but if you look really close you'll see we would have had some uninvited guests!
Can you see the geese hanging out by the lake edge? Trust me, you don't want geese to join you for breakfast - they don't share!
So I decided we'd move our Breakfast! Picnic to the front courtyard. Early mornings out there are wonderful....it's shady and cool and you can hear the birds singing. Plus it's so convenient to run back in to get whatever I might forget. :)
This is my favorite corner....it's the perfect reminder of the best way to start the day. Prayer and meditation, along with breakfast, just make the day go better.
I won't procrastinate any longer; after all you're here to see my picnic quilt. :) I decided to go completely patriotic - one of my grandchildren was born on the fourth of July and every year we have a big family gathering to celebrate both our nation and our family.
I dug through my stash and found a panel I'd forgotten I had. I'm sure that's never happened to you!
I used Riley Blake red and white polka dot laminate for the back since this table often is moist from the morning dew.
The panel had several small (about 13 x 13) squares and I had the hardest time picking just one. The background fabrics are navy and khaki Kona cotton. I had both of those in my stash and also had the navy stars and the red so except for the laminate I shopped in my fabric closet - yea!
I know you're getting hungry so what's on the menu? Well it's breakfast so fresh fruit, obviously! Do you see those plaid seersucker napkins? Love, love, love seersucker napkins! I made about 5 dozen one day, using five different seersuckers, just by cutting squares and serging them. And then I made the most awesome discovery....they are the best dishrags ever! Who knew? They are light weight, the perfect size and dry quickly. I'll never use anything else!
The little counted cross stitch Uncle Sam was made for me one Christmas many, many years ago by one of my daughters.
While fruit is wonderful and healthy it's just not enough for me...how about you? Next up are the most awesome Cranberry Orange Muffins, fat free and the best things you've ever tasted. I'll be getting them out of the oven in just a moment and bringing them out nice and hot. You're going to want this recipe, right? Here it is....
Go right now and buy this....no, seriously. I'll wait. Back yet? These are so wonderful you're not going to believe it! I'll be having an iced chai tea latte (with fat free milk of course) but I have coffee - cream and sugar?
Oh look! The muffins are ready - yum!
And when we're through with our meal we'll move over to the bench to read the paper - well you can read the paper. I'll be reading blogs and Facebook on my IPad. :)
I bought this old bench from a run down and closed up church. They had painted it brown and I left it that way for years. This week my husband power washed the paint off and this is how it turned out. I think I like it!
I hope you enjoyed your breakfast. Before you go let's all thank Mary of I Piece 2-Mary for organizing and coordinating this hop - it's been so much fun! And thanks to Madame Samm for all that she does...too much for me to name!
Please be sure you go to visit the other bloggers today. There are always the most amazing quilts to see!
Friday June 6
Stitchin' By The Lake (you are here)
Let's take one last look at my picnic quilt - I hope you'll join me soon for a bite to eat and a cup of coffee or tea!
51 comments:
You have your own lake? It really gives you a beautiful backdrop for pictures if the geese leave you alone. Nice! Your quilt is beautiful and really is so patriotic looking. Such a fun idea to have a breakfast picnic!
What a wonderful quilt and I love using panels too! Thank you for sharing.
I'm on my way for coffee and muffin....anything you'd like me to bring? Love your quilt, it is absolutely gorgeous, adorable napkins!
A lovely quilt and a great idea for a breakfast picnic! A cup of coffee and a muffin would be perfect!
Delightful stop on the hop! You live in such a lovely place.
Love your quilt. It is sew pretty and your courtyard is lovely. That bench is great! Thanks for the coffeee and the muffins! Have a great day!
What a Beautiful Morning all made special by You!! Your Quilt is Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing Breakfast with us, and the Muffin tip...on my list!
Huggs, Nancy
A courtyard is a beautiful place for a picnic. Love your quilt!
And I love the Krusteaz products! Buy them all the time... Have you tried the Fat Free Sweet Honey cornbread mix? YUMMY!!! I have tried the muffins... actually have a box in my pantry... Guess what's for breakfast this morning! ha!
Good Morning Marlene....how inviting for breakfast..love the muffins, that always reminds me of picnics...and your quilt in all its glorious red white and blue...is HEART FELT....your photos and scenery delightful to the eyes....lovely way to begin our day with you..
What a lovely, patriotic, tableau (especially the quilt)!
MMM, sounds yummy! I take a little cream in my coffee, thank you :) Your quilt is fabulous, and thank you for the input on seersucker. take care marleen.
What a beautiful tranquil place to picnic! And the quilt... oh my goodness.... My favorite is red/white/blue or anything americana!
What a fun breakfast picnic! Do you have any muffins left... I'd like to stop by for a cup-a, lol! Thanks for the great inspiration!
Mmmmmmmm ... thank you, Marlene, for the yummy muffins. I just happened to have one of these boxes of cranberry orange goodness in my cupboard. Your pictures were making me so hungry for a muffin with my morning coffee. Good thing that these bake up quick and yummy! I am not kidding ... ;)
Thanks for sharing your breakfast picnic and all these beautiful photos.
I love your quilt. My next picnic quilt is going to be a red/white/blue one for summer. I have seen so many inspiring patriotic beauties in this picnic hop that my quilty muse is spinning. It is going to take a little while to stop spinning and settle on one idea. Looking forward to more picnics ... :) Pat
Today is the first day of vacation from school and I woke up to your wonderful post! When I think about what you say in your "About Me" in terms of time when working and time now that you're retired, I think that will be how I feel. Today, though, it was so great to wake up on a weekday and have a luxurious breakfast with you! Your quilt is beautiful and I really like the idea of something that can go on a table as well as on the ground. Now that I'm not obsessing about my own quilt, I think I might do just that. I was also thinking what a great Christmas present this would be for each of my sisters! Thanks for the inspiration....mp
Thank you for a beautiful breakfast, Marlene. You always knock my socks off with your incredible projects. This beauty is no exception. Morning is the best time to picnic, for sure. Love the colors and your sweet patriotic napkin goes perfectly with your new quilt.
