New Year's Resolutions

I know they are silly, however,  I have found that if you write somethign down you are more likely to make it happen. So here goes:

1.  Read the Bible and pray more. 

2.  Quit Smoking - again

3.  Lose Weight - Yep,  I am writing it down, maybe that will help

4.  Blog more - Good for the soul

5. Pout less

6. FINISH CRAFT PROJECTS = Lamps, chair, scrabble tiles

7. Paint more. 

8. Be Patient

9. Be Frugal

10.  Be Kind

OMG PETA's gonna get me

Ok I don't know how this thing happened, but I purchased these cute little frogs for Gary for Christmas at Brookstone. A FrogOsphere! Two tiny dwarf frogs and a piece of bamboo. They are very interesting to watch and I was without a good present so I got them. Now I am reading online where PETA has investigated the place where the frogs are farmed and they are less than stellar conditions.   Not being fed, eating each others legs off, diseases etc etc.  They die as soon as you get them home, then you send away for more.  So what do all of us masses do, now that we have found out our frogs have been abused? Why we love our frogs and feed them and talk to them and nuture them back to health.
Why does PETA do this stuff? How was I supposed to know. I am heading to Norfolk now, Maybe I will stop by PETA headquarters and drop my frogs off to them, so they will feel guilty for owning them.
sheesh

Frrrozen Hot Chocolate - Recipe

Writing the year in Review Blog got me dreaming about that awesome Frozen Hot Chocolate, Susan and I had at Serendipity, in NYC. I did a little research and guess what I found. THE RECIPE. Here it is along with a picture of Susan enjoying hers. I am planning on making a batch for New Years. So much for the diet. lol

Frrrozen Hot Chocolate
Recipe created by Serendipity 3 restaurant

Ingredients:
6 pieces (1/2-ounce) chocolate , a variety of your favorites
2 teaspoons store-bought hot chocolate mix
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
3 cups ice
Whipped cream
Chocolate shavings
Chop the chocolate into small pieces. Place it in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted. Add the hot chocolate mix and sugar. Stir until completely melted. Remove from heat and slowly add ½ cup of milk until smooth. Cool to room temperature.In a blender, place the remaining cup of milk, the room-temperature chocolate mixture and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth and the consistency of a frozen daiquiri. Pour into a giant goblet and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

The Year - In Review -2009

Some really great things happened this year, and some really bad things. Let's get the bad stuff out of the way first. Shall We?

My sweet Little Mama died. She was getting rehab and getting stronger and then she took a turn for the worst, as they say. They sent her from the SNF to the hospital, Leslie went to the hospital and spent the night and in the wee hours and scared the crap out of me and told me I better come. So I got up and got dressed and was 3 miles down the road and she called again and said it was a false alarm but to come on anyway. So I did and I was teasing her that as soon as she got home and laid down I was going to call her and wake her up, and Mom was up and laughing with us. She was hot all over though and kept yanking her sheet off. She was very agitated. Her body temp was low but she was hot. I asked the nurse for something for pain, and she said, if we give her anything it might take her out of here, I did not want her to suffer and even at this point didn't realize the severity of the situation. I called Leslie to come back. No joke. The morphine did nothing for her. The nephrologist came in and said the dye they used in the ER 3 days before had shut down her kidneys and she was septic, and not a candidate for dialysis. My sister said, how long are we talking? I was waiting for a week or something, I don't know. He said, 24 hours. She was gone 4 hours later. Am I angry. Yes. No one told us anything. We were totally clueless. Her stomach was distended and I had gone to a nurse on Saturday and said, look she is a little teeny person, her stomach does not usually look like that. They kind of blew me off. This dye thing we hadn't heard of until that moment either. We were in shock. She was dying and we didn't know it. I still can't think about her being gone. It comes in little spurts but not the emotional let go that I need. I am afraid it is going to happen in the grocery store or God forbid Walmart. But you know, I am blessed to have a family full of Christians and we all believe what the Bible says. And I know my Mama is with Jesus and the time in heaven is nothing like it is here. I will see my Mama again. Not here, but in a so much better place. I remember My Mama saying this to me after Gary's Mom, Janet died. I am so jealous that Janet gets to meet Jesus before I do. My sweet little Mama is free at last. And without Faith in God and Jesus I would truly be lost. She died on June 9, 2009. Just short of her 70th birthday. I will miss you Mama. Every single day.

