Gooey

For the real chocoholics: gooey chocolate moelleux.. You just have to bake these, to enjoy the creaminess of this divine, rich and delicious chocolate dessert.

What do we need:

• 115 grams of shortening
• 5 grams of pure cocoa
• 115 grams of dark good chocolate (Belgian chocolate of course), cut into pieces
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 50 grams of sugar
• 5 grams of flour

What do we do:

• Preheat the oven to 230°C.
• Grease 4 ovenproof dishes with shortening. Dust them with cocoa.
• Take a microwave proof bowl and melt the shortening with the chocolate pieces in the microwave. Stay with it, you really don't want to burn the chocolate!
• Beat the eggs with the yolks and the sugar until the mixture becomes almost white. Don't be afraid to overmix, just go for it.
• Sift the flour over the eggs and fold in.
• Fold the chocolate mixture in to the beaten eggs.
• Divide the mixture over the ovendishes.
• Bake the chocolate moelleux for just 7 minutes. Let them cool down on a wire rack for a second and invert them onto a dessert plate. 
• Serve right away!

Golden Girls

I can hardly believe another year has passed. One can't tell by the aged look, because it seems like you don't get any older. It must be like good wine: getting better by the year. You sure look great! Do you feel the same?
Happy Birthday Mrs T! You are a very special lady and loved by many. I think it's been a while since you were last surprised with snow on your birthday. It wouldn't surprise me if you would remember the last time it snowed on your birthday. Your memory is so good it startles me.
On several occasions you have shown me pictures of your youth, your early years in marriage. You used to pose like a queen and you still look like one. You may be small by size, you sure have a big heart. I'm happy to have you among my friends.. xx

The last supper

Imagine you have been told tomorrow will be your last day. You get to pick your own last supper. Doesn't matter what it cost or how difficult it is to prepare. It's your pick and a great chef will cook for you. What would your last supper look like?

Whippeteedooda

Photo by Lana Joos

Little miss Gorgeous has no idea what that white carpet is doing in the back yard, but she knows it's wet and cold. She has had some great moments in the snow so far. Throwing flecks of snow in the air, racing and sliding on the deck and eating snow cones!

Her ear has healed well. A little chip is missing, but her ears are large enough to have plenty of ear left. It doesn't bother her and it doesn't bother us. We love her anyway, even with a bit of ear missing.

Rebba is not that fond of snow. She goes out if there is no other option, but she prefers to look at the snow from the opposite side of the window. She loves her blanket and the heat of the fire place. Don't even think of taking her outside in the snow. She's not impressed at all. Neither am I..

Happy Birthday sweet Inthe. You have turned 1 today. Let's celebrate with a nice walk in the snow!

Are you okay?

I can't read you anymore and I don't know what happened. You're no longer connected to the world you loved the most. Where have you gone? I'm worried. It's been a turmoil last year and things didn't turn out the way you expected them to. Anybody else knew the outcome, but you didn't. You never even thought this could happen to you and your precious little girl. It was your worst nightmare. I truly believe losing her is worse to you than the day you were diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia. One thing I know for sure: whatever may happen, she will always know how much her mommy loved her..

Submissive

I wouldn't call myself a submissive personality. On TV I watched this show on submissive women living in an abusive relationship. I was truly upset and appalled to see their partner verbally and physically abuse their "beloved" ones. One lady was even shot in the jaw by her precious boyfriend. Listening to their stories, I wondered what made them decide to stick with their abusive partner. Was it a lack of selfesteem? Were they deprived of love in their childhood? Did that make them long for someone to love them, no matter what? I don't know, but I felt sorry for them. It seemed like they no longer respected the person they once were. They were frightened to face their partner once they had filed complaint against him. And then the show started.. the partner started to cry, he tried to express how sorry he was and that he would never ever hit her again. Blablabla. Right. It won't surprise you that these women go back to their partner after he has convinced them of his good intentions. They go back to where they started .. and no, things won't change, as long as these women remain submissive and their partners abusive..

One of us

Today was another day where diabetes was in the middle of the attention. A diabetic girl friend of mine organized a meeting in Antwerp. All of our diabetic friends were invited and quite a few happily accepted the invitation. And so did I. Whenever I have the chance to attend a D-meeting, I won't skip it. It's good to see one another every now and then. Some of my friends are going through some turmoil and they could use a shoulder to cry on. And a hug - or two.

