Our Front Porch

I haven’t written a post in a long time and I’ve missed you. It’s a pleasant morning, not too hot yet.  I just poured myself a cup of tea and am going to take a break and sit on our front porch.  We haven’t sat there much this summer because of the mosquitoes but maybe they are having their morning nap.  Do mosquitoes sleep??  I love our front porch, just 2 rocking chairs a little wicker table and some ferns.

     We also have a little pond which is more annoying than soothing because we bought a pump that was too        powerful for the size, so sometimes I just turn it off.

                                                       Do you remember where I live?  Here it is.

 Next to the door there is a planter with two ferns that I had from last summer and I managed to keep them alive inside all winter.  They weren’t looking too healthy when they first got out here but now they are thriving.  I love ferns and the deer don’t eat them.

Do you have time to join me for a little chat?  I’ve got a new teapot and surprise…it’s not blue and white!

Do you want to see my latest bargains? I got these 2 vases recently, thrift shop and yard sale finds, $1 for the striped and $2 for the other one.

I was thinking I could make it look a little cozier out here, so I brought out a cushion for the rocker.  It looks pretty but not comfortable at all.

  When I started this little blog almost 7 years ago, I hoped it would be a place where people could come and relax,  a place where you might get encouraged a little or get an idea of something you could do in your own home.  I hoped it would be a place where you could leave feeling refreshed, like you’d had a cup of tea and a chat with a good friend.

The blogging world has changed so much since then.  But I still think there is a room for someone like me just to hang out with my friends and talk about whatever is on my mind.  I have really missed chatting with you and plan to be here more often.  So I hope you’ll come back again.

                                                                           Rhondi xo

Do any of you remember any of my summer porch parties?    Here is one from 2009.  Lots of people joined in that day!

Porch Party

Hi
Oh, I'm so glad that you came to my porch party!  I was wondering if anyone would come since I haven't been blogging very much this last year.

Oh, just hold on a second while I go and get the flag to put out.  I always love the look of a flag.  To me, it makes a home seems more welcoming somehow.

This year I kept the porch very simple: just the rocking chairs, a couple of ferns, the birdcages and a wicker chair and tea trolley.   

 It's going to be another very hot day, so I made us some sweet tea with plenty of ice. 

 And I know you like my lemon squares, so I made them for you too.

Sometimes when it's just me, I like to sit on the porch and read.  Right now I'm reading The Distant Hours,  by Kate Morton.  She is a very good author and I loved The Forgotten Garden, which was the last book I read by her.  This one is good too.

Did you notice this wicker chair by the front door? I love wicker!  You probably know that already. This is my newest purchase and quite old.  I found it on Craig's List!

 It was in excellent condition.  All it needs is a cushion. 

 And it has this little pouch on the side to hold magazines or a book.  Isn't that cute?

 Well I hope you have time to stay and chat.  I have missed having visits with you!  I want to know everything that you're doing:  do you have any projects on the go...plans for the summer... new grandbabies on the way?  We have one the end of July....number 5!

 I am SO GLAD you came today.  My door is always open and my porch is always ready for visitors, so I hope you'll come back again real soon.

If you are joining the party with your porch today just sign in below.  Make sure you link to the specific porch post not your general URL.  To do that just double click on the post title.


I hope you have time to visit the other bloggers who are having parties today.  I know they've love to see you too! 

If you're not having a party, I would so love it if you leave a comment so I could visit you too!!.

Rhondi xo

Fourth Summer Porch Party June 21

I had an email this morning from a very dear friend, Dana at The Stone Rabbit.  That little stone rabbit  just loves a party and was wondering if I was going to host my annual summer porch party again.  I haven't been blogging much because I'm working full time and I sure do miss it. 

But I decided a party is just what I need, so I hope you can join me.

We will celebrate the first day of summer June 21, with a porch party.  Get your porches ready. You can link up anytime after 5:00 on June 20.

Tell your friends.

Missing you
Rhondi xo

My Third Summer Porch Party

It's party time!  Welcome to my third summer porch party.  I am so glad you were able to come!

This year I am hosting my party on our deck overlooking the woods in our backyard.  It is very large so there's room for everyone.

So come and have a seat, sit in the shade of these beautiful trees and enjoy the view of the woods.  Maybe you'll see some deer!

