Our Protector

Yesterday we had another great Halloween, spent with family and friends at Leanne's house.  Here are just a few family photos (CT, Katie, Ella, me, and Leanne).  Unfortunately, I did not take very many pictures yesterday, but here goes:

Since we were gone from our house during trick-or-treating hours, we left a big bowl of candy on a table by the front door, with a note inviting the visitors to take some candy.   We've done this the last several years, and I must say that the trick-or-treaters that come to our house are very polite - we've never had a problem with pumpkins being smashed outside, or the candy bowl being taken, etc.  In fact, there are always a few pieces of candy remaining in the bowl when we return (not many pieces, but still a few).  This year was no exception, but for some reason, CT thought we needed a "protector" to watch over our house while we were gone yesterday.  Here is a photo of our protector for the evening:

Yes, this is a picture of the outside of our living room window, and yes, that would be Captain Jean-Luc Picard from the television series "Star Trek".  CT inherited Jean-Luc from Leanne's father-in-law, RW.  Over the summer, RW had a big garage sale and when we stopped by his house, CT stumbled upon Jean-Luc.  RW was all too happy to give Jean-Luc a good home, and said to CT, "Take it - it's yours!"  CT thought he just won the lottery.

So, not only did Jean-Luc come to a good home, he was put to good use as our protector.  And all was well at our house on Halloween. 



Disney Here We Come

CT LOVES to travel.  He traveled extensively before we met, and when we met, we continued to travel.  Since the six years we have been together, we have been very, very fortunate to travel to some really great places, including:

• Hawaii (Maui)
• Dominican Republic
• Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice)
• Mexico (Playa del Carmen)
• Florida (Orlando)
• New York (NYC)
• California (Napa Valley, Mendocino, Carmel)
• New Mexico (Santa Fe)

I truly loved each and every vacation we've taken and would quickly pack a bag and go back to any of these places tomorrow.  Oh wait - I am!  Tomorrow we embark on an extended family vacation -- 10 of us are venturing down to the Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse in Orlando, Florida.   

Planning for the trip began in May, and let me tell you, trying to plan a vacation with 10 people can be a little challenging -- trying to incorporate different budgets, wants, needs, etc.  It took hours on the computer and countless phone calls to Disney, but in the end, we managed to plan what will be a really great trip.

Have you ever been to Disney?  Well, if you haven't, I can honestly say that it is truly a happy, happy place.  You are practically transported to another world, where you forget your old world and the trials and tribulations of home life.  In the countless phone calls to Disney over the last couple of months, I noticed that at the end of every conversation, the representative would always say, "Have a magical day today!"  The reps always sound so sincere and HAPPY when they say this to you, that it just leaves you in a good mood. I think my sister-in-law has the Disney phone number on her speed dial, as she calls them every day trying to secure the best reservation times for dinners, etc.  Personally, I think she just likes to be told, "Have a magical day today!"   

While this is a return visit for us, most of the family has never been to Disney, and I think they will find the experience truly MAGICAL. 

Ok, I gotta run and go finish packing.  Until next week, here's to YOUR magical day!

The Dessert - Take It!

Growing up, ethnic food to us was not Mexican food or Chinese food.  It was Czeck or Bohemian food.  Things like beef noodle soup, breaded pork tenderloin, roast pork, beef with dill gravy, bread dumplings with gravy, sweet & sour cabbage, sauerkraut, homemade rye bread, and yes, kolacky.  Ok, not the healthiest, but oh so yummy.

Breaded Pork Tenderloin
Image search from Google found at LTHForum.com

Back in the day,  "Little Europe" was a restaurant that we would visit often with my parents and my grandmother.  You could get all this food - soup, full dinner, dessert, and an unlimited pot of coffee or coca cola for less than $10.  Also, we never went home without a doggie bag, because the portions were so generous.  The food was SOOOOO good and it was all homemade.  Truly homemade, from scratch.

Bread Dumplings
Image search from Google found at chateaufoods.com

On one of our visits to the restaurant, it was just me, my mom, my grandma (mom's mom), and my dad.  We proceeded to have the exact dinner I described above.  I remember sitting there like it happened yesterday.  At the end of the meal, the waitress came to our table and asked us, "What kind of kolacky would you like?"  Grandma began: "Oh, I'll have the apricot kolacky."  My mom:  "I'll have the cheese kolacky."   Me:  "I'll have a the poppy seed kolacky."  My Dad:  "I'm too full.  No dessert, thank you."

Kolacky
Image search from Google found at orlandparkbakery.com

You can only imagine what was going through the minds of my grandma, my mom and me: 

What?  No dessert?  Are you crazy?  It's kolacky, it's homemade, it comes with your meal, and heck, you know one of the not-so-svelte women at your table will eat it! 

So, without warning, without planning, and in complete unison, we shouted at my poor dad, "TAKE THE DESSERT!"  This was just so spontaneous and as soon as we shouted it out, the three of us gals looked at each other with shocking looks on our face - we could not believe that we said the same thing at the same exact time.  I think my dad jumped out of his chair when we heard the three of us yelling at him to take the dessert.  Then we all just started laughing.

So, whenever you are offered a good, homemade dessert that comes with your meal, be sure to take it.  More importantly, extended that dinner with your favorite family members and have dessert, because someday they will no longer be around and you will certainly wish you had more dessert time with them.

P.S. And my dad and the dessert?  Well, he was one wise man - he followed our advice and took the dessert.