It wasn't long after that, that my beloved German Shepherd, Beau, had to be put down. He had been sick for a long time and I just couldn't deal with it. There had been many family conversations about, is it time yet, and Gary kept saying, I can't say for you, because he is your dog. He was going downhill and losing weight, and I knew he was miserable. I didn't go, but Ronnie and Gary and took him, for me. He loved Ronnie, second best, and I was at peace with him going. Gary, he tolerated..... anyway, Ronnie took a picture with him there at the vet's office, and told me how kind the vet was, and that he said, he was sure it was cancer, and we had done all we could for him. He had never seen a case that bad..... We gave him hamburgers before he left, because he was having to eat special food that he didn't like for a couple of years. I felt good about that. Ronnie said, the vet gave him a shot to relax him and he fell against Ronnie's legs. Ronnie got in the floor with him and the vet came in knelt down and gave him his last shot. He was the best dog. He was loyal and true blue to me. He was hard headed and stubborn and determined beyond belief, and so very smart. He protected me totally. Even against Gary and the boys teasing me. He always got between us and gave a warning growl. They loved to pop me feet as they went by if I had them up over the arm of the love seat and he would get so mad at them. He wouldn't let Gary get close to my side of the bed if I was asleep and there were many arguments between the two of them. (lol) He was my good and handsome boy and I will forever miss him. I still dream about him.
For a month I mourned my Beau. I watched every SPCA sight and was looking for me a new baby. I wasn't sure what I wanted but I knew when I saw it, I would get it. Gary was opposed to this but I didn't really care. My heart hurt and I needed something to love. One Monday I was at work and my sister called with this story about this couple splitting up and they couldn't get an apartment until they got rid of the dog etc etc. So I said, Ok lets go take a look. I met her after somewhere I have never been before and as I turned down the street I could see this bullet of a golden blur running like a mad thing. She is a golden retriever (supposedly- but she had no papers and they have repeatedly not responded to inquiries and she sure doensn't look like a golden but has the personality of one. mixed maybe?) named Brandy and she was 7 or 8 months old. Well they wanted $200.00 for her so I pulled money out of every nook and cranny I my wallet and car and bra (just kidding) to come up with it, So I packed her in the front seat and off we went. I looked at her and said "this is the best day of your life that I came to get you" Her hair was sort of dull and dandruffy and she was skinny as a rail her ribs were sticking out. It was storming like crazy and lightening and thundering and she just laid in the front seat and didn't move around. I get her home and we come through the garage where Candy's bowl of food is by the door and that puppy gobbled up the entire bowl! She was so hungry. I had dinner plans with Leslie and another friend, Mike, I left the dog at home with Jesse and Gary and went. When I came back home, there was Jesse and Brandy all cuddled up on the sofa. She was laying all over him. He goes off to bed, and she goes with him. He gets up for work in the morning, she goes to work with him, and that is the end of the story. I bought Jesse a dog named Brandy. They love each other. It's insane. But she doesn't mind hanging out with us. She is sweet as pie and very flexible. she just lays all around and has to be with people constantly. She and Candy love each other too. When Brandy comes home for work at night you should just hear the huffing noises they make. (That huffing is dog laughter, or so The dog whisperer says) I still have no dog, but I am ok, for the moment.

On to some more good news. My son Ronnie's, girlfriend became pregnant this year. I was NOT a happy camper, but my Little Mama was excited. She said, If that baby is a girl I think you should name her Roxanne and call her Roxie. I just think that is the cutest name ever. Mom's middle name was Carroll (apparently there was a movie star in the 1930's named Nancy Carroll and that is who she was named after) Our Roxie Carroll was born on November 1, 2009. She is perfect in every way. And such a good baby. She hardly ever cries and is not cooing and smiling at us. She got to spend the night with BB (that's me - My name is Robbin in and I have been saying BB while spelling my name for people my whole life) two weeks ago so they could go to a party. I didn't sleep all night long. I wanted to make sure she was breathing etc. We love her. Being a BB ROCKS.

