i think this is an evolutanary thing, when i was young, and sometimes, even
now, we do have fried chicken but mom or sister does it the day before, i
make potato or macaroni salad, aunt, and now her daughter makes coleslaw and
seven layer salad, but often dh and i do impromptu picnics and just grab
from deli for food, its generally more about where we are are eating and not
what when its just dh and i, Lee
"Giusi" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Melba's Jammin'" > ha scritto nel messaggio
>
>> I forgot menu #3, a stop at the deli for 'something.' Cold salad.
>> Someone� doesn't like cold meat.
>>
>
> OK, here's what I don't understand. The group is made up of people so
> passionate about cooking that they come to talk (mostly) about cooking
> here and I see some of them in other places doing the same thing. The
> subject is picnics.
>
> Why are most of the answers about where they BUY readymade food to put in
> a container and eat in some possibly buggy place?
>
> I have a whole section of what I think of as picnic foods, but you MAKE
> them even if sometimes there is a part that is a convenience food. What
> they have in common is that they are safe to transport and eat in some
> possibly buggy place in the open. Where are your pasties, cold pies and
> tarts, muffellata, Asian cold noodles, etc.? Sandwiches, even. I recall
> my mother had tupperware shaped like a loaf of bread in which various
> sandwiches could be lined up ready for the picnic.
>

On 8/1/2011 2:48 AM, Giusi wrote:
> "Melba's > ha scritto nel messaggio
>
>> I forgot menu #3, a stop at the deli for 'something.' Cold salad.
>> Someone� doesn't like cold meat.
>>
>
> OK, here's what I don't understand. The group is made up of people so
> passionate about cooking that they come to talk (mostly) about cooking here
> and I see some of them in other places doing the same thing. The subject is
> picnics.
>
> Why are most of the answers about where they BUY readymade food to put in a
> container and eat in some possibly buggy place?
>

I agree with you wholeheartedly IF we all had a cook in the kitchen and
could snap our fingers and say "Please prepare a picnic lunch for six
people by 11 AM. White wine, I think."

A picnic should be a relaxing getaway for EVERYONE, including Mother,
not a morning spent working in the kitchen to prepare elegant food
so everyone else can enjoy themselves. I think of vacations in the same
way. I prepare food in my house every day. Packing a lovely lunch up in
an attractive, healthy manner doesn't add to the enjoyment of the day
for me although it did in my younger days. Bread, cheese, fruit is OK.
Multi-courses, salads, and things that take hours to prep and cook,
not so much.

Your mileage may, of course, vary.

gloria p
feeling old and tired today

On 2011-08-01, gloria.p > wrote:

> not a morning spent working in the kitchen to prepare elegant food
> so everyone else can enjoy themselves.

Well said.

Personally, I think ol' Omar pretty much nailed it with the classic,
"A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread" thing. Works for me. Howzabout the
line from Humphrey Bogart's movie, Sahara, where Frenchie the soldier is
reminiscing about good eats and reveals his simple dream meal to his
near starving compatriots while mimicking eating:

"You know? A little cheese, a little bread, a little wine, a little
cheese, a little onion, a little wine...."

A freakin' feast, by gar, and can all be purchased on the way to the
beach/park/etc. If you got kids, get a liter of soda and some salami
sticks. That's all they need.

nb

In article >,
"Giusi" > wrote:

> "Melba's Jammin'" > ha scritto nel messaggio
>
> > I forgot menu #3, a stop at the deli for 'something.' Cold salad.
> > Someone� doesn't like cold meat.
> >
>
> OK, here's what I don't understand. The group is made up of people so
> passionate about cooking that they come to talk (mostly) about cooking here
> and I see some of them in other places doing the same thing.

Personally, I think it's a stretch to say that posters are passionate
about cooking. Some just want to put a meal on the table with as little
fuss as possible. Some are interested in the newest trends and
techniques. Some specialize in off topic crap about whatever is in the
news that day. I'll be some are more interested in eating than in
cooking. (That'd be me. I maybe see something that sounds good and am
forced to investigate making it myself.)

> The subject is picnics.

The subject line asks about baskets. The post asks "Just for fun, I'm
wondering who here owns a picnic basket? And do you go on
picnics? If so, what are your picnic foods?"

> Why are most of the answers about where they BUY readymade food to put in a
> container and eat in some possibly buggy place?

Well, okay, let me amend my referenced post above to say, "sometimes we
have a couple cold salads." Their origin can be a mystery to you.
(*^;^*)

> I have a whole section of what I think of as picnic foods, but you MAKE them
> even if sometimes there is a part that is a convenience food.

Good on you! Anytime I don't have to cook for someone else is a good
time for me.

My initial response in the thread referenced a time that involved small
children who pretty much didn't give a rip about the menu; they were
interested in running around in the park or playing in the water. And
if everyone else is going to enjoy eating Al Fresco (ketchup helped)
without much effort, then, by Alex, so am I.

> What they have in common is that they are safe to transport and eat
> in some possibly buggy place in the open. Where are your pasties,
> cold pies and tarts, muffellata, Asian cold noodles, etc.?

