Lisa’s blog

My dream of having the wine bar covered with ribbons and corks is really coming to fruition!  For those of you who don’t know, when you come to Clifford’s, you are invited to write a message or memory on a ribbon attached to a cork and hang it in the bar.  We have ribbons hanging from every hangable spot inside, and the ribbons are starting to be hung outside now, which I love.  I think Leila and Brian were the first to start that trend, and now there are a good dozen hidden in the trees like Easter eggs.  I won’t rest til there are ribbons and corks hanging from every branch! Sometimes if I’m feeling discouraged, I like to wander around the bar and read the messages on the ribbons.  They are all so loving, so positive, so, well, I guess, wine-buzzed, that I get pepped up instantly. When you visit, please ask us for a ribbon to write your message on and become a part of this cool tradition! 

This time of year, around the 4^th of July, we in this country are reminded to give thanks for our freedom.  This year’s holiday falls amidst the 2008 presidential elections, and finds many people is the country worried that their issues and concerns will be addressed by their representatives.  Lately, I have been thinking about what a blessing it is that my family and I continually respect each others’ opinions on the “right” way to make our ideas reality and commune over laughter, love, and of course, wine.

When we opened Clifford’s two years ago, my mother, stepfather, and I all agreed that we wanted our place to be a special meeting grounds where everyone would feel welcome.  We felt that since we have been able to develop strong and loving relationships with one another despite our political differences, we would set the tone for a business as one of open-minded acceptance.

I’m pleased to say that over the years, we have made a lot of friends in Wimberley. some of them great friends with vastly different opinions.  (You know who you are!)  We’ve sipped Sangiovese in front of the fireplace in the winter and laughed over Pinot Gris on the porch in the summer.  We’ve even occasionally discussed politics, and it’s funny how often all of our opinions boil down to the same exact two: don’t tell me what to do, and keep your hands off my money!  

Through it all though, we’ve remembered what is our most commonly shared opinion: that lots of good humor and unconditional love among family and friends is the greatest blessing we can share.

This year, especially as the political debates heat up, I urge you to keep your eyes and ears on what is dear and true to all of us: a kind word from a friend, a warm embrace from a loved one, and maybe, if you’re lucky, a lot of laughs over a good bottle of wine.