Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Tonight's picture was taken on July 15, 2007. I could tell it was our wedding anniversary because I used to take out two big goblets for the occasion. The goblets belonged to my paternal grandparents, who were also married on July 15th. That day we had lunch outside on our deck. I could tell that Mattie had been in his swimming pool on the deck, as his swimming trunks were drying in the background. 


Quote of the day: Today's coronavirus update from Johns Hopkins. 

• number of people diagnosed with the virus: 3,490,735
• number of people who died from the virus: 137,235

Then and now! It is our 25th wedding anniversary! We met as teenagers, dated for 7 years, and then got married in 1995. So we have known each other for 32 years! The question is what haven't we survived together? Our lifetime together has been built on friendship, respect, trust, listening, love, and the understanding that life is not always fair or kind. Yet through it all, we have each other and that is definitely a gift.

Want to know how we met? Of course depending upon who you ask, you may hear a slightly different story. Peter's is more humorous, so I am going with that one........................

In the summer of 1989, we were both taking summer classes at Union College in update NY. During the summers, our college opened only one dorm and it was co-ed by room. One day I was in the floor's common kitchen washing grapes. When all of a sudden I heard whistling and someone behind me. It was Peter, who came into the kitchen and proceeded by greeting me with..... "How's choir?"

I gave him a snappy reply saying, "why do you want to know how choir is?" Mainly because I didn't realize Peter was in our college choir with me! Rather embarrassing no? Peter even shared where he sat and where I sat in the choir room. Somehow that did not instill anymore confidence in me. So literally I walked with Peter down the hallway of the dorm and woke up our mutual friend, Dave. I asked Dave if he knew Peter and was Peter in choir? Naturally the answer was... "yes Vicki, Peter is definitely in choir." This was our first interaction! Hard to believe it did not scare Peter away! Instead I would say we have kept each other on our toes ALL these years!

Every anniversary, since 2016, we have celebrated it at L'Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls, VA. It is a family owned and operated restaurant for decades. It has old world charm, something lacking in most of our restaurants today. The food, much of it comes from their own gardens on the property, is fresh and tasty and the service is always lovely without being overdone. 

I especially love sitting on their terrace overlooking the gardens! I was thrilled to see people out and about and every table that could be filled was! 

I admit that I wasn't even sure I could go to lunch today. I had a horrid night, in which I awoke at 2:45am to feeling nauseous. Why? I have no idea! But my two big culprits are STRESS and a migraine. Needless to say, my anti-emetic that I typically take wasn't working and by 3:45am, everything was coming up the northern route. I knew I did not have food poisoning or was sick with anything else. It is stress and how my body manages it. Needless to say as I was up, so were Indie and Sunny. Not caring a thing about me, but in typical fashion wanting their needs met. That did not go over too well with me! Oh how I miss Nurse Patches (our calico cat).  

Typically I photograph what we order, but I guess I was in a state today and forgot. Well that is until dessert. 

Peter had: Oysters, a garden fresh tomato salad, Salmon and a grand marnier souffle.

I had: a trio of salmon, a tomato salad, halibut, and a fresh blueberry tart with homemade ice cream.

The restaurant always treats you (on special occasions) to their wonderful chocolate ice cream, with berries, and freshly made meringue. I am typically not a meringue fan, but theirs is amazing. 

I literally ate three desserts today... the blueberry tart, the chocolate ice cream and some of Peter's souffle. 

A highlight for me..... hot tea in their beautiful tea pot. 

Look by the lights! A big monarch butterfly was fluttering all around us. I am quite sure that was our Mattie visit for the day. 

One of the waiters recognized us from a previous year. He happily snapped a photo of us.