In someone else's picnic basket. :-P
All that stuff, unless I'm sorely mistaken, requires advance prep and,
moreso, advance planning. I am notorious for not liking to plan ahead,
but I'm pretty good at impromptu if I want to be. Again, picnic food is
lazy food to me. I'm not interested in impressing anyone I am likely to
picnic with.

> Sandwiches, even. I recall my mother had tupperware shaped like a
> loaf of bread in which various sandwiches could be lined up ready for
> the picnic.

Cool. I used to have a Tupperware� wedge-shaped container for a slice
o' pie.
--
Barb,
http://web.me.com/barbschaller July 27, 2011. Read it and weep.

In article >,
"gloria.p" > wrote:

> On 8/1/2011 2:48 AM, Giusi wrote:
> > Why are most of the answers about where they BUY readymade food to put in a
> > container and eat in some possibly buggy place?
> >
> I agree with you wholeheartedly IF we all had a cook in the kitchen and
> could snap our fingers and say "Please prepare a picnic lunch for six
> people by 11 AM. White wine, I think."
>
> A picnic should be a relaxing getaway for EVERYONE, including Mother,
> not a morning spent working in the kitchen to prepare elegant food
> so everyone else can enjoy themselves. I think of vacations in the same
> way. I prepare food in my house every day. Packing a lovely lunch up in
> an attractive, healthy manner doesn't add to the enjoyment of the day
> for me although it did in my younger days. Bread, cheese, fruit is OK.
> Multi-courses, salads, and things that take hours to prep and cook,
> not so much.
>
> Your mileage may, of course, vary.
>
> gloria p
> feeling old and tired today

For the record, I responded to Judity's post before I read yours.
<snork> No wonder I like you!
--
Barb,
http://web.me.com/barbschaller July 27, 2011. Read it and weep.

In article
>,
Ranée at Arabian Knits > wrote:

> In article >,
> "gloria.p" > wrote:
>
> > A picnic should be a relaxing getaway for EVERYONE, including Mother,
> > not a morning spent working in the kitchen to prepare elegant food
> > so everyone else can enjoy themselves. I think of vacations in the same
> > way. I prepare food in my house every day. Packing a lovely lunch up in
> > an attractive, healthy manner doesn't add to the enjoyment of the day
> > for me although it did in my younger days. Bread, cheese, fruit is OK.
> > Multi-courses, salads, and things that take hours to prep and cook,
> > not so much.
>
> I disagree with the idea that somehow play
> time/vacations/celebrations that require some work are no longer fun
> for the person or people working.

Speak for yourself. If it's not fun for me or Gloria, how are you
affected by that?

> We still enjoy Christmas, even though
> there is late night mass and morning mass, and wrapping presents and
> decorating the tree after the children are in bed, even though we cook a
> big meal. We love Thanksgiving and I start cooking and everyone else
> starts cleaning several days in advance. We have a good time. I _like_
> preparing the food for such things, because I like cooking and I like
> food.

Good for you. Not everyone does.

> I get to choose exactly what I want to eat and serve and have it
> come out the way we like it. Rich helps, the children help, but usually
> by fetching and carrying or cleaning. This idea that any leisure that
> requires effort isn't really leisure seems a pernicious message to me.

WTF? Pernicious to whom? "having a harmful effect, esp. in a gradual
or subtle way." What's the harmful effect on the person who wants to
enjoy a picnic meal without having to prepare it?

--
Barb,
http://web.me.com/barbschaller July 27, 2011. Read it and weep.

Melba's Jammin' > wrote:

>Personally, I think it's a stretch to say that posters are passionate
>about cooking. Some just want to put a meal on the table with as little
>fuss as possible.

The above two are not mutually exclusive. I am passionate about
cooking but I do not like unnecessary fuss in the kitchen.

Spending forever on a cooking task that can be done more quickly
subtracts from the time one has available to perform actual meaningful
cooking. But for some reason many people are wired this way.

Steve

On Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:42:34 -0500, Melba's Jammin'
> wrote:

>In article >,
> "Giusi" > wrote:
>
>> "Melba's Jammin'" > ha scritto nel messaggio
>>
>> > I forgot menu #3, a stop at the deli for 'something.' Cold salad.
>> > Someone? doesn't like cold meat.
>> >
>>
>> OK, here's what I don't understand. The group is made up of people so
>> passionate about cooking that they come to talk (mostly) about cooking here
>> and I see some of them in other places doing the same thing.
>
>Personally, I think it's a stretch to say that posters are passionate
>about cooking. Some just want to put a meal on the table with as little
>fuss as possible. Some are interested in the newest trends and
>techniques. Some specialize in off topic crap about whatever is in the
>news that day. I'll be some are more interested in eating than in
>cooking. (That'd be me. I maybe see something that sounds good and am
>forced to investigate making it myself.)
>
>> The subject is picnics.
>
>The subject line asks about baskets. The post asks "Just for fun, I'm
>wondering who here owns a picnic basket? And do you go on
>picnics? If so, what are your picnic foods?"

