Oh my goodness...

Giada does it again. Megan wanted to make Cinnamon Twists with Cardamom-Honey Dipping Sauce for her friend's visit, and they were sooooo good.  You can't eat too many of them as they are reeaaally sweet, but the cardamom gives it a very exotic flavor that is reminiscent of (surprise!) Indian food. We will make these again!

Mama Harley

Danny was sick tonight and went to bed early. When I went to check on him (after clean-up), Mama Harley was camped out on his bed watching over him. She would have been a great mama to puppies, but it looks like she's taken our "pups" as her own. So sweet!

A different kind of sugar...

No donuts or ciniminions to speak of this week, but I know that Danny is getting a different kind of sugar today, Gran-ma sugar! Believe me, he is no less spoiled, just less hyper. 

Our summer weekend!

We have had one great weekend. Friday, we took Megan and Danny to Essence Of India, in my attempt to convert the entire family to Indian food lovers. George ventured into the truly exotic with goat curry, while the kids shared some tandoori chicken and naan (bread). Mine was super spicy Chicken Tikka Masala, and I LOVED IT. Can't wait to go back.

Saturday morning, we went to the Sweet Grass Dairy Marketplace for A Taste Of Spain, featuring Spanish products like Ortiz tuna, Marcona Almonds (my absolute favorite nut in the world - they are fabulous!), fig preserves, wines. They also has a selection of fresh Spanish products like Serrano Ham, Chorizo, and a special batch of wine-soaked goat cheese! I love our area. There are so many businesses that bring culture and variety to our lives. 

After the Marketplace, we took the kids to George & Louie's, one of our favorite restaurants in Thomasville. A small, family-owned place with Greek specialties and an enormous menu, George & Louie's is one of those little places that brings you back again and again. The 40's jazz music, the bright, airy atmosphere, and the inexpensive fare is hard to pass up.

Then, Danny went to his friend, Summer's birthday party. I think he's a little sweet on her - he insisted on bringing her flowers. The kids swam for a few hours, and after we came home, we were pooped! What a busy day. Indian leftovers and one dog walk later, I was ready for bed. 

Today, relaxation! After church, of course.   

I knew I was an anglophile for a reason!

UK Prime Minister David Cameron writes a column for the Wall Street Journal, and yesterday's article was picked up by Fox News.  It is an article titled "DAVID CAMERON: Why I'm Staunchly Pro-America" and reading it makes me proud to be an American and an anglophile at the same time. Read it, it will make you feel good, too.

I sense a pattern here...

Yesterday, donuts. Today, ciniminions from IHOP.  They are in heaven. Once I peel them them off the walls, I'm sure they'll be fine.

Do you know where your kids are?

Over the summer, Megan and Danny have been working hard on chores and reading their summer books at home under the direction of big bro, Zachary (at least that is what they're telling me they are doing). For the next few weeks, though, they get to spend some time with Gran-ma and Papa, and I get the feeling they are going to be spoiled rotten and loaded up on sugar for days. I don't know what gives me that idea, do you?

I love Wind & Willow dips!

I'll admit it, dips are one of my weaknesses. They are hard to portion out, and hard to resist once you get started. We picked up these Wind & Willow cheeseball and dip mixes at the Biltmore wine shop on summer vacation.

I made the Strawberries and Cream Cheeseball this weekend for a summer cookout. Danny couldn't stop eating it, and Megan verified that the aftertaste is amazing (her words, not mine). I guess I'm not the only dip-lover in the family any more, but as an only child, it is so hard to share!

Summer Date Night - Curry is where its at!

When it is 100 degrees outside, there is nothing better than spicy food to make you sweat some more! Last night, George took me on an impromptu date and, to my surprise, decided to humor me regarding my love for Indian food. We went to Essence of India, and I must say it was delicious! This was George's first visit to an Indian restaurant, and by the looks of his plate (above), I would say he didn't think it was too bad either. It was a bold move for him, trying something so exotic, but he knows how to make me happy. :) By the way, isn't he handsome? Feel free to comment on the blog as it will totally embarrass him!

Free stuff!!!!!

I love coupons, discounts, BOGO offers, and most of all, I love free stuff!!! One site that gives our family free stuff is Kraft First Taste. Every so often, they will send a coupon for a new product, and sometimes, tonight for example, we get a whole dinner for absolutely free! For five people, you can't beat free.

Gorgeous George

This past rainy Saturday, we spent some time at one of my favorite stores, World Market. I love looking at the tea sets, the breakfast trays, the ethnic foods, and our favorite, the wines. George and I went there because we're members of the World Market Rewards club, and as members we get special prices on different pics of wines from different countries, plus some locals from Florida wineries. They also have last chance wines for dirt cheap, and this fits right in with our quest to buy GOOD wines for less than $10. One of these last chanc-ers I just could not pass up. It is called "Gorgeous George," from the Great American Presidents Wine Company. I don't think I need to explain why I couldn't pass up something named "Gorgeous George," do I?

St. Michael

Today, I am wearing a St. Michael (Patron Saint of Law Enforcement) pendant to remind me to pray for George as he ventures back to the streets in preparation for his return to FTO (that is Field Training Officer for the non-law enforcement folks). No, we have not converted to Catholicism. I bought this for the purpose expressed above, and I will probably wear it more than he will. I figure every little bit of prayer helps. If you get a chance to, please pray for George and our family.  

Christmas in July

"All I want for Christmas is my two front teef." That is what Danny sang last night after he twisted his other front tooth out, right before he turned white as a sheet and had to lay down. Now he looks alarmingly like a little vampire, doesn't he? Must be my obsession with True Blood that is making me think that.

Ah, the things we do for our pets!

Harley went to the vet for her yearly checkup yesterday (which included the enjoyable task of collecting a fecal sample to bring in with me!) and to check on her paws. She has allergies to grass, and because her feet get so itchy, she chews on the pads. She got a pair of booties that were used by Iditarod sled dogs. Doesn't she look cute?

Sting: A Winter's Night...Live from Durham Cathedral

George and I got this DVD on Sunday, and I have to say, I love it. It is a quiet display of songs that evoke the warmth of the winter season. While it does have a few Christmas songs ("The Coventry Carol" and Sting's classic"I Saw Three Ships" of A Very Special Christmas, Volume 3), this is NOT a Christmas dvd. George is feeling the heat of the Florida summer, and when he saw this on the shelf, he was drawn to the snowy images and the imagery that the music evokes. I wanted to see it because I have been to Durham Cathedral, and it is truly a beautiful setting for a concert of this caliber. Sting's concert also highlights some of his fellow Geordie (people from the Northumbria region, including Newcastle and Durham, that speak in the "Geordie" dialect) musicians and at least one Scot. It really made us want to snuggle up on the couch with a glass of wassail and enjoy the season, even though we had to turn the air down to make snuggling comfortable on that 90-degree night. I can't wait for this winter. I know we will watch it again and again.