Summer Picnic Club 2010!

Ever since I read this post, and a week or so later, this one (look at that amazing photo!), I have had summer picnics on the brain.  Good food + outdoors + friends, old and new = totally enamored.

And so I took to the Internets to research.  Of course.  I had to start with finding the origins of the picnic.  Wikipedia's definition is longer, but here's a shorter one that I liked:

The word picnic traces to the 1692 edition of a French book, where it was used to describe a group of people dining in a restaurant who brought their own wine. For a long time a picnic meant a meal that everyone contributed something to, similar to a potluck. Sometime during the Middle Ages, picnics became the enjoyable outdoor meals that we know of today. In the early 19th century in London, the Picnic Society was formed by a group of fashionable people for purposes of entertainment.

Then I looked into what others have done, and how.  The Tokyo Picnic Club was a great find -- but maybe that's because I have a slight bent towards Japanese aesthetics. (^o^)  I plan on incorporating their 15 rules into my own iteration. 

And, keeping rules 7, 8, and 9 in mind, what's a picnic without food?  Martha and The Kitchn have been my go-to's, from how to plan a picnic to picnic knives to picnic recipes.   Pressed sandwiches, anyone?  See Heart of Light's version here.  Or how about a salad in a jar?  Lots of new recipes to try out -- good practice for packing work lunches, too!

I've got dates and at least the first location in mind but am still overthinking the wording -- ironic especially because I want this to be an easy project -- and hope to get my invitations out to friends by early June.  That's next week.  Geez.

Summer Picnic Club 2010 is all I think about whenever I pass by a park, particulary these days, as they are verdant and abloom.  I have talked it all up among some close friends, and DC is totally on board.  So at the very least, there will be a few people -- I hope!  Onwards with the planning!

Big-girl bag

When it comes to the perfect Metro-commuter-friendly bag, all I need are for it to be large enough for a book, a knitting project, and maybe lunch; a side slip pocket for easy access (and for quickly throwing things in when hurried); compartments and zippered pockets inside; and a detachable wallet for my work ID and TAP card.  And it needs to look nice enough to take to meetings.  Doesn't seem like a lot to ask, but finding such a bag was proving quite the challenge! 

DC and I looked at the messenger bags at REI, but they were all too sporty or campy.  My brother had a very nice bag, compact with all the necessary pockets and compartments -- but it was made of green military canvas.  I looked into the LeSportsac and Timbuk2 lines, but they ended up being too casual, too.  We tried the local Ross, with no luck, either.  And with the Internets being so overwhelming, I decided that the best way to "shop" for a new bag was to see what people around me were carrying. 

I approached a lady whose bag I'd been eyeing for a couple of days.  She gladly opened it to show me its innards, and totally raved about it.  Then she told me she got it at the Container Store.  I would never have thought to look there!  Remembering that they are having their annual Travel gear sale, I headed over to my nearest store to hold it and play with it in person, and ended up buying the last bag they had in stock.

And now, let me introduce you to my perfect big-girl-Metro-commuter-friendly bag: the Baggalini Milano.

[bag, front]

[bag, back]

It's made of lightweight nylon, but the grey color matches the hardware and the shape of the bag is not sporty. In fact, I find it quite unique.  Timbuk2 bags are trapezoidal, too, but I didn't like that it narrowed towards the bottom.

In addition to the loveliness of the yellow contrast lining, there are two inside zippered pouches, on on each side -- hooray!  Plus, a pocket panel for pens and the "S" hook which I often use to keep my lap free.  The elastic band for stashing something horizontally is a neat idea, but practically, items tend to slip out.

The wallet is detachable!  There is even another shorter cord for keys.  Genius.

The small slip pouch between the zippered outer compartments has a magnetic clasp.  There is also a magnetic clasp on the other side's slip pocket.  I love magnets.

