Picnic Time

Summertime!  Days are long and sunny, and the livin' is easy.  (Well, some days.)  And it's too hot to cook.  All good reasons to have a good old-fashioned picnic!

 

I just had to share this wonderful vintage picnic basket from Laura at ImSoVintage on Etsy:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/77585909/vintage-red-man-picnic-basket. 

It reminds me of the big woven flip-top picnic basket my parents used when I was a kid.  I think they got it as a wedding present.  It was hauled to family reunions, 4-H picnics, and Sunday outings at the lake.

This past week my two NH grandkids were visiting, and we had a get-together with  the three grandkids who live here in Lincoln.  The weather was gorgeous, so we all headed to the "little park" and had a picnic.  (Lincoln also has a "big park" with terrific playground equipment, but it tends to be crowded and noisy.)

 

The kids enjoyed the swings, slides and climbing toys, and stretching their legs after a long road trip.  The adults enjoyed the lush green grass, shade, and the rock water feature, and the chance to just sit back and chill after a long drive or a long day at work.  A picnic is so informal and laid back.

 

Everyone enjoyed the food, although it was very simple fare.  We filled our biodegradable paper plates, grabbed juice, iced tea or bottled water from the cooler, and enjoyed a simple meal of sub sandwiches (peanut butter and jelly by special request for three of the grandsons), whole grain chips, hummus with avocado, cheese, grapes, and locally-grown ripe to perfection watermelon, and cookies for dessert.  It was a very pleasant, family-friendly evening.

 

But not all picnics need to be G-Rated:

A Book of Verses underneath the Bough,
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread — and Thou
Beside me singing in the Wilderness —

Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow!

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, Fifth edition (1889) by Edward FitzGerald 

Now doesn't that conjure up an image of a very romantic little picnic for two?

Speaking of wine…. I found a downloadable PDF pattern for a cute and functional fabric wine bottle carrier.    The pattern was designed by Mark Lilly Blossom and can be purchased at https://www.youcanmakethis.com/info/featured-products/twinbottlecarrier.htm.  I plan on making two of these as gifts.  They could also be used to carry non-alcoholic beverage bottles, of course!

I purchased some cute wine-themed  Wine Country fabric by Elizabeth's Studios that I found at The Fabric Vineyard on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheFabricVineyard

For other great wine bag ideas, check out http://tipnut.com/wine-bags.   I especially like the quilted carrier by Kate of Needle and Spatula.  She has a photo tutorial on her blog:  http://www.needleandspatula.com/2011/01/quilted-wine-tote-sewing-tutorial.html.

 

TTFN

LeAnn aka pasqueflower

http://pasqueflowerponderings.blogspot.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop/pasqueflower