Bella, Bella, Bella!

Last weekend was Valentine's Day...I wasn't home. However, I was able to share a lovely Valentine's Day supper with my mom; probably the first ever since I was in high school.

I arrived home late Monday night, and was told not to plan supper for the next night! I was thrilled with this plan! My lovely husband had pawned our children off with a fabulous friend; and he and I had a few hours alone. After being gone for 5 days, it was a great opportunity to sit down and have a good "Catch up" with Dear hubby!

Supper had been picked up from "Supper Essentials" here in the city; a fabulous meal with full instructions as to how to prepare and even when to serve. It was a wonderful menu of shrimp for an appetizer, then onto wild mushroom soup; followed by an entre of steak, potatoes alfredo, and asparagus wrapped with bacon, then culminating with yummy brownies and chocolate sauce. Yum! To top it all off, hubby had picked up a very fine red wine!

I attacked the wine with gusto....yum (have I said that already?), as he proceeded to prepare the delicious meal with the agreement that I would clean up. I could deal with that! I proceeded to sit down at the computer desk to check some emails, play a little on facebook! The phone rings....it's the kids reminding their dad to turn off the tv (there was a hockey game on)....as the kids are talking to their dad, he wandered out of the kitchen to check out the game on tv! LOL As he wandered away....dear Bella wandered in......can you see where this is going! Bella was the first to sample our supper....yes indeed, yummy steak!

Without trying to laugh too hard at my very mad husband, I found my keys and headed off to the store to replace the steak. I headed to Sobey's first; not too far from our house. Not a steak to be had; yes there was pork, shrimp, lobster, even lamb, but not one steak in the deli department.

Off to Save-On several minutes away. I did find two delectable tenderloin steaks...not cheap, but we're worth it after all the drama. While I was gone hubby had started the bar-b-que, and was in the final stages of preparing everything else. Poor hubby dear I felt so bad for him. But the steaks were wonderful, the evening together was a rare treat (no pun intended), and it was nice to have a quiet evening at home with no activities or homework to supervise.

And Bella.....she spent the rest of the evening outside, looking in with her big brown eyes!

February!

Oh my gosh, despite all my good intentions, months have gone by without any words being said. Hmm...how does that happen? Anyway, last weekend I went home for a funeral...an uncle...Uncle Marcel. What great memories I have. He was the "Old Dutch" guy...yes, when I was a kid, Uncle Marcel sold Old Dutch, and of course, you know what that meant; as kids we couldn't wait to go and visit! We rarely had chips in our house, but oooohhhh to go to Uncle Marcel's and Auntie Marg's that was a treat!

I hadn't seen Uncle Marcel in a few years, and somehow that's okay as I know life gets busy and as our families get larger it's harder to get together. The memories are still there and strong, he was such a kindhearted man who gave the best hugs! I will never forget the day I brought Robert home to meet mom's family! Now, you need to realize this is a huge family with 7 brothers and sisters...aunts and uncles are plentiful! Whenever a grandchild brought a I knew in a heartbeat that Uncle Marcel would have nothing for approval for this young man I had brought to a family event! They were both French!! I knew that for Uncle Marcel, I had picked a great guy!

The funeral was yesterday, and I have decided I really dislike funerals. I wish there was more celebration of life; make me smile; make me remember the best of the best! I feel so much for my cousins, they are hurting and there's nothing I can do that will help. Time, well, yes, everyone says time will help, and it will, but in all reality, there's still an emptiness, a void if you will that will never be filled again. My heart aches for their loss. I send them my love and blessings. Life has changed, it will be different from this moment on. I love you Uncle!