Some new faces showed up as well. They are very welcome of course. After all, the diabetes relates all of us. It's good for any of us, to have someone in our surroundings to lean on. Someone who understands what diabetes is about. Someone who won't point his finger at you when things are not going well. Someone to stand by your side when you need help. But that same person can be there to have fun with as well! Did you really think we only talk about D-related problems? Absolutely not!! In fact, we are a happy troop and we have a ball when we meet!

This evening I'm driving to Dendermonde. There is a concert in favor of people with diabetes and diabetes research. Did you think I would miss that? Na-ah! I'm glad my friend is going to join me. He's not a diabetic, but he's been a great friend for many years now and he has only known me with diabetes. And yes, he's seen me while experiencing lows and highs and guess what? He never gave up on me. He's not afraid of my hypoglycaemic periods and he knows I'm not in the best mood when my numbers are high. But he's patient and caring and it's good to know that even non diabetics can deal with our mood swings due to low/high sugar levels. My diabetes nurse is going to be there as well. She arranged good seats for us. Thanks sweetie! You're the best!

Not now... not now...

Last night, I was watching a movie with the girls, when all of a sudden we saw fluffy, white, dots of snow outside the window. It was a beautiful sight, really, but hey: please! Stop!!! I'm not ready for the winter. Not yet. To begin with: I'm not a winter person. In fact, I hate snow and cold weather. So no, one can't please me with white streets and snow covered cars. Okay, I must admit it looks good on Christmas day, but hello??? It's still November???

Maybe I have forgotten about the snow when I was a child. We had a whole lot more snow than we do these days. Our children haven't seen that much snow yet. But just like their mom, they are not fond of snow. They prefer sun and good weather. Lana is talking about getting a tan on our sunbed. And I must say: I don't blame her.. I despise the cold too.

I have a long car ride ahead of me and I don't want any snow storm to disrupt my plans. So please.. Keep the snow up there, where it may stay for a very long time. It can come down in January..

Scoot over

They always seem to wait for the moment you stand up to go to the kitchen. As soon as you do, at least one of the whippets rushes to that warm spot on the couch you just stood up from. They snuggle and pretend to sleep so you won't make them scoot over when you come back. You can see their eye lids twitch, when they desperately try to keep them closed. They are too curious though. They want to see your reaction so they carefully partially open one eye to take a peek. Gotcha! You're busted! Move it! That was my seat, my favorite spot on the couch. Bye!

Pick up that phone!

I hate it when people think you have to be available all the time. Most of the time, I'm here and ready to take your call, but sometimes I need some me time. That's when I put my cell phone on mute and decide not to answer any calls. I think that's my right. I won't make up any excuses afterwards, trying to find a way out why I didn't answer your call. It is what it is and it has nothing to do with you. I will call you back, don't worry about that. I'll call you back when I'm ready for it. It is possible though, that my phone call won't be convenient for you then. But that's okay too. There's always the Internet. Mail me. I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Don't take things for granted

I can honestly say, without bragging, that I have a vast number of friends that are very dear to me. We like to spend time together and support one another whenever that's necessary or desired. It's no trouble at all to meet with my friends and we try to make time for our friendship as often as we can. Some friends I don't see that often, but we call or mail. Others I see weekly. Then there are my friends I daily have contact with on the Internet.

Don't take things for granted, I would say. Friends are really special and rare and unique. It takes time to get to know one another. You need to invest in good friendships if you want to make the best of it. It can't be a one way direction, because that's just not how it works. Both parties need to invest to make good partners in the art of friendship.

My friends are very different. They have a little bit of everything and they are very versatile. That's what I like in people: their versatility. I learn from all of them and they bring a new dimension into my life. I cherish their friendship, their personality, their look towards life. I embrace the person they are. I respect them for who they are. Friendship is so important it can brighten ones life..

Like peas in a pod

Trust me, I had a great time in Holland, but did I miss my dogs!!!
I felt lost without them. I couldn't stop thinking of those two gorgeous whippets. I'm convinced they had a great time in dog day care, but still.. they are my babies.. I know I didn't have to worry about my daughters. At least they understood where we were and when we would be back. But I couldn't make the whippets understand.. The three of us are really close. We get along real well and they're my little companions. We are like peas in a pod.

