The Dackel Princess

It’s All About…

Recently, I have noticed that when you are a widow, you take on everything you once shared with a spouse or live-in companion, and things can feel overwhelming. I refer to this as ADULTING.

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Key Aspects of “Adulting”
Definition: The act of doing grown-up tasks (e.g., paying bills, laundry, making appointments).
Context: Used as a humorous or self-conscious way to describe engaging in responsible behavior.
Skills Involved: Time management, financial planning, home maintenance, and self-care.

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The taxes need to be filed, and the only one going to Danbury Federal Prison if the taxes are not filed and paid is me.

Laundry is all mine, and although throwing a load in is just fine, it’s the putting it in the dryer, folding the clothes, and putting them away in a one-day time frame. If not, suddenly laundry day stretches into laundry week!

Recently, I had problems with my heating system. Although I know very little about under-the-floor heating systems, I learned enough quickly as we had temperatures in the single digits and teens.

I’m still bad at time management. I can blow several hours online reading (or shopping). I started cooking for myself again, and I’m actually using real dishes now instead of paper plates.

As a child, all I wanted was to grow up, be an adult, and do anything I wanted. And here I am. All grown up, but I can’t just do what I dreamed I’d be doing as a kid.

Adulting is not nearly as wonderful as I thought it would be. Oh well, too late to turn back. I just have to figure out a new way to do all of the above and make it fun!

Happy Birthday, Quinn!

Today, my darling grandson turns TEN years old! Wow! The last ten years have flown by. I recall the day he was born and holding him in my arms for the very first time. It was as if he’d always been there.

Watching him grow was something that took my breath away. I was used to girls, and here was Quinn, a rough-and-tumble little boy.

He grew so fast that he soon was playing football and basically doing all the things that boys do. I just sat back and watched, trying not to worry. In the end, he was fine, and he has amazed me every day!

Quinn is a kind boy with a good heart. Mandy and Matt are doing a great job with him, and his sister, Savi, is a great big sister.

Here is a video I made a few years ago, which shows you Quinn’s early years!

I am the luckiest Oma in the entire world!

Happy Birthday, Quinn!

The Friday Five March 6th

It was another snowy week in New Hampshire. This week, we actually got most of the snow, although it was certainly unlike the blizzards nearby recently. So here goes this week’s Friday Five.

1. At the start of the week, I went in search of a push shovel. I just needed something to provide a short path for my vertically challenged friend, Heidi.
2. The shovel does alright, as long as you don’t have deep snow. I make 1-2 passes and then let her out. There I am in my hat, coat, boots, gloves, and pajamas! Ha!
3. Moulton’s Farm opened yesterday! Yay! I stopped in and picked up a few things. They are my go-to place for fresh fruit and vegetables in the summer!
4. I’m going to my sister’s house for a few days. The puppy Nanny is moving in to care for Heidi. Am I the only one who has a Nanny for the pup?
5. I made an appointment with H&R Block to do my taxes when I get back. Oh, how I hate tax season!

The Friday Five ~ February 27th

I’ve been thinking about writing this post since the start of the week. What delayed my writing was that I simply wasn’t sure where to start. It came to me this afternoon, so here goes.

Last summer, while innocently watching TV, I suddenly noticed that I had double vision in my left eye. After seeing several doctors, I was finally referred to a true specialist who handles problems with intraocular lenses. An intraocular lens is what they put into your eye during cataract surgery. The doctor would operate, remove the old lens, and replace it with a new one. Surgery was scheduled, and my cousin, Janet, was there to stay with me at the hotel next door. The next day, she would drive me home, and all would be well.
When he opened the eye to retrieve the folded lens, he found so much scar tissue that he could not remove it. Since removal was not possible, he was able to unfold it and tack down the edges.

When we spoke in the recovery room, I could tell he was not pleased. However, under the circumstances, we all crossed our fingers that all would be well.
Janet and I went to the hotel, rested, watched some TV, and had a takeout supper. I was tired and fell asleep, but woke in the night when I felt dampness on my face. I got up and went to look at the bathroom mirror, where I could see blood coming down my cheek. I tried not to panic, but when I saw him the next morning, and the packing was removed from my eye, I could not see anything in it. Everyone in the office didn’t quite know what to say. My doctor looked into my eye and told me I’d had an intraocular bleed. I was put on 5 different eye drops, every four hours, and also given medication (a pill) to bring the pressure down. He told me that we needed to give it time. He didn’t want to open the eye again to drain it, if he could help it.
The days went by, and then the weeks. I would wake in the morning, open my eyes, and hope that somehow the sight had returned. It didn’t. I wondered if my vision would ever return. About the time I had given up all hope (October), I woke up and could see. Not well, but the blood had drained from my eye. I remained on a lot of eye drops, but with each passing day, things were getting better.
In January 2026, I went in to see my Optometrist. Yes, the left eye’s vision was very poor. About 20/200. But with time, he was able to get that eye to 20/40. I selected new glasses frames and off I went. They came in, and I went down to pick them up. I put them on, and it felt like the first time I got glasses back in seventh grade! I could see leaves, twigs, and absolutely everything! I am grateful for so much!

