Dackel Princess

A Word Or Two…

Back in 2005, I started to write Dackel Princess. When I started to write, I think I did it because everyone else was doing it. I wanted to join in.

I never thought, in my wildest dreams that fourteen years later I would still be writing.

For many years I wrote about the dogs, the puppies, and the recipes I loved the most.

Shubi, the original Dackel Princess and me in 2005.

Then, I started to write about my life. My grandchildren, my feelings about everything under the sun, and not only the wonders of life, but of the struggles too

Most of my Blog friends from fourteen years ago have long since stopped writing. And yet I go on. Mostly because I still feel I have things to share.

I realized that I had a lot to say about many different things. My loves, my life, my fears, and my happiness. And fourteen years later, I have a nearly complete journal of these years of my life.

I read that Queen Victoria wrote diaries and journals throughout her life, filling 122 volumes. It is estimated that she wrote over two thousand words a day!

I will never reach that lofty level, but I do like to sit down and write about the world according to “The Dackel Princess.”

The Joys Of Owning A Dog!

Being a pet owner is mostly a joyous and wonderful thing. However, there are mornings when I wake up and the first thing I must deal with is, what I’d like to term a doggy disaster!

So it was today, when I got up, opened my bedroom door, and was assaulted with the smell that every owner dreads. Poop!

Apparently, Lili was ill in the night. I am so careful what I feed her, but she must have gotten into something that did not agree with her because there was poop on the rug near my door. There was poop on the rug near the outside door. There was poop in the hallway, and poop on the kitchen floor.

It was one giant (Think German Shepherd size!), mess!

So, I went around getting up everything I could with paper towels, I washed down the places I could with a mop, and then took the throw rug to the basement and tossed it into the wash.

When I came back upstairs I got out the carpet cleaner, made especially for dog messes (yes, they make these), and I cleaned the carpet by my bedroom door.

I did all this before coffee!

After I had everything washed and cleaned, I sat down at the computer to write about all of this, and for some reason, that I still cannot fathom, my computer did not instantly connect to my Wifi and I had to go through a repair process.

Seriously, I was tempted to say the heck with it all and go back to bed!

After that, I finally had my first cup of coffee.

A Beautiful Day

Yesterday Jack and I had appointments at the VA. Nothing wildly important, just the usual.

The great part of that was that we got to go out for a ride on a beautiful sunny day! The sky was blue, the temperatures had warmed to the mid-fifties and there was no wind. I mean, it was just one of those glorious Spring days that we all live for during the bitter cold, winter months up here.

There was a lot of snow-melt in the yard and I think we are down to about a foot of icy snow. However, we do have a few places that have melted down to the bare ground!

When I was out with the dogs, I could see places where the wild turkeys had dropped ornamental apples that freeze on the trees during the winter but provide great food for them in both the Fall and the Spring.

I could also hear the songs of the returning birds from the South. As we live in a densely wooded area, we have quite the harmonious tunes of bird song.

I Feel Sick!

On Tuesday life was going pretty well. I got up, made coffee, drank several cups and proceeded to start a project of catching up on my filing.

All was going well until about 11:45 AM when I started to feel ill. At first, it was nothing much, but within an hour I was in terrible pain. I thought it was a UTI and all I needed was antibiotics. In fact, I have some leftovers and I almost self-medicated, but I held off.

Good thing. As the day wore on I felt worse and worse. E-gads! I wondered if I had a kidney stone. Honestly, I felt like I was giving birth to a Rhinoceros!

We got a test to see if I had a UTI, and yes I did. So, I decided I would go to the Walk-in Clinic on Wednesday morning before WW. And it’s a good thing I did.

I was up bright and early on Wednesday, went to the walk-in and was their first patient of the day.

It turned out I have a UTI that had backed up to the kidneys. Talk about pain.

So, they started me with a very strong antibiotic and sent me home with orders to drink, rest and drink some more! And not adult beverages either.

I’m resting, drinking, and taking my medication and I hope I will get well quickly. I really hate being sick!

Spring Is On The Way!

Today was an interesting day for me. I woke to bright sunshine, no clouds in the sky and despite it remaining cool, this sparkling day reminded me that Spring is on its the way.

When I was outside with the dogs, I could hear birds singing, which means that some of them have returned from their winter in the South.

Oh yes, we still have snow in the yard. About a foot or so in most places, and yet 2-4 feet where the snow was pushed into snowbanks.

Our Lake is still frozen, but the news reported that Fish & Game wants all the Bob Houses off the lakes by this weekend. There are many places around the area, where they have had ice outs and open water.

But real Spring is right around the corner and I can hardly wait!

It’s Mud Season!

We have many seasons here in New Hampshire. We just entered another one. I guess you could call it Pre-Spring or Mud Season.

We still have two feet of snow in our yard, but there are places where melting snow and streams have caused the dreaded mud puddles!