Tell the truth... you just want they should tie a ribbon on the booze
basket! lol

"Melba's Jammin'" > wrote in message
...
> In article
> >,
> Ranée at Arabian Knits > wrote:
>
>> In article >,
>> "gloria.p" > wrote:
>>
>> > A picnic should be a relaxing getaway for EVERYONE, including Mother,
>> > not a morning spent working in the kitchen to prepare elegant food
>> > so everyone else can enjoy themselves. I think of vacations in the
>> > same
>> > way. I prepare food in my house every day. Packing a lovely lunch up
>> > in
>> > an attractive, healthy manner doesn't add to the enjoyment of the day
>> > for me although it did in my younger days. Bread, cheese, fruit is OK.
>> > Multi-courses, salads, and things that take hours to prep and cook,
>> > not so much.
>>
>> I disagree with the idea that somehow play
>> time/vacations/celebrations that require some work are no longer fun
>> for the person or people working.
>
> Speak for yourself. If it's not fun for me or Gloria, how are you
> affected by that?
>
>> We still enjoy Christmas, even though
>> there is late night mass and morning mass, and wrapping presents and
>> decorating the tree after the children are in bed, even though we cook a
>> big meal. We love Thanksgiving and I start cooking and everyone else
>> starts cleaning several days in advance. We have a good time. I _like_
>> preparing the food for such things, because I like cooking and I like
>> food.
>
> Good for you. Not everyone does.
>
>> I get to choose exactly what I want to eat and serve and have it
>> come out the way we like it. Rich helps, the children help, but usually
>> by fetching and carrying or cleaning. This idea that any leisure that
>> requires effort isn't really leisure seems a pernicious message to me.
>
> WTF? Pernicious to whom? "having a harmful effect, esp. in a gradual
> or subtle way." What's the harmful effect on the person who wants to
> enjoy a picnic meal without having to prepare it?
>
> --
> Barb,
> http://web.me.com/barbschaller July 27, 2011. Read it and weep.


What, her kids don't even get to decorate the Christmas tree?

I like to cook. But I definitely don't wake up at the crack of dawn to
start cooking, especially not for a picnic. Picnics are suppose to be fun.
Leftover fried chicken, some bread, cheeses. Pack a picnic lunch. Go out
and have some fun. But it really wasn't even about that. I just wondered
who owns a picnic basket. I did inquire about what foods you might take but
wow! Fetching, carrying and cleaning? Yikes!

Jill

In article >,
"jmcquown" > wrote:

> "Melba's Jammin'" > wrote in message
> ...
> > In article
> > >,
> > Ranée at Arabian Knits > wrote:
> >
> >> In article >,
> >> "gloria.p" > wrote:
> >>
> >> > A picnic should be a relaxing getaway for EVERYONE, including
> >> > Mother, not a morning spent working in the kitchen to prepare
> >> > elegant food so everyone else can enjoy themselves. I think of
> >> > vacations in the same way. I prepare food in my house every
> >> > day. Packing a lovely lunch up in an attractive, healthy manner
> >> > doesn't add to the enjoyment of the day for me although it did
> >> > in my younger days. Bread, cheese, fruit is OK.

> >> > Multi-courses, salads, and things that take hours to prep and
> >> > cook, not so much.


> >>
> >> I disagree with the idea that somehow play
> >> time/vacations/celebrations that require some work are no longer fun
> >> for the person or people working.
> >
> > Speak for yourself. If it's not fun for me or Gloria, how are you
> > affected by that?
> >
> >> We still enjoy Christmas, even though
> >> there is late night mass and morning mass, and wrapping presents and
> >> decorating the tree after the children are in bed, even though we cook a
> >> big meal. We love Thanksgiving and I start cooking and everyone else

> What, her kids don't even get to decorate the Christmas tree?

While I suspect that Ranee isn't much on Santa Claus (I could be wrong),
there are some traditions that have Santa bring the decorated tree. I
babysat for some Canadian folks who did it that way ‹ kidlets in bed on
Christmas Eve and the 'rents put up and decorated the tree. <shrug>

> I like to cook. But I definitely don't wake up at the crack of dawn to
> start cooking, especially not for a picnic. Picnics are suppose to be fun.

Sure. And there are varying definitions of what constitutes fun. LOL!
Fun for me is anytime I get a break from the regular drill to have the
same "fun" everyone else is having. Fun is being with my siblings on
holidays. I'm not.

> Leftover fried chicken, some bread, cheeses. Pack a picnic lunch. Go out
> and have some fun. But it really wasn't even about that. I just wondered
> who owns a picnic basket.

Sure. That was the first question. Followed by two others. :-)

> I did inquire about what foods you might take but
> wow! Fetching, carrying and cleaning? Yikes!

Yikes? Heck, I don't think that's a bad distribution of labor. Ranee
cooks, the others participate in the preparation as needed, non-cooking
chores.

Good on her that she's not having to do everything.

> Jill


--
Barb,
http://web.me.com/barbschaller July 27, 2011. Read it and weep.

