Fourth (and not last) In a Series on Celebrating 25 Years...

I left off from the tale of Anniversary mega-celebrations with a photo of a monstrous building {click} and will continue {if you are inclined to read more) from this photo that you've already
seen ~

I was presented with an unpurchaseable statement of love. Hubby had, for months, been compiling memories, thoughts and scribble-drawings of highlights during our years together - some married years and some before that. That is the final page of the booklet in his hands. On his bucket list two items were checked off - marrying me, and staying so for 25 years. The third item on the list was for us to check-off that very evening. We were staying overnight at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay!!

Every square foot of this resort oozes luxury. The surprise was beyond comprehension, as this is very unlike us to stay in spendy places! No detail was left out. The room was littered with rose petals. The bed had towels shaped into swan hearts. We were greeted with "Happy Anniversary" wishes.

25 in petals

I laughed til I cried, and I cried - til I laughed. My chuckling at the drawings in the booklet had both of us gasping. A memorable place to sit and read this gift - ensconced in a dramatically large Adirondack chair, on a sunlit afternoon on the Ritz patio overlooking the grand Pacific. Perfection!

We had a private patio, and our own fire pit. We opted to stay on the patio all through the evening - who could waste a moment of that view? Dinner was a picnic here, with champagne to toast US!
The sky was blue... and as much a surprise as the gift, as Half Moon Bay is notoriously foggy! Sunset was meant just for our celebration!

A quick 24 hours we had, but you can't very well leave the beach without a walk in the morning!

Time for us to head home and for me to get up to the hill.. on the property with the goats, 'cause it was nearly the big day for Goat Hill Fair. Lots of work to be done. I've been busy as a bee...

Believe it, or not, the Anniversary stories are yet to be complete!! there's more to come.....

Picnic Perfection!!

How delightful does this look??!! Here's what I wish to be doing this weekend ~

image from French Essence

We've been asked to join in a picnic. Yes, it will be set in redwoods. Very near to our home. In that hilly town of Los Gatos... {I've not talked much of walking there lately}. 'Tis likely we'll meet , but we're double booked....

HA! Such is the life... too many things to do, too many friends to visit, too much food to partake!




{I borrowed the picnic photo from French Essence - who got it at this lovely site}
http://www.inpraiseofshadows.se/solbrinken.html

BRRRRR... Picnic in Winter

Traffic along the mountainous route to the ocean was stalled....  brake, quick turn off, and find another loop. Instead, I surprised Hubby and we picnicked in the redwoods.  A table partially in the shade is not perfection on a winter afternoon. We wore layers. Coats of many colors! I even draped a blanket across my legs. brrrrrrrr

The strange round item Hubby is holding is a piece of venison salami. A cousin packed some venison into her luggage and it made its way to us from New York. The photo needed to showcase the salum so that we can share it with the cousins... and say THANK YOU!! Soon I'll journal about the weekend of New York family and the fun we had.

The last time we made it over the hill to the beach, we palled around with our dog-nieces. The two of them are the dearest little things. The girls are the four legged companions to one of my brothers. Their home is on a backroad in the agricultural fields of our coastal valley. This scene is just down the corner from them....  ->

The pups....

The beach was minutes away... oh lucky me!!  Picnics & Pets!!

This is the funniest photo.....

Blog trawling and pups appeared on the screen. Looks as if my dog charge is checking out the terriers too...

Jazz And A Picnic

Few things seem more summer than a picnic. Add to that fun a little bit of music... and you've got the makings for a nice evening out of the house. Old time music, mellow conversation, lawn seating and food.....  AHHHHHHH

swing dancers

The July 4th weekend is off to a good start.....

Nature's Concert

Didn't even realize it, but I had front row seats to an outdoor concert! And, I hadn't even purchased tickets! My experience was one of the most wondrous musical events I have had the pleasure of witnessing! I was privy to an evening avian choir.

I have no photographs of the lovely musicians, my camera was sitting indoors.  During our seasons first
PICNIC in the garden, as I read the newspaper and delighted in the lengthy sunlight , the eves entertainment began.

Picnicking at home

a bottle from a friend's winery

Strike up the chorus - four separate species of birds, all sitting in our fruit trees. Each had their own unique voice. The crows pulled unripe figs from the branches... cawing along as they worked. Hummingbirds buzzed and lit adding their high alto pitch. The "catbird" mocked as he dove at the others. And the meek, sweet & common sparrow sang out periodically adding the essential note of the winds......
ALL SO VERY LOVELY!!

Abundance and a picnic in my outdoor paradise!

Picnic Dreams...

It seems funny sometimes to write this blog as if to an audience. Most of the time the reality is that I am writing to ME. When I started on this new creative outlet I did so thinking that it is just as though I am journaling each day. Even though a blog is out there in the blog-o-sphere/universe, no one is any the wiser unless I somehow make them aware. I've only chosen to mention Abundant Picnic to a few close people. Some days I'm ready to go further, other times, not.  For now I'll wait until I have the gumption... ah, go ahead and say it!!.... the balls to ask a veteran blogger for advice and mentoring. So now, I'll continue to post to the pretend "YOU" out there that are reading....

Lunch today went something like this: I met 2 acquaintances, no make that friends! We are new to hanging out together. I have known them for a couple of years. The kinda gals you wish you had met years earlier than you did! We have many of the same likes. I frequently spot them out thrifting, at estate sales and all sorts of treasure trove places! They have taken their love of vintage and made businesses out of it. I admire them.
One of them said: I'm planning a barn event/sale/faire for the Fall.
The other says: she wonders if so&so, and so&so would be available to sell their wares... 
I chimed in : I think I might like to be involved....
NOW WHERE THE HECK DID THAT COME FROM?
They seemed glad for my response. Later I was told they had been wondering if I might want..
So, I may have a booth at a home in the mountains, that's plopped in an orchard, that has goats milling about
and a barn nearby in which I will sell all matters of vintage delights!! We'll see what happens. And just so you know, it feels like kismet! Because this is exactly one of the ideas I posted about on About Those Finds. I may take Abundant Picnic to the barn.



vintage wicker wine jug & picnic hampers


While seemingly unrelated to the Picnic Dreams title, the place I'm going with this is - my Abundant Picnic is a dream that seems to be growing and improving! Until now I hadn't noticed that there is also a connection to a dream from my past. I can't remember the year, but for a time it was a dream of mine to open a shop and call it : Pique-nique. The french word for picnic. I talked about it. I knew what I wanted to do with it. I also knew the amount of work involved. Funny, now here's the picnic theme in my life again!

And lastly, but oh so sweetly and memorably - my Mom just recently told me a picnic story.... how apropos!

When my parents were young with two small children (myself & first brother) they left a very small town and moved to the city. My father had no work in the lumber industry. They went searching for a job and a better life. It was hard for them to make their money last through the month. One of the ways to scrimp was by watching the grocery budget. My Mom says that this was my Dad's idea and his "term" for it too - once a week they would have a PICNIC for dinner. The picnic fare was fried potatoes with cut-up hot dogs mixed in. They both thought that the word picnic just made everything seem a little bit nicer. I could cry!!
Ya know - I always loved that meal when we were older. I didn't realize the meaning and I don't think we called it a picnic then. Somehow this story was just passed on to me... at just the right moment!




only 2 of many picnic baskets I hoard