Dackel Princess

The Christmas Season $$$

Yesterday was one of those expensive days at our house. It all started in the morning. I had made a nice breakfast and after finishing it up, I returned to my recliner to sit down. I reached for the handle to pull up the footrest and the handle came off in my hand!

Now this is a dual reclining loveseat, and the other side had died a year ago, I knew that my fate was sealed! A new chair will need to be found in the coming weeks. Currently, I have an old hassock to put my feet up on, but it is darn uncomfortable. So, a shopping we will go.

Right after that disaster, Jack turned on his computer and got the blue screen of death. I tried all sorts of magic, including going into safe mode and having Windows 10 do their repair. It was a no go!

I had just (two days before) completely backed up Jack’s computer! I know, it was really sheer luck. So, since we have an old desktop in the office, I installed his bookmarks and mail program on that machine.

I wish I were a bit more computer savvy because it took me a couple of hours to do all that because one file would not transfer/ I have figured it out now.

He knew what he wanted and we went online and began to search. Finally, I found a great machine, with a Solid State hard drive and the price was right.

His new machine will arrive next week!

Of course, while doing the dinner dishes, with the new laptop ordered, suddenly, Jack’s laptop came on, and apparently it is fixed. Or is it? Since he really hate that laptop, I told him to forget about it and enjoy the new one. Merry Christmas. But I am a bit thrilled that I got into Safe Mode and actually made the repair! It wasn’t fast, but what I did worked!

Today I am off to Mandy’s house to babysit the kids in the afternoon. I’d offered to do this so Mandy and Matt could go out. I hope they have a great time. I know I will!

The Friday Five

What a crazy week. Jack and I both had doctor’s appointments, another meeting that lasted a lot longer than we expected, and then in between all of this, Weight Watchers, a hair appointment and life.

But, as the week closes, here are the five things that are in my mind right now.

I am now on round two of antibiotics and finally, the infection in my thumb is going away! Yahoo!
I have just had the best time shopping for Christmas presents this year. I have had a better idea of what to do, and I feel such love in my heart for all that I shopped for.
I lost a childhood friend today. I had seen him a year ago at our Class Reunion. His birthday was two weeks after mine. I’ve known him since Nursery School and he was just one of the sweetest people around. Rest in Peace, Jeff. You will be missed.
I got all my documents ready and went to the DMV and applied for a Real I.D. Drivers License to replace my current one.I needed: My Drivers License. My Social Security Card. My Birth Certificate. My Divorce Decree from Hubby #1. My Marriage License to Hubby #2. & A Tax Bill for our property. Two Clerks went over all my documents and traced my name change from birth to first marriage to divorce and the second marriage! Sixty years of life. Fortunately, I had all the documents (Certified) that I needed and all went well. The new License should be here in a month.
I hope everyone in the USA will note that Real I.D. is here and must be complied with by 2020. Look up what your State requires, as this is a Federal Law that was passed back in 2005 and must be complied with across the country.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Positive Things

It was a very good week this week as far as my weight loss goes. I started really working at it, the day after Thanksgiving. I have not cheated or fallen off the wagon once. And currently, I am eleven pounds down! I am quite proud of this accomplishment.

I also went and had my hair done today. Now I did not have it cut at all. Just the rotten roots retouched. I will go back just before our trip to Disney and have it shaped then, but for right now, I am in it to grow out my hair!

She blew it out, so I am sans tight curls, but simply have waves. I really like it!

The Wednesday Medley

We’re joining Terri at Your Friend From Florida

1. National Ding-a-Ling Day is observed across the United States each year on December 12. Ding-a-Lings on this day, call the people they haven’t heard from in a while. It may be an old classmate, co-worker or neighbor from years ago. Or perhaps a call will go out to the child who used to mow the grass during the summer. How about that couple who carpooled for soccer. There are all sorts of people in our lives who manage to slip out of our lives who would love to hear the ding-a-ling of a call from you or me. So tell us who you want to call today!

My friend who is ill. I will be talking to her today and going over what the doctors have said.

2. Each year on the 12th day of December, people across the United States recognize National Poinsettia Day. I am including this “National Day” too because my neighbor’s poinsettia from last year is blooming beside their house!! Have you ever tried to plant a poinsettia outside?

No, I haven’t. I really have a black thumb! Nothing flower wise grows for me. Now vegetables are another story!