I'd better get showered, so I can hop in the car and drive the 45 minute ride to Holland to pick them up. They will be so excited to see me. I'm sure Inthe will jump on top of me and lick my face until all of her saliva has dried up. She will make funny noises and wag her tail in a very fast mode. And then there's Rebba.. She will give me that puppy look.. There's a small chance she will ignore me. I'm not sure what to expect from her this time. She's behaved in different manners. I hope she'll be happy too. They have been very good girls in Holland. I have been told they went to bed in their kennel around 11 PM and without getting up in the middle of the night to go pee, they slept all night until 7 AM!! Hello??? Little twits! They'd better do the same thing once they're back home..

I'm on my way babies!!!

Impeccable

Just one hour ago, we came home from spending 3 wonderful shopping days in Holland. What a joy! Our suitcases were bulging from all the extras we bought during our stay. Shopping in Holland is awesome. Different shops, great customer service, sales at all times. We had too much to eat and we spent too much money, but hey, we're not Egyptian Pharaohs. We don't need to take our fortune along after death. We live here and now and it's a good time to spend some cash.

Happy to be home though. I'm exhausted. I guess I had an overkill of friendship, love, food and shops..

Grown up time

We will be leaving town for 3 days. Time for a break with our friends. It has become a tradition, to have this annual outing in the fall. It's good to look forward to something we all enjoy. Some shopping, enjoying each others company, good food, relaxation, some more shopping,.. No kids, no dogs, no hassle, no fuss. And no stress!

Let's pack those BoGi Bags and load the trunk. We'll drive Eva to school and then, we'll head off to our destination. See you in a while, my friends! Let's go and have a good time!

It ripped my heart out..

The girls have left for Holland. We're going away for a couple of days, and our whippets are not used to being by themselves all day. So we called our dog day care if they would be willing to pamper our precious girls during our absence. Our dogs are welcome at any time, they said. Just an hour ago, they came to pick them up. Inthe was so aroused to see Sandra!!! She nearly jumped in her neck. It's good to see that she still remembers her. Rebba didn't know what to think of it... hmhm... I think she makes the connection: Sandra means mommy and daddy won't be around..

I packed their suitcase: their favorite blanket (it has my smell on it), their favorite toys, their passport, their leashes and some goodies. It was like I was saying goodbye to them for ever! They jumped in the car and laid down in the kennel right away. Whippet Desmond and his sister Molly were all excited in the back seat. Desmond is a gorgeous whippet male in very special colors. I'm sure he fancies my Inthe, who is still on heat. Let's keep our fingers crossed she won't seduce any males out there. Rebba will surely chaperone her, but you know those men.. it ain't any different with dogs..

I'm going to miss them terribly. It's so quiet in the house. Okay, I'll be able to wash all the blankets on the couch and I'll be able to go to bed at a more decent hour, but I'll miss them so much.. They have become really important to me.

I am looking forward to our outing, trust me! It'll keep my mind of Rebba and Inthe. But Thursday morning, I will race to Kuitaart, Holland, to pick my girls up!

Nice day for a walk in the park

Have you ever watched the episodes on the Dog Whisperer? Cesar Millan is a great dog trainer. His principles are simple and logical. He's absolutely right when he says most dogs have great characters. It's all about the leader of the pack: the owner of the dog. If the owner is not a good leader, the dog will take over that role, meaning the owner is no longer in control. And that's when things go wrong.

I have recorded several episodes now and I have watched them carefully. There are so many things to learn about canine language. There was a show on whippets and I learned a lot from that show. Ever since I started watching the program, our dogs have improved quite a bit. Or must I say: we have claimed the leader role?

Our dogs need more exercise. Hubby walks them on a daily basis. Maybe they need more time to walk, meaning I'll have to walk them too. They love to go out for a walk and I treat them by letting them run free. Go get your leashes, Rebba and Inthe! It's a nice day for a walk in the park!

