Having a picnic doesn’t always mean sitting on the ground. Personally, I’m not a big fan of the whole blanket on the lawn thing when I’m at home because it crushes our grass. I’ll gladly pitch a blanket at a park, but I can get close enough to chlorophyll and the birds and the bees in a chair, at a table, thank you very much, so that’s what I do for picnics when I’m dining in my own backyard.
Oklahoma wind can wreak havoc with lightweight table elements, so even if the wind is calm when I’m setting the table, I prepare for the fact that it might go Wizard of Oz on me before the meal is over. Heavy plates and flatware are a must, and I either use charger plates or anchor my placemats firmly with my plates. A large tray helps to transport everything out in one or two trips.
Our regular outdoor table is big and long and designed to seat 8 people. When there are just two of us and I feel like communing with nature, I grab something smaller and create a more intimate setting. If you don’t have any outdoor tables, consider getting one of the inexpensive pressboard jobs you can find at places like Bed Bath & Beyond. Obviously, if the table is pressboard (or otherwise ugly) you’ll need a tablecloth. (You knew that already, didn’t you?) I’ve also been known to wag a table and chairs out of the house when need be.
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