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Vacation

Impromptu Porch Party

August 19, 2017 By Allison

The beginning of August was gloriously cool and breezy—not Iowa State Fair weather by any stretch of the imagination.  Mom’s cozy front porch is underused, so one day I welcomed her home from work with a mini porch party.  It was a snap to organize this tiny gathering:

–I mixed up a pitcher of Aperol Spritz—a refreshing and slightly bitter Italian apéritif we drank during our trip to Florence a few years back.  Happy memories of relaxed, buoyant terrace restaurants!

–I picked up some nibbles at the local grocery—pitted olives, bocconcini (bite-sized mozzarella) marinated in olive oil, parsley, and red pepper flakes, roasted and salted pistachios.

–I pulled out Mom’s most colorful glassware, which are works of art in themselves.

Our porch party required a little thought but not much action.  It came together quickly and allowed us to have a relaxed, lighthearted moment together, enjoying the flowers and the late summer light.

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Filed Under: Appetizers, Cuisine, Finds, Ideas, Improvise, Inspiration, Nature, Stories, Tea and other beverages, Travel, Travels, Uncategorized Tagged With: Aperitivo, Aperol, Apertif, art of slow living, flashes of delight, impromptu, Iowa, Iowa State Fair, Iowa Summer, Italy, Mozzarella, Olives, Pistachios, porch, porch party, porch sitting, slow living, Snacks, spontané, spontaneous, Summer Vibes, Vacation

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Thank you for dropping by Creative Sanctuary! I am a French professor in Kentucky, grew up in Iowa, and I often travel internationally. This blog gathers, documents, and connects my passions--travel, cooking, stories, France, and tea culture. Bonne lecture! --Allison Connolly

My Book, Published by Roman & Littlefield

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