Showing posts with label picnic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label picnic. Show all posts

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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Friday, June 3, 2016

June 2016



June 4, 2016 ~ National Trails Day 



Butler Trail and Lady Bird Lake ~ Austin, TX

National Trails Day is held the first Saturday in June.

It's a day in which the American Hiking Society 

sponsors events all across the country, including

hiking, biking, horseback riding, paddling trips,

 birdwatching, geocaching, stewardship projects, and more.

I plan to take to the trails at the Lady Bird Wildflower Center 

or perhaps walk the Butler Trail around Lady Bird Lake.



June 9, 2016 ~ National Celebration of Reading



Book and Author Luncheon Quilt 
Displayed in New Braunfels, Texas, 2012


A special National Celebration of Reading,

 sponsored by the 

Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, 

will be held on June 9th to celebrate 

the power of literacy and to commemorate the 

25th Anniversary of the National Literacy Act

signed into law by President George H. W. Bush.

You can find details here.


June 14th ~ National Flag Day



Although many states had designated a special

day to honor the US flag each year,

it wasn't until 1949 that President Truman signed an 

Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as 

National Flag Day.


June 18th ~ International Picnic Day



June 19th ~ Father's Day
Pack your picnic basket and head out to your favorite park or lake.

When we had our sailboat, we always packed a picnic basket

for a little alfresco dining on the water.

The basket above is the one my dad gave to me 

when I headed off to attend the University of Texas.

With all the public parks and lakes in and around Austin,

it was a perfect "send off" gift.  That was 50 years ago!

Father's Day would be the perfect time to

pack a picnic basket, spread a blanket, and treat your dad to 

a special picnic in the beautiful outdoors.


June 20th ~ Summer Solstice



The summer solstice is the longest day of the year

and marks the beginning of summer.

Happy Summer All!

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Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Memorial Day ~ Celebrate in Red, White, and Blue






America the Beautiful

Celebrate the patriotic holidays of summer 

 and indulge your patriotic spirit.



Fill your favorite 

blue and white container

with blooms from your garden.




Set a festive table, 

 and dine in patriotic style!




Memorial Day Weekend

It's the prelude to the patriotic holidays of summer.

 The perfect opportunity to pack a basket 

in anticipation of a picnic.





Gather together some of your 

Red ~ White ~ Blue 




Spread your quilt and enjoy a picnic 

 at the lake, on the beach, your favorite park,

 or where ever your heart desires.




Memorial Day

A time to honor all those 

who have given selflessly to their country.  

From the Civil War soldiers 

to those fighting today on foreign soils,

we remember the men and women who have died 

while serving in the US Armed Forces.





Joining
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Foodie Friday and Everything Else @ Rattlebridge Farm

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