Summer Opera Picnic: Part III 


A rainy day in St. Louis, but under the tent, the sun is shining. 

Wouldn't you just know it?! Our two Sundays to picnic have been rainy days—in June in St. Louis, no less! Well, if worse comes to worse, we will have our friends over to the house for dinner before the opera. I'm prepared, however, to trot between the raindrops with a picnic basket and wine bottle in hand to the cover of the canopies at OSTL. We'll have to get there quite early.

Speaking of the wine of the day, from our small home selection of wines, I finally picked the moderately priced and attractively bottled Clos du Bois 2005 Pinot Grigio. The blurb on the bottle says: "Our Pino Grigio opens with seductive floral and lemon aromas, followed by notes of mineral and tropical flavors. The wine has a clear, crisp finish, making it a compatible accompaniment to grilled trout, herbed chicken or spicy dish." Who can resist a seductive wine? And we ARE serving herbed chicken.

I do love summer Sundays. Church, lunch with friends, a picnic and an opera. Wow!

I was an altar server at Trinity Episcopal this morning. We just started Pentecost, and got to wear the gorgeous new green vestments made by our Senior Warden again. (Although I vested in white first, and was graciously corrected by our rector.) Martha, the lay preacher, did a wonderful job of making both the epistle and the gospel come together. She told us about a "mustard seed moment" in her recent past. She was in New Orleans remembering a favorite, but recently deceased uncle on his birthday, and as she made her way about the square near the Café Du Monde, a street musician began to play her uncle's favorite hymn, "His Eye Is on the Sparrow." That day, the spirit spoke to Martha with the comforting message that someone besides her DID care for the uncle. A slight tear was jerked.

Sure as shootin', Ann wanted to have lunch at Dressel's so actually about six of us ended up there eating their wonderful turkey chefs, beef stews, vichyssois (my choice), and reubens. The chips aren't bad, either. Rip told us a tale from his long ago past about eating vichyssois next to an elegantly dressed gentleman who, when served it, blew on it carefully for the longest time, and then when the expected hot soup did not meet his expectations, loudly announced to the room, "The damned stuff's hot!!" (I cleaned it up.) It is his 75 birthday tomorrow. Gil told a tale about Patricia Morrison who stood in at the first production of Hansel and Gretel back in the 1950's after Gertrude Lawrence unexpectedly died. Gil and she were friends, and she came to his classroom to teach his students. Ann is reading new stuff on mind and medicine. Many good stories flew back and forth across that table. I'm SO glad I made most of the picnic two days before, so I could be here!

So now, almost mid-afternoon, it is time for final picnic preparations. I boiled and cooled the peas, topped the potato salad with them, and garnished with fresh dill and mint. (I saw some growing in a Webster Groves garden, and asked the owner if I could have some.) The picnic basket has the table setting, a yellow square tablecloth and matching napkins. Plus the cookie bars and strawberries. The cold chest will have the potato salad, herbed chicken, and the Pinot Grigio. Finally, a thermos each of cucumber soup and coffee will round things out. Don't forget some cloth and paper towels in case that rain starts to fall. I've told our friends we are going early to cop a good seat.

Tomorrow I'll finish this with a final report. 

Posted: Sun - June 18, 2006 at 03:33 PM          

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