A Wild Weather Birthday Dinner

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Saturday’s forecast was not promising. “Looks like the storm is going to hit right around the time we will sit down to dinner. Lots of wind. Maybe a thunderstorm.”

“Let’s wait and see.” I hated to cancel a birthday dinner for my brother-in-law. My sister Diane is a nurse. She’s been working the night shift for the past 27 years, and it is hard to fit in time to get together.

The sun actually came out and melted the clouds away. We left at 5:30 for Valley Green Inn, nestled along the Wissahickon Creek, about 20 minutes from our home. We thought it was going to be easy to get there as we sliced our course through Chestnut Hill.

When we came to a fork in the road (Two paths diverged in the woods and I…), the GPS announced that we had arrived at our destination. We looked around. No inn. We drove to the left about a half mile before turning around. “LOOK! Call to that guy over there. Maybe he can help us.” He had never been to the Inn but he used his phone. “If you follow the road on the right, it should take you there.”

Of course, I thought to myself as I glanced at the road sign that said “Valley Green Road.” It wound down in a curvy fashion. We passed several parking lots and people walking their dogs. At the very bottom was another lot. It looked completely full. Thank goodness there was one spot left.

We waved to Diane and Willie who were sitting on a bench outside the inn. We had decided to sit outside on the porch. Our drink orders were taken. My sister ordered a peach sangria and Willie had a Bloody Mary. My husband never drinks, so he had a ginger ale. I was on the last day of an antibiotic, so I had a ginger ale, too. Our beautiful salads arrived after an appetizer of tasty cauliflower. And then it began.

The sky darkened. The wind picked up. Walkers on the paths became runners. Rumbles of thunder. Lightning streaks. I put on my rain jacket as it started to drizzle. Then the heavens opened up and it actually started to hail!

We moved inside to a cozy room by an old-fashioned hutch. Tools from the 1800s were hung on the far wall. I was amazed to watch the room fill with guests for dinner. Probably all people from “The Hill.”

We had a delicious meal. Ralph had the honey maple chicken and I splurged and had filet mignon medallions with asparagus, pearl onions, and mashed potatoes. We all took food home for a second meal. The dessert was delicious. My husband had an ice cream sundae smothered in chocolate sauce.

When we left, it had completely stopped raining. A little debris on the way up the hill, but nothing to worry about. We were home in 20 minutes. It was a great night, storm and all, with hail the size of small olives! My brother-in-law captured the storm on video. You can find it on Willie Giese on Facebook.

Happy Birthday, Willie!