The Wind In The Willows River Bank Picnic!
Friends…if you know me just a little bit…you know I am a ‘Romantic’. AND I LOVE picnics. so much so, that Picnics should have their own category on this blog. 🥰. Anyway, about 8 years ago, I posted this “picnic” post about a Mole, Badger, Rat and a Toad having a picnic. I had so much fun with these little animals, that I promised a certain great grand child that I would post it again (with a few updates).
In 1908, a story was introduced of the antics of four small animals that captured the hearts and minds of children, as well as adults. Me, being one of them.
The story book was titled….“The Wind In The Willows”. I read the book as a child …and as an adult, I read it again and stored the book along with my “Little House On The Prairie” and “Anne of Green Gables ” books. The story is about a Mole, a Rat, a Badger and a character called Mr. Toad.
What is it about a book or cartoon, that makes us “love” these little critters, while in real life, these are usually among the less than desirable critters we want around us? Maybe that is why they become endearing to us in the story form. I think of the cartoon “Tom and Jerry”. I loved that little mouse and his wee little abode with the semi-round shaped hole in the baseboards! (I always cheered for him to evade Tom, the cat.) I loved “Charlotte’s Web”. Charlotte was the little spider that created all kinds of phrases with her clever web weaving. I even liked Templeton the rat, who assisted Charlotte in trying to save Wilbur the pig from the smokehouse. Sigh! Suffice it to say, that if I were to encounter one of these critters in my daily life…they are not quite so cute and cuddly. 🥰
The author of the book, “The Wind in the Willows”, Kenneth Graham was a master story teller and you know I love to tell stories, so I immediately fell in love with the words of his little critters. The novel is notable for its mixture of mysticism, adventure, morality and camaraderie. Let me introduce you to these animals, in case you don’t know them or perhaps you have forgotten them over the years.
The story begins with the Mole who is doing his Spring housecleaning, eliminating the stuffy confines of Winter. (note picnic items in above photo)
The mole decides to go “up top” to breathe in fresh air and he happens upon the river where he meets the river rat.
In turn, the rat introduces the mole to his other friends, the badger (above) and Mr. Toad (below).
And there-in begins the adventure.
In the first scene, Ratty packs a picnic basket with cold chicken, water cress sandwiches, lemonade and blueberry pie and many other foods. The mole is so excited as they take a boat ride down the river. They are looking for the perfect place on the river bank to have a picnic.
(sidebar:) It seems these little guys are always eating and the author describes each feast in detail. Perhaps that is why I love this story. I love food too.
The writing is superb. Example from the book:
The writing is superb. Example from the book:“The Mole was bewitched, entranced, fascinated. By the side of the river he trotted as one trots, when very small, by the side of a man who holds one spellbound by exciting stories; and when tired at last, he sat on the bank, while the river still chattered on to him, a babbling procession of the best stories in the world, sent from the heart of the earth to be told at last to the insatiable sea.”
And another of my favorites:
“All this he saw, for one moment breathless and intense, vivid on the morning sky; and still, as he looked, he lived; and still, as he lived, he wondered. Home! That was what they meant, those caressing appeals, those soft touches wafted through the air, those invisible little hands pulling and tugging, all one way.”
I decided that I would replicate the picnic the two little animals were having. So here is how the tablescape actually started.
A few months ago, I happened by accident onto the Wind in the Willow salad plates on EBAY! I was looking for something else and I saw these plates.
I was giddy as I had not seen salad plates representing this story…like ever. The plate above is the badger and the mole in the badger’s burrow.
The photo above is of the rat and the mole pulling their boat to the river bank, where they can have their picnic.
This salad plate above is all four of the animals walking in the meadow. Aren’t these salad plates adorable? Let me ask you a quick question. Have you ever made an impulse buy because you thought something was just too stinking cute? Of course when I saw these plates I bought them. Much like I did several years earlier when I was in CVS picking up meds and I saw these same cute little animals encased in yellow and green egg shells. (Now all I had to do was find my little characters, in their original CVS boxes, that I had packed away years ago).
