The Dackel Princess

Water

I love the comedienne, LeAnne. She is a slightly chubby lady like me. I refer to this as “pleasingly plump”. However, in recent weeks, I’d been unhappy as my cravings for sugar seem to be increasing. Then, I was watching LeAnne’s comedy routine where she talks about going to her High School Reunion. She talks about having 30 pounds to lose before then. She goes on to talk about having a month to do this and going back to Weight Watchers, because that has worked so well for her in the past. Haha!

There was a time when Weight Watchers worked for me. But, not anymore. After COVID, they failed to reopen any local meetings. Meetings online have never worked for me, so I’ve been looking for something to get me going.

I stumbled upon Intermittent Fasting. The more I read, the more I thought, “I can do this!”

The long and short of this is that you limit the hours you are allowed to eat, and push water and herbal teas in between. I have never been a fan of drinking water. Well, at least not since I was a kid and drank water from the hose in our backyard. There was that distinctive flavor that one only finds with a garden hose!

I’ve learned that I am a snacker/grazer. Actually planning meals at certain times and then drinking water or tea seems to be helping me. So far, I’m doing well. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, I leave for Florida in just about a week. I’ll be seeing friends and family and doing a little business. I have the “Puppy Nanny” coming in to take care of Miss Heidi. Thankfully, Nina loves Heidi as much as I do. I am so grateful, as I do not want to leave Heidi in a kennel.

Happy Birthday, Jessica!

Today is my (step-)daughter’s birthday. I met Jessica when she was four years old. She became a playmate to Amanda and Katie. Below are pictures, left to right.

Amanda, Jessica, and Katie. Jessica with her mother, Jan. Apple blossoms bloom around her birthday each year.

Jessica and I in 2024. My (step-)son Jonathan holding newborn Jessica. Jessica and I are cuddling at the White Cliffs of Dover, in England.

We met Jessica and her mother at “Chuck-E-Cheese” in Manchester, New Hampshire. Between bites of pizza, the girls were playing on the rides and at the arcade. By the end of the afternoon, Jessica had obtained our phone number, and the playdates began. Six years later, I became her (step-)mother.

So today, I wish my dearest daughter, Jessica, a very Happy Birthday, along with wishes for many more happy birthdays!

The Friday Five ~ May 15th

I’ve reached a point in my life where day to day, life tosses in many changes, and unfortunately, these changes include the sudden deaths of loved ones. Sometimes you are lucky enough to say your goodbyes, but other times, we are shocked by the loss. So it was with me this week.

A gentleman I have known since we were eight and nine years old passed away, unexpectedly. As kids, Doug and I did things like shoot BB guns, water ski, and ride his dirt bike. He wasn’t a local friend, but was the brother of my sister’s boyfriend, Ron.
Ron and Melodie married young, and Doug and I were the Maid of Honor and Best Man, Godparents to their kids, and Aunt and Uncle as well. We were just young teenagers when our nephew Mike was born, and then our nephew Tim was born. It was a good time.
Through the years, we remained friends. Now he is gone. Quite quickly. I will miss Doug. A friend who shared many of my teenage memories.
Naturally, I have thought a great deal about my own mortality. You know, you read an obituary, and it says, “John Doe passed away of natural causes at the age of 67.” I’m a little nervous about what natural cause may get me in the end.
And lastly, I am trying to put a few things in order. I wonder if you ever reach a point where everything in life is well-organized and you can relax?

Have a great weekend, everyone, and enjoy Springtime!

She’s Here!

I am now the owner of a 2026 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. I will admit to being skeptical about the need for hybrid cars. Back in the days when gasoline was under two dollars a gallon, I preferred to stay with a normal engine.

Flash forward in time, and gasoline has jumped in price to over four dollars a gallon. My Highlander, which I loved, became a gasoline pig! I was getting between 17 and 18 miles per gallon. Every time I was filling up, it broke the bank.

I also live in a part of the country where I heat my home with oil. So, between filling my piggy car and my oil tank, I was going oil-and-gas broke!

That was when I thought I might test drive a hybrid car. I am partial to Toyota and went back to the dealership where I bought the Highlander. The car handled so well, and it fit me (and my pocketbook!) My new car arrived last week, and my love affair with the Rav4 has begun.

