Yesterday, on a day that started out snowy but cleared in the afternoon, we celebrated our forty-ninth wedding anniversary.

And, yes, forty-nine years seems like quite an accomplishment. A good one. But to be together with someone for that long is an odd thing. On one hand, our early days seem like they happened long, long ago. On the other hand, it seems like the years have rushed by. Time is funny like that.

To celebrate, we planned a busy day revolving around food, one of my favorite things to do. Since we eat light and healthy most days, we feel that we can splurge occasionally.

First, for lunch, we went to Wei Li restaurant in Auburn, about twenty miles away.

The food is so good, and we got our usual general bean curd, vegetable lo mein, and veggie spring rolls. I could have some right now.

But our plans did not end there. In the late afternoon, we made plans to meet friends at the Hearthside Vine & Tap at the Maine Evergreen Hotel in Augusta, Maine. Two years ago, a friend told me how nice this place was, and finally, we were getting around to checking it out. Sometimes, it can take me a while.

As soon as we walked into the lounge, we were smitten by the cozy yet classy atmosphere. This little corner in the lounge is where Dee, Clif, and I met our friends.

But the restaurant itself is nice, too.

And while the “nosh” menu is small, the food was excellent and reasonably priced. Clif and I shared a flatbread with sauce and cheese. Absolutely delicious. Dee and our friends liked what they had, too.

And the cherry on the sundae, so to speak, was the artwork displayed on every floor down every corridor of the Maine Evergreen Hotel. The artwork ranged from abstract to landscape, with a variety of prices. Something for everyone. Dee, who is crazy about art, bought two pieces. Right now, they are wrapped and in her closet. She plans to hang them this weekend, and when she does, I’ll snap a picture so you can see what she bought.

We all decided that Hearthside Vine & Tap is a great place to meet, and we will be going there regularly.

What a splendid way to celebrate forty-nine years!