Sunshine makes me think of picnics.
When I was a child a picnic was such a treat and usually took place on a beach somewhere. Grandma would make up a bag of sandwiches, hard boiled eggs, fruit cake and apples, and my mum and I would get on our bicycles and take off for St Mawes.
Sitting in the sand, toes in the water, nibbling at a simple lunch, nothing could have been more perfect.
The sand, of course, permeated most of the food but we didnt seem to mind!
When I was a child a picnic was such a treat and usually took place on a beach somewhere. Grandma would make up a bag of sandwiches, hard boiled eggs, fruit cake and apples, and my mum and I would get on our bicycles and take off for St Mawes.
Sitting in the sand, toes in the water, nibbling at a simple lunch, nothing could have been more perfect.
The sand, of course, permeated most of the food but we didnt seem to mind!
The picnic above is a very different occasion, and maybe is the forerunner of the so called 'posh picnics' which are so popular today.
A hamper from Fortnums? Champagne?
Crystal glasses? Smoked salmon and strawberries?
All very lovely but it's never been our style.
My children, when little, used to love a makeshift tent in the garden where they could take their tea and pretend that they were in another world.
A picnic doesn't have to be slapdash. A pretty tablecloth and flowers on the garden table, colourful paper plates and beautifully arranged sandwiches, scones and fruit is just as inviting as the more expensive options.
The excerpt below sums up our very British Enid Blyton-y approach to a simple picnic!
I'm sure there was Ginger beer as well.
11 comments:
I've done home made posh picnics (eat your heart out Fortnums) and I've done brown paper bags of bits and pieces, but whatever I do, some sort of hard boiled egg is absolutely mandatory!
Love picnics!
In the USA, a juice drink in a glass jug with a loop on the side called Zarex, and bologna sandwiches were my favorites. Today, I select special dinnerware and plates for picnics. Then I end up taking a salad in a plastic container instead.
I love a picnic and yes there is always a hard boiled egg and a thermos of coffee.
When I was a little girl we often went on picnics, I loved them. Momma always packed the best lunch with plenty of sweet iced tea. Precious memories.
I think part of the magic of picnics is simply the stepping away from the routine. Picnic food is delicious!
Childhood picnics hold the best memories for me!
Usually we were by the river with rugs spread out on the grass. Bacon and egg pie, bread and butter sandwiches, a piece of cake and a glass of lemon syrup or ginger beer!
Our children had a tent on the back lawn too and wanted to sleep outside. With sleeping bags, torches and lots of giggling they managed to stay out for an hour or two! Eventually the darkness and night noises became too scarey and they happily came indoors to their safe bedrooms!
Oh, such happy childhood memories!
Picnics hold happy memories for me, too. Sometimes they were at home, in the garden, at other times in a park. Deviled eggs were a staple, along with bread, pickles, and cold cuts, and something sweet to end the meal.
I love picnics, I should go for a picnic more often with my family:)
I am so behind! I can't believe I did not comment on this delightful post you wrote yet! I have been dreaming of doing a picnic in Central Park for years now, but it has not happened yet. We used to go camping every year on Memorial day in Michigan near where I grew up... a lake with a beach, lots of tents trees, sunshine...I loved it so very much... my Mom remembers the rain and does not love camping...I loved the feel of the tent bottom and feeling roots under the fabric and the inside of sleeping bags flannel lined but the outside smooth and slippery... and the smell of the grass, dirt and sunshine... and getting my friend up early to go hunt for shells at the beach... some of my favourite memories! and the food! camp fires! smores! marshmallows, the tonka toasters (long handle, square 'pie' opening that went in the fire) where we would butter bread with cheese and meat inside ... my family we did pizza! pizza sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese and the outside would be crispy, hot and would be just right... easy to eat but hot so eaten with a bit of care! I had forgotten all about that... how much I loved it! Thank you for reminding me! <3
There is nothing like a picnic just in order to get away from the every day life.
We have a spot on the property that my husband and have decided to go to on the weekends and take our super and just relax in the beauty of God's creation that surrounds us. Weeknights are hard, but the weekends are open with free time.
When I was teaching my daughter's on etiquette one of the things I taught them was to always have a bouquet of flowers on their table whether it be wildflowers picked from outside or even dandelions, always have flowers, and it how with a picnic as well. :-)
Lovely posting~
We need these kinds of reminders of what a family picnic is like. Thank you!
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