Awesome Weekend!

This past weekend was a lot of fun, a lot of rest and a lot of relaxation. Let me prelude by saying that it was somewhat of a stressful week before. Between the stress of trying to figure out where we want to live and trying to map out the future as best as we can, the regular stress of work and extra activities had us both pretty stretched.

So instead of a regular, Thursday night Valentine's Day celebration, we decided a few months ago to get away for the weekend after. One of our wedding gifts, courtesy of my friend's parents, was a free night's stay at the School House Bed and Breakfast in Rocheport. What better time to use it than the Valentine's holiday?

So, Friday, as soon as Tamara got home from school, we got our suitcase, tossed it in the car, and waved good-bye to life's daily rigors for the next 36 hours.

We checked into the School House at about 5:00- we caught the owner in the middle of preparing the next day's breakfast (that delicious description comes later). He told us to help ourselves to a plate of cookies on the table, then got us checked into our room, named The Spelling Bee.

I really didn't know what to expect, but we were both very pleasantly surprised. Despite the lack of its own TV, the room as very cozy and very comfortable.

The old-style four poster bed was very comfortable, suiting even my wife's sleeping needs (she has a delicate back and often longs for our own bed when we are away...love you, babe!)

We dropped our stuff off and went two blocks down the road to a local restaurant where we had dinner reservations. Good thing we called ahead, as no sooner had we been seated than another party of two came in. They ended up the only other patrons while we were there. I'm sure it's much busier in the warmer months.

Despite the very small picture, it was quite roomy inside. We were a little worried that the menu was going to be too fancy for us- for a couple whose favorite foods include burgers and chicken strips, it's a legitimate concern. But though there were some things we had never heard of (what is "chevre?") we ordered a strip steak for Tamara and seafood ravioli for me (filled with lobster, shrimp, and scallops). In a word, they were delectible. Tamara's steak had a agreat seasoning and was topped with some kind of avocado/sunflower seed salsa...it was to die for. And my ravioli were covered in a Cajun sauce and were very pleasing to the palate. I wish we could have found out how good their desserts were, but we were both stuffed.

So, back to the School House to relax before bedtime- we passed the time watching game shows in the common room. But by nine, we were both ready to hit the sack.

The next day, breakfast was werved promptly at 9:00. We sat a table with a nice couple from Kansas City who planned to spend the day in Columbia. As we conversed, we dined on delicious chocolate chip scones, much like the one pictured below...

The main course was the best...sliced ham and french toast stuffed with orange-tinged cream cheese and topped with raspberry sauce.....pure delight.

Well, after we both stuffed with stuffed french toast, we packed up and checked out. We spent the next couple of hours walking around to the various antique shops and art galleries in downtown Rocheport. The shop owners were very delightful and welcoming, probably more so for visitors during the slow season. I'm glad we went when we did- big summer crowds probably would have frustrated us.

For lunch, we went to the famed Les Bourgeois Winery and Bistro- our companions at breakfast had raved about the dinner they'd enjoyed the night previous.

Even they were busy on a Saturday in the off-season, but hey, who couldn't go for a mid-day glass of rotten grape juice overlooking the Missouri River?

Tamara ordered a...let me see if I remember...Herb-Marinated Chicken Sandwich topped with Muenster cheese, and a Caesar salad on the side. I had a Smoked Turkey Panini, topped with shaved red onion and a kind of cranberry mustard, with a cup of three onion soup on the side. Again, pure culinary delight- Tamara's was so good she decided to keep half of it for later.

So now it was time to return to Columbia, where we milled around the mall for a little while. Later in the afternoon, we went to the movies for the first time in a long time. We went to see "The Bucket List." It was a very good movie, very funny, heartfelt and moving. We recommend it to anyone.

So then we came back home, where the reality of preparing for Sunday set in. But the weekend was so relaxing and exactly what the both of us needed. It's good to be home, but I could sure do with one of those every other weekend.