I still remember the Saturday mornings when my two kids, ages 9 and 11, would race down the driveway in pajamas to chase the neighbor’s golden retriever while I juggled coffee and the calendar for piano lessons and soccer practice. Our street is full of familiar faces and small rituals, like borrowing a cup of sugar or chatting about school pick-ups. Those everyday moments made me notice how a welcoming exterior changes everything: the way a fresh color greets us after a long day, or how a little porch bench becomes the site of homework battles and whispered secrets. After…
