diff --git a/hyde/layouts/basic/content/about.html b/hyde/layouts/basic/content/about.html
index e69de29..c22dfad 100644
--- a/hyde/layouts/basic/content/about.html
+++ b/hyde/layouts/basic/content/about.html
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+extends: base.j2
+default_block: main
+title: About BASIC
+description: The default hyde template
+---
+
+Ha Ha
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hyde/layouts/basic/content/index.html b/hyde/layouts/basic/content/index.html
index 5e073fa..d34ee51 100644
--- a/hyde/layouts/basic/content/index.html
+++ b/hyde/layouts/basic/content/index.html
@@ -1,6 +1,20 @@
 ---
+extends: base.j2
+default_block: main
 title: BASIC - A hyde website
 description: Home page for the BASIC hyde template
 ---
 
-Ha Ha
\ No newline at end of file
+{% from "macros.j2" import render_excerpt with context %}
+<section class="blog_excerpt">
+{% set latest = site.content.walk_resources_sorted_by_time()|first %}
+
+--- if latest:
+{{ render_excerpt(latest, 'post') }}
+
+<a class="button white medium"
+    href="{{ content_url(latest.url) }}">Read more&hellip;</a>
+
+--- endif
+
+</section>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hyde/layouts/basic/content/media/css/site.css b/hyde/layouts/basic/content/media/css/site.css
index b4b42df..35754d3 100644
--- a/hyde/layouts/basic/content/media/css/site.css
+++ b/hyde/layouts/basic/content/media/css/site.css
@@ -42,12 +42,12 @@ table {
 }
 
 a {
-    color: black;
+    color: #666;
     text-decoration: underline;
 }
 
 a:hover{
-    color: red;
+    color: #222;
 }
 
 body{
@@ -190,12 +190,30 @@ footer{
     color: #000;
 }
 
+.blog_excerpt{
+    padding-bottom: 24px;
+}
+
+.blog_excerpt .post time{
+    float: none;
+    clear: left;
+}
+
+.blog_excerpt .button{
+    float: right;
+}
+
+.blog_excerpt h3,
 h1.title{
     font-size: 24px;
     line-height: 36px;
     border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc;
 }
 
+.blog_excerpt h3{
+    margin-bottom: 24px;
+}
+
 section.content{
     padding: 12px;
 }
diff --git a/hyde/layouts/basic/content/portfolio/index.html b/hyde/layouts/basic/content/portfolio/index.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6e05371
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hyde/layouts/basic/content/portfolio/index.html
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+extends: base.j2
+default_block: main
+title: BASIC - Portfolio
+description: Portfolio page in the BASIC hyde template
+---
diff --git a/hyde/layouts/basic/layout/listing.j2 b/hyde/layouts/basic/layout/listing.j2
index 35625c1..6e711fd 100644
--- a/hyde/layouts/basic/layout/listing.j2
+++ b/hyde/layouts/basic/layout/listing.j2
@@ -1,20 +1,12 @@
 {% extends "base.j2" %}
-
+{% from "macros.j2" import render_excerpt with context  %}
 {% block main %}
 {% block page_title %}<h1 class="title">{{ resource.meta.title }}</h1>{% endblock %}
 
 <ul class="listing clear">
 {% for res in resource.node.walk_resources_sorted_by_time() %}
-{% refer to res.url as post %}
 <li>
-    <article>
-    <h3><a href="{{ content_url(res.url) }}">{{ res.meta.title }}</a></h3>
-    <a href="{{ content_url(res.url) }}">{{ post.image|markdown|typogrify }}</a>
-    {{ post.excerpt|markdown|typogrify }}
-    <time datetime="{{ res.meta.created.strftime('%Y-%m-%d') }}">
-        Posted: {{ res.meta.created.strftime('%a, %d %b %Y') }}
-    </time>
-    </article>
+    {{ render_excerpt(res) }}
 </li>
 {% endfor %}
 </ul>
diff --git a/hyde/layouts/basic/layout/macros.j2 b/hyde/layouts/basic/layout/macros.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c17517c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hyde/layouts/basic/layout/macros.j2
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{% macro render_excerpt(res, class=None) %}
+{% refer to res.url as post %}
+<article {{'class='~class if class }}>
+<h3><a href="{{ content_url(res.url) }}">{{ res.meta.title }}</a></h3>
+<a href="{{ content_url(res.url) }}">{{ post.image|markdown|typogrify }}</a>
+{{ post.excerpt|markdown|typogrify }}
+<time datetime="{{ res.meta.created.strftime('%Y-%m-%d') }}">
+    Posted: {{ res.meta.created.strftime('%a, %d %b %Y') }}
+</time>
+</article>
+{% endmacro %}
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