We built a cottage stone retaining wall coming out from the porch, then filled it with gravel. We're giving it a week to settle, then we will be finishing the top of it with aggregate paving stones to match the porch.
When we're done the porch will be an additional 5' (or so) deep, which should give us enough room to have a couple chairs and small tables out there for sitting at and watching the world go by.
Our neighbors initially thought we were adding a raised garden in front of the porch, as many of our neighbors have done that. They were confused as to why we were adding gravel to it until we explained what we were doing.
We now have 63 cottage stones holding about a yard and a half of -5/8 crushed gravel, and we are both remembering muscles we forgot we have. I strongly suspect Motrin will be my best friend for the next few days!