In article >,
Melba's Jammin' > wrote:

> In article >,
> "Giusi" > wrote:
>
> > "Melba's Jammin'" > ha scritto nel messaggio
> >
> > > I forgot menu #3, a stop at the deli for 'something.' Cold salad.
> > > Someone� doesn't like cold meat.
> > >
> >
> > OK, here's what I don't understand. The group is made up of people so
> > passionate about cooking that they come to talk (mostly) about cooking here
> > and I see some of them in other places doing the same thing.
>
> Personally, I think it's a stretch to say that posters are passionate

Make that ". . . say that all posters. . . .

--
Barb,
http://web.me.com/barbschaller July 27, 2011. Read it and weep.

In article >,
(Steve Pope) wrote:

> Melba's Jammin' > wrote:
>
> >Personally, I think it's a stretch to say that posters are passionate
> >about cooking. Some just want to put a meal on the table with as little
> >fuss as possible.
>
> The above two are not mutually exclusive. I am passionate about
> cooking but I do not like unnecessary fuss in the kitchen.
>
> Spending forever on a cooking task that can be done more quickly
> subtracts from the time one has available to perform actual meaningful
> cooking. But for some reason many people are wired this way.
>
> Steve

Yes, I left out a word, since amended. Whoops.
--
Barb,
http://web.me.com/barbschaller July 27, 2011. Read it and weep.

On 8/1/2011 4:11 PM, Janet wrote:

>
> There's a world of difference between the ceremonial advance
> preparation for a festival on a fixed date every year.. and a
> spontaneous picnic which was not planned the day before, or even
> before leaving the house.
>
>



I agree, Janet. A picnic should be a carefree event enjoyed for the
opportunity to be in a nice place with nice people. The food to me is
secondary to the adventure.

One of the nicest picnics I've enjoyed was on a day-long rafting trip
where the guide's company provided the food. We dined on an island in
the Colorado River on cold grilled London Broil, pasta salad, baguette
and cheese, with cookies for dessert.It was a very nice surprise and a
delicious meal.

Another was on a trip to Morocco where our drivers unpacked coolers that
had been prepared at our dessert campsite before we left, sandwiches of
sliced, spicy grilled chicken from the previous night's dinner, salad
and clementines for dessert, eaten on a rooftop in the shade of palm
trees with icy mint tea provided by the restaurant beneath us.

Often on hot days when we lived in RI we would meet my husband after
work at our boat marina and take the boat out to Block Island Sound to a
nearly deserted beach. Dinner was whatever we had home or take-out from
a local deli.

That's my idea of a picnic. As I age, I find the company is more
important than the menu.

gloria p

On 8/1/2011 12:27 PM, Ranée at Arabian Knits wrote:
> In >,
> > wrote:
>
>> A picnic should be a relaxing getaway for EVERYONE, including Mother,
>> not a morning spent working in the kitchen to prepare elegant food
>> so everyone else can enjoy themselves. I think of vacations in the same
>> way. I prepare food in my house every day. Packing a lovely lunch up in
>> an attractive, healthy manner doesn't add to the enjoyment of the day
>> for me although it did in my younger days. Bread, cheese, fruit is OK.
>> Multi-courses, salads, and things that take hours to prep and cook,
>> not so much.
>
> I disagree with the idea that somehow play
> time/vacations/celebrations that require some work are no longer fun for
> the person or people working.

Tell us that in another 30 years, or even now if you are the only person
doing the work. You evidently lead a charmed life.

> Rich helps, the children help, but usually
> by fetching and carrying or cleaning. This idea that any leisure that
> requires effort isn't really leisure seems a pernicious message to me.

Pernicious? No, it's an honest opinion from someone from a generation
where Mother literally does all the work, shopping, prep, cooking,
cleaning, and cleanup while the family and guests celebrate.

When my daughter or son and their family are here now, they are a
tremendous help. Husband not so much, ditto their spouses.

gloria p

"gloria.p" > wrote in message
...
> On 8/1/2011 12:27 PM, Ranée at Arabian Knits wrote:
>> In >,
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> A picnic should be a relaxing getaway for EVERYONE, including Mother,
>>> not a morning spent working in the kitchen to prepare elegant food
>>> so everyone else can enjoy themselves. I think of vacations in the same
>>> way. I prepare food in my house every day. Packing a lovely lunch up in
>>> an attractive, healthy manner doesn't add to the enjoyment of the day
>>> for me although it did in my younger days. Bread, cheese, fruit is OK.
>>> Multi-courses, salads, and things that take hours to prep and cook,
>>> not so much.
>>
>> I disagree with the idea that somehow play
>> time/vacations/celebrations that require some work are no longer fun for
>> the person or people working.
>
> Tell us that in another 30 years, or even now if you are the only person
> doing the work. You evidently lead a charmed life.
>
>> Rich helps, the children help, but usually
>> by fetching and carrying or cleaning. This idea that any leisure that
>> requires effort isn't really leisure seems a pernicious message to me.
>
> Pernicious? No, it's an honest opinion from someone from a generation
> where Mother literally does all the work, shopping, prep, cooking,
> cleaning, and cleanup while the family and guests celebrate.
>
> When my daughter or son and their family are here now, they are a
> tremendous help. Husband not so much, ditto their spouses.

