Monday, June 20, 2011

Good Bye Spring

Detail of Nancy Thomas Spring, 1994

Good bye, Spring!

Tuesday, June 21st marks the official start of summer, but here at HFTS it hasn't felt as if we've had much of a spring. As local weatherman, Jim Spencer, wrote today: "The last day of spring closes the chapter on what is going into the record books as Austin's hottest spring on record."



June 21st also marks the occasion of the

annual Porch Party @ Rose Colored Glasses.




Last year HFTS celebrated with Rhondi

at a Summer Solstice Porch Party here.

Our sunroom above was once a screened in porch, though now it is enclosed. We can open it up when the weather is agreeable, or heat and cool this space when needed. This is our favorite spot and where you'll find us most any time of the year, rain or shine. Looking at last year's photo above reminds me it's time to pull out the boxes of red, white, and blue. It's less than two weeks before we'll be celebrating the 4th of July.



Even when there is no special holiday being

celebrated, you'll find fresh flowers on the porch.



Along with Nantucket Baskets . . .




Tabletop Roosters



Reading Material



And Bird Watching Tools



During the hot summer months

there's often a pitcher of refreshing ice tea!



Outside on the terrace is a table for alfresco dining.



The shade from the large oak trees and the

sound of the water fountains offers a cooling ambiance.


White geraniums mix in with red geraniums of a vining variety.



Delicate white alyssum cascades over the urns.



You might spy a wild critter or two below in the garden.



You'll hear the sound of birds.



And might even notice a bit of vintage among the leaves.



I've set out a sweet treat on the little bistro table.

Would you like to join me for something cool and refreshing?



Help yourself to a glass of icy

Italian soda and one of the little tarts.



I think I'll have a lemon tart.



There is also lemon meringue . . .



Cream Puff . . .



Or a tasty tart with summer berries.




See the beautiful delicate pink hankie?

It was a gift from Donna @ Conghaile Cottage.

You can click here if you'd like to visit her beautiful garden.



Cool and refreshing for our first day of summer.



Even though I love to spend time on

our porch and outside on the garden terrace,

I think you know where I'd rather be for summer.



Thanks for stopping by today.

Happy Summer!

Click here to visit Rhondi and others

who are waiting for you on their summer porches.



Click the links below to join other summer parties this week.









Sarah
Sarah

The summer we married, my husband was in graduate school, and I was employed as a teacher. We took a portion of our savings that summer and purchased a sailboat. We christened our Catalina 22, “Hyacinths For The Soul” after Saadi’s poem. Our "Hyacinths" provided years of pleasure.

46 comments:

  1. I hope summer arrives on more than the calendar tomorrow! I hope it arrives beside the ponds. We've had a long, cool spring. When I look at photos from this time last year I can see that we are four weeks behind.
    Your sun room is beautiful. No wonder it's a favorite place to spend time!

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  2. Happy Summer Sarah! Beautiful pics and I love your Nantucket baskets! The lemon meringue pie looks pretty good too:@)

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  3. Summer arrived early, that's for sure. Apparently Mother Nature forgot how to read a calender! I feel sorry for Jim Spencer (he's our favorite weather man) his job must be pretty boring right now - he could just go on the air and say "ditto". Your porch and terrace look so cool and inviting. And those tarts are amazing! Hope you have a great summer and can keep cool. Kat

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  4. What a beautiful porch party you are having. I love the seasons and celebrate each one as a new beginning. Happy Summer.

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  5. Happy Summer to you, too! This was a hot spring, wasn't it? Your outdoor spaces are lovely and I don't blame you for spending as much time as possible out there.

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  6. Summer has arrived in Normandy with lashings of rain & terrible high winds!
    Glad to hear that someone I know has warmer weather, I remember you're lovely enclosed porch, it really is the perfect place to while away an hour or two.
    Happy summer, dear friend.

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  7. It's been summer here since the beginning of May! Thanks for the lemonade and goodies. I'll take the tart with fruit on it. Evrything looks beautiful as it always does at your place. Thanks for joining my party.
    Hugs, Rhondi

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  8. Nah, forget Paris, I'd rather sip tea on your welcoming porch!
    xo Cathy

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  9. Sarah, you have a beautiful garden. I would love to sit and relax with a glass of tea and a delicious tart. xo,

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  10. What a lovely space! I could very much enjoy time spent there!
    Hugs,
    Penny

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  11. I'm on my way over, Sarah. Everything looks so deelish & inviting ... lovely place to enjoy.
    Have a beautiful week ~
    TTFN ~
    Hugs,
    Marydon

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  12. All that lemon talk... made me hungry!! haha (Jim Spencer, that's my brother's name!) Thanks for the wonderful break in my work day Sarah! :)

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  13. Sarah, I love this room. We converted our screened porch to a sunroom, too, and we love it there.

    Everything you've shared is beautiful. I love all the wonderful touches you have added around your gardens and your home.

    Did you eat all of that lemon tart? Please save me a bite.♥

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  14. These looks as divine as I hope my summer will be!

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  15. What a pretty terrace. So nice and shady. Thanks so much for joining the party.

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  16. I love your porch! You have done a great job!
    This is my first time participating in Ms. Rhondi's Porch Party...I hope you will swing by my blog to visit my porch! Fresh ice cold lemonade will be waiting on you! :-)

    ~~~rhonda ~~~~

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  17. beautiful porch/terrace.. and now I'm hungry!!

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  18. I have some good books to read, I'm coming over to your porch and having some of those luscious sweeties! Oh, do you make "sweet tea:?

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  19. Sarah, your terrace is stunning. It must be heaven to sit out there and dine while enjoying the beauty of your garden.