I put Heidi’s car seat in and brought Heidi down to the car for her first ride. She got in, recognized her seat, but looked around, as she knew this was not her car! It was the cutest thing!

So I’m settling in with the Rav4. I have not had to visit a gas station yet, and I think it will be a while until I do.

I love the Toyota App that lets me check everything and gives me a readout of when I need to fill up!

The Friday Five ~ May 1st

Well, here we are, and it’s May 1st! I simply cannot believe how quickly this year is going! I think it is safe to say that winter is over and that snow won’t fall until November or December, although we did get clobbered once in October. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. So here is this week’s Friday Five!

I’ve been waiting for a portable air conditioner to arrive. It was due yesterday. Imagine my excitement when Kevin, my UPS man of 27 years, arrived. He shut down the truck, and after a few minutes, he said, “I cannot believe this!” He went to get the box with my air conditioner, and when he lifted it, he discovered the bottom was gone, and the air conditioner was in pieces! He doesn’t always load his truck, and since this item was loaded before he started his shift, he didn’t catch it until he was in my driveway. So it was rejected, and by 8 o’clock last night I’d ordered a new one. Ugh!
I was looking for a document, and since I am a terrible filer, I was having no luck. I looked and looked, dragging out several boxes of papers. Since I had no luck, I stopped by our Town Offices, and they checked their records and discovered that the document I was looking for had been sent to the wrong address. It’s not a problem, except I now have stacks of papers to dispose of. That will be this afternoon.
I did find a few papers that were upsetting. I did what everyone should do in this instance: I threw them away. But it got me thinking, I need to pull out Jack’s computer, clean the outside, and then wipe the hard drive. After all this time, I know there is nothing on that computer I need to see.
I saw my grandchildren last weekend, and that was so much fun. I got to meet their new puppy, Kodi, who is a black German Shepherd. He’s a sweet and beautiful pup.
The white dog is Winter, and they do have an older dog, Freya, who missed being in the pictures. Quinn is now 10, and Savannah will be 14 at the end of the month.
Today I’m going to pick up my new car. A Rav4 Hybrid. With gasoline over $4.00 a gallon, I just had to make the move! I’m excited!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Kindness

A few days ago, I was listening to some music and out of nowhere, a song by George Harrison came on. How had I missed this one? Had I heard it all those years ago and ignored it? You see, the song wasn’t one of his big hits, but when I stopped, listened to it again, and read the lyrics, it took my breath away.

Perhaps it’s because I’m closing in on my 68th birthday in a few months, and I think more deeply than I did in my twenties. Oh, to be able to go back in time and treat people that I love and care about with more kindness and more love.

This song is a great reminder that perhaps we should slow down and not be so quick to judge. Especially those we love.

The Answers at the End

Scan not a friend with a microscopic glass
You know his faults, now let his foibles pass
Life is one long enigma, my friend
So read on, read on, the answer’s at the end
Don’t be so hard on the ones that you love
It’s the ones that you love we think so little of
Don’t be so hard on the ones that you need
It’s the ones that you need we think so little of
The speech of flowers excels the flowers of speech
But what’s often in your heart is the hardest thing to reach
And life is one long mystery, my friend
So live on, live on, the answer’s at the end
Don’t be so hard on the ones that you love
It’s the ones that you love we think so little of
Don’t be so hard on the ones that you need
It’s the ones that you need we think so little of
Don’t be so hard on the ones that you love
It’s the ones that you love we think so little of
Oh, we think so little of
The ones that we love
Sometimes
Isn’t it a pity how we hurt
The ones that we love the most of all?
The ones we shouldn’t hurt at all
You know my faults, now let my foibles pass
‘Cause life is one long enigma, my friend
Live on, live on, the answer’s at the end
Don’t be so hard on the ones that you love
It’s the ones that you love we think so little of
Don’t be so hard on the ones that you need
It’s the ones that you need we think so little of
Don’t be so hard on the ones that you love
It’s the ones that you love we think so little of
Don’t be so hard on the ones that you need
It’s the ones that you need we think so little of
Mmm, the ones that we love
We hurt the most of all
Sometimes
And isn’t it a pity how
We hurt the ones that we love?