Stars ! I love it Marlene, the quilt is perfect for you because you are a star. What lovely picnic breakfast pictures. I too like that bench...I wonder how many prayers were prayed in it's former location...
Well, that is a very patriotic quilt for somebody who chose to say hello to the world on this special day :-))
I enjoyed ready your post, and yes, you are right, geese don't share as less than hens and roaster, LOL!
Have a beautiful weekend and I envy you for this beautiful basket. Having it shipped to Switzerland would have been too expensive, so I did not order it this time.... wink ....
Now that's just fabulous! What a great way to celebrate every day! Looks like I am going to have to go to your house for a good breakfast, one of these days! LOL!!
I`d love to have breakfast with you there.Such a great place!!
Yum Chai tea and muffins with fruit...winning meal you have there! And your quilt is so pretty, love the Uncle Sam extra :)
WOW, you have such a lovely quilt, and your setting perfect. Love the idea of a Picnic Breakfast. Thank you so much for being part of this "Plan a Perfect Picnic" hop.
Thanks for sharing your breakfast with us. I had a great time. Very cute picnic cloth too.
What a wonderful quilt! It seems like a picnic quilt should be patriotic with all the summer holidays. It's a beauty for sure. The basket liner is so cute. Good ole Uncle Sam.
What a beautiful way to start the day. Your quilt is perfect for those special picnic moments.
Love the red/white and blue, especially today....D-day! Front yard or back yard, the setting is lovely, the quilt is beautiful, and the muffins look yummy! Thanks for inviting us!
What a perfectly delightful setting for a picnic! I love your quilt and all of the patriotic decor to go with it.
What a wonderful garden and spot to have a picnic! I would love to try one of those muffins, they look so good!
Wonderful picnic visit, and calorie-free!
I, of course, love your patriotic quilt and I have that same recipe for muffins. They are delish. Thanks for sharing your picnic. I sure enjoyed it! ;)
Your quilt is beautiful, I just love it. I also must say that I adore your napkins. They are Nader to perfection.
Lovely quilt!!
Your quilt as well as your setting is beautiful!! Wow! I think I would brave the geese if I had a chance to be in a setting like that!!
Very lovely quilt. Thanks for sharing.
That looks very inviting!! Beautiful quilt and flowers!!
Lovely quilt, Marlene and of course the basket of fruit and napkins look wonderful with it. You are set for any of the patriotic holidays and we have several in the summer months. It will even work for Flag Day next Saturday. I have a dear friend who will be celebrating like your family member on the 4th of July. Special day for a lot of us.
I'm too late-the muffins are gone! They sure looked yummy, and do go well with fresh fruit. Love your patriotic quilt, and it looks lovely in your courtyard setting.
Breakfast picnic...perfect idea! I love cranberry orange muffins! Every time I visit your blog I am reminded of how perfect of a place you get to live in. I love lakes. Who needs to travel for a picnic when you have that out your door. :)
Lovely quilt.
I love your quilt! And I've never thought of making seersucker napkins -- what a great idea! A breakfast picnic sounds like the perfect way to start the day. :)
What a wonderful tradition you have for July 4th! Lovely photos :)
What a lovely setting every day! I love the quilt, how fun that you found just the perfect panel to make it. We're working on some patriotic toppers around here too. And mmm, breakfast looks scrumptious, too!
Your beautiful quilt is the crowning glory for a celebration. It can be fun having your birthday on a holiday. My father-in-law was born on July 4. My mother-in-law always got him a red, white, and blue cake. When one of the daughters-in-law could get the honor of providing the cake, it was a cake with a train. He was a master model train maker and a master model train designer.
The quilt is very, very festive and resonates the American pride. Great job! Thanks for participating and sharing an example of a wonderfully celebratory quilt.
Love the colours in your picnic quilt and you obviously had a lovely morning for breakfast. Thanks for sharing. Susie x
I will check out that brand of muffin mix - I love cranberry orange. Beautiful quilt and what can be better than a patriotic quilt? Noticed all your pillows and cushions - what a perfectly wonderful place to picnic.
I'm totally in the mood now for the 4th! You did such a nice job. What a fun place to live and for a picnic!
Love your picnic quilt and those are my favorite muffins, they cannot be beat! Looks like a wonderful picnic.
Thanks for the tip with the seersucker napkins, I will have to look into those! Looks like your breakfast picnic went well, thank you for sharing!
~Brandy
Such a darling courtyard, Maylene! I'm sure I too would be out there every morning. And that tablecloth is wonderful! You make me want to make one for my oval lanai table. This is an all-round lovely post. Thanks for letting me pop over for a peek at your place.
Lovely! quilt and yard.
I'm trying to catch up with my blog friends! I LOVE your patriotic picnic quilt. It's just perfect. And I also LOVE those muffins. I have a box in my pantry - ready to make and take camping with us this weekend. Your church bench is wonderful. The 'new' look is amazing! I'll be back to see what else you've been doing.
~Adrienne~
Lovely patriotic picnic quilt. I think it's great idea going patriotic. For years I've had a little patriotic theme on my porch for the summer. With Memorial Day, Flag Day, and July 4th, it just seems to make sense.
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