February 23, 2013
The Love Apple | Taos, NM
She said yes...
The Love Apple | Taos, NM
She said yes...
We set out for our first real vacation together on a ski trip to Taos, NM on Thursday, February 21st, 2013. Dotted with stories of missed flights, delayed flights, lost luggage, and abandoned cars, our travels were trying, but we pressed on, finally reaching our condo when most folks were starting their Friday. Welcomed to the Taos Ski Valley with 12 inches of fresh new snow--and still falling--we took a quick nap and then took to the slopes. As our late model Ford Focus proved incapable of handling the New Mexico snow (yes, you're hearing it right... "New Mexico," "snow" - it's weird), we were holed-up in the Ski Valley for a couple of days before venturing down to town.
Both first time travelers to Taos, Shannon's old boss--originally from the area--offered up some adventurous dinner recommendations. One of which was a local, farm-to-table restaurant called The Love Apple (La Pomme D'A,mour). Intrigued by the name and almost as much by the menu, we selected this spot to celebrate Shannon's 29th birthday. Before we even had our first bite of food, we were won over by the spectacular, unassuming setting of the restaurant, housed inside an old renovated church with a weathered and cockeyed steeple on top. Further, the surrounding fire pits, wine bottle candles and bent-wire chandeliers made the cozy restaurant a perfect fit for a chilly February night. The restaurant staff, unknowingly, sat us at the head of the restaurant on a raised platform, or what was at one point the alter of this old adobe-style church. We settled in for some wine and homemade goodies.... chicken pot pie, lamb burger, and bread pudding dessert.
Both first time travelers to Taos, Shannon's old boss--originally from the area--offered up some adventurous dinner recommendations. One of which was a local, farm-to-table restaurant called The Love Apple (La Pomme D'A,mour). Intrigued by the name and almost as much by the menu, we selected this spot to celebrate Shannon's 29th birthday. Before we even had our first bite of food, we were won over by the spectacular, unassuming setting of the restaurant, housed inside an old renovated church with a weathered and cockeyed steeple on top. Further, the surrounding fire pits, wine bottle candles and bent-wire chandeliers made the cozy restaurant a perfect fit for a chilly February night. The restaurant staff, unknowingly, sat us at the head of the restaurant on a raised platform, or what was at one point the alter of this old adobe-style church. We settled in for some wine and homemade goodies.... chicken pot pie, lamb burger, and bread pudding dessert.
As the meal wound down, and before Shannon knew it, Mike was on his feet, clinking a spoon against his glass and beckoning the attention of our fellow restaurant patrons. Shannon uttered something along the lines of... "What are you doing!? No no no, come sit down!"... but the man was on a mission. Once our new friends conceded the interruption to their dinner and their own quiet conversations, Mike asked the restaurant at-large to help him in wishing his girlfriend a happy 29th birthday in celebration of her special day... "so on the count of three, 1.... 2.... 3.... "HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHANNON!!!!" A sheepish Shannon gave a wave of thanks. But to her surprise, this was only just the beginning....
"And while I have your attention, I'd like to ask another favor. I'd like to ask you all to bear witness to another very special moment in Shannon's life." As Shannon began to realize what was about to happen, Mike quickly reached into his jacket pocket and knelt down on one knee asking Shannon to marry him and spend the rest of their lives together. Tears running down her cheeks, Shannon quickly responded with "Of course!"
"And while I have your attention, I'd like to ask another favor. I'd like to ask you all to bear witness to another very special moment in Shannon's life." As Shannon began to realize what was about to happen, Mike quickly reached into his jacket pocket and knelt down on one knee asking Shannon to marry him and spend the rest of their lives together. Tears running down her cheeks, Shannon quickly responded with "Of course!"
A group sitting nearby sent over a bottle of champagne to celebrate as we stared at each other in wonderment, trying to process that WE ARE ENGAGED! The couple sitting across from Shannon & Mike, celebrating their own anniversary, was quick enough to pull out their camera and take a couple candids in the minutes after the proposal. We spent the rest of the night calling friends and family to share in the great news!
<3 It was an absolutely amazing night, never to forget <3
<3 It was an absolutely amazing night, never to forget <3