First things first thank you all for the outpouring of love and kind words for our 20th wedding anniversary and Mack’s birthday. We felt every single wish, message, and prayer, and it made our celebration that much sweeter.
We decided to mark the occasion with a full day out in our new city, Huntsville, AL and y’all… it did not disappoint!
We started the morning the Southern way with a hearty breakfast at the Blue Plate Café, a Huntsville favorite known for its classic comfort food. Fun fact: the café has been serving up “meat and three” style meals for decades, and it’s a beloved local spot where families gather over scratch-made biscuits and sweet tea. The perfect kickoff to our day! We were hungry and forgot to snap a photo but we did capture video. You can watch the video at the end of this post for an active view of the day.
From there, we jumped in the car and headed to Monte Sano State Park, where we discovered the beautiful Japanese Garden tucked inside. Monte Sano (which means “Mountain of Health” in Spanish) has been a retreat for fresh air and healing since the late 1800s, when visitors would come for its cool climate and natural springs. The Japanese Garden itself was created by the North Alabama Japanese Garden Society and has become a peaceful space of reflection and cultural celebration.
We strolled through the garden, soaking in the serenity, and promised ourselves to return soon for some serious hiking — and maybe even book one of those rustic cabins for an overnight stay.
Next stop: Isom’s Orchard and let us tell you, it was a feast for the senses. We cooled down with their famous apple cider slushie, wandered through their flower garden, and of course, came home with cider and a box of those irresistible cider donuts.
Rest, Refresh, and Dress Up
After a full day, we admitted we’re not as young as we used to be, so a nap was mandatory. Once we were refreshed, we did something we hadn’t done in years we dressed up! It felt good to trade our comfy RV and travel clothes for something a little fancier.
Dinner was at Connors Steak & Seafood, and let us just say… wow. We kicked off the meal with Jumbo Lump Crab Cocktail (lump crab, avocado, shallot, jalapeño, capers, garlic-dill aioli).
For entrées, Mack enjoyed the Chicken Parmesan with a shrimp skewer, while I had the Chicken Piccata over creamy mashed potatoes with sun-dried tomatoes and capers. and Truffled Deviled Eggs — a rich blend of truffle oil, fresh cilantro, and brown sugar bacon. Then came the
And just when we thought we couldn’t fit another bite, they surprised us with their signature Strawberry Shortcake unlike any shortcake we’ve ever had. Service was outstanding, and yes, we had enough of our meal leftovers to cover Saturday lunch. (Note: we couldn't stop talking about that strawberry shortcake for two days 😂)
Nightcap at The Note Jazz Lounge
To end the night, we slipped into The Note Jazz Lounge. The owner welcomed us warmly, and we even connected with the owner of John Carroll Wines. His mission touched us deeply: supporting veterans suffering from PTSD by training service dogs, while wine sales also fund education, elder care, and orphanages in South Africa through the John Carroll Foundation. What a beautiful way to pair wine with purpose.
By the end of the day, we were tired but so full — of food, love, laughter, and gratitude.
The next day, we kept Mack’s birthday low-key. After all, that full anniversary celebration reminded us we ain’t as young as we used to be! 😉
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you again for celebrating with us. Here’s to 20 years behind us, many adventures ahead, and soaking up every moment in between.
With love ❤️and gratitude,
Kirsten & Mack
Music generated by Mubert https://mubert.com/render