And Miss Lili, all 80 pounds of fluffy whiteness, went out and rolled and frolicked in it today. She came back to the house after being out in the yard with Jack and she was COVERED!

What’s a doggy Mama to do?

Well, I went down to our basement where we have a hose and a floor drain in our garage, and I hosed down the dog! She dislikes this so much, but somehow today, she knew she had messed up and didn’t fuss too much. OMG!

Weekend Wrap

Well, this weekend sped by and I was busy cleaning and cooking. The usual 60-year-old housewife stuff. But I’m glad the laundry is done, the beef stew is made and the Greek Salad dressing is done.

I watched Savannah in her play, “Jungle Book Kids” and got to have lunch with my family. All fun!

Savi in the play.

Savannah and her two grandmothers!

Me and my girl!

Savannah was great in her play and we all enjoyed watching her.

Our weather was splendid. Lots of sunshine and warmer temperatures! Yay! Finally a little taste of Spring!

Happy Monday!

Beef Stew

Or what to do when a roast is tough!

After cooking a beautiful Standing Rib Roast the other day and finding that although cooked perfectly, the meat was tough, I decided today to remake the roast into a Beef Stew. If the meat is tough, keep cooking it until it softens. That is my motto!

So, here’s my recipe, developed over the years.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Large fireproof Dutch Oven, 3 inches deep (large size)

1 -2 tablespoons olive oil or cooking oil
2 pounds lean stewing beef cut into 2-inch cubes
4 carrots chopped
3 stalks celery chopped
1/2 cup green pepper,
1/2 cup red pepper chopped
1 – 2 large onion chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons flour
1 cups of a full-bodied young red wine, or a Chianti
2 to 3 cups brown beef stock or canned beef bouillon
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 cloves mashed garlic chopped
1/2 – 1 teaspoon thyme (to taste)
1 pound fresh mushrooms, quartered, sauteed in butter
3 medium potatoes peeled and quartered.
1 package frozen peas with pearl onions

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.

Place olive oil in Dutch Oven and toss the beef in flour and then saute the beef. Remove to a dish.

(Since the meat has been cooked, when you cook the vegetables, take 2-3 tablespoons of flour and mix with 2-3 tablespoons butter in the pot. Allow to cook in order to form a base for the sauce.)

In the same fat, brown the sliced vegetables. Cook mushrooms in saute pan with butter.

Return the beef to the Dutch Oven and toss with the salt and pepper. Add mushrooms.

Stir in the wine and enough stock or bouillon so that the meat is barely covered. Add the tomato paste, garlic, herbs. Bring to a simmer on top of the stove.

Then cover the casserole and set in lower third of preheated oven. Regulate heat so liquid simmers very slowly for 3 – 4 hours. Add potatoes after 1 hour. Then add the frozen peas and pearl onions. The meat is done when a fork pierces it easily.

For immediate serving: Serve in its casserole.

For later serving: When cold, cover and refrigerate. About 15 to 20 minutes before serving, bring to a simmer, cover and simmer very slowly for 10 minutes, occasionally basting the meat and vegetables with the sauce.

Serves 6.

The Friday Five!

I start my post each week with, ‘ another week has raced by’, and truthfully, it seems that this is the case. I wonder if time does go by so much faster the older we get. I think we become aware that life is finite and we have to go for it and put in as much good stuff as we can.

Although my week wasn’t full of wild and crazy things, I did accomplish a few things I am exceedingly proud of.

I made the most awesome St. Patrick’s Day Dinner and I posted the recipe, so feel free to make it. You will be happy you did. I think also, you could make the recipe with just a plain brisket. Using the same cooking method.
I went to Weight Watchers again this week. It’s the story of my life. I have begun so many diets, only to fall off the wagon. This was my second week back and I have lost a total of 8 pounds! I am being very mindful of what I am eating. Making very good choices. I have a long way to go, but I am determined to practice good, healthy, eating habits.
After 20 years of having two cupboards for dog food and dog supplies, I cleaned out the larger of the two and now have all the dog items in one place.
I also took notice of the Flea and Tick items during the move and ordered a supply of these products from 1800PetMeds. I have used them for several years and like them. Greta needed a special medication that my Vet didn’t carry and I was able to get it through them.
I have now planned a vacation to visit a friend, in June. I’ll be going alone, and I’ll be gone for six quiet and yet fun-filled days!

So as I close this off, I want to wish you all a very Happy Spring!

May the Melting be with you!

TBT: Melodie, Dickie, & Me!

One of my favorite pictures of me (the little one age about three and a half), my sister, Melodie, and my big brother Dickie. We were messing around in our back yard on Clipper Lane in Falmouth. I was playing the Kazoo, Melodie was goofing around, and Dicking had the oars to the dingy we owned.