The Dackel Princess

A Little Does Hurt

You might recall that a year ago, when I got back from my first cruise, Heidi came down with crystals, which required extensive surgery. At that time, my veterinarian suggested Heidi was way past fluffy and was now FAT!

I felt they were harsh, but I followed their feeding guidelines.

On my way in a woman was leading an older dog out. This dog should have weighed about 65 pounds, but here was this poor dog, at least 50 pounds above her ideal weight, barely held up by her spindley legs. My heart broke for her.

Then I brought in Heidi and the girls brought her to the scale. Now almost a year later I had to take Heidi in for an eye exam (perfect vision, and does not need glasses) But since she was there, they weighed her. Suddenly there was clapping and yipping!

Heidi has lost five pounds!

As you can see she has her girlish figure back and once again looks like a healthy long dackel!

It was actually easy. I put two measuring cups in the food bin. She gets 1/4 of a cup of her chow in the morning and 1/3 of a cup in the evening. She also gets a small pill pocket with dinner. And that is it!

Food is not love!

So, I am proud of her and proud of me and now I have a happy healthy pooch!

The Friday Five ~ November 22nd

Here we are a week before Black Friday. Is anyone going out shopping before the sun rises? Not me. It’s good to be elderly without needing to fight the crowds. So, here we go with this week’s Friday Five.

1. My plans were not set in stone before, but I can now share that I am going on a Princess Cruise over Christmas and New Year’s. I have a family moving in to care for Heidi and my home.
2. My Itinerary is:
  Ft. Lauderdale
  At Sea
  At Sea
  St. Maarten
  St. Kitts
  Martinique
  Barbados
  Grenada
  Trinidad And Tobago
  At Sea
  Curacao
  Aruba
  At Sea
  At Sea
  Ft. Lauderdale.
3. I have a couple of books, and my plans are to listen to music, read, swim, and hopefully relax—something I have not been able to do for a while.
4. I must drag out my swimsuit to see how bad I look. I have lost 20 pounds since the summer, so I hope I look better.
5. So, I am off to the recycling center. Have a wonderful weekend!

Sixty~Six

Yes, it’s true. Today is my birthday, and I am officially sixty-six years old. How in the world did that happen?

I was born and raised on Cape Cod in the 1950s-1960s. Back then, I could ride my bike all over town and pick up things for my mother at the local convenience store.

I recall going to the beach, lying on the sand, and thinking that this part of my life was far away. Yet, here I am.

I was a little raggamuffin, often without shoes and in junkie clothes. I rode my bike, climbed trees, and walked along the shore.

I married twice, had my babies, and started my travels worldwide.

Mandy, Katie, and me.

I fell in love with wire-haired dackels and traveled to Germany to get Greta.

What a significant part of my life Greta was.

Anneliese, Arnie and Greta.

She gave me Arnie and Anneliese. I thought it could not get any better.

Then came Heidi and I thank the good Lord who knew I needed a best friend because she sure is!

Heidi

I’m so lucky to have my daughter and grandchildren, Savannah and Quinn.

Savannah

Quinn
Amanda and me.

I have also picked up two sons and a daughter. Stepchildren, but I think of them as my own.

At sixty-six, I think of them all with great love, and seriously, I wonder how I got here so darn fast.

Ah yes. The age of decrepitude!

So here’s to these years. May old age be kind, and may they be full of fun and laughs.

The Friday Five ~ November 15th

Another week has passed. Soon, November will be over, and we will be counting down the days until 2025, the New Year. Crazy. So, here is this week’s Friday Five.

I had to go to an appointment with my glaucoma doctor. Although my pressures were high, my vision was correctable to 20/20, and my eyes showed no damage. So, it’s back to using my drops diligently.
I went to Walmart today and ordered some sunglasses. The light is bothering me as the sun’s angle changes.
As I approach my sixty-sixth birthday, I have considered expiration dates. Many of our most loved singers, actors, and writers are in their 80s. I suppose this makes me think about this because of Jack’s passing at 85, but I look around and wonder who will be next.
In the past year, my health has declined. I became diabetic, had problems with my heart (minor, really), and, due to issues with my balance, have started to use a cane. I am handling it all, but it makes me wonder about my own expiration date.
Well, sixty-six isn’t so bad. I wonder what the next few years have in store for Heidi, my faithful dackel, and me.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Katie

Many years ago, there lived a little girl who brought joy and laughter to all she knew. She was a kind child with a wicked sense of humor and an infectious laugh. She loved Barbie dolls, yogurt, and dancing with the Solid Gold dancers on the TV.

