Time for a Getaway!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Alan and I 'ran away' last weekend. Mom stayed with the kids, and we went to the Heartland Wildlife Ranch (check it out, http://www.heartland-wildlife.com). When we went to the fundraiser for the local crisis pregnancy center, we won a dinner, overnight stay, and breakfast in the silent auction. It was really nice to get away for a little bit and just spend time together. The place is absolutely gorgeous, and has a fun and interesting theme. Everywhere you go, they have wildlife, either stuffed or pictures. It was fancier than we are accustomed to in our day-to-day life, but fun to experience. This is the 'smaller parlor', if you will. I didn't really get a good picture of the larger 'parlor' or 'sitting area' (whatever does one call all these rooms??!) largely because I just couldn't get it all in the frame of my camera! But here is a picture looking up from the main area. We had fun exploring and 'dreaming' of things we might like to have in our home from this place. Alan chose the stuffed bobcat: while I went for this beautiful piece of furniture (Alan thinks it's called a 'gentleman's dresser', if I remember right). They had a nice pricing list for getting game stuffed. I had no idea it was so expensive! I think the bobcat was about $750 to stuff. Seems crazy to me. . .afraid Alan won't be getting that anytime soon. Don't even tell me what my beautiful piece of furniture would cost me! This was part of our room--again, just beautiful! And, as is normal with us, we enjoyed the FOOD! The dinner started with individual appetizers of toasted baguette and hot artichoke and spinach dip. The next course consisted of the most delicious salad I think I've ever had, complete with homemade croutons and three homemade salad dressings (I had to divide my salad up so I could keep trying different ones b/c they were just a party in my mouth!). I could have made a meal on this salad alone, along with the exquisite rolls that had just the right amount of sweetness to them. Sure wish I could get that recipe!!! Next, (even as both our bellies and our mouths were quite satisfied) they brought our prime rib, served on a bed of steamed asparagus and accompanied by parmesan encrusted baked potatoes. (Don't you think I should write menus?! tee, hee) But that's not all--they brought us our own little 'baked potato bar' with bacon, sour cream, green onions, and cheese. After we ate as much of this as we could, we had the choice of pecan pie and triple chocolate truffle pie. I'm sure you can guess who got what. Alan said it was the best pecan pie he'd ever had, and I really wanted to sneak my chocolate into a napkin to save for later when I could really enjoy it because I was way too stuffed to fully appreciate THAT party in my mouth! And the next morning, breakfast was served at 9. We weren't hungry yet. I don't know if I can remember all the stuff they piled on us, but it included ham, eggs, hashbrowns, toast, pancakes, an assortment of fresh fruit, white and chocolate milk, orange juice, hot chocolate, coffee. . .Here is our table AFTER we once again stuffed ourselves. It's sickening, isn't it?! Think of all the starving children. . . All in all, we had a delightful time together, the kids were more than happy with Grandma, and Mommy is no longer in a 'funk'!