Living It With Lisa

Our first dinner was at DEANES Restaurant, Michael Deanes flagship site and the only restaurant to receive a Michelin 1 Star rating in Belfast.

Michelin stars are awarded to restaurants offering the finest cooking, regardless of cuisine style.  Stars represent only what is on the plate.  They do not take into consideration interior decoration, service quality or table settings.

As our custom, when a restaurant offers a tasting menu paired with wine, we usually select it.  DEANES was no exception.  It is a great way to taste smaller portions of cuisine and wine.

Not only did we enjoy the tasting we discovered 2 cheeses from Ireland and witnessed love in bloom at the table next to us. More on that later.

We particularly loved the first pairing of Chilled gazpacho with crab & avocado paired with Sancerre Domaine Andre Dezat.

Now as we were waiting on our meat course we notice a gentleman 2 tables over being presented with the cheese selections for his Cheese Course.  Well we instantly decided that we would indulge after our meal was complete.

The meat tasting was Tapenade poached Lough Erne lamb & confit lamb belly, Pissaladière & artichoke barigoule and was a little disappointing I that for all the flavors on the plate there really wasn’t a “star”.  It was all beautifully cooked, just blaze’ in taste.

The next tasting course was Strawberry & watermelon soup, basil ice-cream which was quite delightful combinations of flavor and texture.  It was a nice palate cleanser for the chocolate dessert.

Valrhona chocolate & caramel tart, pistachio ice-cream & Amarena cherries was amazing in flavor and textures and paired with Fischer Trockenbeerenauslese sweet wine.  Excellent paring.

An now for the Cheese Course.  It was FABULOUS!  The two standouts were a smoked Knockanore from Waterford NI and Durrus from Lorck IE.  You will find those on one of my next Cheese Courses at home soon.

Our general consensus was that the kitchen had some issues with getting the food out in a timely manner.  Since this was on a Thursday night it wasn’t a full house.  Waiting 25 minutes between a few of the courses was a little weary.  Which since the Michelin Stars doesn’t have anything to do with service, that is something to be remembered.

Oh yes … I haven’t forgotten … Click to read about Love, One Table Over

Here we were enjoying our tasting menu at DEANES Restaurant in Belfast.  While soaking in the ambiance, a young couple was seated at the table next to us.  We had already made the decision to add a cheese course to our menu after glancing two tables over as a gentleman made his selections for his cheese course.  Who knew what we were about to witness one table over!

I noticed that this couple had been served two courses because of course I wanted to see what else came out of the kitchen!  Out of the corner of my eye I saw the young man get up and thought he was going to the restroom.  All of the sudden Vic is nodding his head in their direction and nodding ‘yes’ at the same time.  I glanced over and Thomas was on his knees in front of Leah’s chair asking her to marry him.  She was gasping and in shock, obviously not expecting a proposal.

By the time I gathered my wits about me, I grabbed my camera out of my purse.  Now cut to Mr. Toughguy … he is holding back  the tears and his face is red.  Yes, Vic is a big teddybear and was trying hard not to be emotional.

Thomas was about to get off up after placing a ring on Leah’s finger.  I told him to hold it, I needed to get a picture!  Phoey I should have checked the photo… he really was on his knee!  There was a round of applause from a few staff and diners.

At little more on the happy couple.  Leah Hawksford and Thomas Heavyside are from Liverpool England!  Kudos to Thomas for wisking Leah away to Belfast and totally surprising her with I might add was a fabulous ring that Leah kept looking at, as it sparkled in the lights only to be dimmed by the sparkle in Thomas eyes as he watched Leah with pure joy.

Lean and Thomas …May your life together sparkle a little more everyday.

I saw this in a store in Belfast and felt it appropriate to share in honor of you both…

Irish Wedding Blessing

My Aunt Dixie sent this sweet story to me and it really is one of the neatest stories you will ever hear.  You will know precisely what this little girl is talking about at the end.  Read it and … fill your weekend and then your life … with puppy size!  Enjoy!

 Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. ”We’ve been back to this animal shelter at least five times.  It has been weeks now since we started all of this,” the mother told the volunteer.

‘What is it she keeps asking for?’ the volunteer asked.

‘Puppy size!’ replied the mother. 

‘Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that’s what she’s looking for.’

‘I know…. we have seen most of them, ‘ the mom said in frustration…

 Just then Danielle came walking into the office.

‘Well, did you find one?’ asked her mom.  ‘No, not this time,’

Danielle said with sadness in her voice.  ‘Can we come back on the weekend?’ 

The two women looked at each other, shook their heads, and laughed.  ‘You never know when we will get more dogs.  Unfortunately, there’s always a supply,’ the volunteer said.

Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door.  ‘Don’t worry, I’ll find one this weekend,’ she said.

Over the next few days both Mom and Dad had long conversations with her.  They both felt she was being too particular.  ‘It’s this weekend or we’re not looking any more,’ Dad finally said in frustration.  ’We don’t want to hear anything more about puppy size, either,’ Mom added.

Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning.  By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs. 

Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages.  There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when visitors weren’t permitted. 

Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look.  One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one. 

One by one she said, ‘Sorry, but you’re not the one.’

It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup.  The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer. 

‘Mom, that’s it!  I found the right puppy!  He’s the one!  I know it!’  She screamed with joy.  ‘It’s the puppy size!’ 

‘But it’s the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks,’ Mom said. 

‘No, not size…  the sighs.  When I held him in my arms, he sighed,’ she said.

‘Don’t you remember when I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart.  The more you love, the bigger the sigh!’ 

The two women looked at each other for a moment.  Mom didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.  As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both. 

Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh.  When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh.  I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms,’ she said. 

Then, holding the puppy up close to her face, she said, ‘Mom, he loves me.  I heard the sighs of his heart!’

…… ♥ …… ♥ …… ♥ ……

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh.  

I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day. They are the sighs of God.  Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear.  

Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

I hope your life is filled with Sighs!

The last 6 days have been the longest in my life.

On Monday, Tyler’s 30th birthday I received a frantic call from him that Austin was on the way to the hospital.

He had quit breathing and his body was cold.  After 90 minutes they let Tyler and Savannah know that their baby,  our beloved grandson, Austin Tyler Johnson was gone.

An autopsy was done and they found no foul play , just a healthy baby boy.  SIDS was the official cause of death.

We buried little Austin Tyler Johnson on Friday, February 20th.  The family had a special send off for his big brother Dylan on Saturday morning at the gravesite with all the beautiful flowers surrounding Austin’s physical resting place.  Brother Larry knelt down and spoke directly to Dylan, he then read a note that Dylan had written to Austin.  He asked if Dylan would like to write a message on a balloon and send it to heaven.  Dylan nodded yes.  The first balloon the Dylan tried to write on broke as it touched the grass.  I watched as Dylan wrote, “I will remember you all ways” and colored in a big red heart on a white balloon. Tyler and Savannah signed that balloon too.

We all passed 3 other balloons around and wrote notes.  Brother Larry was wise in letting Dylan know that sometimes the balloons would get caught in the trees or break on the way up into the sky, but it didn’t matter because Austin knew what we were writing and he would get our love notes.

We then released the balloons and watched them make their way to heaven.   The interesting thing was that the wind was blustering that day and there was a big tree, void of leaves near the gravesite.   As we released the balloons, the first one which was Dylan’s headed straight for the tree, followed by the remaining three.  We all held our breath just waiting for all 4 balloons to pop.

Not one balloon popped!  Each one touched the tree and got caught in the branches and wiggled its way free to soar!  Clapping and cheering from all as we watched them fly to the heavens.  Those balloons were very symbolic on many levels.  No matter what seems impossible, we can make it thru and thrive.

We watched until we couldn’t see the balloons anymore.

Austin Tyler Johnson would have been 3 months old the day we sent our love on balloons that followed him to heaven.

You didn’t have time to make fingerprints on the wall, instead you made footprints on our hearts.  Yes Dylan, we will always remember Austin.

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