Spring Picnics and Lavender Lemonade

Spring is very late where I am, today it is snowing and we are covered in a white blanket. Most times I would find this cozy and welcoming, however 5 straight months of the white blanket and I am ready for some colour.

So today I am dreaming of picnics outdoors among beautiful flowers, listening to the birds and my girls playing outside. Go find yourself a beautiful spot to set up your picnic, like a gorgeous field of wildflowers.

Or if you would rather stay closer to home, set your picnic up under a tree or gazebo in your own backyard. Can you see yourself under this beautiful victorian gazebo? I can!

The picture wouldn't be complete without some lovely picnic fare. How about sipping on Lavender Lemonade?! I HAVE to try this sometime! It looks delicious and so pretty!

Maybe you have a couple of girlfriends over for your picnic, or even just a family picnic in the backyard. I LOVE this idea of making each guest their own personal trifle. How pretty is this? Looks like they may be red velvet. Yummmm....

And these little mini melon cups. How adorable!

I can't wait until the snow has melted and I can have picnics again. Someday soon....

Herb Citrus Cordial (makes 4-5 pints)

Ingredients:

• 6 cup sugar
• Zest of 6 citrus, in large pieces of peel
• 4 cups fresh citrus juice
• 2 cup water
• 8 cups loosely packed fresh basil or 2 cups lavender or 20 stalks of rosemary or some other herb you want to cordialize.

Method:

• In a large pot bring sugar, zest, juice, and water to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat. Add the herbs and let the syrup infuse for at least 15 minutes.
• Meantime prepare your canning jars.
• Strain syrup through a fine sieve, squeezing out as much syrup as possible from the herb leaves before discarding them.

Serve with vodka and a splash of soda water, or just soda water if you prefer!

~ Lemonade photo and recipe courtesy off InnBrooklyn via Loving Living Small

~ Photo of California Poppy Fields, courtesy of msn.com

~ Victorian gazebo photo courtesy of House Beautiful