Birthday's and Anniversaries

Last Friday was my Dad's 80th birthday. Sara and I had been tossing around some ideas for a party and knowing my Dad as I do, it had to be a surprise because he would not co-operate with something planned. So we made arrangements with the family to meet at a local Outback restaurant and surprise him there. It couldn't have gone better. He was very surprised and a little bit, (just a little) ticked off that we pulled this off without him knowing anything about it. We had a great time and I know he loved having everyone who is near and dear to him together at that time. Many pictures were taken but not by me. :( I have requested copies of those photos but so far no one has come through and sent them to me. As soon as I get them, they will be posted.

My winter vacation is finally here. Tomorrow we leave for Miami and then on to a 7 day cruise to Belize, Cozumel and the Caymen Islands. I will be very happy to soak in some sun and warm weather since it is really cold and snowy here. Last night we had snow and today it is extremely cold and windy with wind chills down to -25. Every once in awhile there is a huge wind gust out there and I am glad to be inside where it is warm. George is working today and when he gets home we are packing up the puppy and heading down to Sara and Brad's place to drop Hunter off. He will stay there for a couple weeks with her and she will bring him home on February 12th, the night she comes up here for her step brother and step sister's birthday party. It's a 2 hour drive to her place and she figures she will make that drive once instead of twice. I will miss Hunter but he enjoys spending time with his favorite girl too.

Last night I was supposed to pack for my trip but I was feeling under the weather from lack of sleep the night before. I ended up falling asleep before 7pm so I had to do all of my packing this morning. Guess it's a good thing I had today off. We have a very early flight tomorrow so I want to be all ready to go before I go to bed tonight. I think I am ready to go...with the exception of my daily needs that will be packed tomorrow morning after I get up and showered. We don't get home until late next Sunday night so I have laundry going now so we will have clean clothes for that Monday morning since we are both scheduled to work that Monday.

This vacation also is a second honeymoon for us as we will celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary on February 1st. Can you believe it's already been a year? Where does the time go? It's been an amazing ride so far!

I will be posting pics from our trip when I return. Until then, have a great week and stay warm!

Snow Pics

I took these photos yesterday just as the snow was winding down. These were taken from my bedroom window looking out to the main street. You can see the lines from the screen in them. LOL I thought the snow looked really pretty laying there on the trees. You can see George's car partially covered in snow. He parked the car at the top of the driveway so he could get to work but I ended up staying home so he took my car to work instead. My car has studded snow tires so it cuts through the snow like butter.

Bittersweet Chocolate Sandwich Cookies With Raspberry Creme

I made these last Friday and they were a huge hit. They are very much like whoopie pies and you can make them as large or as small as you like. I think the raspberry creme would be delicious but I had strawberry jam in the house so that is what I used. Still very very yummy. I wish I had thought of taking a picture...but I didn't. Sorry.
Enjoy!



Bittersweet Chocolate Sandwich Cookies With Raspberry Creme

Makes about 2 dozen cookies

Cookies
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 stick unsalted butter
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Raspberry Creme
1/3 cup unsalted butter at room temp.
1 cup confectioners sugar
4 tsp. seedless raspberry jam


Prepare cookies.
Whisk flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl.
Melt chocolate and butter in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring often, just until melted and smooth. Cool slightly so it is no longer hot to the touch.
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to beat eggs and sugar until light, about 1 minute. Beat in vanilla. Add cooled melted chocolate mixture and beat until blended. On low speed, mix in flour mixture just until blended. Refrigerate cookie batter for about 30 minutes to firm.

Preheat oven to 350F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. drop rounded teaspoonfuls of batter about 2 inches apart on prepared sheets. Bake 9 minutes or until tops are rounded, slightly shiny and cracked, and centers are still soft. Slide parchment off sheets onto a wire rack and let cool for a few minutes. Transfer cookies with a spatula to racks to cool completely. Return parchments to pans and continue baking remaining cookie dough.

Prepare the raspberry creme
Using an electric mixer, beat butter, sugar and jam in a medium bowl until smooth and creamy. Add a little more sugar if needed to bring icing to a spreading consistency.
To assemble the cookies, spread about 1 teaspoon of icing on the flat side of the cookie and top with another cookie.

Another Off Friday...Yipeeee!

Hoooray!!! It is off Friday and I am loving my day off so far. I have been lounging around doing laundry and watching TV. It's nice to not have an appointment scheduled for a change so I can actually feel like I have the whole day to myself. I am also feeling 100% better than I was so I can actually enjoy lounging around. :-) The only problem is it goes by way too fast.

