Thursday, July 28, 2011

Kidnapping Bastiaan…. And Vanilla Bean Ice Cream…


Yep, I admit it!
I kidnapped my husband!
And I LIKED IT!

We don’t go out much. Our life pretty much evolves in and around the dairy. We don’t feel the need to go too far and away places, because when we were “young” (yes, this means in our teens and twenties) Bastiaan and I traveled the world. So now we are just happy to sit on our own couch in our own house enjoying each other’s company.


But sometimes you (well, I anyway) get this feeling and you just need to chance paces a bit to keep yourself and your relationship happy…

Soooo, I kidnapped my hubby!

Last year my sweetie turned 30 (such a young pup...)! And we needed to celebrate, but I am not very good at giving gifts and I am also ALWAYS forgetting his birthday day (yes I know, it is usually on the same date every year…) but somehow it always sneaks up on me! So to make up for all the years that I almost (or fully) forgot I planned a little get away trip.

He did not know ANYTHING! I just told him he needed to make sure to shower and shave and be ready at 11 am Thursday morning.

The night before I packed his favorite shirts and yeans, tossed some cologne and gel in a bag and put that with my girly girl stuff in the trunk of my car. At 11 am he was ready and was anxious to know where going…. Bastiaan is not very good with surprises or gifts; he just has this need to know what it is or what the surprise is…. But I was NOT going to tell him!


I had to be pretty crafty because after his shower and getting dressed, with me telling him “Sorry honey, that shirt of yours is still in the laundry basket…”, “Yeah I know it is been in there for over a week….”, “I’ll do it when we get back tonight…”. And sneaking back into the house, while he waited in the car, with a lousy excuse of having forgotten something, to get his toothbrush and shaving stuff, in two Walmart bags, so he couldn’t see what was in it... We finally got going.

No I didn’t need no handcuffs, and also I didn’t need a blindfold, but I had him in my car and I wasn’t gonna let him go!

After we drove for 4 hours he REALLY wanted to know where we were going. I told him, “surprise!” and kept driving. But of course I got a little hungry and he got a little grumpy after all this driving, so we pulled over at an exit close to Cincinnati. Bastiaan was all ready to hop out of the car and do some driving with race cars (that was what he thought we were going to do) but when we pulled into the parking lot of a Steak and Shake, he figured it out pretty quick! No racing cars, not today!

After we had a fabulous burger and a shake, YES some VANILLA BEAN (hehe), we hit the road again. And finally after driving a little over seven and a half hours we were there! By that time Bastiaan knew we weren’t going home that night, but he still did not know I booked us a Bed & Breakfast close to the Smokey Mountains and we were going to stay there for two nights. We ended up staying there for THREE nights, just us, our lovely hosts and some wonderful house guests. No phones, no TV, no computers and NO COWS! We did have long walks, amazing breakfasts and even more amazing desserts, some incredible views of the mountains and our own porch and Jacuzzi! It was fantastic!


And..., because of all of you, we made it into the final round of the Progressive Dairyman Ice Cream Face Off!!! AND because Bastiaan is going to be 31 this weekend and yes I am kidnapping him again today! But this time with his knowledge, I am gonna ask you ONE MORE TIME to please vote for Vanilla Bean! And I promise you, I will do my best to find the best ice cream place in DollyWood and eat some Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and let you know about it…. Well…. And if we won the contest of course!

A big THANK YOU SOOO MUCH to everybody who voted AND a big THANK YOU AND A BIG HUG for everybody who where brave enough to try my Ice Cream and multi colored Peppercorns recipe, and actually did LIKE it!

You guys are the best!!!



….

38 comments:

Louise said...

What a wonderful thing, to kidnap your husband! Sounds like you had a great time. I hope that your getaway this year is equally as good. My vote for Vanilla Bean is in!

MadSnapper said...

i voted again. great story of the bed and breakfast kidnapping episode. i have always wanted to stay in a B and B and this one sounds wonderful. congrats on winning, VB it is

Melodie said...

I went over and voted.I sure wish I could get kidnapped like that,lol!

Alica said...

What a great idea! That sounds like a wonderful getaway! Wish we could get away from our cows too...someday!

Buttons Thoughts said...

Vanilla bean check. Happy birthday to the youngster, I hope you have a great time. It is a beautiful place to escape to. Have fun and enjoy those moments together without cows and technology. B

bon bon said...

can we vote more than once?!

what a fun a relaxing get-away! i love b&b's. it's been a few years since we've made it to one though. i guess the romance is over at this point. ha!

and happy birthday to your adoring husband! :o)

Clint said...

