The Porch is Now Officially Open

We've finally had some perfect weather here: sunshine, 70s, low humidity. So I decided to "open" the porch for the season. Friday afternoon I e-vited a few friends to stop by anytime between 1:30 and 3 for lemonade and cookies.

Olivia helped me sweep and clean. We put fresh cushions on the chairs and decorated with some vintage linens. I made shortbread hearts from my favorite Silver Palate recipe. Do you recognize the plate from this post?

I also put out a basket filled with magazines and beach reads, for browsing or borrowing, and a welcoming satchel of flowers.

I did NOT fuss over cleaning the house (other than the powder room) or press linen napkins or make several different kinds of treats, or even make the lemonade from scratch. (I made the cookies from scratch, isn't that enough?) I let the vintage linens and my grandmother's etched glassware bring the "special." The idea was to be spontaneous and have a pleasant, relaxing time.

At 1:30, Janet, Carol, and Sandy arrived. Janet brought a box of goodies from the local bakery, which was quite unnecessary, but appreciated. We sat and chatted about our kids, town politics, books, schools, vacations, and what a pleasure it is to sit on the porch and enjoy the day. They stayed until 5! Not one of us felt guilty about not using the afternoon to do housework, rake the lawn, or otherwise do something we "should." Everyone had at least two cookies and no one talked about diets. It was suggested we do this every week, possibly with cocktails.

That's fine by me. Saturdays at 1:30 you'll find me on the porch with a beverage and a magazine. Stop by and join me.

Comments

[Rue]

Your porch is beautiful and I would have loved to have been there. But I probably would've eaten all those yummy looking cookies ;)

Hugs,
rue

[Loretta]

First off, congrats on the book! Can't wait to see it.

I love opening the porch. Haven't done so yet, but probably this weekend. Do have the doors to it open - does that count? LOL.

[Jen]

It sounds perfect to me. Girl time.
We have officially opened our deck. Enjoyed coffee, a meal or two, a visit with a friend, and many grilling opportunities. Ah, and brushing the pets out doors...a little less hair inside!
Going to have the neighbors over soon for Mike's homemade grilled pizza and some cold beer and wine. I still have to beautify a bit, but the perennials are coming up!
J.