A surprise

Well as you know I had Valentine's Day all planned out in my head. Dinner. Movie. Hand holding. Wine drinking. Nookie.

Hmmph!

It didn't exactly happen that way. While we were changing from our day clothes into jeans and sweaters(so, the restaurant we planned to go to wasn't 21 but the food is good, the prices are affordable and it's within driving distance of the movie theatre.) the phone rang. I said, "Don't answer it!" but he did. And of course, it was something that couldn't be ignored.

Really couldn't be ignored.

A co-worker of the wonderful man's wife went into labor yesterday. Earlier than expected, so their support system was nowhere to be found(probably enjoying a romantic dinner somewhere!) and they had no one to watch their 3-year-old twins while they went to the hospital to have baby number 3. Get it?

You know how we spent our Valentine's Day, don't you?

Oh yeah. Watching Disney movies and cuddling two of the most adorable little girls I've ever had the pleasure to meet. And around 5 am this morning we learned that the little girls have a baby brother, Jacob Nicholas.

Not exactly what we'd planned but hey, it was a great way to spend a romantic evening. Dinner and movies. But next time I think I'll try the fish sticks with my macaroni and cheese. They looked pretty good...

Welcome to the world, Jacob. And congratulations Hannah and Haley on your new baby brother!

Love is in the air

Happy Valentine's Day! I love this day, love the way everyone is smiling and looking just a little bit sneaky, LOL. I saw one man this morning who looked like he had a big secret. That is, if the size of his smirk was any indication of what he had up his sleeve!

Hope you have a super Valentine's Day! The darling man and I are going out to dinner tonight, then to a movie. And afterward...let's just say love will definitely be in the air!

Back to work

Yeah, I'm finally back to work. Writing, that is. I've been on a little bit of a writer's vacation, I guess you could call it, but I think now that the holidays are over I'm going to get my butt in gear and begin to work on a new story. Something hot. Something sexy. Something that makes this long, cold, snowy Maine winter speed by a little quicker. ;-)

Hope your holidays were wonderful. Ours were fab, but as I said, now it's time for me to get back in gear. You? Why don't you take a few more days off to rest, relax and spend time with the fam. Someone's got to eat all those leftovers and play with all the neat stuff Santa left, right? So have fun, live a little. This time of year only comes around once every 365 days, remember?!

Gloomy. Perfect for hot chocolate!

Today is one of those grey, gloomy days that come so often in Maine in the winter. I never mind them, not really. Sometimes I even bundle up and venture out to the beach on days like this. I walk and think, looking at the bits of beach glass, stones and shells thrown ashore by the high tide. Not today, though. Today is the perfect kind of day for settling in beside the fire place with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate. Maybe a movie this afternoon. A Christmas movie, yes, that's the thing!

Let it snow!

Maine is already getting pounded by Old Man Winter! I think I've discovered new muscles in the last week, just by shoveling. Who needs a gym when winter is on the doorstep? And who can get to the gym with these roads?

Actually things are pretty clear here this morning. I'm going to dash out and pick up the last few gifts and some more baking supplies before the weather takes another turn. Too, I promised I'd stop by the bakery and help make some cookies. Tomorrow I just may have a new recipe to share.

That is, if I'm not shoveling!

Happy Wednesday. Now, dash away Rusty...

HO HO HO!!

Okay, so in Maine we're in full holiday gear. The stockings are hung, the mistletoe dangles in a number of places, and we've got cookies out the keister. I guess it helps that I take baking lessons and all year long I put aside cookie recipes that I think we should try at Christmastime. Ahh, my behind is going to be huge by New Year's!! But hey, I'm loving every minute of this!!

Snow. We've already got tons of snow. I wake every morning to the sound of the plow, and I love it. Yeah, I get a kick out of snow. Um, until February. Then I loathe the stuff. Really!

Hope your week before the big holiday season is going well. And whatever holiday you're celebrating, or not celebrating, I wish you well. At this time of the year, and any other. :)

Let the games begin!

Good God in heaven, I was in the mall yesterday and it is like the wild, crazy, free-for-all version of the Olympics! I saw free falls, shot puts with packages, sprints to Santa's lap and other stuff waaaay to weird to mention!

Oh, and did I say that I had a blast?! I love going to the mall during the nutty season. Love the music, scents, sounds and signs of the season. Even love driving in snow.

Go figure.

Holiday Craziness

In my house I'm in full-gear holiday mode. Trees, garland, lights, dinnerware with poinsettias...the whole shebang. I've got boxes strewn over every inch of free floorspace and honestly, it looks like Santa's workshop puked in my house.

There's stuff everywhere.

Hopefully by tonight I'll have it all organized, but right now it's really, really scary. And I love it. Hope you're getting set to have a wonderful Wednesday. Me? I'm hanging lights.

Princess costume--Mission Accomplished!

Well I did it. I made the most gorgeous little princess costume for my niece. Glittery, flowing, a lavender creation fit for a perfectly wonderful princess. She's tickled and I'm...well, I'm exhausted! It was a real learning experience and when the stitches on my finger come out I'm sure I'll feel truly talented. For now, though, I'll just bask in the warmth of one gap-toothed smile. My niece thinks I'm the best aunt in the world. What more could I want?

Holiday Fun

Having a party at my house today. Swimming, horseshoes, grilling, family and friends. Thought I'd share a few of the recipes from the upcoming fun. Enjoy! And I hope you've got a safe, happy Labor Day planned!

grilled shrimp

4 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup tomato sauce
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
skewers

Stir together all ingredients in a large bowl. Chill for an hour.

Thread shrimp onto wet skewers, piercing once on each end. Discard marinade.

Lightly oil grill grate. Cook shrimp on preheated grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side.

kid-friendly sweet potatoes

2 large sweet potatoes, sliced
1 apple - peeled, cored and thinly sliced
2 t. cinnamon
2 T. granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter

Combine all ingredients except butter. Divide evenly onto four pieces of aluminum foil. Top each with an equal amount of butter. Tightly seal foil around each portion.

Place foil packets on the grill, and cook 40 minutes, turning every 5 to 10 minutes, until potatoes and apples are tender.

aunt jane's peach ice cream

2 1/2 pounds fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and chopped
1 cup sugar
1 pint half-and-half cream
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups whole milk

Puree peaches with the sugar and half-and-half in batches in a blender or food processor.

In a gallon ice cream freezer container, combine all ingredients. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to freeze the ice cream.

aunt tippy's cookies

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
3 eggs
5 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk
4 cups all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two cookie sheets.

Cream the sugar with the butter. Add the baking powder, eggs, milk and flour. Mix until combined.

On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thick and cut into desired shapes. Place cookies on the prepared cookie sheets.

Bake until lightly browned