the perfect picnic (and picnic basket)

We spent last Sunday up in Muskoka, cottage country just a couple hours just North of Toronto.

To make the trip worth while, we thought we'd spend part of the afternoon at the lake. And what could better suit an afternoon at the lake than a picnic lunch?

I bought this picnic basket a few years ago from Homesense. I liked that it had a simple linen-coloured inside and plain white dishes. I have it out on display, but I've only used it a few times. Wanting something kind of special, I cleaned it out and packed a really easy going lunch. Something that I could make ahead of time, that could transport easily and was perfect for nibbling on through out the afternoon.

The basket comes with four little mugs and plates, I just threw in some cutlery and a couple napkins (these from Everyday Occasions).

Also a square table cloth that I don't mind putting out on the grass, and pillow or two (outdoor so they can be cleaned if need be).

And while I love the romantic idea of eating out of pretty paper take out containers, these clear glass Pyrex ones are much more functional (not to mention less waste).

I found these earlier this year at Target - glass and plain white lids, I didn't realize how excited I could get over storage dishes.

On the menu:

Turkey Club Sanwiches

A simple Arugula Salad

(vinaigrette on bottom so as to not wilt greens)

Watermelon and Cherries

Cookies, Chocolate and Italian Nougat

For the sandwiches I just take a baguette, hollow it out a tad, put generous amounts of mayo and Dijon mustard on either side, and then layer Arugula, thick-sliced Turkey breast, bacon rashers, and cheese.

The baguette is a sturdy enough bread that it doesn't go soggy overnight (not adding tomato helps), and yet with a good amount of mayo, it doesn't dry out either.

Simply wrap the sandwiches in paper and tie with a bit of twine.

Now, for the sake of the photo, I have the sandwiches in here, but I actually put them in a lunch bag with some cold packs to keep them cool. Nothing else needed to be kept cool so the rest could stay in the basket.

We ate in the shade of the pine trees, watching everyone lounge on the beach and cool off in the water. Jude chatted happily away to us before running off, trying with great effort to catch a seagull who would let him get close enough to believe it might just be possible. Then we did a little shopping before returning on our way home, with all the boys, to take a quick dip in the lake.

victoria sponge cake with fresh strawberries and cream

Looking for an easy dessert for your holiday weekend celebrations? This cake is perfect because it's super simple to make and assemble, but it looks pretty (and festive) as well.

The cake is a simple Victoria Sponge Cake (I used this recipe accompanying this article by Felicity Cloake, found in The Guardian).

Now, here's the thing. I didn't have self-rising flour on hand. I substituted all purpose with the appropriate amounts of added salt and baking powder, but I feel the cake, as a result, was lacking a bit in sponginess (though, not lacking in taste!). Next time I will either add more than the recommended amount of baking powder (even though it seemed like too much already), or I'll just pickup a small bag of self-rising. You'd think from reading the article that I would have just waited. But the fresh strawberries from market were at that perfect point, where waiting even just one day further would have resulted in waking up to slightly mushy berries, and a small army of fruit flies that seemed to have appeared from nowhere.

Layer sponge cakes rounds with generous amounts of whipped cream, sweetened with powdered sugar for a little extra hold, and top with fresh berries. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Also, the first of the roses have made their appearance in the garden.

 

Perfectly imperfect and very patriotic.

The Cottage and Birthday Celebrations

Oh how we love the summer and our trips to the cottage.

And this week was extra special as this handsome little boy of ours turned four!

Happy birthday Hudson. You make me long to be a better mother and train my sons up to be men who have a fierce love for the Lord. You show me my heart, and at times, in bringing out the worst in me, remind me of what grace and love and mercy are so I can be made better. You are strong and independent and confident, and yet you are so gentle and loving, especially to me, and I can't get enough of you.

Willen helped plan a surprise party for him. He snuck out with Beams (grandma) and decorated the sunroom with balloons and streamers to surprise Hudson in the morning. He made it clear that the "candles according to age" rule was silly, and lit the whole cake up for his little brother. He even drew clues like his Opa does on all the birthday gifts as a special touch.

And how did I occupy myself?

Lets just say I got some much needed rest and enjoyed having my feet up and my husband all week.

No, that's not a beach ball under there. We are so happy to announce that baby number three is arriving in 9 weeks.

Ps. It's another boy!

The Drive-In and An Evening at the Beach

This past weekend, with the temperatures high and the weather beautiful, it couldn't have been more apparent that summer is almost with us.

So we made the most of the weekend and enjoyed some firsts of the season.

On Friday we decided to go to the drive in with the kids. We don't do it often, but they love getting cozy in the car and watching a movie on the giant outdoor screens. And unlike the theatre, they're both still free admission.

While we were at the market on Friday morning, Hudson and I picked up two snacks to bring with us - freshly made mini donuts and salty-sweet kettle corn. I had seen the idea for snack boxes on Pinterest, so I used what I had and came up with something easy for them to hold. They had hot cocoa (half a cup to minimize spilling), a few donuts and a small little bag of popcorn.

The rear-facing seats in the hatch were perfect for the boys and they snuggled up with lots of pillows and blankets.

Then, on Saturday night, after a very warm day, we ventured out to our nearby beach. It wasn't officially open yet, but the water was beautiful! We had to hop through a few meters of green before the water cleared, but it was still refreshing.

I forgot just how lovely the beach is. The boys are so happy, running it's length and bouncing around in the water, and you can just see Ryan's body relax after a long day at work. It's wonderful.

Looking forward to many adventures this summer!

Summer Celebrations

It seems that the slow, lazy days of summer ended with July and as August came around, with vacations to go on and things to do, the summer holidays came to a close much more quickly then we would have liked. 

We ended July celebrating Hudson's first birthday and then spent a week at the cottage relaxing. We returned, and with only a few days to catch up on laundry and get the house back in order, Ryan and I flew out to California and celebrated our anniversary. It was wonderful. We've been back for a week, and tomorrow we will head up North again to spend the remainder of summer vacation with the family at the cottage.

It's hard to believe that summer is nearly over and school is right around the corner.

And with it, Fall.

The evenings are evidence that summer is coming to a close. The fog is heavy and the evening air is cool and refreshing. The mornings are dewy and though the days are still hot, the crispness of Fall will soon be here.

Until then, we'll make the most of these last weeks of summer and soak up the sun.

I celebrated my birthday yesterday and though Ryan had to work, he sent flowers and some reading material for in the hammock at the cottage.

Hudson also turned One. 

Oh the changes that came with one!

He's walking, and babbling, and as curious as ever. He knows a few simple words, and rarely stops smiling. Every day is an adventure when you have a big brother to follow around. We're so in love with him.