Engagement Weekend

{ Monday, September 29, 2008 }
The sweetie surprised me last weekend with a trip to Vermont. Unbeknownst to me, she had arranged for us to stay at the Inn at the New England Culinary Institute. In addition to the inn being a beautiful place to stay and the fact that staying at a culinary school is just plain cool, this is also the school that my favorite celebrity chef attended.

We arrived in Vermont late Friday night, so the sweetie had done some research and found a vegetarian restaurant for us to stop at along the drive. Thinks of everything, that one.

Early Saturday morning, we drove to Mt. Mansfield and took a gondola ride most of the way to the top. We then started out on a fairly challenging, very rocky hike up to the highest point in Vermont. I did drag my hiking boots all the way to Vermont but left them at the hotel, so we were hiking in tennis shoes which made the wet rocks all the more exciting to navigate. We didn't end up making it all the way to the top, but stopped at one point along the trail where Mr. Sweetie got down on one knee and proposed. Of course, I said yes! Our self-portrait immediately after the proposal.

All smiles and in love.


We picked the ring out together a few weeks ago, so the proposal wasn't a complete surprise but I was definitely not expecting it at that moment. I thought that it would come at some point during the weekend, but I was expecting it would be at dinner later that night. I actually thought we'd left the ring in the hotel room, so the sweetie was halfway through the proposal before I caught on and thought, "OMG, this is it!" It was so perfect!

The entire weekend was beautiful and while its just the beginning of the foliage season, I thought the trees couldn't be any more gorgeous. I prefer there to be a bit of green, rather than all reds and golds, and we had a lovely view from the top of the mountain after some of the morning fog burned off.

Later that night, the boy had arranged another surprise--we had a private dinner cooked for us by one of the chef instructors at the school. The sweetie had designed the menu in advance (all vegan, natch) and we got to watch the chef prepare the food and learn some neat tricks (maple syrup in coffee? In mushrooms??!). Here we are, getting ready to eat butternut squash risotto.

And raspberry sorbet for dessert, with a message on the plate:

And a final pic of my sexy fiance on the trecherous hike.


13 comments:

Jesse said...

YES!!! I'm so happy for you both :) Congrats, congrats, congrats!!! That is awesome. I'm so happy that the weather help out for the big day :)

Woohoooooo!!! Now we need to celebrate!

Landlady of Fat said...

That is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO frickin' awesome!!!!

And beyond romantic!

What a story to tell the kids... grandkids... anyone who will listen!! LOL

Just awesome.

Congrats! :)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! That sounds like the perfect proposal, how wonderful!

calimag said...

Okay so as one of Jess' buddies, it was insisted that it wouldn't be creepy to congratulate another incredible & incredibly cute couple on your engagement!!! Hope to actually meet you guys someday!!!! CONGRATS and enjoy EVERY SINGLE SECOND of your life together!!!! :O)

Dani Magestro said...

yayayaya congrats!!!

Darlene said...

As always, we down here in Florida are waiting for our day but are always happy to hear others having theirs. Congratulations!!

Unknown said...

congratulations!

Katerina Papadopoulos said...

YAY! That's so wonderful....congrats!

Firebolt said...

Congratulations! Here is wishing you both a happy, happy long life together.

Cheers! ^_^

Anonymous said...

congratulations!!!

GrumpyGranny said...

That is sooo sweet! I read about this at Jess' blog and had to read the whole thing!! What a romantic moment and a perfect setting. I wish you all the best in the years to come!!

GG
Getting ready to celebrate her 4th anniversary...

Anonymous said...

Oh how beautiful! This sounds like an ideal weekend. Congratulations to you!

Val said...

Congratulations! Many many years of health & happiness to you both.