Summer porch party...

Well that about says it all!! Thank you, Mr. White Rabbit!

The sweet Rhondi of Rose Colored Glasses is hosting a Summer Porch Party (which actually started yesterday), so be sure to hop over to her blog in a bit to visit her beautiful porch (teaser: it is absolute, total eye candy!!!); you'll also find a list of other all the other bloggers who are having porch parties!

(click any photos to enlarge)

So welcome to my little porch (which is, in reality, a little deck off the family room of our split level "cottage"). Let me give you a quick tour before we sit down to eat..

First let me turn on the fountain. I love to hear the sound of running water when I'm out here on the deck. Oh, and that's basil growing in the wicker planter next to the fountain (I snipped some a bit earlier to use in our salad). This corner of the deck overlooks the back yard (a work in progress... it's gone from a 21' above ground pool to a crater to a garden-in-the-making over the past few years!)... And just look at that beautiful hanging fuschia! Maybe we'll see a hummingbird or two while we're out here...

The flowers inside my birdcage planter are doing great! (Here is the original "how to make a birdcage planter" post)...

This corner of the deck faces the girls' old tree house. Even though it doesn't get used anymore, it brings back great memories of when the girls were younger. And look at that - another fuschia for the hummingbirds!

I just moved the feeder to this corner the other night. I think they'll like this area. I love it when the hummingbirds visit while we're out here.

Isn't this a pretty plant stand? It's old and rusty - exactly as I found it several years ago at a junktique shop...

It sits in the corner near the house, right next to a very old carpenter's bench.

Oh how I wish the clematis on the front gate arbor was blooming, but it's not quite ready. My banner photo will give you a good idea of what it will look like in a few weeks.

We painted the plant stands this weekend (they rust very badly every summer, and not the pretty 'charming' rust - TOTAL rust)... And this morning I filled them with flowers - just in time for your visit!

Oh, good, the spinach squares are ready...

...so let's head over to the table.

I thought this vintage robin's egg blue tablecloth with pink roses would be nice for a summer porch party!

Sit whereever you'd like and we'll get started on our early supper...

I hope you like blueberry iced tea. I love serving beverages in these oversized mugs (my "assorted mug" collection - from The Christmas Tree Shop, of course!).

We'll start with a simple salad... romaine lettuce, Roma tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh snipped basil.

I hope you like spinach! I made spinach squares using this simple recipe I found on-line (although I skipped the Parmesian cheese at the end)... And don't the lemon squares that Amanda made look good? Bon appetit, everyone!

Thank you for taking the time to visit. We should definitely do this again sometime. And I'm so glad we had a beautiful day here in New England - just for you!!

Donna