Saturday, June 18, 2016

The Art of the Picnic


~ Picnics ~

June 18th is designated as International Picnic Day.





PICNIC, by Jane Pettigrew, was a lucky find on the sale

 cart of donated books at our local branch library.

It is a fun read and a perfect fit for this 

 girl who loves a good picnic. 




Filled with both charming illustrations and beautiful photos,

the author covers everything from the history of picnics, 

to setting the scene for one's own picnics with inspiration photos, 

as well as including wonderful recipes perfect for a picnic basket.






I adore the simple pleasures of alfresco dining,

and through the years, I have admired many 

of my blogging friends' picnic posts.

To offer up some inspiration and charm,

I've selected some choice picnic ideas to share here.

You can click on the individual links to view the post in full.



From E´douard Manet's iconic painting of a bourgeois picnic, 

Luncheon on the Grass, to Claude Monet's

more typical picnic scene in his, Luncheon on the Grass, 

forays to the countryside with alfresco dining in mind

have long been popular in both art and life.





For all the years we sailed our Hyacinths on Lake Travis,

our sailing forays most always included a picnic on board.





I admit our picnics on the lake were not as

creative and colorful as these of my blogging friends,

but they were delicious and a welcomed 

addition to a day of sailing.




Picnics and summertime seem to go hand-in-hand,

and the fourth of July is a perfect excuse for a patriotic picnic.





Watermelon and hot dogs ~

the perfect summer picnic fare.




The crisp fall days of autumn invite us to 

pack a basket and head out among the falling leaves.




A little impromptu picnic is always a good thing,

especially if it's in the beautiful countryside of Normandy, France.




Even a gaggle of witches can be found 

enjoying a picnic before flight on Halloween Night.



From tartan lined basket to a picnic spread atop her 

colorful tartan blanket, Michael Lee

has set the stage for a lovely riverside luncheon.



Meadow Picnic @ Home is Where the Boat Is

Mary chose this grassy meadow

 for her picnic outing.





One can do as Anita did here and set up a makeshift 

tent to escape the hot Texas sun .   .   .




Or simply spread a quilt under a shade tree.

Either way, Anita has the right idea for relaxing with

a cool lemonade and a stack of good books.




Linda's French inspired picnic 

is enjoyed on a grassy lawn where she 

found the perfect spot for some plein air painting.





If there is a picnic table available,

spread a pretty cloth and set the table in style.

Linda's Butterfly Garden MacKenzie-Childs enamel ware 

are perfect dishes for carting to a picnic.



Patti @ Pandora's Box


Patti, on the other hand, took her MacKenzie-Childs

 enamel ware to the beach for a picnic on the sand.




A Perfect Day for a Picnic @ A Quiet Life

 Planning ahead with a bit of entertainment is

 a good idea ~ kites, bikes, croquet, frisbee.




A Friend's Daughter ~ Jen Schow Photogrphy
Used With Permission

Real or make believe, a picnic is a 

 delightful way to entertain children outdoors.





And we all know that Teddy Bears

 are known to enjoy a good picnic.



A Ride With the Picnic Cookbook @ A Quiet Life

 Pack a picnic basket, grab a blanket or quilt,

 and head off to your favorite picnic spot to enjoy

 the pleasures of dining outdoors on a perfect day.

Ben Watching the Tartan Parade @ Normandy Life
"A picnic is more than eating a meal,
it's a pleasurable state of mind."
~ DeeDee Stovel, Picnic

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Sunday, June 12, 2016

She's A Grand Ole Flag ~ 2016




This post was first published here in June 2014.

This happens to be one of my favorite posts,

so like picking up a good book to read again, 

I'm reposting this one.  





 Celebrating National Flag Week





Honoring the red, white, and blue.



 Patriotic holidays and the colors of our country's flag

 have always given me a sense of pride and happiness.



I'm proud to be American!





As an elementary teacher for 30 years,

patriotism was an important component

throughout the year's curriculum.




It wasn't an isolated unit, 

but rather a theme that was woven into

various activities and integrated across the curriculum.





I believe it is important to teach children respect 

for our country's flag and other patriotic symbols and .   .   .





That instilling patriotism at an early 

age enables young children to understand 

the responsibilities of good citizenship.





It makes my heart sing to drive 

through my neighborhood and .   .   .






See families proudly 

display the flag of our country.



It reminds me that the US is a country united, 

one of liberty and justice for all.




THE STARS AND STRIPES




THE RED, WHITE,  AND BLUE






OLD GLORY






LONG MAY SHE WAVE





If you are an American,

 pay tribute to our flag this week.

 "She's A Grand Ole Flag"

 Flag Day ~ June 14


All photos were taken by me and enhanced through the Waterlogue App.



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Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Eat Dessert First


"Eat Dessert First"

Well, that's always been my motto!





offered a copy of her recently published family cookbook

to two of her readers.  I'm happy to say, I was one of the lucky two.

This beautiful book arrived in my mailbox.




Photos, Purple Chocolate Home

I'm a fan and long time follower of Purple Chocolate Home 

and admire Jacqueline's creative talents.

Not only is she an amazing cook, she is also very creative

and dramatic with the way she styles and presents food.

Jacqueline's talent also extends to the 

 beautiful tablescapes she creates when she  

 entertains her large family or friends.




Jacqueline's book is full of wonderful recipes 

 collected from family and friends through the years.

 It begins, as the title proclaims, with desserts.  

 Lots of delicious desserts!

Recipes for appetizers, entrées, and soups and salads

  follow up to complete the book.



                             Hyacinths for the Soul                                           More Fun Less Laundry

My friend and fellow blogger, Linda @ More Fun Less Laundry,

 also received a copy of Eat Dessert First.

 We thought it would be fun to each share a special post on

 one of the recipes in this fun cookbook.





My choice was Jackie's amazing

 Key Lime Pie



Photo Collage, Purple Chocolate Home


You'll find Jacqueline's original post on this 

 dessert complete with recipe here.



Noted as "a southern comfort food", Jacqueline used her recipe

 to spotlight  her review of Michael Lee West's

 Gone With A Handsomer Man.





The recipe works just as well for individual tarts.

 Just make the graham cracker crusts in individual muffin tins.

 Key Lime Tarts are the perfect summertime treat!





I took my tray of summer treats over to a friend's home.

 She has a bright purple bench on her porch.

 Perfect spot for honoring Purple Chocolate Home!





As Jacqueline points out in her post,

 key limes are "tiny little devils".

 One has to squeeze a bag full of key limes for the cup 

 of fresh lime juice needed for the recipe.





Oh, the wonderful 

 fragrance of fresh limes!





The stack of vintage porcelain plates are 

 Wkdbrzych, made in Poland,

 and the flatware is Sir Christopher by Wallace.





The reproduction jadeite cup and cake stand were

 recent finds when shopping in the quaint village of Gruene, TX.

 I wish I could tell you who makes these, but they are unmarked.

 I found four of the cups and the cake stand on a sale table.

 They were too charming to leave behind!





Sweet whipped cream and fresh lime slices

 finish off these delectable little desserts.





To quote Jacqueline's husband,

 "The texture ranks right up there with the flavor!"

 Thank you, Jacqueline for the gift of this wonderful cookbook.

 I'll make certain to Eat Dessert First!


Flourless Chocolate Cake

 Click here to view Linda's post @

 More Fun Less Laundry.


Vist Jacqueline here @ Purple Chocolate Home.


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