Wow. So, I was trying to finish the "Tara's Birthday Series" within a month ... I better get serious! Whew! I honestly thought I would make it. We shall see ... I was fortunate enough to spend the evening after my actual birthday with two more of my favorites ... the Mater clan! Jeanette Mater and Kevin Mater are absolutely wonderful!
For Friday night dinner celebration, we had strip steak, with Shannon Ridge Petit Syrah. Perfectly-grilled steak, delish, full-bodied wine, with ripe dark fruits and creamy vanilla oak characteristics, and a bit of black pepperiness. LOVE this wine (retail ~$25; PLCB ~$12).Ok, here's an interesting wine fact: What's the difference between Syrah and Petit Syrah, you ask? Petit Syrah grapes are actually a cross between Syrah (famous the world over, and especially in my cellar!), and Peloursin, with which I am not overly familiar (Yay! I love learning about different varietals!). Apparently, Petit Syrah is also known as Durif (not a sexy wine name, IMO...perhaps because it is the last name of the French botanist dude who created the varietal). No Petit Syrah is made in France, though.
Anyway, what a feast. Birthday dessert was homemade cherry pie and vanilla ice cream, with cherries from our tree, and plenty of sugar and mom's homemade crust. Delightful.
Oh, and gifts. :) Mom and Kev gave me an antique pitcher that we found at an antique shop in Belleville, PA (did you know that < 2,000 people live in Belleville, PA?), Victory Antiques, along with some endearing books that I love. We had a great celebration that continued the next day, on our canoeing extravaganza ... sorry, no pics; we were too busy enjoying the waters, with views of lovely mountain surroundings, wildlife friends like turtles, green herons, and bald eagles. Lunch was a picnic at Stone Arch Bridge!
Amazing celebration; amazing family.
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