Anniversary

Kristine and I celebrated our 16 anniversary last night.  We had a delightful evening!

On a tip from friends and thanks to Caleb babysitting and a very generous gift from our dear friends in the Right of Way section at Mn/DOT (which came with the requirement to use it to do something we would otherwise not do), we got reservations at the nicest restaurant in town, the Vin de Café. 

The interior is intimate, painted white with earthy red accents on the arches.  Our little table in a back corner was adorned with a white table cloth, a candle, and a red rose.  Old jazz music played softly.  As we were there early, we had the whole section to ourselves for a good portion of the evening.

After opening with baguettes (white, grainy wheat, and sun-dried tomato), we each had a salad, Kristine's greens with sauteed peppers and goat cheese and mine a mixed greens with fennel and a pesto dressing.  Each was topped with a big nasturtium blossom.  After they removed our plates, a server brought out a tray and, with white-gloved hand, carefully placed our next set of utensils.

For our main course Kristine had salmon with sauteed zucchini, eggplant and peppers.  I had veal cheeks in a wild mushroom sauce on fresh pasta.  Kristine's salmon was very good.  The veal was outstanding.  The presentation was masterful with the food placed in the center of simple white plates ringed with a drizzle of sauce.  Again our plates were removed and the toothpick holder on a silver platter was placed on our table.

For dessert Kristine had apple and marzipan in a deep fried dumpling in a port sauce with grapefruit wedges.  Mine was a chocolate mousse with a pistachio crust with a lattice work dome of caramelized sugar over it with marscapone cheese and a berry sauce on the side (this photo shows a variation of it).  It was hard to start eating at this point as the dessert was just nice to admire.

I have to admit I really, really wanted to get back into the kitchen and see the artists at work.  

Our plates were cleared and we were asked if we'd like anything else.  Then the server left us to enjoy the ambiance.  When we noticed we were hearing the same songs for the third time, we called for our check.  By then it was dark and we strolled home along the Malše River.  I tried to convince Kristine that we should neck on a park bench for a while (a favorite pastime of couples here), but she has not adopted the "when in Rome" attitude as fully as I have and we were already nearly a half hour late getting home.

So we had a magical evening to celebrate a magical sixteen years.  We've had adventures; we've had challenges; we've had three beautiful babies; we've worked together; and we have grown to love one another more deeply.

- Peter

Sorry to wax a bit intimate with the following, but...

Waking up past dawn on an early summer day

When you left the windows open the previous night

And the lace curtains flutter on the breezes

And we linger side by side ere we alight

Fresh bread, butter and tea set on the table

A few lilies of the valley perfume the air

The golden light through the windows

Accents your cheek, your eyes, your hair

Trudging down the trail with a canoe on your back
Carefully placing each wet foot on the steep, rocky part

The mosquitoes on your forehead growing larger 

A grim smile on your lips reveals your heart

Our child with a book nestled in your lap

The book you said you would only read one more time

They look on you with love as you pause
And they by memory recite the rest of the line

That special, delighted smile that you get
Usually only after yoga, a concert, or time alone
And the added warmth to the hugs that night
When you return to a mess at home

That I love you always you well know
But there are some occasions wherein I find
That the fire burns more brightly
And our love sits foremost in my mind