The past week at work was very very long and tedious. I had to catch up on some work so I stayed overtime Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I normally don't mind working 10-11 hour days but for some reason the whole week just dragged along so by 3pm yesterday I was more than ready to hit the road. I clocked out and ran a couple of errands before coming home (so I didn't have to go out today and do them). I got home a little before George so I started dinner and put my comfys on, ready to get the weekend started. I planned on staying up a bit but that didn't happen. I was asleep by 9 and got up this morning around 6:30. Not really sleeping in for some but for me, that was 3 additional hours of sleep. I have managed to get a couple of loads of laundry done and I just ate the most wonderful French Toast Bagel. The whole house smells like maple syrup since I toasted it in the toaster oven. Yummm really delicious.

Tomorrow will be a busy day. We have to take Hunter in to the vet's for his yearly physical and then we are going to stop by Eric and Jessie's house to visit and to pick up the baby gate they have been borrowing for their puppy, Cooper. Sara will be needing both gates when she dog sits Hunter for us in a couple of weeks. We are heading out on a 7 day cruise to Cozumel, Belize, Grand Cayman and Houndurous. I can't wait for some warm weather! It will bw a good time...and I will be sure to post pics when we get back. Anyway, after visiting with Eric and Jessie, we have to stop by my parents house for a quick visit, then come on back home. I wanted to go furniture shopping while we are in Manchester but with the dog in tow...that won't go over very well so perhaps we can go on Sunday. I really want a new sofa/loveseat. The couch we have is so old and very uncomfortable. I hate sitting on it and really dislike looking at it too. I actually want to redecorate the entire living room and once we have new furniture in here I can pick a color to paint the walls. I have been compiling a honey do list for a few weeks now. This summer when George has a week off...he won't be bored.

I still haven't taken any pics of the new car. I haven't even ridden in it yet either. I know...what's wrong with me?? LOL I don't want to put unnecessary miles on it so I haven't driven it to work and once George gets home, I don't have a need to go out. I don't want to take it tomorrow because the dog has white fur and the interior has black cloth seats so we will be using my car. Maybe Sunday?? We'll see. One of these days I'll get a photo.

I do have engagement pics of Eric and Jessie to post. I really love them...don't they make a nice looking couple?? August will be here before we know it. Can't wait for the wedding!








I guess I have been goofing off for long enough. I think I am going to be creative in the kitchen. I have a couple of new recipes to try...one is a molten chocolate cake and the other is a bittersweet chocolate sandwich cookie with raspberry creme filling. Not sure which one I will make but if they get 2 thumbs up I will post the recipes.

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend!

Update

Hey all. Just wanted to give a quick update on this blasted cold. I am doing much better today. I had an appointment scheduled with my PCP and he said my lungs sounded better...not 100% but better and he put me on antibiotics for another 3 days to make sure everything clears up. He said I did not have pneumonia, just a bad case of bronchitis. I haven't had a fever for 3 days now and that's great! He also gave me the H1N1 vaccine and the pneumonia vaccine. I have to go back for a chest X-ray in a month but I know that will be just fine. I feel much better, still coughing a bit and I have a little wheezing but nothing like a few days ago. So things are looking up!
Everything else is good here. It is snowing a little out now and it was a little treacherous driving home but not too bad. I plan on staying in tonight anyway and just catch up on some housework and laundry.
I hope all is well with everyone...have a wonderful weekend.

2010 Better Start Improving

So...my hope for good health in the New Year seems to have gone by the wayside. I went to the doctor today and she sent me for chest X-rays because I may have pneumonia. Hooray. She gave me some antibiotics, mucinex and sent me home to bed with lots of fluids. She told me to double up on the first dosage to get a jump on the infection and she will call me when she gets the x-ray results. I can go to work tomorrow if I feel up to it. I am hoping I do because I have so much to do.

My back is much better today. I actually put the heating pad away on Sunday and I've been fine. No idea what happened and I hope I don't have to go through that again.

I haven't posted pics of the new car yet because it is now caked with dirt and road salt. Hopefully we can clean it up for it's formal unveiling soon. LOL
George says it drives great and maybe I will actually ride in it this weekend.

Patrick arrived safely in Steamboat Springs Colorado, yesterday. He and Renee are visiting her sister for a couple of days before moving into their new apartment in Colorado Springs. I know George will rest easier now knowing they aren't travelling. This time of year you never know what kind of road conditions you will encounter.

I suppose I should try to get a nap in before George gets home. Just wanted to keep you posted. I am temporarily down but not out! I still have a lot of fight in me yet. :-)

Hugs!! Hope you are all well.