We went to Italy on a cruise this year for vacation. We left on Sept 30 and got back on October 15th. Flew to Rome spent a few days there then caught the cruise ship and went everywhere. It was simply amazing. I never thought I would be so blessed to be able to take a trip like that. I missed my Pops a lot while we were gone, because we usually cruised together. Nana, I know missed him. She was reluctant to go ona cruise with out him but this was a trip she couldn't pass up. We did so much in such a short time. We ate amazing food, saw amazing sights, I still can't believe we were there. I want to go back. Here are the girls at the Trevi Fountain. we threw some coins in, Not sure what's supposed to happen next. We had a fabulous driver that Jack found, through a company called BOB's in Rome. Lol His name was Salvatore and we all loved him. He was a character and nearly got arrested while picking us up, parking illegally and refused to show his documents to the polizio. Held us up an hour, but I have good pictures, to chronical the episode. We told him all about Thanksgiving and when he comes next year, we are going to cook for his family! There was a small incident on the cruise ship, with a can of Oust, that I might have sprayed in Gary's face by accident in the middle of the night, when I thought that a foul odor wafting in the cabin was him. The stench woke me up, 3 times, so I got the Oust from the bathroom and had it by my bedside and then it woke me up on the 3 time I just squirted and all of a sudden out of the dark I hear this voice say. "why did you spray me in the face with the Quest" Oooohh he was mad. And stomped out of the cabin in the middle of the night and slept on the deck. He got Ok though and we laughed about it the next day. In fact I am laughing now typing about it. He called it Quest instead of Oust and every now again one of us will make reference to Quest. As it turned out the stench wasn't him, after all, but some strange odors that would come through the pipes into our room. One day it was garlic. Nana and Jackie could smell it in their room too. The cruise portion of the trip actually sucked, as we were right about the Caliente Disco which boomed all night long. We didn't get much sleep. After complaining they compensated us for it, but it was still bad. They knew the rooms we were in were bad and they put us there anyway. Leslie and Jack were a mile down the hallway from us and he was in a wheelchair. Not conducive to a nice family cruise, but we managed. We really wanted the adjoining balconies but Carnival wouldn't accomodate us after they made the error. And then they lost a piece of our luggage on return. Then suddenly 6 weeks later it appears on my doorstep. My favorite jeans were in there so I was happy. We went to the Amalfi Coast which was simply breathtakingly beautiful. We had the best meal there too. Mussells for me. Just awsome. Prosecco and Limoncello and bruschetta de buffalo. Pizza, was to die for in Italy. Don't let anybody tell you it's not good. It's beyond good. I want some right now. Gelato. we tried to eat some every day. Also amazing. Leslie and I both got choked up at the Vatican. We went into that room you can pray in, and we both just walked right in, and I had tears just streaming down my face. We both got choked up at the catacombs. too. I missed Pops and I thought about all the Christians who died for what they believed in, and their bodies were RIGHT THERE. I cried again at the Sistine Chapel. I was overcome by it all. I never thought in my lifetime I would actually see those paintings and it was so unbelievable beautiful. Ok we are cry babies. I love my sister and don't know what I would do without her. I was so grateful to be able to share this trip, with her and her husband Jack, My Nana, and Aunt Jackie and my wonderful husband Gary, who has put up with my antics for the past 27 years and still loves me. ((Or at least he did, till I Quested him.))

Oh and here is some other big news of the year. Gary Retired after 34 years in the Shipyard. I was so proud of him when he brought home is plaque and flag that they flew in his honor on December 11, 2009. He has been home burning off his sick leave for the last few months. Its really nice having a house husband. He changes the sheets on the bed and does the laundry and runs errands and whatever else needs doing. He has been offered another job, but he is on the fence about it. IMHO he is way too young to retire, but if we want that lake house...........