Oh boy can I relate to that! In this house I do pretty much all of the
work. When my daughter wasn't injured she would help with some things but
frankly with her schedule she isn't normally home much. Now this summer she
is home pretty much all the time but is unable to do much with her back in a
corset.

Then there are the holidays. Soooo much work! My daughter will start out
helping with some things, like the giant surprise ball. But she will
quickly get bored and it is all left up to me. She does do most of the
Christmas tree once I get it all set up. The kind we have can be a pain to
set up and get all the lights on. I am to the point where I don't even care
if there is a tree or not. I don't want to put it up and I don't want to
take it down. I do have a little wall tree that I can leave decorated year
after year. It is all we used for a number of years but I know children
love trees. And she likes to decorate it. But it is up to me to do all the
shopping and wrapping and shipping. And that's a lot of work! I have
already gotten started on the shopping because I can't afford to buy
everything all at once.

I do remember going on frequent picnics when I was very young. I don't
remember what we ate. I think they were more of a necessity then because my
parents (or at least my dad who did the driving) loved to take road trips
and we didn't have much money in those days. I think it is just cheaper and
perhaps easier to eat outdoors when you have little kids.

When we got older our picnics were usually stops on road trips. My mom
planned the meal by making meatloaf on Friday night and we'd have cold
meatloaf sandwiches the next day. It was always the same meal. My dad
didn't take any part in making the meal but he would go out and get ice for
the cooler. I can remember her getting upset when there would be some sort
of accident with the food. In those days we didn't have any plastic bags or
even containers to pack the sandwiches in. So they went in open topped
waxed paper bags placed straight on the ice. Once in a while a bag would
come open and someone would have a soggy sandwich.

We did sometimes eat in our back yard. Mostly we did that when the
neighbors came over. And we did that because we had a big picnic table.
Plus a small table for the kids to sit at. Our table in the house wasn't
big enough. Once in a while my dad would BBQ but mostly it was just KFC
which was within walking distance of our house.

"Ranée at Arabian Knits" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "gloria.p" > wrote:
>
>> On 8/1/2011 12:27 PM, Ranée at Arabian Knits wrote:
>> > In >,
>> > > wrote:
>> >
>> >> A picnic should be a relaxing getaway for EVERYONE, including Mother,
>> >> not a morning spent working in the kitchen to prepare elegant food
>> >> so everyone else can enjoy themselves. I think of vacations in the
>> >> same
>> >> way. I prepare food in my house every day. Packing a lovely lunch up
>> >> in
>> >> an attractive, healthy manner doesn't add to the enjoyment of the day
>> >> for me although it did in my younger days. Bread, cheese, fruit is
>> >> OK.
>> >> Multi-courses, salads, and things that take hours to prep and cook,
>> >> not so much.
>> >
>> > I disagree with the idea that somehow play
>> > time/vacations/celebrations that require some work are no longer fun
>> > for
>> > the person or people working.
>>
>> Tell us that in another 30 years, or even now if you are the only person
>> doing the work. You evidently lead a charmed life.
>
> No, but I choose to try to have a good attitude about what is
> necessary.
>
>> > Rich helps, the children help, but usually
>> > by fetching and carrying or cleaning. This idea that any leisure that
>> > requires effort isn't really leisure seems a pernicious message to me.
>>
>> Pernicious? No, it's an honest opinion from someone from a generation
>> where Mother literally does all the work, shopping, prep, cooking,
>> cleaning, and cleanup while the family and guests celebrate.
>>
>> When my daughter or son and their family are here now, they are a
>> tremendous help. Husband not so much, ditto their spouses.
>
> Maybe you should have chosen better, then.

Ya think?

On 8/1/2011 7:25 PM, Ranée at Arabian Knits wrote:

>
> Maybe you should have chosen better, then.
>



We're not all as smart or lucky as you.

And people change over the years.

gloria p

gloria wrote:

> I agree, Janet. A picnic should be a carefree event enjoyed for the
> opportunity to be in a nice place with nice people. The food to me is
> secondary to the adventure.

I'm in Giusi's camp; I very much prefer to prepare food for a picnic.
Sometimes it's time-consuming, but it's a labor of love. A picnic can be
much more than the side-note to some other outing you depict. A picnic can
be a date in itself, and it can be a lot more romantic if you take a little
time to make it that way.

Bob

Jill wrote:

> I like to cook. But I definitely don't wake up at the crack of dawn to
> start cooking, especially not for a picnic. Picnics are suppose to be
> fun. Leftover fried chicken, some bread, cheeses. Pack a picnic lunch.
> Go out and have some fun. But it really wasn't even about that. I just
> wondered who owns a picnic basket. I did inquire about what foods you
> might take but wow! Fetching, carrying and cleaning? Yikes!

No surprise that you line up on the side of laziness. No surprise there at
all.

Am I really the only one here who considers a picnic to be a potentially
romantic occasion? How about if you took your Significant Other here?

http://i52.tinypic.com/2e540ep.png

or here?

http://i53.tinypic.com/35lzvrd.jpg


Sorry, store-bought fried chicken or soggy deli ham sandwiches ain't gonna
cut it. I believe the occasion DEMANDS a more elegant accompaniment.