Me with my new glasses!

This & That

So, it’s snowing again! I know. I’m sitting here with Heidi, telling myself that it’s all good. Of course, tomorrow morning Heidi won’t be happy when she goes outside.

Here is the story of my Highlander and the hatchback. They picked up the car on Thursday and couldn’t get the hatchback NOT to work. I explained that if the car was turned on, then the hatchback would usually work. But not the keyfob or the button inside.

I was called later, told they couldn’t find the problem, and that they’d send my car home. I told them to keep the car overnight and, in the morning, try to lift the hatchback before turning the car on.

At 7:32 AM, I got a call from the mechanic. The hatchback would not lift. Bingo! It turns out it’s an electrical panel, and he has ordered it. Thankfully, it is still under warranty.

My heating problem was fixed on Thursday. The furnace is fine, but many of my old pipes needed to be replaced. It is all done now, my house is warm, and none of my pipes are leaking!

So here I am on Friday night, and most of my problems have been wrapped up, Pricey, on the plumbing, but all of it is worth it.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Thursday Thirteen ~ February 19th

Many years ago (about 20), when I started writing Dackel Princess, I would put together lists on Thursday called the Thursday Thirteen. Back then, I was quick and witty, and my life was full of puppies, skiing, and neighborhood children who found their way to my door. Making lists of thirteen related things was relatively easy. Not so anymore.

The neighborhood kids have all grown and moved away, and the puppies are gone, too, except for Heidi. I’m not as quick and witty as I once was, but I decided to put together a list of thirteen things that are totally unrelated. Here goes!

We are now halfway through the winter, and I am so ready for Spring. Between fuel oil costs and snow-clearing costs, I am ready for 68-degree days and the ability to shut off the furnace!
Also, this is the year that I have had furnace trouble. Well, not furnace, but with the under-the-floor heating system. First, the circulating pump went and I had no heat in my master suite.No sooner had that been fixed than I noticed a slow dripping leak at a junction of the underfloor lines. They arrive on Thursday to fix the leak. I am hopeful that it is not as bad as I think.
A few months back, I noticed that my automatic hatchback was not working well. The worst day was when I had a big grocery order and just as I got to my car, the rain poured down! No, I was not happy. I took her in to be fixed, but got the mechanic who did not understand the issue.
Taken last summer!

His explanation was that I did not drive enough. I spoke to the person in charge of warranty problems. Tomorrow they will pick the car up here, and I plan to go through everything again. My fingers are crossed. I love that car!
My much-loved long puffy jacket (10 years old) is no longer puffy. I live in a pretty cold area, and a longer puffy coat makes it easier to bear. I was cruising Amazon and found a beautiful one on sale.
It arrived today, and I love it even more than I thought I would. I am sixtyseven years old, but I feel truly cute in it!
It was so beautiful when I woke up this morning. I looked out over the lake, and the trees, bare of all leaves, were covered in hoar frost. Hoar frost is a delicate, white, crystalline deposit of ice that forms when water vapor transitions directly from a gas to a solid on freezing surfaces. How I wish I’d taken some pictures.
Snowmobilers in nearby New Hampton found a young female moose stuck in the snow. She was stuck up to her neck and could not get out. These fine people worked hard to get her out.
In the end, she was fine. Thank goodness. I love moose, and it would make me very sad if she had not made it.
Does anyone else still have their Christmas lights up, or, in my case, a small tree? The lights bring me joy!
Have you seen the lambchop toys for dogs? Currently, Heidi has four. She sleeps with her babies every night. It is so cute!
I’ve got so many mixed emotions about the Olympics. Many really good athletes have been injured. I watched in horror when Lyndsey Vonn went down, and I heard her scream, “I’m hurt!”
I’ve decided that I really do love all four seasons. Yes, I even love winter snow. Spring is coming, and the snow will melt, and slowly the green grass will return, along with the beautiful flowers. Summer is also good. The feel of sand between your toes, the salt water on your skin. And the warm sunshine. About the time you get sick of the heat, the leaves turn, and we get a little crisp air around us.My deer friends come out looking for food, and they never fail to put a smile on my face!
I finally found curtains for my bedroom and familyroom. My problem now is finding someone to put them up for me. Not the curtains, just the rods.
Have you heard the old phrase, “The dog ate my homework”? Well, I got this great recipe from my sister, and this is what it looked like after Heidi got a hold of it!
Lastly, Heidi’s puppy, Nanny, will be coming in the Fall, so I can go to my 50th High School Reunion! My plan is to go down for a week. I’d love to see friends and walk around the Town that will always be home to me.