The Friday Five ~ April 24th

So this was a very busy week, and it has flown by. I know I say that a lot, but as each year passes, time seems to race by. The seasons change, the snow melts, and this reminds me I have survived another long, cold winter. So, without further ado, here is this week’s Friday Five.

I’ve been puttering around the house again. What I discovered is that it is time to straighten out my closets again. They’re not bad, but I am not a neat closet keeper. That will be tomorrow.
I went in for my yearly Senior Physical. Everything is under control. Actually, many things are downright great for a 67-year-old woman.
An old woman and her dog!

I have a few challenges, but I refuse to let them keep me down. After all, most of my peers have also been having visits from arthritis. I refuse to take any narcotics for the pain. Give me a good N-Said and a heating pad.
When I was visiting my sons during the Easter Holiday, Jose made a fabulous Lasagna. Now, back when my Mom made lasagna, she used every dish and pot in the kitchen. Although it was good, it was also a little soupy. I watched Jose and studied what he did. It was quick and easy, and the kitchen was not a disaster after the preparation.
So I decided to do what he did. I was nervous, but I took my time, and in 15 minutes everything was assembled; an hour later, the lasagna was done and ready to eat! The recipe is below this post.
All packaged for leftovers!
And lastly, after watching fuel prices soar and having a Toyota Highlander that I love but only gets 15-18 miles per gallon, I started looking at Hybrid cars. I went back to Toyota, where I got the Highlander. I test drove the Rav4 Hybrid. I loved it!Well, at this point, they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. My Highlander has 8800 miles. Yes, that is all. After a bath and a carpet shampoo, it will go out for sale on their lot, and “Blue” and I will start our time together.

So that is my week. I hope you all have been enjoying the Springtime wherever you are. I really have been, even if it has been pretty cold.

Quick & Easy Lasagna

How to Make Lasagna with No-Boil Noodles

Learn how to make Lasagna with No-Boil Noodles with four easy steps! It is a great meal that comes together quickly and easily, with an unexpected way to construct lasagna using no-boil noodles.

Ingredients:

Chop 1 onion.
1-1/2 pounds ground beef.
Large pinch Italian seasoning.
1-2 jars of Classico Italian sausage sauce (Or the sauce of your choice)
1 box No-Boil lasagna noodles (oven-ready sheets)
1- 15-ounce container of Ricotta Cheese
4-5 tablespoons fresh grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh shredded mozzarella cheese
Sliced fresh mozzarella cheese
¼ cup cream.

Instructions:

Preheat Oven to 375 degrees F (190 C). Use a 9 x 12 baking dish. Glass is best.
Brown the onion with a small amount of olive oil.
Brown Hamburger.
Add Classico sauce to this, with a pinch of Italian seasoning
First Layer: Spread 1 cup or more of sauce on the bottom of the baking dish, then spread it evenly. Lay the lasagna sheets over the sauce, breaking pieces or overlaying if you need to cover the sauce.
Second Layer: Next, top the noodles with another heaping ladle of sauce, about another cup. Cover evenly. Then spread a layer of shredded mozzarella, sliced mozzarella, and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese.
Third Layer: Lay another layer of no-boil lasagna noodles. Spread with another heaping ladle of meat sauce, covering evenly. Next, top with 6 spoonfuls of ricotta cheese. Using the back of your spoon, tap the ricotta cheese to help flatten it out. No need to spread it evenly; the ricotta cheese will melt evenly while baking. Then sprinkle 1 or 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese, and more sliced mozzarella.
Fourth Layer: Cover with another layer of no-boil noodles, breaking some if needed to fit, or overlapping if fine too. Then add a layer of sauce on top. Sprinkle on top with shredded mozzarella, sliced mozzarella, and grated Parmesan cheese.
Finally, drizzle 1/4 cup of half-and-half cream over the lasagna. COVER with foil wrap.
BAKE for 45 to 55 minutes. Carefully pull the lasagna out of the oven, remove the foil cover, and return it to the oven to bake uncovered for an additional 5 to 8 minutes, until the cheese is completely melted and bubbling around the edges of the baking dish.
Remove it from the oven and allow it to rest for 10 to 15 minutes before cutting. Then cut into individual pieces and serve.
Serves 6 to 8