I know it sounds strange but CVS the drugstore, sold them one year….and each character is encased in an oval pastel colored egg shaped dome. I couldn’t resist the urge to buy them. But they remained stuck in a drawer in my stash, never knowing if I would ever use them until I saw the salad plates and a plan was born. I knew I wanted to use the picnic on the river bank scene as the start of my picnic tablescape.
The first element was a mirror. I used a mirror to represent the river….and placed a small boat in the “river”. Luckily, the little characters were pastel, as were the salad plates but this brought a challenge of how to incorporate the red and white or blue and white tablecloth of the picnic scene.
All the pictures I had seen were red or blue gingham….not exactly pastel colors.
But I decided to put it all together and see what I came up with…and I liked the juxtaposition of colors.
Mr. Toad, the Eccentric,
Mr. Toad, the Eccentric,In the story, Mr. Toad was rich and changed expensive hobbies like one would change their socks. He was always ready for another big adventure, much to the chagrin of the other animals.
Mr. Toad bought a motor car and drove it recklessly…so I knew I had to portray the car.
I also found a large figurine to represent Mr. Toad. He is dressed in Mexican attire and just seemed like something Mr. Toad would do.
I used floral chargers of the pastel blues and pinks and greens. I sat up the picnic lunch using twig flatware and for grins and giggles, added blue gingham napkins to match the picnic basket liner. And yes, the red gingham napkin represented the picnic tablecloth the mole and rat used for their picnics.
I was so excited to put this tablescape together that I am sure I could have found a few more pieces of glass ware and dinnerware to make it all cohesive. but I convinced myself that the animals would have used whatever they had or could find for their river picnic and would enjoy it whether items matched or not. I used two white ceramic trees positioned beside the “mirror” water and picnic basket.
So there you have it my dear readers. The moral of the story…. that no matter what adventure one goes on…Home is where the heart is.
Have you read the story of “The Wind in the Willows”? Were you as intrigued as I? Thoughts please.
Ecclesiastes 3:13: “That everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.” [1
Have a Blessed and wonderful day
First of all, I LOVE that beautiful volume of Wind in the Willows. What a beautiful book. Second, I love any type of table that is associated in any way with books or literature. I would love to dine here. It is so charming, so lovely, and those salad plates are superb!
I love books too Pattie…and I love all the characters. And if I can set a table using those characters, I am delighted. Somehow I try to make it work. Thanks for stopping by and offering your encouragement to keep on keepin’ on. I would love to have you dine at one of my tables. (and I think my characters would like it too) LOL
Kari, you are indeed a child at heart. Your have captured these sweet little story perfectly. How fun is this? Those are such an adorable find. Mr. Toad looks so handsome. The picnic is lovely with yummy food. Love the pastels colors. So charming.
Thanks Linda…as I create tables from book characters, it is like I am back in the story myself. You called it, I am a child at heart. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week.
Oh my goodness, Kari, what an absolutely adorable theme!! No, I have never read the book but thank you for telling me about it and recreating the picnic. Those PLATES were too cute to ever pass up and I’m glad you happened upon them on eBay. I like the menu of the picnic and the cute characters found at CVS. I’ll bet you had such fun putting this table together! Have a beautiful week my friend!
Kitty I really enjoy playing with dishes especially when they are with such cute characters. I realize not everyone is of the same mind but I do what I do. LOL I also love planning picnics…and we love eating them. 🥴 I also love to re-read classics like this story….and I laugh or cry all over again. Thanks for stopping by. hugs
I’m enchanted! Do you know, I’ve never read this — and why not? I loved “animal” books like Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web and The Borrowers. Those plates! Oh my — I wouldn’t be able to leave them behind! And how serendipitous that you had bought the figures long ago! The food looks wonderful and so perfect. Well, it all looks perfect, down to the twig silverware! Kari, you are a genius!
Oh my goodness Jeanie…and you are such an avid reader….what fun to introduce a ‘new’ book to you…while you have introduced new reads for me. I really enjoy getting inside the characters by way of tablescaping…it is like I am there with them. Once I set a table up…I leave it for a week or so…. that way I can stop & smile at it as I am going about my day. See? I am a kid at heart, I just wished my body felt as young. LOL. As the old saying goes…if I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of it.🥰🥰🥰 Thanks for your sweet comments. Hugs and thanks for stopping by my friend.
