Front Porch Party Day!

Welcome to my southern front porch in Raleigh, North Carolina. As you know, Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses has taken on the huge job of hosting a worldwide Front Porch Party today ~ what fun, many thanks Rhondi. Hope to spend time visiting each of you on your porch ~ or viewing pictures of your dream porch.

When you reach the top of the driveway, notice the Hydrangeas in front of the porch. They decided to bloom in time for the party today. These two are Endless Summer and were planted as small gallon size pot plants just 18 months ago!

As you climb the front steps this vignette of things I love welcome your arrival at the front door of the cottage. SIMPLIFY has been my mantra for the past year............unfortunately it's not working too well because I keep finding treasures that beg to come home with me.

The porch is small but perfect for my cozy cottage. The dining room window looks out onto the porch. There's room for three comfy wicker chairs ~ I can squeeze in a fourth if you bring an extra friend along ~ and a small round table to display ever changing vintage treasures. We can move them if you want a place to put your cool drink, and as the temperatures have decided to stay in the mid to high 90's all this week, I'll make extra ice!!

Palest pink picnic basket from SuzAnna's Antiques.

Last year, one fresh and brilliant morning, Spring fever overtook me while visiting SuzAnna's Antiques. Many of you know this is my favorite local ~ make that favorite anywhere ~ shop, and y'all will be stopping there when you come to Raleigh, right? I bought the chartreuse green potting bench that day and it has become a place to display garden items such as birdhouses, pottery and crockery, vases of flowers, birds' nests and a collection of birds. It's a perfect fit at the end of the porch. In the coming weeks of Summer, the Morning Glories and Moon Flower vines will clamber up the end of the porch making a curtain of leaves and purple and white blooms, providing shade from the hot afternoon sun.
Above hang two candoliers - pretty in both the sparking sun and under the stars in the evening with the candles lit.

In front of the porch is a small fountain which is becoming popular as a drinking and bathing pond for many of our garden birds. Chickadees like to drink on the very top as the water spurts out. House Finches, Robins, Cardinals come to drink, and yesterday a large Catbird actually appeared to be trying to swim in the lower basin, quite funny to watch. We've also seen squirrels drinking and one day a black cat stopped by to taste the water.

If you followed my chronicles of the Carolina Wrens this Spring, these pictures show you how they enjoyed the porch so much they raised a family here, and a corner of the porch ceiling is a favorite sleeping spot at night for the female Wren.

I'm so happy you stopped by today to relax with me on the front porch. The perfume from the Jasmine climbing the porch posts is wonderful. The trickling water in the fountain is calming and, if we stay still and whisper, perhaps a bird will splash around as we sip our cool drinks.

Often described as the forum of the American nation, the porch is a stage upon which the drama of everyday life is acted out. Whether simply rustic and charming or ornate and imposing, they can be as diverse as the country itself.

The porch is a bridge between the interior life of the home and the world outside----a place to quietly reflect on the day, sit with the neighbors and catch up on their news, linger with friends, or be alone with your loved ones and your dreams.

............Porches - American Beauties ~ Wynn Wheldon............

Early Spring ~ porch sitting time is here!

Thank you for taking the time to visit my front porch today. Be sure to come back again soon, I'll be looking for you.

This morning as the sun came up ~ it's going to be a hot day.

P.S. Just found out that today is Rhondi's Birthday ~ best wishes dear friend, Happy Birthday and many more. We'll celebrate your day on the porch of course!