Mealed Trip

Yesterday on Valentine's Day we were in a take
it easy mood. We read our books, puttered around
the house, I painted and worked on my blog.
Instead of heading out to dinner we settled down
to take out Thai from our favorite restaurant at
the kitchen table by candlelight. True we put
up the heart garland over the kitchen hutch that
will stay there until St. Patrick's Day, and we
stretched the string of shiny dollar store cupids
across the kitchen.

Steven brought me two dozen red and yellow tulips,
and was proud of himself for giving me roses every
weekend so that Valentine's Day really does last all
year. I did head out in the afternoon to bring
home some gifts for him too.

Steven takes a look at the boats.
Port Stanley is a working port on Lake Erie.

But today we were much more ambitious. Waking up
to a strikingly sunny day we decided to head to Port
Stanley for a later lunch at a restaurant there we adore --
Me and Suzie's. We set off in buoyant spirits, driving
towards London, Ontario -- about a two and a half hour sprint away.
With great music on the car stereo, we were singing and
laughing, enjoying the beautiful drive, hardly noticing
that the sunlight at first a brilliant, sparkling blanket over
a landscape heading for spring -- snow melting, birds
singing, patches of green grass here and there -- turned
first into spotlights shining through silvery clouds, and
then dimmed and was finally eclipsed by an all out
snow storm!

The building in the background houses
a delightful antique store on the entire
ground floor -- china, silver, tables,
chairs, anything you could want
from very old to 50's and 60's -- wonderful!

On drove the valiant diners. We popped a book on
CD into the stereo, refueled with coffee from the
Guelph Tim Horton's and stayed happy. Reaching
Port Stanley on a very grey, overcast afternoon
we headed straight for a large, wonderful
antique store near the water, bought a little jug and a couple of
spoons, wandered down the street to another lovely
store, bought some milk glasses from France, and
then hurried to the restaurant.

What a superb meal we had. Locally caught perch,
roasted organic, carrots, red peppers and potatoes
done to perfection, served with delightful local
Pinot Grigio, and topped off by Chocolate Creme
Brulée for desert with coffee. So incredibly good.

I did this little drawing of Steven in my sketchbook
while we ate. We arrived at about 4:30, so ate
before the crush at 6. Then we drove home happy
as clams.

Steven deciding what to order in Me & Suzie's
a look of total bliss on his face.

Tomorrow is Family Day in Ontario, so the party
continues.

Happy Family Day!