The Dackel Princess

Weight Loss & Curls

Well, I wish I could say that the weight I am losing is just dropping off, but I’m in a “slow and steady wins the race” kind of game.

This week it was another 1/2 pound loss. But I can see it and feel it in my face and on my body. I know I must be patient.

Meanwhile, I also went and had my hair done today. I just love what Becca is doing with my hair. She has known me for a long time and she understands my wayward curls.

I switched from my previous hairstylist early last Autumn. My hair was breaking and falling out and I was having a hard time doing it myself.

Becca had gotten a job at a local salon and I made an appointment with her and over the last 5 months, we’ve worked together to repair my hair. Today it is healthy and full and I am happy. Well, more than happy! Thanks, Becca!

My plan for the rest of the week and weekend is to eat lots of vegetables and keep doing what I can to stay faithful to myself and this diet.

I know that I can do this, even though right now it’s all going slower than I would like.

Mrs. Cardinal

Tuesday found us being hit once again with a sizable snowstorm. This brought out quite a few birds to the feeders. Today, Mrs. Cardinal hung around posing for me. She doesn’t come by as often as her brilliant red spouse. So today was a great day to snap some pictures of this beautiful lady.

Amazing, isn’t she? I stood inside the door snapping away, and she eyed me with curiosity. But she did not leave and I was very pleased.

Jack had his procedure for his Dupuytren’s Contracture done. This required us to drive through a heavy snowstorm about 10 miles down and back. The roads were really messy as many of them had not been plowed. They had been pretreated and this left the surface like something resembling greased Owl Poop! Luckily, we got home just fine, although I admit to being a nervous wreck the entire time. Ah well, we made it and are safe and sound now.

It’s 4:30 PM on Tuesday and it is still snowing. Who knows how much we will get when this ends.

Too Many Mugs!

I decided over the weekend that it was time to clean out the coffee, tea and mug cabinet. I swear the mugs have multiplied on their own over the years. I simply do not recall having that many.

Lately, I am only using my Tervis Tumbler mugs, as they keep everything nicely hot for an extended period of time. I also wanted to place a variety of teas in the cabinet instead of leaving them on the shelf.

What I found in the cabinet was amazing. Coffee filters from previous coffee makers. Instructions from two coffee machines ago! It was mind-boggling.

True to my word, I began to wash the shelves, and then put aside mugs I have not used in years. I also pulled out any little thing that does not belong there.

The cabinet is now clean, organized and I almost cannot stand the neatness! Haha!

The 8 piece set of Pfaltzgraff mugs is packed carefully away in a labeled box and the odds and ends mugs will go to the recycling center.

I was on a hot streak now, so I opened the cabinet with all the plastic containers in it. Many are without covers now, some were never right, so I went through and moved some to save and others to send to the recycling center.

After that, I finished the laundry and noted that I was a little bit tired (at 4 PM). So, I made a lovely cup of tea and then sat down to enjoy it.

Not too much to do on this Tuesday except getting Jack to the Orthopaedist for a procedure for his Dupuytren’s Contracture. I hope that this will go well and he will get full use back in his hand.

The Weekend Wrap Feb 17, 2020

Over the weekend I finished my afghan project. It was meant to be a gift, but the yarn turned out to be a nightmare of pilling.

I have decided to de-pill it as best I can and then throw it on the back of our sofa. It is beautiful, but one giant pain. I now know why the yarn was on sale!

The usual work was done over the weekend. Sheets were washed, floors swept and dogs fed.

There is good news about the drops for my eyes. At first, they made my eyes feel really dry and uncomfortable. However, I started to use artificial tears every time I woke in the night. By doing this it has stopped all the side effects I was having. Now we wait to find out if these drops are reducing the pressure in my eyes.

7 Things I Love – February 16, 2020

Here is this week’s list of things I love.

1.Klosterbrot

2. Me and Uschi in Berlin.

3. The flag of my Country.

4. Pickling Cucumbers from my garden.

5. Newborn Dackel Puppies.

6. Dackel cuddles while I nap.

7. Walking through a Bavarian forest.

When It’s -8 Fahrenheit

It is cold. -8 Fahrenheit! I poked my nose out from under my comforter and groaned. Sub-zero weather has never been a favorite of mine.

I sat up and yawned and immediately wanted to dive back under the covers. Mr. Arnie had commando crawled under the covers, and Miss Anneliese was under my robe at the foot of the bed. Not a day fit for man or beast!

I grabbed my robe, my to the dismay of Anneliese, and padded out to the kitchen to turn on the coffee, meeting up with a happy Lili. You know, I have never owned a dog quite like Lili. Every morning she greets me with an abundance of happiness and joy, as she dances around the kitchen! I swear I can see her smile.

The dackels and I show a lot less enthusiasm, as we would much rather be in bed. Yes, in my previous life I think I was a dackel.

Due to the extremely cold weather, I think I will stay in and work to finish an afghan I’ve been making. I have only the border left to do.

I got some great news yesterday. My cousin and his wife are due for their first child in August! I am so very happy for them both!

Happy Weekend!

The Friday Five February 14, 2020

Here we are. Another week has gone by. It’s still amazing to me how fast life is going now. I remember as a child thinking each day was an eternity. Now they slip by faster than I care to think. I am not ready for life to simply slide by and soon I will find myself an old lady, whose pantyhose bags around her ankles. In any case, enough of that so here is this week’s Friday Five.

