A Toast to My Parent’s Anniversary

It was a very hot July day in Massachusetts when my parents got married over seventy years ago. Since my mom’s family ran a grocery store the only day to have a wedding was on a holiday. So the Fourth of July was not only a national holiday, but a wedding anniversary as well. My parents never did anything special on their anniversary, but it’s was never hard to remember it. We did have a surprise fiftieth anniversary party for them back in New England and it was good to see everyone again. Coincidentally my dad died on Father’s Day - not easy to forget that either. When my mom passed away right before the pandemic in 2020, we didn’t keep much of their belongings. In fact, my mom gave our house to the neighbors who cared for both of my parents over the last ten years. But I did take two of her crystal wine glasses as a keepsake. So yesterday we took out those glasses, poured in our daily Malbec dose, and toasted to my parent’s special day. We are sure there was a great party with all the family and friends who left before us. It’s good to remember occasions like that this and everyone was celebrating with us. Didn’t you hear the fireworks? 

Crate and Barrel Slovakia Rona Wine Glasses

When we moved to DC ten years ago, we left just about everything behind because there was not a lot of room in a 500 square foot space. But we had a tiny wine cabinet with hangers for wine glasses. Over the last few years, one has broken here and there. Last week another one bit the dust. We were left with two large and one smaller banana style; only one Cherry of the four original fruit motif; one from Ingleside vineyard; one plain glass smaller version; and one plain glass larger version. So after lunch we took a ride to Crate and Barrel and thought we were getting a set of four that matched the larger plain version. When we got home, they were all larger and taller than the larger version! Oh well! At least now we have a complete set of something - but they really are for white wine rather than red wine, and were made in Slovakia with the label Rona. We usually have a very small glass of wine every evening for as long as I can remember, so two glasses of anything works. In the end it doesn't really matter what the glass looks like - to us. But when we have guests, at least we will have a matching set - until the next one breaks.

Total Wine Store in Alexandria - Why Does the Coupon Always Come After the Purchase?

We usually go to the McLean Total Wine store to stock up on mostly red wine. We go every couple of months so we can have a couple sips every night before dinner. It's a longstanding habit of ours. When we go out to eat, we now only get one glass of wine to share between us - two glasses is just too much! But because we were in the Alexandria neighborhood for my husband's haircut, we decided to go to the wine store there instead. The stores look the same, but the interior layout was turned around. If you need anything wine related, this is the place to go - from wine glasses of all shapes and sizes, to bottle stoppers and pourers, to wine bottle holders shaped like women's very high heels. And of course there is every type of wrapping paper available, including bubble wrap that is meant for travel. There are mixers for hard drinks, and suggestions and recommendations noted in each aisle for every type of wine. And wouldn't you know as soon as we made a large purchase, we got an email with a 20% off coupon good only through mid month. I don't particularly enjoy going to these places because they remind me of the grocery store. My husband always handles everything cooking and kitchen related.  But since I retired in February, I go along to keep him company and get very annoyed when the coupons come after the purchase.