Barbecue Bloghop from Quiltblockmania

Summer is the season to relax with family and friends in the big outdoors. Whether you like a day at the beach or at a park, some components are essential: good food, good company and something for the kids to do. I got a bit carried away with making blocks and I’ve made a few.

Now, in my experience, for the big family picnic, once you have found a carpark, there’s the race for the last picnic table in the shade. This is crucial as the food can be loaded onto the table (in an ant free zone), and then everyone can spread out with chairs or picnic blankets.

The next critical element is making sure everyone has a coat of sunscreen, and the hats, towels swimmers etc have been distributed to the children. Then everyone needs their choice of cold drink, and once these are distributed, the eskies can be used for seating and the picnic has begun.

While the swimmers are in the water, someone is cooking the bbq and the salads, rolls, cold chicken are being unpacked. By the time the sausages are ready, the kids are back and starving. Before you know it, plates are loaded with food and silence descends.

Next up is to reapply the sunscreen, grab another drink, catch up on the family gossip and hope someone else is going to organise a game of cricket.

By early evening, the towels, chairs, hampers, eskies, hats, swimmers, chairs, blankets, sunscreen, water and children have been correctly sorted into the appropriate vehicles, along with a lot of sand and some spare snacks and drinks.

Summer picnic…. what’s not to love.

Wince glasses - cheers! FPP 12 inch block

My complimentary block is entitled ‘Cheers!’ and is celebrating that happy moment when the table is claimed, the food is ready, and there’s a quiet moment while the children are swimming and the adults can raise a glass to the joys of summer (except of course for the swimming supervisor. They can have theirs later).

Howzat! FPP 12 inch block

I’ve also done a cricket block which is absolutely my favourite. I know this won’t mean much to nations that don’t play cricket, but in Australia, this block just says ‘summer’. (If you are from a non-cricketing country, then what is happening is that someone has just been bowled because the ball hit the wicket and knocked off the bails to the cry of “Howzat!”)

The third block I’ve actually made is a picnic table, claimed by the basket of food. And once I’ve got this pattern up, I’ll be able to make another couple!

got that picnic table! FPP 12 inch block

The blocks this month are absolutely fabulous. Don’t forget to check them out and enjoy.

Hamburger Block at Always Expect Moore
Popsicle Picnic at Slice of Pi Quilts
Picnic in the Park
Let's Fly a Kite at PhoebeMoon Designs
Picnic by Inquiring Quilter
Picnic Bouquet by Blue Bear Quilts
Kebabs at Patti's Patchwork
BeeHive by Mom and Me Quilting Co.
Picnic Basket at The Quilting Room with Mel
Watermelon Wedge from QuiltFabrication
Labor Day Picnic
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
Picnic Fun at Perkins Dry Goods
"Cheers!" at Duck Creek Mountain Quilting
Lemonade FPP Block at Penny Spool Quilts

Designers’ blocks - complimentary for the month of August