The Charms of a Summertime Picnic

I'm ready to PIC-NIK!

Blackberries, Breeze,
Blankets, and Baskets.

Enjoying light food in an outdoor paradise...
On an old splintered table...
Beneath looming shade trees.

For this Father's Day we took a Sunday drive
to picnic in quiet and quaint Palisade, Colorado.

Palisade offers country charm...

...and Simple Pleasures.

I used plenty of little lanterns, old soda crates, fresh flowers, and my mom's vintage tablecloth to set the table.

The Menu for an American summer picnic:
Homemade Cold Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Sandwiches filled with cold cuts and veggies
Egg Salad sandwiches
Macaroni salad from the local deli
Fresh Melon Ball salad with a caramelized orange juice & ginger sauce
Tapioca pudding with fresh blackberries and whip cream
Layered Green Salad with homemade dressing
Homemade Chocolate Sheet cake with chocolate cream cheese frosting
Fun chips

Jars are an excellent way to hold picnic food! They transport easily and look much prettier than tupperware. It's a simple way to add beauty to the table and still keep it functional.

Tapioca Pudding with fresh blackberries
and whip cream

Jars and candles...

Salad works well in larger cracker jars.

I made a caramelized orange juice and ginger sauce
for the fresh Melon Ball salad.

This was Skyler and Kotah's favorite part...
kids love anything served in sundae cups!

Egg Salad sandwiches paired with
homemade cold Buttermilk Fried Chicken
is perfect on a hot June day.

Extra napkins required for fried food!

Titus is saying " I'm hungry mama" as usual...

I made both a french wheat sandwich loaf
and a plain french sandwich loaf
to accommodate ALL eaters! {wink}

Wrapping each sandwich individually
in parchment paper
gives it that extra special restaurant style touch!

Target sells special variety chips
when you're wanting something more unique than Doritos.

I used mini buckets for individual beverage icers
to keep drinks super cold.

Rich food works when it's Homemade Chocolate sheet cake
with cream cheese chocolate frosting.

The "necessities" are hidden in an old coke crate.

Wipes for messy fingers and lotion samples to smell sweet after the meal is done.

These adorable polka dotted napkins
were perfect tied with twine.

Papergood placesettings can be pretty too...
which makes me a happy girl!

And the kids thought a blanket worked better than a table...

Forget a park playground...
The guys enjoyed horseshoes while the LADIES prepped lunch.

and some kickball too.

Picnics give delight to little hearts
who want room to run,
they give peace to older hearts
who need an escape from the fast food lines,
and they give joy to the families who gather around the splintered tables to celebrate life.

Day is done.

This post is linked to: Centsational Girl,


Today's Creative Blog, Tasty Tuesday,
Foodie Friday, Tickled Pink,Lovin It, Inspired By, Strut your Stuff, Show Off Your Stuff, Tablescape Thursday, Show and Share Day, Show and Tell, Spotlight Yourself, Works for Me Wednesday ,Weekend Wrap Up DIY Day