Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day dear Blogistani peeps! I know it is mid-February, but I'm just getting around to honoring my New Year's resolution of getting back to keeping up with my social networking. Hooray!

I thought about expunging here about all that's been going on in my neck of the world. It's not all good, unfortunately, with several beloved family members very ill, amongst other things. But, I decided I'd rather just start fresh and new.

My boss surprised us all this afternoon by disappearing for a bit, and returning with a Valentine sweet for each of us from San Diego's Extraordinary Desserts. Doesn't this look amazing? It's chocolate, and cheese, and chocolate shavings, and more chocolate. I love the lips with the edible gold flake, and that rose petal is real. Of course, I eat it. We used to eat rose petals with snow as a kid in Afghanistan all the time! Mixed it with sugar and it was delish. Anyway, it was a nice treat break in the middle of work afternoon.
Then again, I haven't been lacking in the treats department lately. Belov-Ed and I went to Baci's Saturday night for Valentine dinner where we shared this little tempting number.

But, who am I really kidding? By "share" I mean I ate 3/4 of it, and Ed maybe got 1/4. Maybe. He is a precious doll. We took our "self portrait" after dinner, as we always do. It was a wonderful date night and I loved it. In case you were wondering, he is still the same rock solid, loving, dependable, funny, and supportive Belov-Ed he's always been. Just cuter. :-) In all the madness of the last few months, he never waivered, and never will. I am a blessed woman, and I never forget it. I love him.

Did someone say madness? Oh, yeah, that's right. What they really meant to say was CHAOS! The triplets are still as NUTZOOOO as ever, and Captain Morgan just tries to prevent his tail feathers from being chomped. On Christmas day, I tried to set the timer on my camera to take a "family portrait," but it didn't work. Paws all over the wrapping paper, Laverne trying to reach the buffet from the night before, and Captain Morgan just trying to keep it all together.
But, we love them to absolute pieces. They are our Golden treasures, and words just cannot capture what it means to open our front door and have them there waiting for us. I can never love them back as much. Never.
They are ever patient with mama's camera addiction. My personal favorite of late, this shot at the dog park. Doesn't this look like an album cover!? Doesn't it? Does anyone know U2? Coldplay? Black Eyed Peas? Ray LaMontagne? Please let them know I've got their next album cover art.
Milo, Milo, Milo. (((sigh))) How do I love thee? I cannot count the ways. You are 13 years old now, and have been with us the longest of all the Olden Goldens we've rescued. You're such a sweet, patient old man, and you still make mama laugh out loud when you make your Asian eyes.
Or, when you look like you've had one too many at a happy hour somewhere, stumbling about in mama's car. Precious! (No, he is not drunk. Please do not call PETA.)
Shirley Bird, my squirrely bug. Mischievous and bursting at the seams with all kinds of energy. Hard to believe she's going to be 12 in July. It is her eyes that do me in, every single time. Deep, dark, velvety brown orbs with so many secrets of abuses past. I'm so grateful she gets to be a happy, silly doggie in our home. Even when she is slappin' mama awake in the middle of the night searching for her lost shaker of salt banana!

Laverne aka Verney Cow says "hi ya'll!" Again, please don't call PETA. I call her Verney Cow as a compliment. Really. I went to the San Diego County fair last year and saw the PRETTIEST creamy golden cow EVER!!! AND, she totally reminded me of my 'Verney! My little girl really is a pretty, pretty lil thang. She's also a total flirt. I've to keep her in check lest she develop an unsavory reputation in the da 'hood. She has a curfew.
Come on, tell me you don't see the resemblance. You know I'm spot on! If Laverne had been born a cow, she would have looked exactly like this:
Awwwwww! She's such a pretty, pretty girl!

Before I sign off for the day, I want to share with you one last "treat" from my Belov-Ed. He is a very, very good "gift giver." I've loved every piece of jewelry and all of the gifts he's ever given me. But, this pendant is in my top 5, by far. He had to go to Honolulu for work last week, and I was able to fanagle 3 days off from my office to fly out and meet him. Neither one of us had ever been to Hawaii before, and we fell in love with it. The *vibe* is just different somehow on those islands. We were only there a short time, but it was lovely. He got my Valentine's Day gift while we were there, and it took my breath away. I just love, love, love, love it.
I hope that your beloved, may it be a wife, husband, pet, parent, sibling, or friend, also do something to take your breath away on this day of amor. To a beautiful day for all my dear blogging buddies....xoxo.