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Wednesday 23 November 2016

The dining room

The room is massive, 

 

the floor carpeted 

 

and the walls are wood. 

 

Overhead, the ceiling is high and blue at first, then cloud white. The decor is natural materials and the air conditioning is on, but it is comfortable.

Homemade bread is on the menu, made into sub rolls and filled with slices of fresh chicken breast cooked this morning. Switchel, fresh brewed black, unsweetened tea, is served á la thermos. It is self service and we sit comfortably in our camp chairs at the portable table brought from home.

As we feast, spruce trees, at least fifty feet tall, sway in the breeze on slender trunks. Deciduous trees, having shed their clothing, stand majestically in their gray-black beauty. An unseen hand touched a dimmer switch making the trees as silhouettes against the sky, wallpaper for the room.

 

We eat slowly, consuming the natural wonder of the place, the sound of the breeze and the occasional creaking tree. Conversation is easy after forty plus years, but silence in this place feels natural too. Soon the cold and snow will keep us indoors more than we'd like, but today, this room is perfect.

22 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Everything tastes better when eaten outdoors!

Tabor said...

I have eaten in those restaurants.

DJan said...

Such a lovely, lovely place. And I love the way you have described it. I want to be there with you! :-)

Anonymous said...

A lovely day out. I like leaves as long as they aren't in my yard and need raking.

Silver in AZ said...

Beautiful place, so I can certainly understand 'milking it for all its worth.' :)

Joanne Noragon said...

I thought it was an allegory at first, and then you were there. Very nice.

Down by the sea said...

A wonderful place to dine! Sarah x

Marie Smith said...

How true, Debra!

Marie Smith said...

These are among the best in the world, Tabor!

Marie Smith said...

I wish you could be, Jan. Thank you!

Marie Smith said...

We don't have trees on our property so I am spoiled, SS.

Marie Smith said...

We have to absorb every minute of such occasions,SW, because a long winter is on the horizon.

Marie Smith said...

These times are among my favourite, Joanne.

Marie Smith said...

It is unmatched, Sarah.

Anvilcloud said...

A lovely sustained metaphor that puts us there and in a quiet, appreciative mood.

Ginnie said...

Sounds like paradise to me ! I've never heard of switchel but I'll bet it was the perfect drink for a chilly day.

Marie Smith said...

Thank you, AC. It was beautiful there.

Marie Smith said...

Switchel is the Newfoundland name for black unsweetened tea, Ginnie. It is perfect that day.

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

Such a lovely expression of joy, found in this outdoor living room of yours! And the lunch, simply divine... a cup of hot black tea just the perfect soothing accompaniment to a lovely time spent!

Marie Smith said...

It was one of my favourite picnics ever, SUI.

Barbara said...

Marie what are the temperatures down there now? Lovely pictures. I used to imagine something just like you described when I was a kid playing in the forest. Great Minds...

Marie Smith said...

That day it was 48 degrees, it's turned cold and today it is 35 degrees, Barbara.