Paula Does Merroir

Saturday, my blog friend BHE and Paula the Garden Gnome stopped by my house for a visit.

Since it was a gorgeous day and I had no intention of cooking after more than two plus weeks of serving three plus meals a day to my precious son while he recovered from surgery I needed a break, I suggested we drive over to the riverfront restaurant in Topping known as Merroir.

(Yes, it's true.  CBW is still talking about lawn ornaments as if they were people.)

(No, it's not at all true.  She really isn't entirely crazy. If she is, then BHE is too. And more than a few people at Merroir, thank you very much.) 

Safety first!
(The fact that Paula was standing vs. sitting in the back seat
is a major safety infraction minor technicality.)

The views from this outdoor restaurant are stunning.

Paula peruses the wine list.
(Sssshhhh. We won't tell her it's upside down.)

More than one person got the notion that it was a great night for Merroir, because the place was jam packed. BHE, Paula, and I waited patiently on the porch for a table. While there we met the most interesting people.

This photogenic couple is from Waynesboro.
They travel to the area frequently
to care for an ailing family member.

Eventually we were seated for dinner, Paula included. Imagine our surprise when a young mother (who happens to be an art teacher) jumped up and trotted over--clearly relieved to know she wasn't the only one with issues with a creative sense of humor.

You cannot make this stuff up, folks.
Someone else there had a Barbie doll.
Not a child--an art teacher.
(Creativity and craziness childishness 
are often easily confused.)

It was as if we had stepped into some parallel universe-- where not only was the food delicious and the views spectacular, but....everyone seemed a little touched quirky, uninhibited, happy, and fun.


We were seated next to friendly folks from Richmond who own a home in Mathews.  (I took pictures of them, but unfortunately they didn't turn out that well.) They were so much fun to talk to.


Our Waynesboro friends from the porch were seated with a young couple celebrating their first wedding anniversary.

Paula absolutely insisted on spending some time with them.

Waynesboro Couple and 1st Year Anniversary Celebrants
(And Paula, there on the right, in the midst of it all.)

I'm reasonably sure these young folks will never
forget their first anniversary dinner.

Everyone seemed to be happy and laughing.

Paula definitely enjoyed herself.

The moral of this blog post is: Have fun, live life to the fullest, cherish old friends, and embrace new ones.  Also, visit Merroir, where the patrons are as crazy as you are and will embrace garden gnomes with dignity, verve, and a healthy splash of humor.

The End.