No Wind in "Our" Willows Picnic

How delightful to be able to join in with everyone in a celebration of all things Wind in the Willows. Do pop in here if you'd like to catch up with all the other posts today. Such a cheerfully inspired idea over at fraise lachrymose.
"Pic'nic, n Pleasure party including meal out of doors; (colloquial) Something especially agreeable or easily accomplished" Oxford dictionary.
I adore that meaning..it makes you want to sigh & set about planning your very own agreeable, easily accomplished, special little picnic right away.
A few months ago, back when it was quite chilly, I came across the dearest little book entitled "The Picnic Hamper" : "Ingredients mixed & served for Taupo Friends of Hospice"

"This little book is all about picnics- solitary escapes with a wedge of Brie, a thermos & a holiday thriller; romantic idylls on & off the water; & sprawling family days on & off the lake.
A picnic is best set up near water, on the water, or at least affords a grand panoramic view of water. We New zealanders like to fish, swim, skim stones, play Pooh sticks & simply mess about in boats. This is nice, it gives people something to do while the picnic hamper is being unpacked"
Ok so here's the picnic set:

& a bit of Brie

 & a few Pooh...I mean carrot sticks

"Although a picnic should be relaxed & informal it should be a delicious meal. Fresh air & hunger are fine sauces but they won't salvage a bottle of Gatorade & a Marmite sandwich. Along with dependable favourites there should be an element of surprise & anticipation. Remember Mole & Ratty setting off on their boating excursion with the Picnic Hamper...
...rat reappears "staggering under a fat wicker luncheon-basket"
"Shove that under your feet." he observed to the Mole, as he passed it down into the boat.
 Then he untied the painter & took the sculls again.
"What's inside it?" asked the Mole, wriggling with curiosity.
"there's cold chicken inside it." replied the rat briefly;
coldtonguescoldhamcoldbeefpickledgherkinssaladfrenchrollscresssandwidgespottedmeatgingerbeerlemonadesodawater--""O stop, stop," cried Mole in ecstasies: "This is too much!"
"Do you really think so?" inquired the Rat seriously "It's only what I always take on these little excursions; & the other animals are always telling me that I'm a mean beast & cut in very fine!"

& continuing the intro of my wee book it says
"Picnic memories feature large in our old photo albums-remember car boot picnics at A&P shows; billy tea & bacon & egg pie, while the Father's fished the river & the Mothers read books; & of course those gritty beach picnics where the kids stood dripping, fresh from a swim over the laden picnic cloth."
Picnickers at the Hawke's Bay A & P Show here 1946.

Same show grounds just down the road & our delightful spot for a Spring Picnic last October 

But then, just last week, a particularly sizzling spell of weather came upon us so we headed out to Puketapu about half an hour away to a lovely spot by the river.

 Just here looks good.

lovely warm water

 pleasant company

 not a care in the world..

 across the way & look, no wind in our willow

 over to the swimming hole downstream

 upstream

 Pooh sticks floating by...
Blueberries, Brie, crackers & icecold cider..lovely!

 a wander, a pool & a wee accident..& not a boat to be seen!

 oh well may as well have a swim then..lucky it wasn't the one holding the camera that fell in ; )

 rural

 way home

 clutching "fairy toothbrushes" (periwinkle)

 see...soo tiny, perfect for a fairy!

 a little snooze then? (Brambly Hedge, I know, but soo cute & still a picnic!)

 ..."Perhaps though this grand art of happy picnicking has been lost, we like the idea of spontaneity- "Let's just pick something up at the deli"-but a real picnic needs a little forethought. We must relearn the old skills of pantry stocking & taking care over wonderfully satisfying portable food. We must practice these skills in beautiful locations with cheerful greedy friends!" (Robyn Shaw food writer for the Dominion)

so my cheerful, greedy friends next time you get the urge for a picnic, indoors or out, you will know precisely what to take won't you...

coldchickencoldtonguescoldhamcoldbeefpickledgherkinssaladfrenchrollscresssandwidgespottedmeat

gingerbeerlemonadesodawater of course!!

I found a lovely old recipe in my wee book for Granny's Lemonade (perfect for picnics & the such like) I'll pop it in here shortly just as soon as I have a minute to make some up..for the picture part : )

 XXXX

The Pansy Shed and Rush Munro's

I have always adored everything about Rush Munro's Icecream Garden here in Hastings. When I was little it was such a treat to go to Rush Munro's for a peaked cone icecream. I never could make up my mind between the passionfruit or gorgeous feijoa flavours. I still prevaricate even now. I have, on the odd occasion, resorted to half & half. Charles & Catherine Rush Munro arrived here in Hawke's Bay in 1926 (about the same time our house was built) & set up shop in town selling excellent quality confectionary. Oh dear, the legendary 1931 earthquake ruined their dreams & hard work in a minute. Yet they tenaciously carried on, moving to Heretaunga Street & starting all over again.

 Icecream eventually became the legendary trade mark of the Rush Munros' & they have now long enjoyed an excellent world wide reputation & a dedicated local

 following. This all looks a tad breezy for the winter, no wonder that it all quite soon became a good deal more substantial. I suspect that the goldfish-pond-come-wishing-well was established quite early on as the concrete work has just the same feel as the seats & ponds in our local Cornwall Park dated in the 30's.

 Distinctive logo.

 I had a fascinating chance encounter with an elderly gentleman a year or two ago when I was working at the Curiosity Shop in town, and he told me the story of when he was a lad & Rush Munro's first opened & how it was at that time called "The Pansy". Now that absolutely captured my imagination!

(A very old Parisian
seed packet label that
I happily purchased
 recently.)
Of course, I couldn't wait to rush home & tell Rob about my great discovery! About this time my darling man had begun the slow but well crafted process of revising a yukky old shed sited at the end of our garage. One part was to become The Larder & the other The Pansy..of course!! and what did he do for me but create Rush Munro trellsing & paint it the distinctive Ice cream garden Green..sooo sweet!

Tucked under the benevolent care of our ancient plum tree.

Christmas time has seen the completion of my dearest Pansy Potting Shed. Oh I just adore it! 

Such brilliant detail.

  $2 at St Matthew's Fair

and another..quite perfect for such a place of nurture

So whatever else would you do with two ratbags after they have finished trimming Katie's topiary

and eaten their fresh taste-of-summer honey & pearl sweetcorn?

 Head off to the Icecream Garden to visit the fish of course!

love the red accents

What fabulous devotion to the original essence of this happy institution of deliciousness. 

 Still here creating memories for generations to come.

And what a perfect day for such a post..exactly a year since an angel turned up in the garden.

Thanks so much for popping in. Fancy an icecream?

 Do come & visit again sometime : )

MUCH