendar date that this happens, basically sometime during September or October. The house is still warm enough that we don't need a fire, but mornings are a touch chilly and so a sweater feels good. In the warm afternoons, all that's needed is a t-shirt or a long sleeve shirt if it's cloudy or the breezes are cool. 

My favorite old house sweater

My favorite house sweater is one I knitted years ago from some of my first handspun yarn. It's so old that it predates even my fiber blog. I sill have the pattern (now discontinued) and I think the fiber is Corriedale, although it was so long ago I'm not entirely sure. What I can tell you is that it was some of the first yarn I spun where I was finally able to control the size of the yarn. The cuffs had to be repaired several years ago for fraying, and I no longer had the original yarn, but I matched it close enough.

Sweater season signals it's time to finish our winter preparations. Dan has been working on firewood periodically all summer, but now is the time to finish splitting the last of the pile and fill the household wood boxes. I work on filling the kindling baskets. The chimneys and stoves are cleaned out. I start sorting my summer wardrobe, set aside what needs to be mended or turned into rags, and swap most of it out for long sleeve t-shirts, vests, and warmer skirts. 

As the nights grow cooler, our big kitties (Katie and Meowy) start to spend the night indoors. It won't be long now before it will be time for that first fall fire in the woodstove. 

Sweater Season © 2026 by Leigh at

https://www.5acresandadream.com