"LIFE LIKE A PORCH"

Porch furnishings can be as simple as a rustic 

table and an old rocking  chair. I've had this Mission style

 rocker for about 10 years now. It has lived on many of 
our porches.

Hey, Y'all! Summer is slowly slipping back into our lives. Hectic schedules are gearing down. Days are heating up and getting longer. Even the Earth celebrates in abundant beautiful, fresh produce. My earliest summer memories are of evenings spent with my family on our wrap-around deck. My brothers and I spent many hours trying to catch fireflies or discovering shooting stars in the warm summer night. I also have many memories of sitting next to my grandmother on her screened porch as she rocked the porch swing and shelled just-picked field peas for our lunch the next day. 

My brother, me, and our grandmother on the porch about 12 years ago.

While we lived in McKinney, I found a new fondness for porches. I met one of my best friends because she is an avid porch sitter and happened to call out to me 

They don't often build porches like they used to. 

This was my friend's house with its wonderful porch.  

She recently moved to 100 year old cottage 

on the same street--still with a great porch!

as I walked by with our newborn son. That friendship has thrived more than 20 years and counting! Through the years we spent endless hours 

My friend is a true Porch Master--her new porch is always welcoming and beautiful.

sitting by candlelight on her expansive, historic porch sharing stories and an occasional bottle of wine.

The southern porch is the quintessential place to visit with your neighbors. It is often the place of stolen 

kisses or the place to enjoy the morning's first cup of coffee. I have a true fondness for porches. 

Coleman Cottage was our home for ten years. A 100 year old Victorian, it had both a side porch and front porch complete with porch swings on both. One of my daughter's favorite memories is of us sitting cuddled up on the porch swing as a thunderstorm approached.  

We liked to listen to the thunder and watch the lightning dance across the sky. Sometimes, we simply sat together and watched a much needed rain soak into the parched ground in our north Texas yard. 

A wonderful porch on an old timey "dog trot"
style historic log house in Independence, TX.

There was no television, radio, phone, or computer. Simply our loved ones to share the moment with. It's such a simple thing, yet so difficult sometimes to unplug from the world and simply be together.

One of my favorite books, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells, captures southern porch culture so well,

"I want to lay up like that, to float unstructured, without ambition or anxiety. I want to inhabit my life like a porch."

This lovely passage is the basis for a design seminar I 

will be presenting from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Thursday, June 6 at Hermann Furniture. The presentation is free, but reservations are required. If you've ever wondered how to create an inviting porch or garden room, I'll be offering ideas on how to select and combine color and styles, repurpose vintage items, and inject tons of personality into this common space between the street and  your home. Following the design seminar, I'll be signing copies of First Monday Murder A Jimmie Rae Flea Market Mystery from noon to 1 p.m. By the way, 

 the early drafts of FMM were written on our porch! 

Until next time, 

Peace, love, and all the good stuff, sweet friends!

WHICH CAME FIRST?

It all started here with this writing project of mine. This chick who lives in my head and was begging for a story--for an adventure--a junkin' adventure, road-trippin' moment of her own. I acquiesced to her demands and began writing her story introducing her friends, her enemies, and her world. First Monday Murder A Jimmie Rae Flea Market Mystery is the result. So with a box of FMM books I took to the blacktops criss-crossing my sweet, bluebonnet bloomin' Texas to sign books, meet new friends, visit with old friends, and as always look for funky JUNK. First Monday Murder A Jimmie Rae Flea Market Mystery made its debut in TEXAS, and I laughed more and slept less than I have in a LONNGGG time.

Sharing laughs at the First Monday Murder
 book signing at Diggin' It in McKinney, TX. Thanks to
Tracey Jane and all my friends who came. It was
 awesome to see y'all and sign SOOO many books!

Here's a glimpse of five weeks on the road in TEXAS...from my old hometown of McKinney to Waxahachie to Warrenton/Round Top and lots of places in between...

A lovely vignette at Antique Company Mall--
my old mall!--in McKinney, TX.

Another wall of wonderfulness at
Antique Company Mall, McKinney, TX.

And another...Antique Company Mall, McKinney, TX

Plant Markers for sale (along with many other
 fantastic, FUNKY finds!)at Diggin' It in McKinney, TX

New friend and sweet lady who
owns Lavender Ridge Farms in Gainsville, TX

Jean and Emily who co-own Enchanted Interiors
at Frisco Mercantile in Frisco and also have
a space at First Monday Trade Days in Canton.

And meadows full of beautiful bluebonnets!!

A vignette from Garden Antqs Vintage at Zapp Hall in Warrenton.

More from Garden Antqs Vintage...

A HUGE THANK YOU to  Theresa Cano for
 inviting me to sign FMM at her AWESOME Blog Party.
 (Thanks to Pam for the pic!)

Jill of Jill Suzanne, me, Lynn, and Janie of
Petticoats on the Prairie Vintage Mareket
at Jill's incredible booth at Warrenton.

Elaine, who with her sister, Betsy, has Sisters Treasures
at Warrenton and Fredericksburg's Trade Days.

Beautiful Theresas--

Lots of fun at Zapp Hall in Warrenton, TX--just add Junkers!

My loot--what would fit in my suitcase, anyway!

I couldn't leave without a few quick trips to AUSTIN!

Barton Springs at Zilker Park

Scene along South Congress...

On the way to Uncommon Objects

Time for something cold and delicious--Mexican Chocolate and Key Lime Pie Ice Cream at Amy's Ice Cream -- FABULISCIOUS!!!

More driving and taking in the beautiful prairie

At Red Neck Chic 's cool booth at Zapp Hall with Robelyn and Karley of Gypsy Treasures.

PROM NIGHT-- Junker's style! The Junk Gypsies always host a ROCKIN' Party at the Junk-o-Rama Prom at Zapp Hall toward the end of Antiques Week. What a blast!

Fortunately my adventure in TEXAS has only just begun...stay tuned, sweet friends!

Peace, love, and

all the good stuff to y'all!