This was one crazy busy week. I was supposed to get my hair done but begged off as I don’t like driving in the snow. Hopefully, next week she can squeeze me in.
I’m still infuriated about the Insurance Company denying my doctor’s prescription for eye drops. Imagine some Clerk sitting at a computer who thinks they know better than my doctor! Yeah, that really irked me.
Tonight I am making fresh Green Beans and Roasted Turkey Tenderloin. One of my favorite meals. Tomorrow it’s fish. I’m taking my WW meal planning very seriously.
We did get snow on Thursday, but not near as much as they forecast.
Today is Valentine’s Day. I’m so lucky to have my family who love me very much.

Most especially my grandchildren.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

A Very Busy Day

What a full day I had on Wednesday. It started when I left the house at 7:45 in the morning, and it did not end until I returned at 3:30 in the afternoon.

First I had WW class and it was a bit of a frustration for me this week, but after looking back at the things I ate, I think a minor adjustment will help me for next week.

After class, I headed out for a day of shopping and doctor’s appointments.

I went to a discount store called TJ Maxx and found the cutest dachshund dish towels for my kitchen. Aren’t they cute?

Then it was on to the big Tanger Outlet Shopping Mall. There are several stores I really love there and I went looking for some good deals. I got a new tunic sweater and a pair of Yoga pants. Heaven!

I ran into someone I used to know too. It was fine, I guess, but strange nonetheless. She had once been a good friend, but one day she just dropped me. It hurt me a lot back then, but then I remember this saying and it is something I just have to let go.

After that, I pumped my gas at 202.9 a gallon and went grocery shopping. I needed so much and since I knew I was going to be out for a while I had thrown the coolers in the back of the car.

I had 45 minutes to get the groceries I needed and so I grabbed a cart and into the store I went. I hit all the places I needed to go, got all the foods we required and then got to the checkout in 35 minutes!

Then, off I drove to see my Glaucoma doctor. I got there 15 minutes early and I checked in and sat down intending to make a few calls, but as soon as my fanny hit the seat, they called my name!

The short story is that my left eye (which is horribly bloodshot due to sensitivity to the drops) had a nice lower pressure of 16! Yay left eye! However, my “good” right eye still had a high pressure of 24. I was disappointed, but apparently this is common in the early days of treating high pressures.

My doctor decided to order a new drop, which I will have to use twice a day. She called the prescription in. Great, I thought.

I drove back to Meredith and went right to the Pharmacy. Only to find out that my Insurance Company had denied the prescription! It’s too expensive they said!

Then I recalled that I also have prescription coverage through the VA. I gave the Pharmacy Tech my card and she looked it up and bingo! Approved! So the drops are ordered and will be in tomorrow.

I picked up the last few things I needed at Hannaford’s and then came home, exhausted. But I did feel rather good about all I accomplished!

We are supposed to get 5-8 inches of snow today. I wonder what it will look like? A small amount or a fair chunk of the white stuff. We shall see.

Medical Histories

The other day I accompanied Jack to the doctor. They handed him a one-sheet paper on which he was to write a detailed medical history.

When he has had different operations, medical conditions, medications, etc.

I tried to get it all written down for him, but this required me to play “Let’s ask a million questions with him”.

As I sat there, I thought about my own situation. I simply do not have this problem. Why? Because a few years ago I sat down and wrote out a detailed medical history. I add to it, as needed, but it is all there. And all I need to do is go to my file on the computer and print it!

My history starts with my name, address, and phone number. My height, weight (I always lie!) and my blood type.

From there I start with the first of my unbelievable operations and conditions. In order, year by year.

I have been asked if I am a medical professional. No, I am not. I just got tired of having to write out my long history and try to recall all of the dates.

I also include my medications, and their dosage, and then my allergies, including any food allergies I might have.

Click on the image to make it larger and download it for your convenience. I also have it in a Word Document and let me know if you would like that one.

It took me 45 minutes to make one up for Jack so that now he can print this to take to future doctor’s appointments.

I encourage you all to do the same. It saves time and could save your life if you keep this information tucked in your wallet.

This & That

I’m not sure what I hoped Monday would be like, however, I’m sure you can imagine my surprise when I got up and it was snowing. Again. And at a good clip!

The plows had started running on the road below our home at 4 AM! Thus waking me and the beasts.

At 5 AM I got up and let the dogs out and watched the morning news. The forecaster said “Broken clouds and sun” Huh?

No schools were canceled despite the rapidly falling snow. Which I was surprised at. Jack had an appointment with the Orthopaedist and although I did not want to go, we went and the roads were surprisingly clear. Our snow totaled close to 4 inches.

The Presidential Primary is today in our State. We will go and vote as we always do.

On Wednesday I go to see the Glaucoma Eye Specialist for a pressure re-check, as well as WW.

Things have gone well with the eating, so I am hopeful I will continue to be going in the right direction. Although part of me knows that at some point the weight loss will slow. I’ve been on the path before and so there are really no surprises.

I just hope that I can keep the momentum up. It is easy to get discouraged when the weight loss slows down.

Well, Happy Tuesday everyone! Enjoy the day!