Bob

In article >,
"gloria.p" > wrote:

> On 7/31/2011 1:23 PM, Melba's Jammin' wrote:
> > In >,
>
> >
> >> They make superlative crispy fried chicken! My neighbor is
> >> visiting family in the Minnesota and she tells me it's super dooper hot...
> >> in the 100's!
> >
> > Mmm, maybe. Depends on where. My thermometer has registered 100 maybe
> > 3 times in the last month, but 90s almost daily.
>
>
> And you have been preserving and canning with that huge steaming kettle
> going every day? You sure deserve those State Fair medals.
>
> gloria p

Not every day. :-) I do small batches; I don't can to feed a family
as my mother did. I'm a miserable gardener. I have a couple hundred
jars done, I think -- maybe 175. I suspect that next week will be
busy; crops here are late and I have more pickles to make and corn
relish and jelly and peach jams and. . . . The beat goes on.
--
Barb,
http://web.me.com/barbschaller July 27, 2011. Read it and weep.

On 8/1/2011 8:46 PM, Bob Terwilliger wrote:

>
> Am I really the only one here who considers a picnic to be a potentially
> romantic occasion? How about if you took your Significant Other here?
>
> http://i52.tinypic.com/2e540ep.png
>
> or here?
>
> http://i53.tinypic.com/35lzvrd.jpg
>
>
> Sorry, store-bought fried chicken or soggy deli ham sandwiches ain't gonna
> cut it. I believe the occasion DEMANDS a more elegant accompaniment.
>
>
>
>

I agree, Bob. Will you come and teach my S.O. of nearly 45 years to cook?

gloria p

Gloria wrote:

>> Am I really the only one here who considers a picnic to be a potentially
>> romantic occasion? How about if you took your Significant Other here?
>>
>> http://i52.tinypic.com/2e540ep.png
>>
>> or here?
>>
>> http://i53.tinypic.com/35lzvrd.jpg
>>
>>
>> Sorry, store-bought fried chicken or soggy deli ham sandwiches ain't
>> gonna cut it. I believe the occasion DEMANDS a more elegant
>> accompaniment.
>>
>
> I agree, Bob. Will you come and teach my S.O. of nearly 45 years to cook?


Hey, you're just as good a cook as I am, and you've had nearly 45 years to
teach him! (Besides, you've probably got more leverage with him than *I*
would.)

Bob

"Ranée at Arabian Knits" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "gloria.p" > wrote:
>
>> On 8/1/2011 7:25 PM, Ranée at Arabian Knits wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > Maybe you should have chosen better, then.
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> We're not all as smart or lucky as you.
>>
>> And people change over the years.
>
> You know, I just don't understand your damage. You gossiped about my
> like any cat on a group where I was still a member, you have never been
> able to discuss _any_ topic with me, whether it be cooking or family or
> politics without making it a personal attack, yet you tried to friend me
> on facebook, after making your animus abundantly clear here and
> elsewhere.
>
> I made a non-personal and non-threatening, reasoned disagreement with
> you. You don't have to agree or accept my reasoning, but it isn't
> actually required to be snarky either.
>
> So, this _once_ I respond in kind and you get your knickers in a
> knot. My existence is not what is actually making your life any better
> or worse. As far as I know, I have never said or done anything to harm
> you. Yet you have tried to make every interaction we have had into an
> adolescent catfight. What exactly have I done to you that you hold such
> a grudge against someone you have never met, who has never, to her
> knowledge hurt or harmed you?
>
> There are plenty of people here and in real life who disagree with me
> and I with them. It hasn't turned them into jerks. Neither has it made
> them make personal digs at every opportunity they have. I would think
> that someone of your age and experience would be beyond the
> cliqueishness of middle school, but perhaps this is simply a carry over
> of my being "unpopular" with the cool girls on a.n.
>
> Regards,
> Ranee @ Arabian Knits

I don't get who you are talking to. You made a nasty comment to me and she
commented on that. I see nothing wrong with what she said.

People can and do change. I have only been married once and at this point
in my life don't ever see myself getting married again should my husband die
or should we ever get divorced. I honestly think I am one of those people
who would be better off single. But such is not the case. I also...how can
I word this? Um... Don't take marriage lightly. I did take vows. And all
I can do is hold up my end of the bargain.

I did get married rather late in life. Age 35. So it's not like I was one
of those people who got married right out of high school. And my husband is
not the first man to have proposed to me. At the point when I got married,
I felt it was the best choice for me. I am not going to get into the
particulars here.

And for you to sit there and tell me that perhaps I should have chosen
better is really a VERY nasty thing to say. I am not a psychic. I had no
way of knowing what was going to happen with my life after I got married.
The only thing I can do now is make the best of what I've got.

I do not take divorce lightly either in case you were thinking along those
lines. And I'm not going to get into the reasons why here either.

I do know plenty of families still where the woman does the majority if not
all of the work around the house. I am certainly not alone in that regard.

