I just looked and realized that Dackel Princess is now 7 years old! How did this happen? The last 7 years have flown by. Shubi is gone now.

She was the original Dackel Princess. Greta the new senior Dackel Princess, is 8 years old.

She has two children that still live with us, Arnie & Anneliese, and life has shifted from looking forward to new puppies to the simple enjoyment of all of our dogs.

I love writing about the dogs, Hubby, Mandy & Matt and soon their little baby. I mean, how blessed am I to have all of this love around me?

The flood edition.

1. I noticed a puddle in the basement the other day.
2. I walked it off, and determined it had to come from the dishwasher.
3. We pulled the dishwasher out, and found the split hose.
4. Good!
5. We ordered the hose.
6. It came in record time.
7. W e replaced the hose.
8. And found another leak.
9. Isn’t that always the way?
10. The washer is nearly repaired now.
11. I had to pull up all of the shelf paper under the sink.
12. What a mess.
13. We will finish the repair on Thursday afternoon…I hope!

My dishwasher broke last week. How did we know? Well the big give away, was the puddle on the floor in the garage below and the leak in the cieling!

The first night, we planned our course of action the next day, we would undo the gazillion screws, carefully putting them aside, and then we would spend about half an hour moving the machine out from under the counter. No small feat when both Hubby and I have problematic knees.

However we did it, and we found pockets of water in the insulation, and before we knew it, the floor was covered. What a mess!

Mops and sponges were brought out and we cleaned up the mini disaster as we went about finding the hole in the hoses.

It did not take long. There it was!

A tiny little slit capable producing big puddles!

We looked through the Owners Manual & Parts book and Hubby got on the phone and ordered the new hose. I think that was on Sunday.

This afternoon the UPS truck pulled up and lo and behold, our new hose arrived from Frigidaire!

Now the challenge begins…installation!

I’ve been making this for a while now and we really enjoy it. In fact, it was what I made for dinner on Monday night!

Meatloaf!

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1/2 pound ground veal
2 eggs (used egg beaters)
1/4 cup ketchup
2 teaspoons Spice Mix, recipe follows
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2/3 cup fine dried bread crumbs

Spice Mix Recipe
(save the rest in airtight container.)
3 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon celery salt

Position rack in center of oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic, salt, basil, thyme, and black pepper. Cook, stirring, until the onions are soft and lightly golden, about 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, pork, and veal with a wooden spoon or with clean hands. Be sure to wash up afterward.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the eggs, ketchup, Spice Mix, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce, and whisk to combine. Add the egg mixture to the meat mixture along with the cooled vegetables and bread crumbs. Mix with your hands or a wooden spoon until thoroughly combined.

Transfer the mixture to a 9 by 5 by 3-inch loaf pan. Using your fingers or the back of the wooden spoon, smooth the top into a rounded loaf shape. Wash hands again.

Place strips of bacon on the top.

Bake the meatloaf for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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It was a remarkably busy weekend. Mostly I was working in the green house, re-potting plants. I now have 14 large patio containers, with tomatoes, eggplants, and green peppers in them! Wonderful! Another three weeks and I can plant my seedlings into the ground!

I also enjoyed the sunshine! Finally, sunshine, warmer temperatures and the beauty of late spring.

I finally watched “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2″, so I have seen them all. My favorites are the first and the last movie. I love the way the movies portrayed Severus Snape! Especially the last one!

I worked on yet another report and after three hours sent it out to the others. I hope it is okay.

Hubby and I were looking around the family room tonight as watched yet another set of movies (”I Remember Mama” & “Master & Commander”) and as we looked around us we were surrounded by happy, sleepy, pups!

Oh yes, life is good! Thank you Lord!

I had such a fun day on Friday. Between going to the German Deli and spending the rest of the day with Mandy, I had a great time.

At the German Deli, I was able to buy all of Hubby’s and my favorite foods. I’d brought a cooler with me, and I was able to keep everything nice and cold while I visited with Mandy.

I’d gotten, Hungarian salami slices, Leberkäse, Fleish Salat, German Potato Salat, Tilsit Cheese, Klosterbrot (a hearty rye bread) and some Weiss Wurst. My husband loves me right now!

My day with Mandy was super. I got to see the nursery.

I just love all the little animals and the crib is so beautiful! Later it will adjust to a youth bed.

I think the nicest part of our day was the fact that we got to sit and talk quietly. No rush, no clock pressuring us. I was so happy to share this time with her.

We went off to lunch at a nice place called The Homestead and we both had lobster rolls. Oooooh! They were so good! (Sorry I forgot to take a picture!)

We said goodbye and off I went to come home, while she went to an appointment.