The Friday Five ~ February 13th

I’ve been lazy the last few weeks; thus, no Friday Five. However I actually have things to write about so here goes…

The last few days have been warmer and sunnier! Talk about a real moral boost! Here we are in the middle of February, and the world is not as dark and dreary at is was a month ago. Maybe that rotten groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, was wrong!
Miss Heidi had her yearly exam. She is nearly perfect in every way, but her Luxating Patellas have gotten worse, and she will need the first surgery in April, and the second is set for August. She is maintaining her slim figure, which will benefit her recovery.
We have had so much snow that I hired a man to come with his mini-tractor to push it back, making more room for another snowfall. I also had another man snowblow a good path for Heidi to use.
I went to the Optician today to be tested and fit for new glasses. My right eye has held up pretty well, doing all the work for both eyes, but my left eye has lost a lot of vision. It was 20/200 before he started fitting the new prescription, and even then, the letters were fuzzy and shadowy. I knew my vision in the left eye was bad, but I had no idea it was this bad.
So I ordered two pairs of glasses, one for wearing and one for driving (sunglasses). The fact is, I need to wear my glasses all the time now. However, I remind myself that at least I have vision. Last summer, when I was blind in my left eye, it was a very scary time for me. My vision may not be perfect, but at least it’s usable.

So that’s it for this week. I hope you are all happy, healthy, and staying warm.

The Agony of Defeat

Growing up in a world with four TV stations (on a good day, no cable or satellite, just finicky rabbit ears) and very limited choices of what to watch, I was thrilled each Saturday afternoon when ABC presented the Wide World of Sports. I can still see that unfortunate ski jumper racing down the ski jump, only to fall and forever become “the agony of defeat”.

For those of you who aren’t old enough to remember this, Slovenian ski jumper Vinko Bogataj was the unlucky jumper on March 21, 1970. He sustained a severe concussion and a broken ankle. He never did win a medal at the Olympics, but he coached for a while, retired to his hometown, married, and had two daughters. Best of all, he has had a good life.

There are several reasons that I am thinking about this today. I am watching the women’s training runs. There was no women’s ski jumping until February 2014! You should see these women fly!

Back to The Wide World of Sports. It was on from April 29, 1961, until August 2006. ABC Sports came under ESPN’s oversight as part of the relaunched ESPN on ABC. The Wide World of Sports was over.

I still miss it. Not only did they introduce us to various sports, but also to different countries. The coverage captured Mark Spitz’s seven gold medals and Olga Korbut’s incredible gymnastic performances.

I wonder who still remembers their coverage. Did you like it? Do you remember “the agony of defeat”?

Stay warm and enjoy the Olympics! And thank you, ABC, for the first-of-its-kind sports programming!

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Grandma Honey!

February 4th is my Grandma Honey’s 128th birthday. It isn’t easy to imagine her at that age. She passed from this world into the next 42 years ago. She was a very important woman in my life and taught me so much. Even now, I miss her like crazy!

Here she is, Mary Frances Daniell, the day she married my Papa, Frederick Carl Prussman.

Here is a picture of Melodie and me with our Grandmother at Goodwill Park.

This was back in the days when families would meet up at beautiful parks for picnics. Remember those? And here we were with Grandma, all dressed up in a pretty summer sundress, her white sandals, and her woven basket purse. We all really loved this wonderful woman.

Grandma Honey and Papa Fred. Theirs was indeed an epic love story! They met when they were less than ten years old. Grandma was friends with Papa’s sister, Kätchen, and taught Kätchen to speak English at the house. The family had recently arrived from Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, and aside from the eldest sister, Hedwig, who worked as a Nanny, no one spoke much English.

Papa always said he fell in love with Grandma then, and as a teenager, he would chase off any beau that tried to court her. My great-grandfather eventually allowed them to become engaged, but insisted Mary finish college before marriage.

They were married until Mary eventually passed from one life to the next. He joined her 8 months later.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Grandma Honey!

Mary Francis. My Grandma Honey.

It’s All About…

Staying safe and warm.

A hearty hello from New Hampshire’s North Pole! I woke to -5 degrees today with a strong wind, giving us a wind chill of -25! I have layered up, and Heidi continues to love her puffer jacket.

I went out yesterday, gassed up my car, picked up my mail, and got the last groceries I will need to get through the big storm, which begins on Sunday afternoon and goes through until late Monday afternoon. They have pretty much shut down New Hampshire during that time, as the forecast is for 12-18 inches of the fluffy white stuff! They are advising people to get their houses ready and then stay home.

On Friday, we had light snow all day. I checked my oil tank on Tuesday and saw it was only half full. I called my supplier and was assured they would fill it on Friday morning. By 4:15 pm, I was nervous that they had forgotten me. Well, they said I wouldn’t get my tank filled until Sunday! If I do not get my fuel oil before the big storm, I will be looking for a new oil supplier. I do not like the feeling of worry I get when the oil is low. After all, in subzero weather, pipes freeze, and so do Heidi and I.

So, gentle readers, stay warm, break out the hot chocolate, watch some entertaining movies, and of course, football on Sunday!