Notes

You can freeze lasagna, after it’s been assembled and UNBAKED. Prepare it as we did here, cover with foil wrap, then place it in your freezer, good up to one month. Any longer, you risk freezer burn.
When ready to bake! It’s best to allow the lasagna to rest on your kitchen counter to fully defrost for about 5 hours or more. Or defrost in your refrigerator overnight. Then preheat your oven and follow the remaining directions in our recipe card.
If you thaw it in your refrigerator overnight, chances are it won’t be completely defrosted. Check it to see if it’s still partially frozen, then let it sit on the counter to warm to room temperature for about 1 hour before baking.

The Friday Five ~ April 17th

It was a busy week for Heidi and me, and we were on the road quite a bit. Here’s the latest from New Hampshire.

Heidi had her every five-week spa treatments. You know, very typical for a lady dackel. Hair, nails, and a shampoo and fluff. She always looks so pretty and smells so nice. That is, until we get home and she goes out and rubs her clean body in the “earthy” grass!
While she was occupied getting beautiful, I went to my dentist and picked up my new night guard. Call me strange, but after all this time, I actually sleep better when it is in.
On Tuesday, I caught up on my laundry, and once the sheets were changed on the bed, I put out my new toss pillows.I had ordered these a while ago. A picture of each of the dackels that I have had in my life. Placing them on my bed each morning brings joy to my heart as I recall the loves of my past and now Heidi. It also forces me to make my bed, just so I can place my pillows!
Wednesday was my planning day. I want to go to Punta Gorda to check in on a few things and then have a mini-vacation. Plane tickets, rental car, and hotel reservations all made. Now I just need to get to the day, and off I will go!
On Thursday, I got a Pixie-er Pixie cut and had my nails done. It sure lifts the spirit.
And on Friday, it was blood work day. Have you noticed that if you get there right after they open, there are always a bunch of people rushing to the door? I was second in line, and a rather grouchy older woman tried to cut in front of me. I wasn’t sure what to do, thankfully the Phlebotomist rescued me.

And how was your week?

The Friday Five ~ April 10th

I am home again after my trip to New Jersey. I had the very best time. I am sure many people wouldn’t think of New Jersey as a vacation destination, but I am here to tell you that New Jersey in the Spring is simply beautiful. So, here is my Friday Five.

1. I drove to Concord, New Hampshire, on Friday last week. I was able to find a parking spot despite it being the start of Spring vacation for many colleges. I have never seen the lot this full!
2. The bus arrived on schedule at Logan Airport, and despite the problems with the TSA, with my TSA Precheck, I sailed through in exactly 12 minutes! I had time to kill and had lunch before my departure.I took a Delta Connection flight and was pleasantly surprised to find no turbulence at all. We were slightly late getting to Newark, and so Air Traffic Control vectored us around, giving me splendid views of New York City. It was then that the fun began.
3. My son picked me up at the airport, and we drove back to their place. That night Jon cooked dinner (fabulous pork chops!), and Jon, Jose, and I started in on “Wicked” part one.If you haven’t seen it, then set aside time for both parts one and two. It is a fantastic movie with beautiful music. I would not recommend it for young children. But it is certainly fine for teenagers.
4. On Sunday, we went to the local Catholic Church for Easter Mass.I loved the liturgy, the music, and the feeling one gets during such a joyful celebration.
5. The very best was after church. We had wonderful lasagna for dinner made by Jose, and then we piled into the car and drove to Broadway. They’d gotten tickets to see “Titanique”.
  https://www.broadway.com/buzz/206818/inside-titaniques-broadway-transfer-bigger-bolder-and-still-deliciously-camp/

It was a splendid musical, a spoof of the movie Titanic. The casting was terrific, and the play sped by. Before I knew it, we were standing, clapping, and the play was over. I encourage everyone, if you have a chance, to go see a play on Broadway, do it! It’s unlike any other experience!

Monday was recovery day, and on Tuesday, I packed up my bags and headed home. I was sad to leave my sons, but happy that we’d had such a wonderful visit.