Continue reading »]]> When I was pregnant with our first child, I prayed for a daughter. I like boys fine, but I really wanted a girl. I wanted  the kind of relationship with my daughter that my mother and I didn’ t have. And God obliged. And not once, but twice. And for this, I am eternally grateful. These girls have brought so much joy and happiness to my life, I cannot put it into words. So today’s post is photos of my “Brown -Eyed Girls”.

Continue reading »]]> One of the perks we receive as a result of GFB being employed with Chesapeake Energy is the pleasure of attending amazing Wine Dinners. Our first experience with the CHK Wine Dinner was back in April of this year, where we had the most amazing nine-course meal and an unbelievable array of fabulous wines.

Last night, we were excited to attend our second dinner. And it was phenomenal. Here’s a recap.

Amuse-bouche: Bacon-wrapped Date Stuffed with Manchego Cheese

Bacon Wrapped Date Stuffed with Manchego Cheese

1st Course – Oysters 3 ways – Raw, Naw Awlans Style (Or New Orleans for most folks) and a bacon & cheese topped oyster.

Oysters 3 Ways

2nd Course: Arancini / Mozzarella & Proscuitto-stuffed Risotto Ball

Arancini

3rd Course: Grilled Gulf Coast Cobia with Butter Champagne Chowder

Gulf Coast Cobia with Butter Champagne Chowder

4th Course: Cardamom-Crusted Duck Breast with Balsamic Cinnamon Syrup & Tomato Cobbler

Cardamom Crusted Duck Breast

5th Course: Roasted Rabbit Wellington with Creamy Foie Gras Polenta & Dried Fruit Demi

Roasted Rabbit Wellington

6th Course: Grilled Elk Tenderloin with Jalapeno Cheddar Gritts

Roasted Rabbit Wellington w/Japaleno Grits

7th (and FINAL) Course: Reinvention of the Banana Split

Oh – and GFB. Just cause I like him.

Wuv. True Wuv.

In addition to all the great dishes, we were also treated to an assortment of top-notch wines that were paired with each course, including Lis Neris Pinot Grigio from Italy, Orin Swift’s “Veladora’ Sav Blanc from Napa Valley, L’Avion Roussane, from Santa Ynez Valley, Upstart Crow Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, along with 4others. The parings were very well done.

This menu takes some serious planning and hard work on the part of the entire Chesapeake Energy Food Service Staff. And I want each and every one of them to know that it is truly appreciated!

Bon Appetit!

Continue reading »]]> My Birthday and Christmas present this year was something I really wanted – a DSLR Camera. I have always had a desire to learn photography (I even borrowed my father-in-laws 35MM camera once to take black & whites.) Unsure of which camera would best suit my needs, I did a LOT of research and asked around. For any of you that read blogs regularly, I was mesmerized with the photographs taken by Susan Wagner, and she enthusiastically suggested I consider a Nikon D40. I read reviews, researched photography sites and even considered borrowing Susan’s camera (as if some epiphany was going to come to me when I used it..). All the reviews for the Nikon were wonderful and I was just about ready to make the plunge – when what to my wondering eyes should appear? A magazine insert in the Sunday Newspaper offering the Canon EOS XSi on sale at a local photo shop for a bit less than the Nikon, AND it included a second lens. I headed down to the store to quiz the sales person on the advantages and disadvantages of the Nikon vs. the Canon – only the conversation was not at all what I expected.