"If only we had a decent wine to pour. Or even a bad one," she lamented, somewhat playful but with a genuine wistfulness behind it. She did miss some of the luxuries she'd never really gotten used to but enjoyed anyway.

Tipping her head in acknowledgment, she smiled with pleasure at the compliment. "Although a crisp light pear cider might go better with that. I'm glad it turned out all right. I'm better with Chinese, French, and Creole, but I was inspired."