Gary and I bought that lot on Lake Gaston. It is another dream come true. It has a boat house with a party deck on top. We got such a good deal. We had been looking and looking for years. Here and at OBX but could never find what we wanted at the price we wanted to pay. This was a, well lets look at this lot after a day of dragging all around the lake looking at everything. We offered something so low we couldn't believe they accepted it. Our real estate agent is the bomb. (Lynn Raynor at Sunset Realty in Littleton, NC) My only regret is that My Mom and Dad aren't not here to enjoy it with us. But wait, Enjoy what? Yep, we haven't even come up with a house plan we can agree on, so who knows when all this will take place. Hopefully in 2010 but you never know what the future holds. I always think about this Bible verse:

James 4:13-14Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Oh and of course this one

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I haven't been to church since the spring time. I am lazy and I don't want to get out of bed on Sunday's and since Mom died I don't want to go and have a break down or something there. Me and my BFF Susan are going to read the Bible all the way through this year, together. Attempt it at least. I made it through one year, I can do it again. It's not as daunting as you might think. And I need to get in touch.

Susan, and I did lots of fun things, this year. I heart my BFF. She is wonderful to me, and I don't know what in this world I would do without her. She is kind, and considerate and always there for me, no matter what, and to top it all off. She's FUN. We have so much fun together and we laugh and act like we are 12 and it's all good. This year, we went to the Parrot Head Ball, where I proceeded to come down with the Norovirus and she had to get a wheelchair and get me out of our hotel room with a hurt back and drive me home and get me in the bed and get me ginger ale with a straw. Poor Susan. We went to OBX a couple of times. We stayed at her Mom's place once and we played bananagrams all weekend. And got awesome sandwiches from the Stop and Shop to eat on the beach. We went down for girls weekend and stayed at Nana's cottage with Leslie, Tracy and Donna. Drank lots of wine and laughed and laughed. Made some prank calls to ourselves using the text to land line feature. How mature was that? It was hysterical. The way that mechanical voice interprets words..... lmao. You will have to ask them what we said, because my lips are sealed. I went on all the holidays, Memorial, July 4th and Labor day and spent that with Nana and the family. In the fall, the same girls, went to Donna's Mom's house on the Eastern Shore. We took a ride around the Harbour on Capt Dan's Charter Boat out of Chincoteague. Again, lots of wine and laughing. My dear sister, and Tracy, her accomplice decided to scare Susan and I, so they waited until we got into bed then snuck outside and took one of those decorative scarecrows out of the ground and tapped it on our bedroom window! OK Even I will admit it worked, They scared the pooky out of us. Revenge my friends. That's all I am saying. We took our annual trip to New York City before Thanksgiving. We went to see a play called Oleanna and then we waited outside the theater and saw Bill Pulman and Julia Stiles up close! star struck. Yes we were. We walked 10,000 miles and went to Serendipity to eat, frozen hot chocolate. It was the best thing on the planet. Went to see the Rockettes, Magnolia bakery, Hell's Kitchen Flea Market, China Town. (got massages there) We were everywhere and had a blast. I was so tired I was actually ready to come home. Those 7 hour bus trips will kill you though. Went to Richmond for a Christmas party and then shopped all the next day. ((We only got lost a little bit, this time)) We both got Garmin Nuvi's for Christmas so I am sure we will have much better luck getting around in either car in the future. We had Cupcake Day, where we wrecked my kitchen and make cupcakes all day. And Gingerbread House Day, They were good this year. Gary built us a base out of boxes ( I know that cheating but I don't care, I just want to decorate not build) and we could just go to town this way. We started way early, and it took us 2 days, but it was worth it. Love Gingerbread Day!! We had lots of other little projects going on too. Hopefully this year, I will really blog and keep up with all these activities.
So that's my year in reveiw. Big stuff, Bad stuff, Good stuff, Life altering stuff. By the grace of God, I made it through and am grateful to all my friends and family who have supported and put up with me through this emotional roller coaster that was 2009. I am looking forward to 2010. If anybody is actually reading this blog. May God Bless us all, Everyone!!

Lake Gaston Homes for Sale. Real Estate on Lake Gaston, North Carolina & Virginia

Lake Gaston Homes for Sale. Real Estate on Lake Gaston, North Carolina & Virginia

Stealing Stuff

This is a true story. The names of the innocent have NOT been changed.