Turns out that Bagallini was started by flight attendants, so the bags are designed with lots of practicality in mind.  I'm looking forward to being able to try it out on a weekend trip or even on the plane.  I promise I'm not advertising, but as a big fan of form+function, this bag totally meets all my needs, and I just wanted to share the great find.  Hooray!

Garden corner

Just when you think I've only been in the kitchen: voila!  My new container corner in the garden.

[plants in mostly blue and white]

I commandeered an old folding chair from the garage and started moving plants and containers here and there for a tiered, layered look.  I turned the tray and a few planters upside-down to create more varied heights and show off all the colors.  I love how modular it is; lots of room to play around as fancy strikes.

[squash blossoms]

Over on the other side are Mrs. C's squash, in two planters.  They are doing fabulously well, and I can't wait to see the fruit appear.  This is my first time taking care of vegetables and I think it will be very gratifying (I don't even like squash)!

[succulents]

My succulents are thriving!  The jade plants used to be wrinkly, but just after a week or so they are plump and sprouting new leaves.  They get to bask in glorious sunlight for most of the day.  There are about eight different succulent varieties in this little four-inch pot, and I utterly adore them.  All but two come from cuttings.  They are sitting with Mrs. C's succulents in the terra-cotta section of the garden.

I've got great plans for this little space, especially as the weather continues to warm. 

Oh, how does your garden grow?

Thrifting at home

I'm such a sucker for housewares.  At department stores, discount stores, thrift stores, you name it.  And don't even get me started with Ikea.  I can spend inordinate amounts of time cruising the aisles of dishesware, glassware, storageware, servingware.  All of it.  I especially like the vintage pieces, so do prefer thrift stores.  Much to DC's chagrin.

Since I've been cleaning out the kitchen cabinet innards to reline them, I've discovered thrifting at home.  Mrs. C has some seriously vintage stuff -- check it out!

[vintage housewares]

I discovered vintage pyrex and corningware, and even an old school kettle (yes, you can put that glass straight on the burner).  I especially like the set of refrigerator dishes, which are already being used often!

But it's also appliances!  I brought my new Cuisinart food processor/blender over because I plan on making lots of smoothies this summer.  As we were making room for it, Mrs. C pulled out her old school blender.  It's from her own wedding registry.  In the early 70s.  And it still works like a charm!  We made smoothies together, and that first week that I was here with her, I came home from work each day to a mini smoothie just for me.  How sweet!

[old school blender]

I recently made some watermelon juice.  So fresh, and so delish!  (Just add some crushed ice and a touch of sugar.)  Don't you just love the avocado green of the blender?  They just don't make 'em like this anymore.

No, these items are not being donated.  Rather, they will be lovingly used and maintained.  And I will remember to go through the cabinets before heading out to thrift shops, for treasures abound here!

Droopy drawers

Mrs. C told me that the drawers in the kitchen were prone to dropping down and falling out, so I must be careful to pull them out slowly and not all the way.  I forgot on a couple of occasions and my heart nearly stopped when the drawer (with knives, no less) took a nosedive and I lunged after it, barely in time to pull it up.  *phew!*

But I knew that wasn't normal, and something could -- nay, should -- be done, stat. So as I reorganized and relined them, I took the drawers out to examine their mechanics.  Then I discovered the culprit:

[broken drawer guide]

Most of the guides at the back of each drawer were old and broken, so that they no longer "held on to" the metal rail (seen in the middle of the drawer gap in the photo above).  I knew it would be an easy fix and headed over to one of my favorite places: The Home Depot.

[old and new drawer guides]

[new drawer guide, installed]

With minimal assistance from the staff ("Um, where's your kitchen hardware?"  "Aisle seven." "Thanks.") I found the replacements and bought enough for all of the drawers.  Then, with my trusty screwdriver, I got to work, first replacing the guides for drawers holding knives and silverware (the most dangerous and heaviest drawers, respectively).

[look ma, no hands!]

With the threat of bruised, impaled, or dismembered digits no longer present, my stress level in the kitchen has dropped dramatically.  Next step: installing drawer stops.

