Blankets, Breezes & Slowing Down
On picnics, presence, and finding rest
Tomorrow is International Picnic Day — not that we need a designated day to feel the pull of this sweet pastime.
It’s easy to think of a picnic as something quaint — a checkered blanket, a straw basket, a curated spread. But for me, it’s never been about perfection. It’s about presence.
This time of year, when the wind still carries a trace of spring but the sun has found its summer stride, I find myself drawn outside - every opportunity to be outside is a chance to enjoy the fresh air and change my perspective.
I’ve always loved how a simple meal outdoors — whether it’s under tall pines in the forest, beside a creek, or just in your own backyard — has the power to shift your mood, soften your shoulders, and remind you to look around.
It’s a small, simple ritual that makes even the most ordinary day feel special and unhurried.
Of course, an elaborate picnic with special foods and a little prosecco makes it an even more delicious treat!
We’re lucky to live on a historic property, surrounded by towering old Alligator Junipers that offer generous shade. Just steps from our back door, there’s a simple, rustic garden gazebo — hand-built by my husband — that’s become the heart of our outdoor living.
The gazebo shelters a large live-edge juniper table, paired with well-worn benches and inviting chairs, all tucked beneath a wide, sheltering roof. We find ourselves out there several times a day — for meals, a cup of tea, or just a moment to sit, breathe, and reset.
If you’re local to Prescott AZ, I recently put together a list of a few of my favorite local spots to rest, eat, and linger. You can find that post here. But truly, the location isn’t the point.
It’s the slowing down. The choosing to step outside and savor what the season has to offer — without needing to earn it or do it all “right.”
Whether it’s a patch of shade in your garden or a rock by the lake, I hope you find your place to breathe this week.
And be sure to make a plan to that picnic tomorrow! (And every other day that you possibly can…). Let me know what you end up doing … I’d love to hear.
With contentment & possibility,
