The shades are perfect. They were installed yesterday, and you can see that they mask the outside and will prevent direct sun on the porch, but will allow light and vision. The porch can be made cooler and more private without losing the sweeping views I have.
This picture shows the density of the shades a bit better. There are three big shades–and they stop halfway down the porch screens so they can be attached via bungee cords if needed to the wooden strip in the middle of the porch. They are so light and easy to roll up, where they totally disappear beneath their holders, leaving only their little bungee cord holders and the steel chains that control them in view. The chains are at the corners, so they don’t dangle in full view across the screens.
The shade below and the door shade can come down at night to provide privacy in my big room in the house. But I would roll them up at night before I go to bed so if a storm comes in (as happened last night), they won’t flap in the wind.
Here’s the door shade going all the way down, and you can see to its left the adjacent shades little bungee cord holder and how neatly it lives in its holder box.
Note, also, how green the neighborhood grass is getting. It is still too early to fertilize it for spring growth, and we are actually heading into a cold spell with much colder night temperatures for about a week–happening, unfortunately, while SIL Maryann is here from Boston next week.
I am grateful for the solid rain that came last night and will last much of today. I watered a bit yesterday by hand as the shrubs were looking parched. And the grass sod was looking so dry.
My back porch neighbor is a home town woman, and she called upon an old friend of hers to mow for her and for whatever neighbors might be interested in lawn mowing. I signed up and will hold off on buying an electric mower for the moment.
Louisa Enright's Blog 
The shades look great and they will help when the weather gets warmer, I’m sure. We have one in our cottage on Winnipesaukee, on the West side and it really does a great job of keeping the cottage cooler as the sun goes down. And you can still see through it somewhat. That’s nice that you’ve found someone to mow! I wonder how much a sprinkler system would cost, if your lawn and shrubs are fading so early in the season I’d hate to think how much watering you will need to be doing all Summer. Just a thought. Enjoy your rainy day, it’s getting cold here in MA for the next week as well. Been such a strange winter, plenty of rain but hardly any snow…shhh! I can’t say that too loud! Don’t want to jinx us so close to Spring, haha! Jan
I thought about the sprinkler system for here. But in this tropical climate, there it rains a lot in the hot months, especially in the late afternoon. The dryer spell can be in the winter–and the grass is not established yet. Nor are the shrubs. When they all get better root systems, I think the outside watering will be minimal. Also all the grass and shrubs outside were chosen to thrive in this region. So water should be ok. LOL. Unless I start planting annual flowers and herbs out there. And more shrubs in places, like off the back porch. I’m thinking some landscape roses for there–they are hardy; are light and airy, so won’t get huge or dense; and bloom all summer. Anyway, when I watered a little on Thursday, I brought in a good soaking rain Thursday night and all day off and on Friday!