FO: Baby hat

I don't even remember how long ago I started this hat.  The only documentation is this shot, taken for Project 365 on March 9!  A quick series of emails with the mama -- an old and estranged-utnil-recently elementary school friend -- and we had a meeting set up.  I couldn't show up empty-handed.

There was actually just the crochet edging and ties that had to get done, as well as blocking.  So I put the hat on a metal mixing bowl, sprayed it down with water, and let it sit overnight.  In the morning, I braided.  Seriously, why did it take me so long?!

It took some fiddling with the numbers because I knit it in fingering weight yarn for a baby (as opposed to heavy worsted weight for an adult, as the pattern is written).  The earflaps are a bit far back, but in the end, it fits BabyC with a little room to grow. He'll get a bit more wear out of it in the cooler SF Bay area where he lives, which makes me happy.

[baby Thorpe (pdf)]

Now on to knitting for the three other babes and two more that are on the way!

Bridal shower bliss n' blues

Bridal showers, to me, have always been a bit awkward.  So maybe it's because I'm older, maybe it's because we have more friends in common and I'm closer to this bride than the others whose showers I attended -- or maybe it's because I went to those other showers and am now more experienced! -- that I had a great time at last weekend's. 

Having planned my first baby shower last fall, I learned that it's hard work -- something you don't necessarily see fromthose beautiful (i.e. done by professionals) online albums!  For me, it's almost harder to be a guest because I don't have the excuse of running around doing things.  I'm trying, though, and getting better at it.  Some things that I've learned over the years about being a good bridal shower guest are:

Depending on how close you are to the hostess(es), come a little early, offer to help.  Often there are a lot of last-minute details that could really use an extra pair of hands: setting the table, hanging banners, etc.  But -- and this is a tough one for me -- don't do too much!   Help out with little things, especially if it's at a home you've been to before and you know where things are: pointing people to the restroom, getting extra chairs, etc.  But don't rearrange things that have already been placed, and don't take over!  Defer to the hostess(es)' plan and vision, they've probably been thinking about it for a while.  And since they're probably better friends with the bride, they'll have a better idea of what she wants, which is the most important thing.

Don't be shy about eating!  Hostesses go to a lot of time and expense to make or order food, and they stress out about whether it will be enough, too much, etc. etc.  Appreciate it, enjoy it, help to not leave too many leftovers!  We had homemade cucumber and chicken salad sandwiches and cupcakes with real strawberries blended into the frosting, along with some of the bride's favorites from Porto's.  And loads of tea, of course!

[teacups]

No matter how many times you've done it before: Play the games!  With gusto!  Remember, it's not about you or your shyness, but the bride.  We played Mad Libs, "Pass the Teddy", telephone charades, and Project Runway: Toilet Paper wedding dress.  Two fellow brides-to-be, including me, were the dress models.  My team decided to go with an Eiffel Tower look, since the groom proposed in Paris.  We attempted criss-crosses of "fabric" about the bodice and a long train, but  the material wasn't very durable.  Sadly, we were eliminated.

[tp dresses -- guess which is my team's!]

Don't hog the bride!  Let her talk to her other friends, especially the ones who've come long distances.

Another hard one for me: Don't just hang out with people you know!  Even if it's been a while since you've seen them.  Branch out!  You'll probably see these folks again at the wedding, so strike up the conversations.

Take pictures!  With the bride's-to-be camera!  She'll want those memories.  (And she can always delete the ones she doesn't like.)  If the hostess(es) are making a scrapbook, make sure you email them a link to your album. 

It's good for me to keep these things in mind as I think about the showers I'll be attending in the next year.  And, of course, as I consider whether I would like to have a shower thrown for me!  That will require thinking about how I feel about being the center of attention, a position from which I usually shy away.  What has me leaning towards having one is the sheer and utter joy I feel at being able to be there at my friends' showers.  I'm sure my friends feel the same way for me, and it'd be nice to have an outlet and a time for that to happen, in a fun setting. 

We'll see...