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Perfect Picnic Time

August 9, 2011 by Shanna Hatfield

If you haven’t been on a picnic this summer – or ever – take an evening or time on the weekend to go on one.

There is something wonderfully relaxing and lazy about being on a picnic.

Here are some tips from a post I did a while back to help make it successful.

Entertain with a Summer Picnic

picnic

Summer is the perfect time to grab a blanket, pack some food and eat in the great outdoors. If you haven’t gone on a picnic in a while, think about inviting a few friends or family members to join you for a casual meal. The key ingredient should be fun.

The Perfect Spot
Pick your picnic spot strategically. Look for an area in the shade, away from foot traffic. If you have children along, make sure there are no hazards nearby: busy roads, deep water, or cliffs. Be realistic about what you can carry to the picnic spot.

The Perfect Seat
Lounging on a blanket is all fine and dandy unless the ground is wet. Bring along a plastic tarp to put underneath the blanket. My favorite picnic blanket is a comforter that is thick and soft and just meant for lazy afternoons out in the sun.

The Perfect Food
Keep the food simple and opt for no-fuss picnic fare like crusty bread, cheese and fruit. Add something sweet for a treat like cookies, brownies or slices of pie. Think about foods that are easy to transport and keep cold. Wraps and sandwiches are yummy, simple to make and easy to pack. Before you fill the cooler, make sure everything is thoroughly chilled. Take plenty of ice and remember food should not set out more than an hour in heat that is 85 degrees or higher. Also take plenty of beverages to stay hydrated.

The Essentials
Picnic basket or cooler
Bottled water (freeze overnight and use as an ice pack)
Outdoor dinnerware
Flatware or plastic silverware
Napkins
Glassware
Cutting Board
Sharp Knife
Bottle opener
Tablecloth, blanket
Decorative centerpiece (hurricane candles, a cup of freshly plucked wildflowers, a beautiful dessert)
Sunscreen
Bug spray or citronella candles
Wet-wipes
Paper towels
Hand sanitizer
Trash bags
Games (Frisbees and balls for the kids, badminton for adults)

She Who Needs to Dust off Her Picnic Basket

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My Saturday

August 8, 2011 by Shanna Hatfield

After posting The Pioneer Woman’s recipe for Watermelon Granita Friday, I couldn’t stop thinking about how tasty it looked. So I bought a melon and made a small batch on Saturday.

We ate it all.

Not a bit left.

It was that good.

If you love watermelon, give this a try. It is fast, easy and very tasty.

Captain Cavedweller found a bag of authentic two-stick old fashioned popsicles at our local Safeway. I nearly cried when he brought them home and handed them to me. Hello, frozen sugar on two-sticks. I missed you so.

Despite the fact that I know I can sunburn in a matter of minutes, despite the fact that I constantly remind CC to put on sunscreen, despite the fact that even the cats tried keep me from staying outside too long, I stayed outside too long. And am sunburned. And lobster like. And ready to crawl in our big chest freezer. I may need to find somewhere else to store my beloved popsicles.

How was your weekend?

She Who Is A Bit Toasty Today

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Scrambled Popsicles

August 5, 2011 by Shanna Hatfield

Last night for dinner we had frozen eggs and scrambled popsicles.

Huh?

I mean scrambled eggs and frozen popsicles.

See, between washing all of Captain Cavedwellers winter wear and the heat that is suffocating me in our air-conditioner-less house, I can’t think straight. Or sideways. Or any other way.

So last night for dinner, after slowly melting into a mass of overheated sluggishness, Captain Cavedweller decided to whip together some dinner. Seriously, we ate eggs and popsicles. And then had seconds on popsicles.

Since I am incapable of stringing together my thoughts long enough to take photos and post a recipe, I will direct you to a recipe on The Pioneer Woman’s website.

For some reason, it is the only thing that sounds even remotely appealing today.

Enjoy and Happy Friday!

She Who Must Buy a Watermelon Today

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The Cave Locker

August 4, 2011 by Shanna Hatfield

See the hideous pile of outerwear mounded on my floor?

You’ll never guess where it came from.

After a decade of collecting what seems to be everything but a kitchen sink in his locker at work, Captain Cavedweller decided he would clean it out and bring everything home to be washed.

Lucky me.

The first mind-boggling  thought was how he had all this stuffed in his locker. A locker very similar in size to those filling the hallowed halls of high schools across the country.

And the best part is that he hasn’t brought it all home yet. So just to give you an idea of what I have been tackling in the midst of our first heat-wave of the summer, I have so far washed:

6 pairs of wool socks

7 pairs of regular tube socks

1 hat

1 pair of long johns

1 pair of rain pants

2 rain coats

1 fleece jacket

1 fleece vest

1 windbreaker

1 quilted coat liner

2 shorter coats

1 long coat

1 sweatshirt

1 sweater (this one has me completely puzzled because CC hates sweaters. When asked how many times he’s worn it, the response was “once for an hour or so.” Just what I suspected.)

3 scarves

1 pair of fleece earwarmers

27 gloves (because there is one lost somewhere, so we don’t have an even 14 pairs!)

The locker also contained 4 pairs of boots, 2 pairs of tennis shoes, and a large bag full of assorted and sundry junk I haven’t quite been able to make myself dig into yet.

Just looking at all this outdoor winter wear makes me nearly as wilted as my flower garden.

Wish me luck for round two!

She Who Is Going to Go Find a Popsicle

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