Picnic and a movie ....

Since Chris and I first met, we have valued every minute of quality alone time that we have together...given the fact that 90 percent of the time we have at least two of our five children with us.  Lately, we've had less of that time together with schedule changes and vacations.  So this week when I realized that we were going to have two days together alone, I thought that I would surprise him after work with a "date night".  I threw together a lovely picnic ... using my new pink picnic basket and a set of vintage dishes that Chris bought for me at the flea market last weekend.  Scallops wrapped in bacon broiled with a curried mango sauce, a lemon orzo and spinach salad, fresh heirloom tomato, basil and mozzarella salad (ingredients fresh from the Western Wake Farmer's Market) and to finish a lovely shortbread key lime tart with fresh raspberries were on the menu.  This delicious food and a lovely evening ... low humidity and a mild temperature... were the perfect ingredients for a truly romantic picnic.  We packed up the car and drove to Bond Park in Cary and found a perfect spot under a big tree next to a little creek and the lake near the boat house.  It was wonderful!  Bond Park offers so many wonderful spots to picnic ... wide open fields, wonderfully shaded areas, and perfect spots near the lake that allow you to catch a lovely sunset or the abundant wildlife. 

I wish we had more time after eating to snuggle up together on the blanket and watch the geese and ducks floating on the pond and talk about our day, but I had also planned a movie that Chris had wanted to see for that evening as well ... Rise of the Apes.  So we had to cut our picnic a little short and rush off to a 7:15 showtime.  And it was definitely worth it.  It was a very entertaining and touching movie and it was great seeing it together without interuption.  

And at the end of the night it was great to come home and relax and reflect and enjoy our quiet evening together in our new home.  I am anxiously awaiting our next opportunity for a quiet, romantic picnic together in another beautiful spot.  And I already know where it will be and what I will make so stay tuned and we'll share another great picnic with you.