Kidnapping your own husband is cool. Kidnapping someone else's---not so much!

And what better place to get away than the Smokies? Hope y'all had a wonderful time!

Lois Evensen said...

I just voted. :)) And, the Smokies are the BEST! We love spending time there between FL and OH. ;)

Jill said...

Got my vote in. :) Your surprise for your hubby was fantatic! Sounds like it was a perfect get away!

Kim said...

hope you have a wonderful, relaxing, dairy-free time.

Sharon said...

It does sound like a marvelous time and so relaxing!

I can't forget DH's Birthday, I know it as well as my own! Oh, yah, it IS my own! He can't forget mine either! :-)

Dolores said...

What a loving and great idea you had..... your trip sounds awesome!
I wish someone would kidnap me and take me away .....anywhere...

I voted!

Larkrise garden girl said...

Leontien, What a great idea.My hubby and I use to go to bed and breakfast in Julian so much fun. Leontien you are a nut . You made me chuckle today as I read your story. Yes i voted again and will think of you whenever I drink a glass of milk. Cheri

TexWisGirl said...

hope you have a great 31derful birthday weekend together!

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

It sounds like a delightful getaway!
No one deserves it more than someone with dairy cows.
Been there, done that!

The pictures are lovly!

Off to vote!

Unknown said...

Sounds like a wonderful idea.
Ii'm off to vote!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Hi Leontien! Your getaway sounds like so much fun! I've always wanted to stay at a B&B, but never have. Hmmm. Maybe I'll just kidnap my hubby and do just that! Good luck with the ice cream, I'll go vote now. Have a wonderful day. ~Cheryl

Rae said...

What a wonderful surprise and lovely birthday getaway. I hope both of you enjoy yourselves this year too.

Lisa Gordon said...

What a wonderful surprise Leontien! It sounds like a wonderful time. Congratulations on the Ice Cream Faceoff. Your entry is amazing!! Loved it!

Gail Dixon said...

Cool story. Sounds like a fabulous little getaway. Good luck in the ice cream contest!! You entry is awesome!

Tanna said...

Oh, I wish someone would kidnap me like that!! I'll be your husband so appreciated your thoughtfulness and time away with his bride! I'm headin' to vote. blessings ~ tanna

Tanna said...

Leontien, the survey says it is closed!

Debbie said...

awesome suprise and such a wonderful trip!!!

i will vote also!!

rainfield61 said...

I surrender myself, I am asking to be kidnapped.

Yvonne said...

What a wonderful experience together. I love bed and breakfasts (we always stay at them on vacations), and the Smokeys are so beautiful.

It's me said...

Ik hoop dat jullie hebben genoten !!...liefs van mij...xxx...

Out on the prairie said...

Lovely times and I hope you find that good ice cream

Out on the prairie said...

Lovely times and I hope you find that good ice cream

Sultan said...

Kudos: great idea and a great trip.

Sandi said...

You are wise, fun, charming, and conniving! I hope you have a wonderful get away...and yes, I will vote!

Poppy (aka Val) said...

Sounds like you had a great time!Well done for kidnapping your hubby :)

Birdman said...

Sound like a fabulous get-a-way!
30? I can hardly remember it. Enjoy!

Love Of Quilts said...

LOVE THE WAY YOU THINK GIRL. Trish

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi There, The kidnapping sounds great.. I've been grieving since Thursday over the death of a very good friend. We will drive to Atlanta tomorrow for her funeral.

SO--thanks for the cute post.. I needed a smile--and some ice cream!!!!! ha
Hugs,
Betsy

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

This is a cute story of kidnapping! The Smokey's are so beautiful....

floweringmama said...

Aww, so glad you guys had time to yourselves. It's a great gift to give and receive!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Well, I wouldn't object to a kidnapping like that!

Ladytee said...

It has taken me a while to get back to you about the verdict on the ice cream. I really liked it, not at all what I expected. I really thought that I would be able to taste the pepper, but the Anisette & strawberries must have changed the taste of the pepper. It was almost like a mint chocolate chip flavor. I tried it twice. The second time I did add mini chocolate chips & it was delicious. My daughter who is a very picky eater added crushed Oreos and she loved it. Must say this is a winner. Thanks!

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