Hubby and I watched another movie last night. We’ve really been watching a lot of Foreign Films and enjoying most of them. This was “Fraulein” and it was great! Thought provoking and well acted!

After a good night’s sleep I got up this morning and made Hubby his favorite breakfast! First you saute onions, and brown the Leberkäse.

Then you cook the eggs.

Make your Klosterbrot into toast, put the Leberkäse on the plate, and layer onions, egg and onions.

This is Hubby’s plate!

Well, that’s my report for Friday and part of Saturday. I hope you are all having a good weekend!

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

I had a great day, on Friday with Mandy. I went to her place, and saw the nursery, all set up and ooohed and aaaahed over the beautiful clothes our little girl has in line for the first year of her life.

It was sunny and warm, and we drove off to have lunch, and then it was time for Mandy to go for an OB appointment, and for me to head home.

I left home at 8:45 and got back at 5PM. Long day, but since the days are longer now, I didn’t mind a bit!

We watched another German movie “Fraulein” and it was fabulous. Another win, win, in the free movie department!

Pictures and a better report on my trip south tomorrow. It’s late and I am one tired Granny!

And…here we go!

1. What a beautiful thing to see on a spring day, is a fully blossoming apple tree!
2. Love, kindness and caring are the most important things in life, right?
3. It’s no surprise that every time I hear a baby cry, or see a new born in a store, I go a little weak in my knees!.
4.It wasn’t easy, but somehow I made it through.
5. I like to try new and adventurous recipes.
6. Oh gosh, that’s hard it changes daily. But for today, The Spy Who Loved Me by Carly Simon is one of my most favorite songs!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to just vegging out after a lunch date with Mandy, tomorrow my plans include the usual weekend chores and Sunday, I want to work on my plants, perhaps actually planting my peas.!

The Rain, Rain, Go Away, Edition

It’s May, and usually we are through with April Showers, and May has brought an abundance of flowers, instead….rain! However, here are a few of my thoughts about the start of the month of May.

1. We have had a couple of warm days, and I cannot begin to tell you how lovely the fruit trees were/are.
2. You could step into the back yard and the apple trees were so fragrant.
3. Part of our crop (cherries and peaches) will ripen early this year.
4. I was able to buy large eggplant and tomato plants, and I expect an early yield there as well.
5. In not too many more weeks my daughter’s daughter will arrive.
6. I do not want to spoil the surprise, but I know her name and it is a beautiful one!
7. I’m hoping for a warm, sunny June.
8. So, I am putting my order in now for that sort of weather now. Good for taking walks with babies.
9. Mother’s Day is this weekend. To all of my Readers who are Mother’s, Have a wonderful day!!!
10. I’m having lunch soon with Mandy and when I do I plan a stop at a German Deli.
11. I’ll buy some of our favorite foods like, Leberkäse, Klosterbrot, Tilsiter Cheese, Wursts and some fix’s for meals like Schnitzel.
12. My husband is already drooling!
13. Have a great day everyone!

1. What is a pet peeve you have when vacationing?

Noisy, uncontrolled kids! We like to cruise, and I just hate unsupervised kids running up and down the hallways screaming!

2. Would you describe yourself as a light packer or do you need everything in your closet plus the kitchen sink?

I used to pack heavily, and now with all the restrictions, I pack very lightly! Many times I’ll buy a container of sun screen or other toiletries when I arrive (the cheapest and smallest) and leave them when I fly home.

3. What’s the best lesson a child ever taught you?

Not to rush. Children grow up so fast. I didn’t know that. I was so involved in their growth, at times, that I forgot to live in the moment.

4. Share one piece of advice you’d give a recent graduate as they attempt to enter the job market?

Live, laugh, smile and be confident!

5. What’s your favorite lemon something?

I make the best lemonade ever!

6. Flat sandal, wedge, heel…your favorite footwear?

I have some clogs that I love. They’re a bit old and I use them for slippers now, but oh my, they are so comfortable.

7. What do you like best about a beach holiday? If you’re not a beach lover (GASP!!) what do you dislike the least?

I grew up on Cape Cod, a five minute walk to the beach. I could swim before I could walk, and I loved the long lazy days stretched out in the sand. We ate frozen Milky Way Candy Bars, hot dogs and fries. It was a right of passage when you were old enough and strong enough to swim out to the raft, and learn to dive. The salty taste of the sea on my lips, was as soothing as the warm sun on my skin!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

It’s been raining all day and I’m tired of being wet. Hubby and I did the grocery shopping, and had a Chinese lunch. Best part was some coconut chicken I had. Worst part…they charged me as a senior citizen! Guess I was having a bad day!