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.









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Sunday, June 19, 2011

A Place for Tea


I've been watching all the talented, creative, and extremely industrious individuals who seem to paint something every week. When I was much younger, I too, would refinish a piece of furniture every now and again. But it's been years since I actually took on a painting project!



Summer before last I came across this little thrifty treasure of a child's set of a table and four chairs. You can see it was rusty and in need of being rescued. As I said, it's been years since I've taken on a project to refinish something, but I was totally charmed by the detail of the rooster and leaves and the fact that both the chairs and table fold up flat. So this little set came home with me with the intention of a make-over.



It wasn't long before Cleo and Mr. Barnaby claimed it for their own. They didn't seem to mind the rust and the fact that I hadn't actually gotten around to spiffing up this little set. You see they enjoy an afternoon tea and were happy to have their own little spot on the terrace. If you like, click here to join them.



It also didn't seem to matter when the

animals gathered for tea on a sunny morning.



But when a sweet little girl was coming to visit her Nana who is one of my dearest friends, I decided it was time to get out the wire brush, clean off the rust, and give the set a fresh coat of paint.



To prevent the rust again,

I used a gray primer as an undercoat.



Using a spray paint made it an easy project,

but it took several sweeps to get at all the angles.



Once each piece was primed . . .



I painted them with Rust-Oleum Strawflower, a soft yellow as close to the original color as I could find. My initial idea was to highlight and enhance the rooster and leaves with a bit of color, but I haven't done that.



So what do you think?

Shall I leave it as it was originally painted,
all yellow, or give the rooster and leaves a hint of color?

What would you do?




Mary Kate wants to remind you to join HFTS

for the Summer Week Long Blog Party



You can click here to join DebbieDoos Summer Paint Party June 20th .

Also Joining:










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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Flag Day ~ 2011

It's been a busy week here at HFTS with little computer time, but Flag Day is important to me so I took the liberty to recycle my post from last year. I hope it inspires others to proudly display the American flag and bring out some red, white, and blue for the summer months. 4th of July will be here before you know it.

Flag Day is also my brother's birthday. Happy Birthday, David!



National Flag Day ~ June 14th

Although many states had designated a special day to honor the US flag each year, it wasn't until 1949 that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.


Here at HFTS the US flag and other patriotic symbols of our country are front and center during the summer months. Affectionately known as Old Glory, the Stars & Stripes, or the Star Spangled Banner, the American flag is a Grand Old Flag.



Long an enthusiast of Americana, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to attend the special exhibit, STRIPES and STARS, A GRAPHIC HISTORY OF AN AMERICAN ICON. The AIGA National Design Center hosted the STRIPES and STARS exhibit, at their 5th Avenue center in NYC the summer of 2000. The exhibit was an amazing collection of US flag related items assembled by Kit Hinrichs of California. The large poster lower right in the above mosaic is from the exhibit. I had it framed, and it is now part of my American collection.


The exhibit, a mere sampling of Mr. Hinrichs collection of flag memorabilia was so well received that Mr. Hinrichs decided to publish LONG MAY SHE WAVE. This large, beautiful book documents the complete collection of over 500 items with incredible color images meticulously photographed by renowned artist, Terry Heffernan. Mr. Hinrichs' collection has been "hailed as a marvel of folk history and a time capsule of cultural commentary." The exhibit catalog notes "Despite legal restrictions adopted by Congress in 1912 and 1934, the exhibition illustrates that popular interpretations of the flag motif have continued to proliferate, resulting in a rich visual history of a true American icon."


UNITED WE STAND, by Peter Gwillim Kreitier, is another wonderful book for those interested in the American flag. In response to Pearl Harbor, to celebrate Independence Day in 1942, every major US magazine featured an image of the American Flag on its cover. This book reproduces more than 100 of those magazine covers that saluted Old Glory across the nation July 1942.


Mary Emmerling's AMERICAN COUNTRY FLAGS is a charming little book of various flags in folk art. Each page features beautiful full color images and quotes related to the American flag.


The US flag is often found on United States Postage Stamps. In 2002, perhaps in response to Kit Hinrichs' popular exhibit, the U. S. Post Office issued a set of five Americana stamps featuring flag ephemera. A small booklet that featured other flag folk art images and included twenty of the 37-cent stamps was available from the U. S. Post Office.


In 2000, I purchased this sheet of 33-cent U S postage stamps that commemorate The Stars And Stripes with various images of the U S flag through the years.


I had my sheet of flag stamps specially stamped for the occasion of OpSail 2000, the Parade of Tall Ships on the Hudson River and New York Harbor.


After 9/11 American patriotism was very popular. The American flag was seen being flown at almost every home in many neighborhoods. Flags flew on antenna of cars and trucks, and many wore a small American flag pin on their lapel. The top and bottom photos of the above collage are pins in my collection. The center card is an advertisement from Maximal Art's Vintage Americana Collection. You can find Maximal Art online at www.maximalart.com.


These small individual vintage flags were once used on student desks in a classroom. The silk flags show 48 stars, the flag used between 1912 and 1959. The 48 star flag was the second longest in use.


Its red for love, and its white for law,
And its blue for the hope that our forefathers saw,
Of a larger liberty.
Unknown
Mary Emmerling's AMERICAN COUNTRY FLAGS


A special thank you to all the hostesses of the following weekly memes:















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