I have a couple of different sitting areas you can choose from.

You can sit at the table.

You can sit in my blue chairs.

Oh, Dana, my ceramic rabbits have been expecting you. I told them stone rabbit might come with you today.

It is very hot here today so I've got  lots of iced tea in the pitcher on my tea trolley.

You can sit in the black chairs.

These are some baby orchids a friend gave me.  She said to keep them outside until just before the first frost and then if I keep them in a sunny window they will bloom.  It's amazing how much bigger they've grown already.

I love the way the sun shines on the table.  I got this lace cloth at a garage sale recently for $3.  What a deal.

I made some lemon cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

My husband couldn't wait for you you to get here!

Thanks for making my party special.  I have missed spending time with you!

Now there are lots of other porch parties today in blogland so have fun visiting all of them. They are all listed below.

If you have your porch ready for a party then link in below.  There are a few rules:
Publish your post first.
Make sure you provide a link to my blog in your post so your readers can visit the other parties.
Double click on the title of your post. 
Then copy the URL at the top of the page.
Come and visit me and sign in with Mr Linky.
The last thing to do is leave me a comment.

Thanks again for coming to my party. It just wouldn't have been the same without you.

Rhondi xo

Porch Party Preparations

Hello friends
Just a reminder that my porch party is Monday.  I'll have it up and ready for you to link to on Sunday night after 9:PM

Can't wait to visit all of you and celebrate the first day of summer on all your porches, decks, patios.....

Now I've got to go and get everything ready.  See you Monday!

Rhondi xo

Painted The Deck

We have a large 2 level deck at the back of our house.  It sits in the trees and when we sit out there, it is easy to forget that we live just 15 minutes from the city.

It was stained brown when we moved here and we continued to stain it.  Then last year I got the idea to paint it, grey on the floor and white on the railing. 

It took us a year to finally get around to it but this spring our son painted it for us.

What a difference!

It turned out so much better than I had envisoned and I just love the look.

I haven't put any plants out there or decorated it at all and until I do we'll just enjoy it the way it is.

I am going to host my 3rd annual summer porch party again this year on June 21, the first day of summer.  That gives you lots of time to get ready for it.  Hope you'll join the party!  I have posted this button on my sidebar, so copy it and spread the word. If you don't have a porch, a patio or deck would be welcome too!
For any of you who are new, I'll have my post up the night before and you just come and sign up with the Mr Linky then.



Maybe I'll have my party on our freshly painted deck.....

I hope you're having a restful weekend.  That's what I am trying to do.

Rhondi xo

Welcome to My Porch Party

Hi. I've been expecting you. I'm so excited that the party is finally here. I've been looking forward to visiting all your wonderful porches. I'm glad you've stopped in to see me, so come on up the walk and have a seat. You'd better grab a rocking chair quickly before the rest of the guests arrive!


I told my little rabbits to watch out for you and to make sure they made you feel welcome.

Come and have a seat and let's have a chat. I don't look too comfortable here because I set the timer and then ran to sit down before it snapped the picture!I made you some lemon squares and have a pot of tea ready. Do you take milk or sugar?I am using my Dainty Blue tea set because you are a special guest.If you prefer sweet tea I have some set up on the tea wagon.And if any of you brought your children or grandchildren I have a little chair for them too.

I asked my little stone rabbit to wait by the front door to help me greet all of you. I think he might be a distant cousin to Dana's stone rabbit.

Do you remember how I told you I had named our house "Rest and be Thankful" ? Well I finally got around to putting up sign above our front door.Well I know you have lots of other porches to visit and I hope you get a chance to visit them all so I'll say good bye for now. There are some wonderful parties going on and I know they would love you to leave a comment when you go there. They are listed below.

Thanks so much for coming. The party just wouldn't have been the same without you! Let the party begin!!

There are lots of other parties so I hope you have time to visit everyone. I know you're going to have fun!

I have had trouble getting the Mr. Linky to work, but it is finally working now. So for those of you who are posting a porch party, here are the instructions.
1. Publish your porch party post.
2.Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it.

3. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
4.Paste the url into the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
5.Type your name or the name of your blog in the appropriate Mr. Linky box in this post.
6.Click on "Enter."
7.Please link back to this Porch Party post so that your readers can visit the other wonderful porches.

Hugs, Rhondi