All the food stuffs would be packed in coolers and boxes and off we'd go to a previously decided on location! The cousins would be there and we'd have fun at games or just sitting in the grass. Ever try to use a blade of grass between thumbs to make a whistle? Bet you could still do that!
Mothers and grandmothers busied themselves around food. Then they'd sit and "chat a spell". The men would get going right away at horseshoes or baseball. But eventually the cold drinks would come out and then they'd sit talking.
The food was greatly similar at every event. You could probably count on hot dogs for kids and burgers for adults. Baked beans or chili could go on the dogs if you wanted. Aunt Dot's pineapple upside-down cake. Someone always made "ambrosia" which was cherry jello cubes, whipped cream, coconut, and pineapple chunks. Mom often made coleslaw or potato salad or both. Some auntie was sure to make a devils food cake. Mom also made a really good German chocolate cake too. Mom always was and still is a great cook!
Lazy afternoons turned into evening when the lightning bug or fire flies came out. If you were gentle you could catch them and put them in a jar with holes punched in the lid. They'd stay like that until you got home and then you could open the jar and see them fly out into your own yard.
Sometimes I'd fall asleep on the way home. Life was good. Did we even know it?
Today's photo from my archive:
Kelly family picnic in a backyard. Date unknown.
Congregational Church, Ladie's Aid Society picnic, about 1930s.
The URL for this post is: http://nutsfromthefamilytree.blogspot.com/2012/04/remembering-summer-picnics.html
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