3. Do you believe in Bigfoot? What size shoe do you wear and do you have trouble shoe shopping?

No, don’t believe in Bigfoot. I have big feet! Size 10 women’s. So maybe I do believe in Big Foot…Me!

4. What is one thing you refuse to share?

Nothing.

5. Are you finding that this Christmas is stressful? More or less than last year?

Not really. I’m prepared. I am struggling emotionally though with the sad news from my friend.

6. Tell us something random about your week so far!

I found a Chestnut. Now here’s the story. There are no Chestnut trees in our entire area. I was out yesterday with Anneliese, and I saw something on the path. I leaned down and picked it up. It was a perfect Pod released Chestnut.

This is how they look as they grow in the tree. The outer shell is very spiny and prickly. The picture above was borrowed from the Internet.

I took this picture of the chestnut I found on the path in my yard. It was so out of place. I immediately thought that someone I love in Heaven had tossed it down to let me know they are with me. But who? My grandmother, who was famous for her Chestnut Dressing? Or my Mom, who kept the Chestnut Dressing alive after Grandma’s death. Hmmmm….I wonder.

Life Or Something Like It

I suppose everyone has days like this. I was running around trying to leave here by 9:45 yesterday morning, as both Jack and I had doctor’s appointments. I was doing fairly well, and I was pleased with this, and feeling confident the day would go well.

On the way down, despite my warnings, Jack was still driving too fast. It’s his days as a pilot, I tell you. He has never understood, that it is fast in the sky and slow on the ground! He did not get stopped, but I felt the need to nag and pull my seatbelt a little tighter.

We got down in plenty of time, and we each went our own ways to see our doctors. The plan was, see our doctors and go for a nice leisurely lunch before returning for Jack’s second appointment.

My appointment went well. My doctor weighed me and on her scale, since my last visit, I had lost 11 pounds! My blood pressure was down and perfect and everything else was looking good.

She asked about the changes in my eating and I explained that I was off sugar, limiting carbs and eating fresh vegetables and protein. Some fruit too! She liked what she was seeing and hearing, so despite my somewhat horrible cholesterol levels, she is giving me three months to get that inline. Also, since my blood sugar levels didn’t look too well last time, this three-month reprieve will also give me a chance to get all that under control too!

However, my infected thumb was a concern, so she sent me to Dermatology next and there went our long leisurely lunch. I had just enough time for a quick salad before seeing, Joe. Our favorite Dermatology PA. He checked out the infection and prescribed an antibiotic for two weeks. I hope this will clear up the infection and allow my thumb to heal.

Jack’s second appointment was with his Primary Care Doctor, and my concern for his health prompted me to sit in. This proved to be a good thing, as I found that he doesn’t tell her everything she needs to know to treat him successfully. I really like his doctor and by the time we left she’d scheduled blood work, x-rays and a shot for pain, physical therapy, and an evaluation before getting an injection in his hip.

As we left her office I heard from a very dear friend of mine that the results of her testing showed Stage 4 Cancer. It is not operable. She will see the Oncologists today, but she felt that there is probably nothing they can do.

The ride home seemed to take forever. I just wanted to get home, make a small dinner and call my friend back so we could talk. We did, but I felt devastated by her news and such love for this woman.

I sat, not doing anything, but feeling the waves of grief wash over me.

So, at the end of a good and productive day for us personally, was this news, more devastating than I can explain.

As I said, I’m sure everyone has days like this. But, it doesn’t make it any easier to endure.

Happy 12th Birthday, Arnie & Anneliese

Twelve years ago, in the early morning hours, Greta went into labor. I was so excited to welcome her first litter of puppies, and I sat with her as she began the long journey to motherhood.

A few hours later, Arnie, Anneliese and three of their sisters made their debut.

This was the start of something neither Jack or I had ever experienced. Having two pups, brother and sister, from the moment of their birth, for their entire life.

It’s pretty amazing. Watching these two grow and emerge as two sweet, yet very different pups.

We knew we were keeping Anneliese. I loved the look of her and felt that she would carry on the Dackel Princess line, in her time.

Arnie, who is so sweet, loving and laid back. Here he is at a month old. A handsome boy then and now.

Arnie was actually sold to a woman from New York State. On the day she was due to pick him up, she called and canceled as her life was falling apart. She explained it all to me on the phone. I listened and gently told her she needed this dog. But she said no.