I don't think I have ever made any nasty comments about your lifestyle, even
though in no way shape or form would that sort of life be acceptable for
*me*. We're all different. And I see no need for snarky comments just
because you think your life is better.

"Bob Terwilliger" > ha scritto nel messaggio

> Am I really the only one here who considers a picnic to be a potentially
> romantic occasion? How about if you took your Significant Other here?
>
> http://i52.tinypic.com/2e540ep.png
>
> or here?
>
> http://i53.tinypic.com/35lzvrd.jpg
>
>
> Sorry, store-bought fried chicken or soggy deli ham sandwiches ain't gonna
> cut it. I believe the occasion DEMANDS a more elegant accompaniment.
>
> Bob

Apparently there is a whole generation who thinks that picnics are not
planned nor are they a form of entertaining. I wasn't much of a "let's go
outside and eat where there are bugs" type, but liked to plan ahead meals on
beaches reached only by our boat, get togethers with others, sharing what
was in our baskets, meals in places remote from restaurants like overlooking
the Bay of Fundy from my uncle's house. When I wander around Umbria and
Lazio I notice places that would be nice for it.

I invite people, maybe ask them to bring something. Maybe not. I have
umbrellas and a portable gazebo. I have baskets, thermal bags, coolers. I
even have a lamp like a donut that hugs the umbrella stem and provides light
for cleanup. I like this. I don't find it troublesome or too much work. I
like planning it, doing it, sharing it with others. It's not lately a means
to seduction, but that worked for Tom Jones, so whatever.

"Julie Bove" > ha scritto nel messaggio
...

You must be the only person who thinks she said that to you.

"Ranée at Arabian Knits" > ha scritto nel messaggio

> Maybe you should have chosen better, then.

It's a generational thing, in large part. I do have men friends who do ALL
the cooking or help a great deal, and I have others who take turns. My
generation had the women doing everything. We women allowed that, even in
some cases encouraged it.
It eventually ruined marriage for me and I have been single for decades now.
It's clearly not because I am too lazy to cook or clean, but more that
unless I found someone 30 years younger than I, his opinion would count
heavier than mine in his mind.

"Giusi" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Julie Bove" > ha scritto nel messaggio
> ...
>
> You must be the only person who thinks she said that to you.

What are you replying to?

Julie replied to Giusi:

>> You must be the only person who thinks she said that to you.
>
> What are you replying to?

You replied to Ranee, "for you to sit there and tell me that perhaps I
should have chosen better is really a VERY nasty thing to say."

But Ranee wasn't talking to you when she wrote that. She was addressing
Gloria.

Bob

Julie wrote:

> I see no need for snarky comments just because you think your life is
> better.

Although this wasn't meant for me, I'd just like to take this opportunity to
state that my life is AWESOME. Probably even better than Charlie Sheen's.

Bob

On 02/08/2011 4:57 AM, Giusi wrote:
> "Ranée at Arabian > ha scritto nel messaggio
>
>> Maybe you should have chosen better, then.
>
> It's a generational thing, in large part. I do have men friends who do ALL
> the cooking or help a great deal, and I have others who take turns. My
> generation had the women doing everything. We women allowed that, even in
> some cases encouraged it.


It wasn't really a matter of women doing "everything". It was more a
matter of division of labour. Women did things like cooking and
cleaning. Painting, repairs, lawn mowing etc. Most women stayed home
and were home makers. Their husbands went to work and made enough money
to support a family.... hopefully.



Bear in mind that before the days of vacuum cleaners, automatic washing
machines and other labour saving devices, it was a lot of work to to
laundry. You had to be there most of the time while the machine was
running. You had put the items through the wringer to squeeze out the
water. With modern washers you just put everything in the machine, add
the detergent, push a couple buttons and come back in an hour.

> It eventually ruined marriage for me and I have been single for decades now.
> It's clearly not because I am too lazy to cook or clean, but more that
> unless I found someone 30 years younger than I, his opinion would count
> heavier than mine in his mind.

I have always done as much or more around the house than my wife has. I
used to do almost all the cooking and when I was on a compressed work
week with every Friday off I used to spend most of the day house cleaning.

"Bob Terwilliger" > ha scritto nel messaggio
> Julie wrote:
>
>> I see no need for snarky comments just because you think your life is
>> better.
>
> Although this wasn't meant for me, I'd just like to take this opportunity
> to state that my life is AWESOME. Probably even better than Charlie
> Sheen's.

Gawd, let us hope.

"Dave Smith" > ha scritto nel messaggio
Giusi wrote:
>> "Ranée at Arabian > ha scritto nel
>> messaggio
>>
>>> Maybe you should have chosen better, then.
>>
>> It's a generational thing, in large part. I do have men friends who do
>> ALL
>> the cooking or help a great deal, and I have others who take turns. My
>> generation had the women doing everything. We women allowed that, even
>> in
>> some cases encouraged it.
>
>
> It wasn't really a matter of women doing "everything". It was more a
> matter of division of labour. Women did things like cooking and cleaning.
> Painting, repairs, lawn mowing etc. Most women stayed home and were home
> makers. Their husbands went to work and made enough money > to support a
> family.... hopefully.

