I was wondering where to start on my de-cluttering. That, in itself, can be an overwhelming decision! I thought for a bit during breakfast and then decided to start in my bathroom. My bathroom vanity was stuffed with so many things that you would not believe it! I couldn’t find anything anymore. So, I got a trash can and started to clean. One thing after another.

Have you looked at medications like Tylenol or Aspirin lately to check their expiration dates? I did and was shocked to find things labeled 2002! Not good! Trash!

I found old tubes of antibiotic ointment that also needed to be tossed. Then I decided that there were many things that could be stored in my guest bathroom, like soaps, new  regular tooth brushes (I use an electric one), and shampoo.

I organized a drawer for my hair brushes and combs and clips. The other was for moisturizers and ointments.

I went through the medicine cabinet and I was shocked again at what was in there. I immediately started throwing out medications that had expired.

By the time I was done I had a full plastic bag of trash, and a basket of items for the guest bathroom. I think I will go into the kitchen  for an hour and see what I can get done.

Oh it feels so good to be freeing up space in my house!

Good Morning Everyone. Today we have an important task. We must decide whether or not this jacket is a good selection for the Dackel Princess, or should her daughter, Mandy get this gem.
I am leaving it up to you, so take a moment and vote and I will let you all know tomorrow what happens.

Last night was a cold, clear night and when I went out with Anneliese I saw the moon and how beautiful it looked. Many of you know how to take great night pictures with your cameras, but I have never had much luck. Until now. Remember I bought Hubby a new camera for Christmas? Well, I’m having a great time with it….and it takes great night shots easily!

Anneliese watched me quite intently.

During the day today I practiced a little more with it and both Anneliese and Arnie were great models.

Anneliese loves to dig in the snow and sometimes tunnel underneath.

You see how Arnie was able to get the snow just so on his beard so that he looks simply adorable!

I was able to get out to the grocery store today and get the last few things I need before the next snow storm, which is forecast for tomorrow.

Hubby is doing well. We’ve been watching movies, and reruns of NCIS and keeping busy. One movie we watched was “True Grit” with John Wayne. That was a great movie, with fabulous cinematography.

It looks like tomorrow I will have to conquer the recycling center. It’s not my favorite place to go, but I think I should get the trash dumped before the snow comes.

Wish me luck!

There is great excitement here at the Dackel Princess House. We are getting the upper part of our driveway redone. This is quite important as the record breaking winter and heavy rains this spring have left the road in bad shape. Deep ruts, and giant bumps made it extremely dicey for us or our neighbor (whom we share the driveway with) to go up or down. It happened before when Hubby was laid up and I tried to keep things going. Now we’ve hired a firm to come in and put new drainage in and then more dirt and gravel.

I went up to check on Hubby, Fritz and our other neighbor, Frank to make sure they are doing a good job supervising. So far it looks good.

Fritz is especially good at supervising!

After I checked on things, I came back down our driveway, the part that is paved and I noticed what a beautiful day it was, and how nice the house and the lake looked, so I snapped a quick picture.

It will take a few more days for them to finish the job, but then this should last for a few years. They will also resurface the tar and that will be done as well.

Meanwhile, I was busy with laundry, cooking and cleaning today. I got quite a bit done. Matina and James came down and we walked the dogs. Matina and I are talking about starting knitting projects together. I still hope to make the Harry Potter Scarf that I’ve had the yarn for, for a couple of years. Yes, the time may have come for me to start that!

Hubby and I went to see this charming movie on Friday. Make no mistake, it is dealing with a difficult subject (teen pregnancy), but the film offers hope in a way I didn’t think was possible. The acting was superb, the writing and directing were outstanding. We laughed, we cried and we fell in love with Juno and her friends and family.

For those who have a chance, go see it. If it is not near you yet, you can preview the movie here and here.

I think many mothers of teenage daughters might worry about allowing their girls to see this, but I must say, take them and then allow the movie to open a dialog between you and your daughter about the emotional and physical changes that occur from an accidental teenage pregnancy. It just may help you to start a conversation on a subject that many people find hard to talk about, and also help your daughter to avoid a pregnancy when she is not mature enough to handle the results.

I cannot remember seeing such a wonderful movie in a very long time. Take your daughter, your sister or a friend. (In my case, Hubby came with me, and he loved the movie too!) You will not be disappointed!

PS: I was trying to remember the name of the song that is sort of the theme song of this movie. (All The Young Dudes, by Mott The Hoople) It was making me crazy, not being able to remember it. Finally I called my cousin, Janet and sang and hummed the part I could recall. She is a genius! She remembered it right off and solved the mystery! Thanks, J!

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I’ve been playing with the camera again. Learning new things and so I thought I would share them with you. The first one happened when Anneliese was looking out the window this afternoon. I noticed the flash didn’t go off and so she appears in silhouette.

Then I put the filler flash on and took the same picture again.

I was pleased. Then I watched Anneliese and took this picture with a 75% zoom.

The clarity on that last one just amazed me! I can’t believe that the screen shows up so well!

Then I decided to get back to the macros, so I set up the new earrings I got today, on the scarf I will wear with the new outfit Hubby bought me. I found these earrings quite by chance and knew they would go perfectly!

And with that I will end this post before I have bored you all to tears!

I will probably be boring you with pictures before we even leave on our trip. Why, you might ask? Because we bought a new camera today. We’d been talking about it for a while, and the other day when we were down in “the big city” we looked at them and tried some out. My biggest problem is due to all my eye surgeries, I really need a camera that gives you a good normal view finder to work with. I also wanted lots of pixels and a super zoom! Yesterday we made up our mind what we wanted, and this morning in the Sunday newspaper there our camera was, “on sale”!!!

So we drove down today and bought it!

So as soon as I finished dinner I was snapping pictures trying it out. I think I have a long way to go! There are so many settings, and so many buttons, that I haven’t discovered even a fraction of all the things that this camera does!

Here are a two pictures from tonight.

Arnie.

Greta.

Stay tuned for more pictures!!!

My cousin Janet asked me to participate in this for the month of August, so here goes.

Thanks to my Web-Maven Megan, my “remember me” in the comment section has now been fixed! Thanks so much, Megan! You are wonderful!!!