Hey there, Josie girl!

After months of anticipation, I'm an Aunt! Josephine came into the world on Monday, perfect at 8 lbs, 4 oz, 21 inches. I am already shopping for hairbows! Could she be any more precious?

A Big THANK YOU!

Thank you R & K for all your help tonight. These amazing ladies gutted over 400 cherry tomatoes for tomorrow nights auction! We covered a lot of topics: weight loss, teenage sex, book clubs, jobs and lack of, new opportunities, many hours, countless topics. What a lucky girl I am, to have such wonderful friends, who come over and help with the grunt work, and do so happily.
I owe you, dessert at Sardine's?

Appetizer 2 - BLT Bites

These are bite sized BLT................ and you can't eat just one! I plan on making about 12 dozen for the auction.

16-20 cherry tomatoes
1 lb bacon, fried and crumbled
1/2 cup mayo
1/3 cup chopped green onions
3 tablespoons grated parmesan
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Cut the tops off the tomatoes, gut the insides, sprinkle with salt and let stand upside down for about an hour. Mix all remaining ingredients together and fill inside of tomatoes. Place on a parsley lined tray ( they tend to roll) and enjoy.

Appetizer 1 - Artichoke Dip

I think that this is the best artichoke dip I have ever eaten. Okay, the Great Dane's dip is really good, but they won't give out the recipe, even after I begged. This one is easy and has been very well received. I made 9 lbs of this for last years auction, and there was none left!

1 lb cream cheese, room temp
1/3 cup shredded Asiago cheese
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan
1 tablespoon roasted garlic
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup chopped artichoke hearts, drained (NOT MARINATED)
1/3 cup mayonnaise
chipoltle puree, to taste

Mix, pour into pie plate and bake, until bubbly, at 350 degrees. When I make large quantities of this, I put it in a crockpot to warm, then transfer to chafing dish. Good with breads, crackers, veggies, and from experience, eaten with a spoon!

The Man of My Dreams

This is the man who makes my heart all a twitter. Every time I hear his name or see his picture my heart starts beating faster. I hang on his every word, and I can hardly wait till we are together again. We can go several months with no contact, but then suddenly there he is, back in my arms. I hold him tenderly, looking at him, knowing soon we will be alone. Laying in bed with him, is worth waiting for. All those months of longing, wating for that touch. Our time is brief together, but lasting in memories.

He is Robert B. Parker, my favorite author. He wrote the Spenser books, which I have all of, and all the Jesse Stone books, and frankly, if he wrote the cereal boxes, I would read them too. Run to your nearest book store, and discover my passion.

The To Do List

On March 14th, I am chairing a fundraising auction for the boys school. All the donations are received, tables ordered and know I get to start the food prep. I am, with the help that day of 9 fellow Mommies, doing all the food. I know, CRAZY! But, I cannot pay a caterer to do what I know I can. Double the food, half the price. I did the food for last years event, and everything went great. My biggest request was for BLT Bites. I am doing Bourbon BBQ meatballs, artichoke dip, cherry tomatoes stuffed with coucous, and lots more.

I polished all my silver trays, picked the serving pieces, layered all the cocktail napkins (pink, yellow, green, blue, orange, over and over and over), have washed 200 votive holders, blah, blah, blah........... My mind just keeps on going. Checking one thing off, add two more on.

Calling Color

Where is the color in the stores? I want a new outfit for a school function on the 14th, and everything seems to be dark. What gives? All the spring colors should be out, right? Calling pink, bright green, lavender, hello, are you out there? Other than Lilly Pulitzer, which I can't get in this area, it is looking dismal. I almost always wear pink, as Shelby said "It's my signature color". I know the country is depressed, but give us something happy to wear!