Kari, that is an adorable table. I love when you share what inspires a table and then take us through on you thought process in putting it together. Don’t you love it when those impulse buys eventually are the perfect addition? Thanks for reposting for your great grandchild and for those of us who have not seen it earlier.
Our other love-After having to start almost from scratch, hopefully Bill is building a team that will have more success next season.
Jan, I look forward to your encouragement on my posts,…I believe you know that. 🥰 Thanks for sticking with me all these years…AND you are also my faithful KU fan and as I look forward to the upcoming basketball season, I know you and I are on the same page. I like what Bill is doing with his roster. I was beginning to wonder if there would be any players left in the ole’ portal after other teams quickly grabbed up the popular players. I know it is all about the money and Bill’s hands are sorta tied, but I believe he has managed to put together a team that might go deep into the dance. Of course it depends on the players and how much they want to win for KU, but Bill has done it before so there is hope. I keep thinking this might be his last season, health and other things but I don’t want to see him go, however, I don’t want to be selfish either. I felt the same way about Coach Roy Williams. I was happy for him to be able to go back ‘home’ even tho it meant we would be without a great coach.🥴. And then we got Bill Self! 🥰 Wow! What a party it has been….but you know what they say…it ain’t over til it’s over…or words to that effect.🤗. hugs my friend.
Dear Kari, I don’t remember the stories, but my mother may have read them to us when we were little. I stayed a reader to this day because my family loved to read to us and give me books. I totally loved your tablescape. It is just wonderful.
I hope this comment posts because the last three haven’t.
thanks Sandy..yes it posted. Not sure why the others did not. Thanks for your kind comments and stay safe, there are so many spring storms up your way. hugs
Kari, what a sweet idea! This is one of my all-time favorite books, I love to read it, I love to listen to it on Librivox and I love the movies. You’ve created such a charming setting for your. Picnic, I think all of us would love to join you. Xo Lidy
Thank you Lidy…I love when you stop by. I love reading and it doesn’t surprise me that you do too and that you have read it and listened to it and watched it. You are a wonderful friend to me, just like the characters in ‘The Wind in the Willows’…I even love the name of the book. LOL. Blessings Always🥰
Hi Kari, I see that I commented before, but I have no recollection of this charming post! I will share this with my girls, they will love it. I must also check to see if they have read the book.
My girls love to read, just like I did when I was young and still do. I have read so many of their books. Butch and I were so taken with the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson. It has been adapted into a seven season animated television series by Angel Studios. There are four books and I could not put them down.
Kari, you are so talented with writing and your themed tablescapes! I am so glad you shared this again. I love that you have stayed in touch with the child within!
Blessings always my friend💕
Thank you for commenting twice Pam…I am excited to see what the girls have to say about the book. You are so sweet to encourage my writing as it is something I love to do. I have not read the Andrew Peterson book(s) but I have put them on my must read list.The Captain and I adore children’s books and stories such as C.S. Louis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia”…we have re-read and re-watched the films and it is always like the first time. I loved putting together this tablescape and going over it again makes me smile. Like I said, I love the critters when reading, but it would be a different feeling if I saw real critters riding in a boat in our pool. 🫣🥰 (altho right, now on top of one of our outdoor kitchen cabinets on the Lanai, we have a nesting pair of turtle doves, making way for a new family. we just couldn’t refuse them refuge.) 🫠
Such creative ideas you have! I love Mr. Toad stories! And your whole tablescape came together so well!
Thanks Nancy….I am still a kid at heart.:)
Kari, you have captured this sweet story so beautifully. The salad plates were such an incredible find. Thank you for sparking my imagination sweet friend. Each detail is executed perfectly!
Thanks Pam. There are so many ways to go with this Wind in the Willows tablescape that I can only imagine the possibilities. It will be fun to see the outlook from others. Blessings my friend.
Oh this table setting has captured my heart. I loved Mr. Toad’s wild ride! The plates are just fabulous.
Thanks for stopping by Laura. I just had to have a car for this tablescape.
BTW, I loved the history of all the Laura Ingalls Wilder homes. So interesting.
Jane
Thank you, my friend for the lovely trip down “Memory Lane”. One of my favorites…
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Thank you Jane for stopping by, it is one of my favorites too.