Today would have been her 46th birthday. I wonder what she would have been like and where her life would have taken her.

So, Happy Heavenly Birthday, Katie.

The Friday Five ~ November 1st

Happy Friday, and Happy November first! Where has this year gone? Oh well. Here are this week’s Friday Five.

The Carpenters worked all week to transform the flooring in my kitchen and family room.
It is not only beautiful but also brighter!
Now, I am looking to paint this space. I want to keep it light and bright.
Meanwhile, my dishwasher decided that this was an excellent time to die. I drove down to Lowes, and my new machine will be here on Monday!
I found a new home for all my Pfalzgraff. Not only do I have an essential service, but Jack was addicted to eBay and bought so much. I am one person. I do not need all of this.
I was getting Heidi up from her crate the other day, and I noticed that her dackel butt was pressing against the crate door. This girl is a long……dog. I had another crate that was a lot bigger, and she loved it.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

The Friday Five Oct. 25th

This week has slipped by quickly. Velcro dog (Heidi) and I have gone on many rides and spent endless hours together. So here goes!

1. My friend and I went out to the Lemongrass Restaurant. It was wonderful! I had a Shrimp Bento Box.
2. On Heidi’s birthday, Heidi was full of puppy delight as she raced all over the family room and enjoyed trying to rip up the foamy steps.
3. I went to Amazon and found a set of solid plastic steps that matched the ones for my seat.
  I laid the foamy steps to rest.
4. On Thursday, I went to the Pharmacy for my annual Flu shot. I have no sore arm, and there have been no side effects so far.
5. Next week, I get my Covid booster. Then, I am done for a while.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

This, That & Happy Birthday Heidi

It’s been weeks since I wrote. Life has been slipping by, and I always try to get through the days. Some days are easier than others.

I must say it is a lovely Autumn here. It’s not as vivid as usual, but it’s beautiful.

As we approach the winter season, we have seen an abundance of critters in our yards: bobcats, bears, deer, and a skunk. Thankfully, the floodlights have been installed, so I know what is out there before Heidi and I venture out.

I received a notice that my Part-D insurance was not renewed in New Hampshire. I was so upset, but when I opened the next envelope, I was offered Insurance through Delta. Yippie!

I am working on finding my way in this world. Being alone has never been my strong suit. But I am trying.

I have renovated most of the house; now it is my home.

You will not believe this, but Heidi turns three years old today! The time has flown, and I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have made it without Heidi to brighten my world.

So, happy birthday to my sweet girl, Heidi.

Baby Heidi

The Friday Five ~ October 4th

I woke up this morning, looked out my window, and brushed the sleep from my eyes. Finally, our trees were changing color, reminding me that Fall was upon us. A smile came to my face!

This week has been full of progress. My plumber came and fixed my spigot in the greenhouse. For 25 years, I could not use it because it was installed incorrectly.
Then, my electrician came to fix the automatic lights in the driveway and install two spotlights in the backyard. With bobcats, bears, and whatever else roaming in the dark, I wanted light so that when I take Heidi out at night, I can see.
I had my car detailed. I cannot bend like I once did, so I plan to keep my nice car in good shape. He did a fantastic job!
I had a disaster with my hair. It got so severely overprocessed that it began to fall out. I was so upset. Then, my daughter suggested I visit her stylist for a consultation. Sure enough, at this point, I needed just to let it be—no more coloring of any type. But…I could get a pixie cut to stop the hair from breaking. One or two more haircuts and the damaged hair will be gone.

So, I have a pixie cut for the first time since Nursery School. One thing is for sure: it is easy to do. And yes. The curls are all mine.
My kitchen floor is due to go in in two to three weeks. The reno is almost done!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Old Cape Cod & Me

I have been thinking about life lately, perhaps because we have lost so many talented people who have entertained us.

It seems like just yesterday, I was climbing the jetties at Surf Drive Beach. Many people liked to lie in the sand and soak up the sun. However, as a child, I could never sit still.

We had picnics at the beach, eating somewhat sandy peanut butter and fluff sandwiches. It didn’t matter. Looking back, it was the best.

Imagine living in paradise and not even knowing this. So was my childhood growing up on Cape Cod.

All summer, I went around in bathing suits and bare feet.

Of course, back in the 1960s, I could ride my Schwinn bicycle all around town without worrying anyone.

Dairy Queen treats and trips to Elsie’s Restaurant, where she served the best German food!

Henry and Elsie Baumann

Life was simple and carefree, and today, as I am living out the final decades of my life, I appreciate that time even more.