I had two options this year and had to fall back on choice number two because of certain factors that will remain unnamed. I jealously guard my ideas in case I can use them at a later date. J's days off fell on Mon., Tues., and Wed. He stayed busy on Mon. (working on the boat)--so I did my grocery shopping--and Tues. (spearfishing expedition with the big boys)--so I had time to finish making his gift (a batik; my first ever). On Wednesday, after a breakfast of coconut pancakes (a new tradition, two years strong!), he left to help a friend with his boat, and I was able to do my cooking and final preparations in peace.

I left J a note at the house saying that he needed to make a gratitude list for 33 of the blessings in his life, one for every years he's graced the planet with his presence. ;-) With N&B's help, I toted everything--woven mat, cooler, lamp, sack of flowers, radio, etc--up to the rim of the Dziani crater, the lieu of last year's treasure hunt. N and I decorated the lookout point with garlands of flowers, and I laid out the food on banana leaves while B went to get J. I had just turned on the music when J came climbing up the hill. N graciously left us alone for our romantic dinner.

Au menu:

To-Die-For Prawns (I made up the recipe. They were great, so I can call them what I want. ;-) )
Moutabal with Crab (with homemade tarator bit'hineh)
Homemade lavasch
White wine
"Ilôt de Sable Blanc" (basically a chocolate cream pie with a chocolate cookie crust and a coconut cream heart served in half a coconut shell) with coconut tuiles. 

The view was gorgeous--a full moon hanging over the crater lake, with just a slice of the sea sparkling on the horizon over the rim--and the food and company were good. Because J was beat and because it's better not to tempt fate staying in an isolated place like that for too long, we packed up and came home around 8.

Oh, and that gratitude list? We put it in a bottle and will "toss" it out to sea the next time we go on the boat together. Hopefully someone who needs a reminder about the beautiful things in life will be the one to find it.