That is a generation before mine, at least where I lived. Or at any time,
because actually women's magazines editors were usually women, many of the
writers were, secretaries were almost all women, there were women doctors,
almost all nurses, most teachers. Even in the Thirties and Forties. I am a
connoisseur of old magazines.

> Bear in mind that before the days of vacuum cleaners, automatic washing
> machines and other labour saving devices, it was a lot of work to to
> laundry. You had to be there most of the time while the machine was
> running. You had put the items through the wringer to squeeze out the
> water. With modern washers you just put everything in the machine, add the
> detergent, push a couple buttons and come back in an hour.

Hahaha! Never had the complete responsibility for laundry, eh? Actually,
many many people had help before all those things came along. A lot of the
laundry was sent out. Only the rich can have their bedlinens washed and
ironed professionally now, but once upon a time the laundry man toured every
neighborhood, picking up and dropping off.


>> It eventually ruined marriage for me and I have been single for decades
>> now.
>> It's clearly not because I am too lazy to cook or clean, but more that
>> unless I found someone 30 years younger than I, his opinion would count
>> heavier than mine in his mind.
>
> I have always done as much or more around the house than my wife has. I
> used to do almost all the cooking and when I was on a compressed work week
> with every Friday off I used to spend most of the day house cleaning.
>

I know several men who take a full share. Properly running a house of any
size is a huge job. I also know men of today who never lift a finger even
though wife works all day, stops off to do the shopping, then cooks, cleans
etc. Just recently my neighbor Marcello learned to hang the laundry out.
Their child is on crutches so mother almost collapsed from fatigue, ergo...

On 8/2/2011 7:17 AM, Giusi wrote:
> Hahaha! Never had the complete responsibility for laundry, eh? Actually,
> many many people had help before all those things came along. A lot of the
> laundry was sent out. Only the rich can have their bedlinens washed and
> ironed professionally now, but once upon a time the laundry man toured every
> neighborhood, picking up and dropping off.


My grandmother's family lost everything in the stock market crash at the
start of the Depression. To survive, she took in laundry. She also
washed and stretched lace curtains. (I'm betting not many remember
curtain stretcher frames).

She had a good customer list and kept doing that for over 30 years.

George L

On 8/2/2011 8:17 AM, Giusi wrote:

> I know several men who take a full share. Properly running a house of any
> size is a huge job. I also know men of today who never lift a finger even
> though wife works all day, stops off to do the shopping, then cooks, cleans
> etc. Just recently my neighbor Marcello learned to hang the laundry out.
> Their child is on crutches so mother almost collapsed from fatigue, ergo...

In my observation, that pattern is set very early in a relationship
and is very difficult to change once it's the routine. Maybe I just
married very reasonable men or maybe when it was pointed out that I
worked all day and I'm not taking all the home stuff on as a second
job, it only made sense. It just was never a problem for me.

Growing up, I was the only girl and the oldest. My stepmother thought
it was just fine that I do all the housework while my brothers didn't
lift a finger. I knew that wasn't going to work for me once I moved
out. Years later she asked but don't you think it's your job? No,
Mom, I have a job. If I didn't I'd say yeah, I could do all the
housework while he worked.

nancy

On Tue, 2 Aug 2011 03:30:08 -0700, "Bob Terwilliger"
> wrote:

> Julie wrote:
>
> > I see no need for snarky comments just because you think your life is
> > better.
>
> Although this wasn't meant for me, I'd just like to take this opportunity to
> state that my life is AWESOME. Probably even better than Charlie Sheen's.
>
>
LOL

--

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

On Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:57:53 -0700, Ranée at Arabian Knits
> wrote:

> That was supposed to say _now_. I was evidently on autopilot when I
> was typing and my fingers thought that beginning with n-o, meant I
> should finish with t.

I could tell by the context that it was a typo, but my fingers have
had a mind of their own for the last couple of years too, so *I get
it*.

--

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

"Bob Terwilliger" > wrote in message
eb.com...
> Julie replied to Giusi:
>
>>> You must be the only person who thinks she said that to you.
>>
>> What are you replying to?
>
> You replied to Ranee, "for you to sit there and tell me that perhaps I
> should have chosen better is really a VERY nasty thing to say."
>
> But Ranee wasn't talking to you when she wrote that. She was addressing
> Gloria.

Oh. It looked to me like she was replying to me. Sorry.

"Bob Terwilliger" > wrote in message
eb.com...
> Julie wrote:
>
>> I see no need for snarky comments just because you think your life is
>> better.
>
> Although this wasn't meant for me, I'd just like to take this opportunity
> to state that my life is AWESOME. Probably even better than Charlie
> Sheen's.

Heh.

Giusi wrote:

> It eventually ruined marriage for me and I have been single for decades
> now. It's clearly not because I am too lazy to cook or clean, but more
> that unless I found someone 30 years younger than I, his opinion would
> count heavier than mine in his mind.

....and is it out of the question to find someone that young?

Bob

Janet wrote:

> ITS NOT ALL ABOUT YOU. You are not the centre of the universe.

Copernicus? Is that you?

Bob