Any day that includes a cheese board is a good day. When it’s National Wine & Cheese Day, well, giddy up! I was excited for an excuse to put together some cheeses, and more enthusiastic about sampling them. In the end, the perfect pairing was less about the wine and cheese and more about the people I was able to enjoy it with.
My Monday started in typical fashion with a long list to get done, but it ended with a photo shoot featuring a cheese board to post for National Wine & Cheese Day (July 25th). I welcomed the interruption from the “busyness” and styled with a variety of cheeses, charcuterie, fruit, artichoke lemon pesto, olives, bread, and pastry tarts with key lime and Meyer lemon filling. By the time I made it to the Hinton’s though, the board looked a little less appetizing. There were a few missing pieces (due to quality control), and I may have taken a couple turns faster than I should have.
After I set the board on the counter, we quickly realized there wasn’t going to be enough food for six adults and two children for dinner. So, we did what anyone would do at 6:45pm on a Monday when Moon River isn’t open - we ordered Townie’s.
While we waited, we snacked, opened a bottle of
Pacheca sparkling Pinot Noir from Portugal, took some more candid photos for the blog post, a few boomerangs for Instagram, and had a few laughs. When the pizza arrived, everyone shifted their attention. No plates, no silverware, just open boxes of cheesy goodness topped with meat.
When we finished eating, we sat around the table, talking and laughing some more in between the ever-so entertaining performances by Hannah Grace and Addi Grace. At the end of a long Monday, this was exactly what I needed!
Let’s face it, life is busy. We can get caught up in the things that grab our attention in the moment, or we can be intentional about focusing our attention on the moments that matter.
This was a good reminder why we have invested so much time and effort into Cape House. We are inspired by moments that capture our senses and compel us to savor our surroundings. We’re passionate about creating environments that bring people together, inviting them in to make life’s moments memorable.
The “surrounding” was simply a dining room table with a stack of pizza boxes. Nothing fancy, but it was an opportunity to invite people in and share a moment together.
I remember growing up, my parents reiterated (frequently), “your friends will shape your future.” You may have heard, “show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” Or, you might be familiar with renowned businessman, Jim Rohn’s quote, “you’re the average of the five people you spend most of your time with.” Regardless, people are important and the people you surround yourself with matters.
Too often as things get busy, I get caught up in the tendency to work harder and grind longer. I allow myself to focus on what’s urgent rather than what’s most important. In the end, there is nothing more important than the people in our lives and the relationships we have. Today, in my opinion, is THE perfect day to find a friend, some cheese, and cheers to National Wine & Cheese Day.
“Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.”
Proverbs 13:20 (MSG)
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL WINE & CHEESE DAY
National Wine and Cheese Day encourages us to try wines and cheese in combinations we’ve never tried before; we can step away from the ordinary and learn something new. Sampling the complexities in sweetness and acidity and comparing them makes for an enjoyable experience. When we add friends to the adventure, National Wine and Cheese Day becomes a celebration, too!