Arnie was 12 weeks old and I was really crazy about him. So was Jack and so was our young neighbor Emily. He was due to leave on that Saturday and by Monday morning we knew that Arnie was staying with us.

Here they are the first year of their life together. Best friends always.

Below is a short montage of their life together, with us. I feel so blessed to have had these two pups in my life every single day of their life. In many ways, although Greta was their biological Mom, I have been their forever Mom all these years.

They both are one of my life’s greatest blessings. The years of faithful love and companionship are truly priceless.

A Little Music

Just a little Christmas Music to start your Sunday!

Simple Saturday

It was another super busy day on Friday. My day started before sunrise. I’ve been waking between 4-5 AM each day and I’ve been unable to get back to sleep. Oh well, I’ve been really productive and in many ways I’ve been enjoying the two hours, sipping coffee, in the dark, before the world stirs.

I do need to try to work my way out of this new habit, however, as usually this time of the year finds me happily, almost hibernating.

I’ve continued to wrap gifts, and I’ve been using my iPod to sing while I am doing this. Oddly enough, I’m not singing Christmas Carols, but rock hits from the 1970’s! It keeps me moving right along.

My healthy eating plan is going well and I’m eating better than I have in many years. I am actually fitting back in a pair of jeans and feeling pretty good about it!

Jack and I have doctor’s appointments on Monday and we need to catch a quick lunch. He was all for going out for Chinese food, but I told him that I just couldn’t. We’ve found a new place to try where they have great, fresh, salads.

I am going to lose this weight, I am determined!

The Friday Five

Another week has come and gone. There are eighteen days until Christmas and 43 days until I leave here for my trip to Disney. I feel like a little kid and I want to jump up and down and whoop it up! Christmas and Disney after, does it get any better?

So as the weekends, here are five things I am thinking about.

After my first and second cup of coffee today, I puttered around doing things that need to be done. I started a load of laundry, pulled out some fish for dinner, hung the Christmas Cards we gotten, put things away from the countertops and walked the dogs a few times. In other words, I have been productive!
I’ve been collecting items I will be needing for my trip. I have not traveled long distance for several years. So there are some things I needed, that I did not have. I got out a tote bag and have put those things into it, and parked it in my closet.
My plan after breakfast is to vacuum the house. That’s it. Just vacuum. I have a three bedroom, three bathrooms, large kitchen, large family room, and a living room and dining room to do. This is a very big house. I know by the time that is done, my shoulder will be aching, so I will take the afternoon off.
Well, maybe not completely off. I would like to do some gift wrapping too. But I can sit in the dining room and wrap up gifts. There are quite a few left to do. Make that a lot. I only have a few things done.
This weekend I would like to get out a few of my favorite Christmas movies and watch those. The Bishops Wife, Love Actually, and Miracle on 34th Street. I have already watched It’s A Wonderful Life, to start my Christmas Season.

Thoughts

Wednesday was the National Funeral for President George H.W. Bush. I watched it, as I longed for the familiarity of the Episcopal Service.

I was Baptized as an Episcopalian. For those in England and Australia, the Episcopal Church is very much like The Church of England and the Anglican Church.

I never thought about it too much growing up, but in my thirties, I served my Church as a Eucharistic Minister. I loved doing that. I felt I was helping people to feel the peace of God

When we moved back to New Hampshire, there was far too much in the way of politics going on in the Episcopal Church here, and so I fell away from it. I was secure that God loved me and I know I love God, so we’re good.

Today I watched the Service for President Bush. I will tell you that I cried. Was I crying for him? For his family, for the loss of such a special man?

I think a little. Mostly I found myself crying, remembering those I have loved and lost. My Grandmother was truly devoted to the Church. I felt myself thinking about her and missing her. My father, my mother, and grandfather. Yes. I missed them all.

And I felt a loss again of my brother who passed at the age of 26. I remember so many times Mom dragged us to Church and some of the hilarity that occurred. Like when my brother fell asleep at Christmas Eve Mid-Night Service and then slid under the pew!

I thought of my little girl who was Baptized in the Church. As well as weddings, funerals and other Baptisms.

I recited the Liturgy, I sang with the songs, so familiar to me. I laughed and I cried, and at the end of the day, I am feeling a little tired and emotional.

I think I need a good night sleep tonight and then a fresh start tomorrow. Rest in Peace George H.W. Bush. May your Eternal Life include your beloved wife Barbara and your little girl, Robin.