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<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/michigan-city-beach.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1006" alt="michigan city beach" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/michigan-city-beach.jpg" width="500" height="282" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Yesterday, we dressed for the weather we wanted (not the weather we had) and packed a picnic to be enjoyed on the beach in Michigan City, Indiana.  Despite the fact that the weather did not accommodate our plans, we had a wonderful time.  Bundled in her winter coat (we had to make concessions on our outfit choices once we arrived) and gigantic pink Elmer Fudd hat, O played in the sand, balanced on the cement wall, and chased the seagulls.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Before setting up for our picnic, we stopped at <a href="http://langesmeatmarket.com/about-us.htm">Lange's Old Fashioned Meat Market</a>.  This is one of our favorite places in the whole world.  Tucked away in a tiny shop across from the busy outlet mall, Lange's is the kind of meat market that your grandparents would have loved.  Pete Lange, a gentle giant of a man, is always behind the counter to exchange a few stories and wrap up your purchases.  He carries several varieties of house-smoked meats: pork chops, turkey breasts, meatloaf, and jerky-style meat sticks.  My husband also loves the liverwurst, house-made cheese spread, Rickle's pickles, and all of the traditional sausages he carries.  Lange claims his "wurst is their best," and he's right!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Along with the plate below, I noshed on a few meat sticks and a thin slice of smoked meatloaf.  Packed in our picnic was purple cauliflower and radish salad, grilled asparagus, grape tomatoes, baby carrots, smoked salmon, olives and hard-boiled eggs.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/fertile-food.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1005" alt="fertile food" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/fertile-food.jpg" width="500" height="374" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Spring and summer will get her eventually, but until then, we are just going to pretend.</p>