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  20. Your terrace is beautiful! Looks like a really lovely place to relax!

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  21. Sarah, I can see why you sunroom is your favorite spot in the house. It's so "warm and cozy" and I love it. I can't believe you made all those lemony goodies. I'll be right over.
    Oh, the Nantucket baskets with flowers are graet. I love to have fresh flowers in my house too.
    Great post Sara and Happy Summer,
    Hugs,
    Babs

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  22. You have such a comfortable and pretty sunroom, Sarah, and your outside deck and garden is delightful! I see your sense of whimsy in both special places.

    I'd love the cream puff, please!

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  23. You have a real knack for putting vignettes together. My favorites are the rabbit with the ivy and the red flowers in the baskets. All of your things are wonderful, so thanks for sharing!

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  24. Sarah~ How wonderful you can close or open your porch up! It's been unseasonably hot this spring for us, although not as hot as Texas! I'm dreading what summer might bring temperature wise~ I'd rather be in Paris too :-) All your treats & treasures look delicious...

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  25. WOWO WHAT A FABULOUS FEAST YOU HAVE GIVEN US HERE DEAREST!!!! Oh Sarah, my goodness you are inspiring me....here is my email, I would SOOOOO LOVE TO CHAT!!!

    rivani@bethel.edu

    Anita

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  26. How pretty, Sarah! Love the peek-a-boo bunny! And your goodies...so yummy-looking! It's hot here, too...hoping for rain today! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

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  27. I'll be right over to share that gooey, delish lemon tart, please!!!! What a lovely sunroom Sarah - I know you must love spending time there. The outside area is just beautiful - please tell more about those fountains, look really interesting.

    Yes, the heat here is continuing too - this Spring has been Summer I fear, just hope it cools off soon.......otherwise you and I need to head over to Maggie's, wouldn't that be fun?

    Hugs - Mary

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  28. Such lovely little corners you have, Sarah, to curl up into or wander through, enjoying the fruits of your labors. I know its HOT down there! Too bad we can't send you some of the rain we've had EVERY SINGLE DAY SINCE SATURDAY!!! At least I haven't had to water the tomatoes. :/

    Hugs,
    Rett

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  29. I can see why you love sitting there,,, and the outside is just as beautiful... such lovely flowers and cozy sitting areas.... have a great week.

    Hugs;
    Alaura

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  30. This is so lovely - I'd spend hours in a screened porch such as yours! And to have such an amazing terrace with a water fountain nearby - so serene! Your garden is lovely and yes - we've had a very hot spring and it looks like it is going to be a hot, dry summer - but,we welcome it with all its blessings! Thank you for sharing this lovely post with Savoring Summer!
    Kathy

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  31. Love your fountain! We had the same horrid heat wave up here in Lubbock. And yesterday we got a reprieve.. not only a day below 110 or thereabouts.. we had barely 90 degrees. Thank you God! I love your porch and how restful and relaxing it is. Also your garden looks like it would be an amazing retreat. Many blessings. marlis

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  32. So pretty and I could just see sitting at your lovely bistro set looking out at the beautiful flowers you have!

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  33. So happy to tumbled down the rabbit hole into your lovely blog...I'm your newest follower!
    --Lee Ann
    http://thefrenchmaidsplace.blogspot.com/

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  34. lovely post! Just hopping around the parties and having a blast looking at your blog. Join me on Saturday..or any day for that matter..for the Mad Tea Party! FUN! Hugs xo! TS

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  35. I would like a fruit tart, please, and I hope it's cool enough outside to enjoy it at your bistro table. Texas has had its fair share of hot and dry already.

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  36. Your sunroom is so pretty and so comfy, Sarah. You decorated it so nicely. And the snack you prepared is making my mouth water, especially now that we just started a diet yesterday....Christine

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  37. so many pretty settings, pieces and FOOD! lucious gorgeous food calling me to plunk down nice and cozy and chatter the day away with you :)

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  38. I would love to join you for a nice cool glass of ice tea in your garden. It looks so beautiful out there.

    I hope that your summer isn't too hot and extreme...I am not a fan of hot weather!

    Take care and best wishes for a wonderful weekend.
    Natasha.
    xo

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  39. It looks like a wonderful spot, what a great place to sit and relax.
    The gardens look beautiful, and I know with your lack of rain it is not easy to keep them looking so lush!
    We are going into our third day of rain. Yesterday it was torrential. There will be lots of mosquitoes this year!
    Have a great weekend, Sarah!

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  40. I loved your photos,...they really got me in a summery mood. Thanks...
    Rainey @ The Project Table!

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  41. Oh Sarah, you have such a beautiful home. I so love your screened in porch. I can see why you spend so much time there. I love your terrace and the bistro table too. So many wonderful space to enjoy.

    It's great to have you be a part of Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  42. Hi Sarah, You are roasting and we are swimming in downpours and thunderstorms! Your porch looks so inviting and it is wonderful that you can open it up! I have clicked on all your pictures to enlarge and see all the pretty details. The iced tea with mint must be so refreshing in that heat! Linda

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  43. I really REALLY want to come visit you sometime and see your beautiful home..your collections of wonderful things..your pretty city...but most of all, to sit and talk with YOU. :))
    You have such a sweet spirit that shines thru every single post.

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  44. Beautiful porch! and what lovely treats to enjoy the porch and the gorgeous summer days!

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  45. Sarah,
    You two very lovely spots there to enjoy summer. I love that you can have an indoor spot or an outdoor one. How wonderful it is! Hoping you are staying cool for summer. Thanks for joining Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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Thank you to each of you who take the time to leave a comment. I read and appreciate each and every one and will respond to any questions. Your notes are the only way I know who has stopped in for a visit.