Inkling Explorations: The Wind in the Willows

 

The topic for this month is: 
A picnic scene in literature or film

 

I've chosen to highlight a scene from an animated version of The Wind in the Willows.  (My siblings and I grew up on this movie--watched it all the time at our grandparents' house--and so it has a lot of fond memories attached to it. Watching it again recently, I noticed how very unique and whimsical the animation is. It really is quite something.  I wish I had more pictures to share with you but, unfortunately, there are very few to be found.)  Anyway, moving on...

The Scene

Ratty and Mole take a short row down the river, ending up at a sequestered spot alongside the riverbank where they proceed to enjoy a picnic lunch together.  It's a perfect place for a picnic--so quiet and peaceful; with dragon flies humming near the water's edge; the warm spring air rustling in the long green grasses; and the sparkling river rippling on past.  (I should like to have a picnic there myself, I think.)  The two friends laze about in calm tranquility, doing full justice to their meal while chatting about this and that, and greeting some of Ratty's old friends who happen to pass by.

 

[This picture is not quite accurate, I'm sorry to say, as Badger did not stay to join Ratty and Mole for lunch. He came by at one point, but was, I believe, more annoyed than anything to find that someone else had discovered his picnic spot--and so left them again directly.]

When they've eaten all they care to, and their friends have gone on their merry (or not so merry) way, Ratty and Mole get back into their boat and set out for home.  A perfect end to a perfect day.  -Ahem-  That is, it would have been a perfect end if Moley hadn't taken it into his head to want to row the boat himself...and then continued to insist upon doing so despite all of Ratty's firm refusals.  A struggle ensues for the oars and all of a sudden the boat flips over, spilling Ratty and Mole, the picnic basket, and all the delicious, leftover-food, over the side and into the water.  And a loan pie, with as yet only once piece missing from it, is seen to go spinning down, down, down to the bottom of the river.  (That's the point where my siblings and I groan in dismay, for we cannot abide to see good dessert wasted.  ;))

But fear not.  The day ends much better than one might, for the moment, have expected. For Moley, being indeed a very good hearted mole, is highly ashamed of his thoughtless behavior, and Ratty, so kind and thoughtful, is very forgiving of him.  And so the two of them finish out their day sitting in friendly companionship in front of Ratty's cozy, crackling fire.  (And now I think I want a home like Ratty's.  For coziness is the word for it, and coziness is what I particularly like in a home.)  

 

What say you, should you like to live by a river, do you think?

And aren't picnics the best when one's food is packed in a wicker basket, and laid out upon a checked blanket?  (I confess, I've never actually experienced such a picnic myself.  But it's always struck me as the proper way to do things.  Don't you agree?)

Check out Heidi's blog, Sharing the Journey for more posts on the subject of picnics.  :)