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.

Rhondi's Porch Party

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.

Savoring Summer @ A Delightsome Life

Summer Decks & Porches @ Southern Savvy Style

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Summer Entertaining @ No Minimalist Here

Foodie Friday @ Designs By Gollum

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Sweet Tooth Friday @ Alli & Son

Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper

Summer Solstice Porch Party

It's a Porch Party!

Rhondi @ Rose Colored Glasses is again hosting her popular Porch Party to celebrate the first day of summer. Please, come in.

It's already hot here in Texas, so I thought we'd relax out in the sunroom. Originally this room was a screened in porch, but we added doors and windows with Phantom Screens in order to enjoy this space year round. We open it up when the weather is agreeable, but we can also heat and cool this space. It is where we spend much of our time reading and relaxing.

I've been reading LOVE AND OTHER IMPOSSIBLE PURSUITS. It's a great read, and I'll tell you all about this book at the next Food for Thought. I have a stack of beautiful books on Americana that I've been enjoying again this summer.

Have a spot here on the chaise; Uncle Sam is already here. I know it's still two weeks till we celebrate the 4th of July, but summer here at HFTS means we enjoy red, white, and blue and all things patriotic from June through August.

This space is the perfect spot for a few indoor plants . . .

And tabletops to display a bit of Americana.

Vintage post cards and a few Uncle Sam figures share this space.

I've filled the Nantucket baskets with fresh flowers.

Blue iris, white stock, and summer asters

The Uncle Sam figure is paper maché and was made by Carole Watts in 2002.

With the hot weather here in Texas, I thought you might like a glass of ice cold tea with fresh mint sprigs.

I made you a little something sweet. We have tangy lemon bars and rich chocolate brownie bites.

Fresh cherries are abundant in the summer, so as long as they are available we have a bowl full at the ready. Help yourself to a few of these sweet treats.

Would you like to take a stroll outside?

During the cooler months of spring and fall, we like to eat meals out here on the terrace.

There are lots of large old trees back here so this is mostly a shade garden.

The white hydrangea seems to like the conditions in this garden, though it's still a small plant.

We had a severe winter this past year, and little that was planted in these urns survived. I replanted them with geraniums, coleus, and a variety of ferns.

I planted a variety of white geraniums in some of the urns and beds. They must like the shade conditions because they are still blooming while the geraniums in sunny spots have all stopped producing blooms.

It's always calming to hear the sound of the fountains.

Oh, Mr. Rabbit wants me to remind you that this upcoming Saturday, June 26th, is the date of the 2010 Mad Hatter's Party @ A Fanciful Twist. Click on the button on my sidebar for all the details.

Thank you for stopping by today. Click here to go over to Rhondi's to see a list of others participating in the 2010 Summer Porch Party. Thank you, Rhondi!

This post will also be linked to the following weekly memes. Thank you to all who host these fun events this week.

Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally's

Rednesday @ Sue Loves Cherries

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home