birthday dinner

[arduinna]

So as happens from time to time I had a birthday a little while ago, and therienne, mollyamory, and I went out to a nice dinner tonight to celebrate, at the Wayside Inn, one of my favorite restaurants, where they have amazing prime rib, yum. This place is a historical landmark about an hour away from us, where you can sit in the 200-year-old section of the restaurant and soak in the atmosphere while you eat. It's also a really popular place for weddings, and when you go on Saturdays in the summer you're almost guaranteed to see the big tents set up, and more than likely the horse and carriage driving around the property, which I love. And sure enough, there it was this time, heading out of the entrance and down the road while the wedding party had their photos taken on the grounds. It was a really pretty beginning to the evening.

Other than the incredibly loud table of four next to us for the first half hour or so, it was as lovely as ever, and the prime rib cooked as perfectly. Then we wandered out, leftovers in hand, just in time to see the horse wander out of his barn and start chomping on grass.





He let us get close enough -- mostly mollyamory to pet him:





Which really is a pretty awesome way to end a dinner!

(Oh, rats, I think those are sideways; I have no idea why, they should be vertical. I'll fix them later; I'm on a borrowed laptop that can't adjust them, and I want to get this posted before midnight.)

And then it was back to their place for Hot Fuzz, champagne (because why not), presents, and pastries.

mollyamory wanted to be sure that I'd know which presents came from who, so wrapped accordingly:





And therienne remembered how much I love the chocolate pots from the local bakery (... possibly because when she said "what do you want?" I said "chocolate pot!", ahem).





That's chocolate mousse, with a bit of chocolate cake in the middle of it, inside a big candy egg shell, drizzled with chocolate on top.

I am now very full, and happily looking forward to a long weekend with my new Raksura books (\o/) and Burn Notice DVDs.

Comments

[renenet]

Happy Birthday!!!

[arduinna]

Thank you!

[cesperanza]

Awww! Happy happy happy birthday, you are absolutely the best and I love you!!! xoxo

[arduinna]

Aw, thank you! <3 <3 (It was actually a couple of weeks ago; I just privately consider Club Vivid my birthday party every year, which is pretty damn awesome *G*)

[gwyn]

Happy belated birthday! I still haven't uploaded my pics from the trip, including that same horsie!! I loved my dinner there, so I'm glad you got to go again.

[arduinna]

Thank you! (oh, hee, I love your icon) I'm feeling very decadent this year; I think that's the third time I've been to the Wayside in the last six months, where usually it's once every couple-three years. But man, I just love it there.

[marycrawford]

Happy belated birthday! *hugs*

That all looks fabulous. Also: that is the best and most appropriate wrapping paper I've ever seen.

[arduinna]

Thank you! *beam*

And hee, isn't it just? <3

[umadoshi]

Hooray, I'm glad you had such a lovely day! *^^* Bonus horses FTW!

[arduinna]

Thank you! I love getting to see horses - I almost never do, where I live. <3

[misbegotten]

That is awesome wrapping paper.

Happy belated birthday!

[arduinna]

Hee, isn't it? <3

Thank you!

[ithildin]

Happy belated birthday!

[arduinna]

Thanks!

[eviltammy]

Happy belated birthday! Glad it was fun :)

[arduinna]

Thanks!

[astolat]

♥ ♥ ♥ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUU <3

[arduinna]

*beams* thank you! <3 <3 <3

ARGHHHH

[talking_sock]

You guys were about 20 mins from my house at the Wayside. Ping me next time??

Re: ARGHHHH

[arduinna]

Hey! Sure - although I wasn't kidding, this year has been a total anomaly in how often we've gone. *g* Usually it's once every 2-3 years, not 2-3 times in one year!