I suppose I should backtrack in order to make this story sensible to anyone that knows me. Gary and I bought a lot on Lake Gaston. I will write a blog about that another time, but We are going to be broke, soon. So I am on a decorating from Yard Sales and Thrift Stores and Craig's List kick. 2 weeks ago I was in Virginia Beach working and I went around the corner to BK to get some lunch and there was the CHKD thrift store. Ahhhh So I pull in and begin to think about what I was looking for, so I wouldn't waist too much time. I have been SUPER stressed at work. And life in general, but that day in particular I was about to blow a gasket. I thought my eyes were going to bug out of my head. ( I have since learned that I have high blood pressure, probably from stress, but who knows) I am wandering around the thrift store and I find a pyrex 4 cup glass measuring cup and a lamp. I go to pay and I have to wait because somebody in front of me is buying a big screen TV and is going to have to come pick it up later. People are standing in line behind me. So it's my turn and my stuff comes to 7.31. Of course I have 7 dollars and no change and no more dollars, because my purse is in the car and I have my wallet in my hand. So I have to search out my hidden 50 bill stash that is folded into a tight little square, so I will forget its there and not spend it unless its an emergency. I have to break my 50 for 31 cents. great. I tell the clerk You are going to hate me, but this is all I have. She said no problem I have plenty of change. So she puts my lamp in a brown grocery bag and then takes my money and I am still fiddling around with my money. She gives me back all this change and then brings a bucket out from behind the counter that is for donations. She says would you like to give to the CHKD. I am thinking. Didn't I just give to CHKD by buying this stuff that you got free? But nice person that I am say SURE and I dump all the coins I had in my hand into the bucket got my money in my wallet and grab my bag. And then the bad thing happens..... My other arm, which was apparently not attached to my body but had a mind of its own, GRABBED THE MONEY BUCKET. I yanked it and it didnt come because it was chained to the counter! Money jangling around in there. I turned around still confused and the clerk said, You must be out of your mind today and laughed. I said, I think your right. I have no idea what I was thinking. She said probably that it was your pyrex glass. I said, yeah thats exactly what I was thinking, while thinking to myself OMG I have no idea what just happened. OMG GET OUT NOW. I was completely humiliated. Couldn't get out the door. Got in my car still thinking. What the hell just happened? I pull out of the parking lot in front of somebody who had to slam on breaks. All I can think is. I just tried to steal the money bucket that CHDK thrift store! How embarrasing and insane is that. Well I laughed and laughed and laughed at my own craziness, so I at least had some comic relief from it. Thank God some security guard didn't slam me on the ground or something. The clerk was really nice, She knew I wasn't really trying to steal the bucket but still. My life ROCKS doens't it.

And didn't Suan and I go to Wal Mart Saturday and I was apparently Shopping in some one elses CART on the sale aisle. I just can't be let out of the house anymore. No telling what will happen.

coffee cup cake?

You betcha. Gary brought home this email from work and gave it to me 15 minutes ago. I said, ok let's try it out. Guess what. It worked. It's not the same consistency as cake. little denser maybe but it tastes ok. Needs some icing or some ice cream. Give it a try.

Most Dangerous Chocolate Cake Recipe in the World

5-MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
1 Coffee Mug
4 tablespoons flour (that's plain flour, not self-rising)
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
some nuts (optional)
Small splash of vanilla
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix
thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high. The cake
will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT! (This can serve 2 if you want to share!)
And why , is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?
Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any
time of the day or night!

Feeling Lucky

Well I have had a heck of a month. Mom being sick and in the hospital all of April and Pris being out on leave and me filling in, but I made it through. Mom still in SNF but on the road to recovery. Thank goodness. I am soooo tired though. I just want to chill on the beach, which is where I am going in the morning. Getting a bushel of crabs and a nice long quiet weekend with the family. I got Nana a sign for the cottage that says, If your lucky enough to be at the beach, your lucky enough. So here's to being lucky! Cheers All.

