Summer Block Party and VIF #43: Vintage Summer

I had a lot of ideas about what to do for this post,

but I really wanted to convey some memories from growing up

 that embodied summer to me.

So many things evoke that feeling of summers past;

swimming in the river, cookouts, picking dinner from the garden,

sitting in the porch swing on a warm summer night.

But one of my real enjoyments would be to grab an old quilt

and head outside under a tree with a glass of lemonade.

Drawing and reading were two of my favorite "alone time" joys.

Savoring my latest copy of Seventeen Magazine,

or the summer I vowed to read War and Peace.

(I did)

We lived in an old white farmhouse just outside of town;

no immediate neighbors,

and spending quiet time, uninterupted, was a perfect afternoon.

Today I'm enjoying Celebrating Home,

a Country Living decorating book that I've had for a few years,

but always brings new inspiration.

And don't forget a game of croquet with friends after dinner.

Hope you'll be sharing your thoughts on Summer.

And now for some great posts from last week...

Carolyn from Sweet Chaos Home shares her wonderful Flea Market Finds

oh my gosh, that color!!!

Just met Christy from Dora's Cottage last week at Relics.

She's such a sweetheart. Be sure and go by and say hello,

and see her darling dachsund silhouette.

Suz from Hometown Girl shared her Welcome Summer Party on the lawn.

Gorgeous photos of a wonderful setting!

And Theresa from Momma T's found THE most amazing

French Bed. I'm drooling here!!

So, here's the info on the party,

I imagine a lot of you have already linked up a post or two.

Just link your VIF post into the group if you haven't yet.

Only once per individual blog post link.

This has been a lot of fun,

whew...I haven't posted this much for awhile,

I'm gonna have to go crawl back on that quilt!!

I'm also joining in at:

Party Rules:

Link Up any post past or present related to this parties theme

Be sure to link back to your original post and not just your url (main blog address)

Please post the Blogger Block Party button (code located At the Picket Fence or the button with your own link) in your post so others can join in the fun! (MANDATORY)

Visit another guest. We love it when you party with our other guests! Please take a moment and visit some of the other posts and leave some comment love! This is what makes a party so much fun!


                                   This is ONE HUGE PARTY!!!
   There are lots of links, just join in like you would any VIF party.
     Be sure and check out the other parties through the weekend.
                      Have a wonderful rest of the week, everyone!
                                            lot's of love,
                                                Debra

Oh, and P.S. If you participate in the Block Party from this post,
please grab the button below, and share the fun. Thanks so much for joining in!  Don't forget the Give Aways, there are a bunch!






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Brunch on the Deck

Yesterday I shared my deck off of the sunroom.  A place that is my view to the world from my kitchen window. I love the intimate setting it offers for a cup of coffee, or an impromptu lunch. Today I put together a little brunch with tea. I used my wedding china from France, and two of my pastel fruit motif vintage salad plates. Once I had glimpsed this faience, all the traditional wedding china choices were left behind.

Crown China Staffordshire Teapot

Being short on space, I wanted a little greenery

 without interfering with the tablesetting.

So I used two small iron urns to double as decor

 and a spot for holding the silver. 

Ivy cuttings, a vintage seed packet and a sprig of dried flowers.

Love the Country French feel of the tablecloth round,

that uses three different patterns and fabrics.

Grabbed a few pillows with vintage linens

to dress up the chairs.

Not vintage, but oh so comfortable.

I pulled this together in about 20 minutes.

Sometimes I forget that it doesn't take that long to make a special setting,

and that makes any meal more fun. 

I'm joining Sherry over at No Minimalist Here

for her Block Party Theme of Outdoor Entertainment.

And don't forget to head over to At The Picket Fence to

catch all the Summer Block Party Link Parties.

also joining in for:

Hope I'll see you here for Vintage Inspiration Friday

where our theme will be anything "Vintage Summer"

Out on the Deck for the Summer Block Party

Is "vintage" the same as old and worn out?

If so, I have tons of "vintage"

 just hanging around out on the deck, off the sunroom,

...which is also "vintage".

This old garden table has a furnace grate for a top,

married to a sewing machine bottom.

 It's setting in front of one of my white metal garden gates

and my kitchen window.

my favorite, "angel vine"

I found this little concrete lamb several years ago,

and he's developed the perfect patina.

Which is the same as,

"hasn't had a bath in a while".

Hope this Picnik "gritty effect"

is hiding the fact that my deck is in need of a paint job in the worst way.

But hey, it just wasn't happening this year.

So an indoor/outdoor rug from O.Com has helped to hide the neglect.

Yep, just buy another little rug...

Chippy white iron fencing, gate, and garden chair

and some of my many watering cans.

My husband asks me why I have so many flowers

that constantly need to be watered.

"Why do you set yourself up for so much work?"

and my answer is always the same.

I need to see beauty when I look out my window,

flowers just instantly lift my mood.

I have two vintage flower pots full of mint, I'm obsessed with it.

It's my favorite to flavor everything from orange juice to club soda.

Yummy... and don't forget the lime.

Below is a sweet topiary from Mother's Day last year.

I wintered it, but it wasn't very happy inside.

It needs lots of light so it rebelled by

having a near death experience.

Wish I knew what it was.

It needs to be "whipped into shape"!

I'll be linking to Savvy Southern Style

 for The Summer Deck and Porch Block Party.

and check out At the Picket Fence

for the rest of the links today.

and I'm also joining in on these parties:

Remember to check out At the Picket Fence

for all the Block Party Summer Themed Parties this week.

have a great day,
it's the first day of Summer!
lot's of love,