Some Little Pleasures for Summertime

Oh, the summer night
Has a smile of light
And she sits on a sapphire throne.
~Barry Cornwall

Non-Californians envision a state of endless summer here in Orange County.  In reality, we have our seasons too (kind of).  They are just a little more subtle.  One of the notorious California "seasons" is the meteorological downer known as "May Gray" and its even more solemn sibling called "June Gloom."  These two months are marked by near constant drizzle and overcast skies.

Since today is quite cool and rainy, I am thinking summer. What can I surround myself with to get in the summer spirit?

Here are my top summery pleasures:  

 outdoor entertaining   

 beachy colors with fresh white flowers

 "camping" in style

gelato in an array of flavors 

fancy hats and shades

 an elegant beach-side lunch 

 chic swimming ensembles

What are your favorite flavors, sights and sounds of summer?

Images borrowed from MeetPaola, Lolita, StyleMePretty, Pinterest, NoteBookDoodles, Flickr, BeachVintage, AtypicalArt.