Time Flies

My Nana has always told me that the older you get the faster time moves. Well it's true. I am old and time is zooming. Seiously. The other week I couldn't even remember what season it was. How scary is that. It's been a stressful month to say the least. Poor little Mom in the hospital all month long. Just got word that she is going to be transferred back to Bay Pointe again. HURRAY. She has been in Virginia Beach General for way too long. They just poke and prod and haven't really come up with any answers. so Now she can go get some rehab and get strong again and get back home. I have been filling in for Priscilla at work. Problems abound. I don't know if I am coming or going and I am getting fatter. How can this be? Eating strange hours and no routine lately.
Oh I did do something weird. I got eyeliner tattoo'd on my lower lid. I don't know why really. Natauni's Mom did it for me. She is certified. It kind of hurt and it was way sore and red and swollen the next couple of days. It only lasts about 3 years because it goes only to the second layer of skin where a tattoo goes to the third layer. I have to get a touch up in about 3 weeks. Its hard to not wear make up underneath for 10 days and keep vaseline on it, but vanity vanity. I will take a pic and post it soon.
Oh and Me and Gary are looking at a house in OBX. It's going up for auction again. He went down to see it this past weekend, but couldn't get in. He is going to try to get a key for this weekend. It's really big. 7 bed rooms 6 baths. Pictures to come of that too.

Locked in my own car!!!

This can only happen to ME, and it really happened I swear. I even took a picture of myself inside.

I'm off to Boston on Tuesday morning for a meeting Wednesday and Thursday. It snowed, so pretty, and was so cold and I was trapped in an office and couldn't enjoy it, but all was well. We had a nice group dinner and then hung out in the lobby afterwards with a board game and wine. Which I have a haiku for. Thursday, Priscilla and I leave. She drops me at that airport and returns her rental car, then she and Jason are off to NYC for a nice long weekend. I have a nice long wait. Get there at 4:30 or so and my flight is out at 8:30 pm. I go down to my gate then decide that I am hungry and have passed all the hot food in the center of the airport and am stuck eating a horrible cold icky tuna sandwich bag of chips and bottle of water that set me bag 13 bucks. Love airports. The plane left EARLY. isnt that unheard off? And the plane is half empty so I get to spread out. Unheard of again! Took a picture of that too.

We arrive back in about 10:15 or so to Newport News. I get my bag, which has miraculously appeared on the baggage carasel (sp?)and is waiting for me when I get downstairs. (another, unheard off, espeically at that airport) This is the best travel experience EVER, save for the tuna sandwich. I should have known right away that something bad was going to happen. I get my bag and go to the garage and it is cold outside. 30 degrees. I am parked on the top of the garage and as soon as I get out of the elevater I click the auto start. I was the first car in the lane. nothing. I do it again. nothing and I hear a clicking noise as I get closer. I load the suitcase in the back and then get in the car and put the key in the ignition. and clickclickclickclickclick. dead, nice. except that it keeps making this electronic cycle, from the door to the panel to the ignition switch and then back again. clicking all the way. even when my key was out of the ignition it just kept doing it and guess what. I was LOCKED in the car. I tried everything to get out, but no luck. Thank goodness for cell phones. I called Jesse and he had to stop by walmart and get some jumper cables and then drive all the way to Newport News to get me. It was really, really cold in the car though. I found some socks in my glove box, and I had gloves and a scarf and I also had one of those ear wrap things, and a blanket I threw in the car last week when I thought it was going to snow. Kinda funny. I am just glad that my last trip had been to Boston and I had cold weather gear instead of to Florida. I don't think a bathing suit wrapped around my head would have provided much warmth.