A tropical breeze

I'm so looking forward to going abroad! It's exciting to visit different countries and getting to know other cultures and products. Just to get a little of that sunny atmosphere, I have prepared a colorful mango salsa salad. It's easy to make and it's just so attractive, you won't be able to let it sit in the fridge. You will just want to dig in!

what do we need:

• 1 mango, peeled, seeded and very finely diced
• 1 red pepper, seeded and very finely diced
• 1 green onion, minced
• fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 1/2 jalapeno chile pepper, finely chopped
• 1 lemon, juice only

Just mingle all of the ingredients and let the salsa marinate in the fridge for at least one hour. It's a very attractive side dish and it can accompany various recipes. You could serve it in small glasses as an appetizer as well. Top with some fresh cilantro leaves.

The pointing finger

A couple of my diabetic friends have reached their melting point.. Life with D isn't always good. We know we should be happy to have access to the insulin we absolutely need, and we truly are lucky. But every now and then, you come to reach the point where you want to give D a good kick in the bum. You want to scream and cry and throw a fit - call it whatever you want to call it. Trust me, although life with D is still a good life, at some days it really sucks big time. I see my friends struggle and it's painful to see them go through this ordeal. Their team is very strict and they point the finger at their patients, telling them they are not doing real well in treating their diabetes. Hello??? Give them a break, will you? They do real well. It's a daily struggle and trust me: it's not easy at all to resist all those temptations. Food is everywhere! In the store, in your house, on TV, in school, at work. Wherever you go, you come across goodies and the people around us indulge and enjoy their candy and chocolates. They have no clue. And no, some diabetes nurses really don't get it. They don't have diabetes and they will never understand how we truly feel. I'm lucky to have a very good nurse, and although she's not a diabetic, she can relate well to how we deal with the D monster. She's sympathetic without patronizing us. There's no pointing finger when things are not going the way they should. On the contrary, she's a very good motivator. If only other nurses could do the same. Sometimes they don't realize the cruelty of their words. They have no idea how their comments affect my friends. They think they do real well in educating and guiding their patients. But them too, they are humans and humans make mistakes.

I hope my friends will find a way to get motivated again. Because we care. Because they are worth it.

Let's celebrate life!

I had been looking for a restaurant where the two of us could meet. We ended up in a unique diner in Dendermonde, named Litus. Both of us had checked the menu beforehand, and it looked very appealing. And I can tell you: it was worth the drive.

We enjoyed an appetizer while having a glass of dry wine, before we were treated on tuna carpaccio. It was delicious! My companion had lamb chops and a variety of warm vegetables, while I had chosen a vegetarian salad. Boy, did I like that! It was packed with fresh vegetables: bean sprouts, snow peas, different kinds of lettuce, shredded cabbage, carrots, blackberries, raspberries,.. drizzled with a mustard dressing. I couldn't finish my whole plate, because I wanted to leave some room for dessert, as I had seen sabayon on the menu. It's my most favorite dessert and I won't skip it if they serve it. That's one of the only desserts you can be sure off it will be made right there on the spot. I heard the cook whisk the eggs for the sabayon and the constant beating sound in the pan made me happy. It was worth it, I can assure you.

We spent nearly 5 hours in the restaurant, because we had so much to talk about. What a lovely lady I met! It was a pleasure to get to know her. There were so many similarities between us, that it was almost scary! I think we'll hear more from each other in the future. December 1 2010 will be the point of no return. You're ready and you'll be absolutely fine. Don't worry.

Everybody likes a compliment

The day before yesterday, I paid my diabetes nurse a visit. My appointment was set at noon. I decided to surprise her by bringing home made lunch. She really enjoyed that spinach quiche and I promised her to forward the recipe. So here it is:

what do we need:

• 1 recipe of shortcrust pastry
• 1/2 tablespoon of oil
• 1 shallot, minced
• 1 bag of fresh spinach
• 5 eggs, beaten
• 150 grams of your favorite grated cheese
• salt and pepper

what do we do:

• Preheat the oven to 175°C.
• Heat the oil in the pan. Add the minced shallot and let it simmer until it's become translucent.
• Add the spinach and keep stirring until the spinach has wilted. Let the spinach drain in a colander until it has released all of its fluids.
• Beat the eggs and add the cheese. 
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Pre-bake the crust for 10 min.
• Divide the spinach over the crust.
• Pour the egg-cheese mixture over the spinach.
• Bake the quiche for 30 min.
• Serve warm or cold, with a salad on the side.