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Wednesday, July 22, 2020

This morning Dear Husband reminded me that today is the 29th anniversary of my 29th birthday. (His timing wasn’t great–I normally don’t appreciate being reminded that I am growing older. But then he presented me with a gift and a mushy card, so I forgave him.)

We tried to remember my first 29th birthday. I was a new mom with a 6 month old, so I was probably sleep-deprived. We probably did not go out for drinks, and we probably took photos of me and the baby in front of a store-bought cake. I don’t remember, really. I was undoubtedly happy with my life, and wondering what the future held in store for me and my young family.

Today’s birthday is definitely going to be one I will never forget, thanks to our current pandemic. My sweet girlfriends have dropped gifts on my porch, but I couldn’t hug any of them. The only people that will share my birthday cake are Husband and Youngest Son.

I couldn’t bear to have the day go by without doing something fun, something to pamper me a bit, something splurge-worthy. (I can be selfish on my birthday–don’t judge me!) I discovered that a local vineyard had set up a “pop-up” restaurant (cheekily named “Phase II”) on its deck, and had covered it with a canopy, so providing shade but not obstructing the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Husband and I split a lovely bottle of Chardonnay Reserve, nibbled on smoked trout and salads, indulged in perfectly-grilled scallops, and finished with a flight of mini-pies.

WE ATE ON REAL PLATES AND HAD ACTUAL SILVERWARE AND CLOTH NAPKINS! Yes, we have eaten “out” in the outdoors several times this summer, but this was the first place so far to not use paper products and plastic cups. I cannot tell you how absolutely NORMAL that felt! Oh, how I missed those simple pleasures!

And yes, all the tables were spread out, and all the staff members were wearing masks. We were outdoors, in a gentle breeze, and we felt quite safe.

As we ate, the dark clouds started gathering above the mountains, and soon we heard rumbles of thunder. The rain started to pelt the canopy, but we just laughed and refilled our glasses.

But, this is 2020, right? Something had to go wrong. Just as we finished dessert, the storm was directly over us. The winds started to knock down the smaller tents on the property, and the rain started coming in sideways under our canopy. All the guests were shooed indoors to wait it out. But I was still smiling–our lunch had been glorious, and I will never forget it.

Today’s “cocktail” was quick to make, and includes some of my favorite flavors, colors, and textures.

I simply poured a shot of mocha-cream liqueur and topped it with whipped cream and sprinkles. Looks festive, and tastes great alongside cake.