The Rolling Brie Incident and a Recipe

I was shopping at Sam's club on Friday without Gary. We usually go to the club stores together and every body knows how cheap Gary can be, and he always says, Oh you don't need that. Well he is in Atlantic City so I was forced to pick up the meds on my own. MWAHHH HA HA... I am shopping around the cheese and they have some items marked down after Christmas. I found this giant wheel of Brie that is about 8 inches across and the price is $3.81. Well who am I to turn down such a deal and I don't have G saying,. Oh you don't need that, so in the cart it goes. I spent $259.00, not including the meds. I did buy some stuff for work and I am quit sure that is what ran my total up. I ended up with 2 boxes full and one of them had 2 bottles of wine in it, I am thinking, how am I going to get these out of the cart. Well I hauled the first one out and got it in the car, no problem. The second one, I got half in the car and then stuff started falling everywhere, Lunch Meat, cheese spread and the Giant wheel of Brie dropped and I saw it go in slow motion........the cask, opened right up, the lid fell at my feet and the brie itself and the bottom rolled, in tandem, under the Ford Explorer parked beside me. Great. My first thought was I should get my camera out because no one would believe this, then I thought, well I should just leave it there. But nooooo. I got down on my hands and knees in my work clothes, in the cold and tried to retrieve them. I got the very edge of the brie paper with my fingernails and ripped the paper off in a little spot then I finally got the bottom and then used that to scrape the Brie towards me. Then I hauled myself up by the back of the Explorer and went over to my car, laughing all the way. No sooner did I get back to my car then here comes a man with a cart and he went right to the back of the Explorer. And what did I do? I said, OMG my wheel of Brie rolled under your car and I had to go under there and get it. And he says, very dryly. Yeah, I saw the end of it, I thought thats what I saw. I said, Oh I am sure the part you saw was LOVELY. I almost left it there. He said, I know you were calculating the cost of that. I said Yes thats exactly what I was doing. Thinking in my mind that I lost my dignity for a mere $3.81!! Then he took my cart to the return for me. You want to know what this guy was wearing? A black CHEF's coat. With embroidery on the sleeve and a thermometer in the sleeve pocket!! What are odds that a chef emerges from Sam's club, to see a crazed woman under his car chasing a wheel of Brie? I certainly hope he was inspired. So with all that being said, here is my favorite recipe for Baked Brie. Bon Apetit

Baked Brie with Brown Sugar, Bourbon and Pecans
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon bourbon

1/2 package (17.3 ounces) frozen puff-pastry sheets, thawed

1 round Brie (not the giant size I chased under the car, but probably an 8 oz wheel)

Directions:
Stir together first three ingredients.
Place puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface, roll out fold lines. Spread brown sugar and pecan mixture in a 5 inch circle in the middle. Place Brie round on top of sugar mixture. Fold in corners and rub seams tightly to prevent leaking. Turn upside down so the folder portion is on the bottom. Make sure Brie and sugar mixture is sealed to prevent leakage. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until lightly browned and cheese is melted.
Let cool 10 minutes. Serve with crackers, french bread, sliced apples or pears.

**Robbin's notes. I seldom follow directions. I put the Brie in the center of the puff pastry, Pack on some brown sugar, sprinkle on some bourbon and sprinkle on the nuts. bring the puff pastry up the sides and make a little bundle shape on top. Just make sure its sealed. Comes out great and everybody loves it.

A Bug among us

Been awhile Since I blogged, so I have much to talk about and yet......no time. The holidays were a big blur as usual, but I might come back to that. At the moment I have something MORE pressing on my mind. Ronnie, Natauni, Miah and there little bulldog puppy Dora (who is cute but not nice and has no manners) moved in, temporarily until her parents arrive next week and then they are moving in with them. Ok stuff is everywhere, the house is not big enough for all of us, christmas crap still out everywhere, Gary couldn't take off work during the holidays like he normally does and he takes down Christmas so we are piled in here, in a mess of leftover presents and wrappings, If i took a picture of my den right now, everyone I know including me would be appalled. With that being said, we now have a virus here in Blowville. Miah got it from her Nana. She came down with it Friday and Natauni had to pick her up from the babysitters because she was throwing up. then she threw up spaghetti'os in the car, then last night Ronnie and Natauni came down with it. They were in the bathroom every 15 minutes, yacking away. Once they were both in there at the same time. they barely moved today so I managed Miah who woke me up early to tell me it wasn't dark outside anymore. Miah speak for GET UP B.B. Now Gary has it. He says he hasn't been this sick since he had food poisoning years and years ago. I am holding my breath. I prayed as soon as I heard Miah had it that I wouldn't get sick. And then I have been washing my hands like a fanatic and spraying the house down with stuff. I hope it works. Jesse is now not feeling well. I told him not to come home at all, but he did. So I am the last hold out. Thank goodness dogs can't catch people stuff or we would be in a world of trouble over here. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh