Dackel Princess

The Fridge

Have any of you ever opened your fridge and not recognized any of the contents? Honestly, this morning I opened the door to get some cream for my coffee and it looked like a bomb had blown up in there.

I have several household chores that I really hate doing. I really dislike filing, scrubbing the toilet, and dusting. All are Ugh! chores. But at the very top of my list is thoroughly cleaning the fridge.

Today, since things were in such chaos, and I leave Jack tomorrow for a few days, I decided that a thorough cleaning had to be done! I pulled absolutely everything out of the fridge. As I was pulling each item out, I opened and check it out. I checked for mold, date of purchase, etc.

I will not give you the number of items growing mold, after all, who knows, perhaps I have science experiments going on in there. I also will not reveal how many items had expired. *Groan*, I will say that is was a very good day to do this, as it will make my absence easier for Jack to handle. He will be able to find foods that are not going to poison him!

I washed each shelf and drawer and carefully put the fridge back together. This time I left a little more room on the middle shelf, as this is the one that is easiest for Jack to see.

I bought him some Hungryman TV Dinners, and he has some Frozen Breakfast Meals he likes too. I also purchased some fresh P&P Loaf for sandwiches, oh yes, and fresh bread.

So, the fridge is clean, and now all I need to do is clean and organize the Freezer Compartment. That’s on my list for this afternoon. Crazy, yes. But I guess it simply must be done.

Pass me my mittens!

Getting Ready

I’m taking a trip, in my car, to Falmouth, on Cape Cod, with my granddaughter, Savannah! I am very excited about this trip and have planned for every contingency. Sun, sand, cloudiness and rain. (Bite your tongue, it will not rain!)

I have my beach cart, beach chairs, umbrella, beach blanket and towels, cooler, sandwich fixings, (PB&J) drinks, (water and apple juice boxes) and best of all, beach toys for Oma and Savi to use while they play in the sand!

My super duper beach cart. Proving I am getting old and can no longer function like a pack mule!

Now you all know of my great love of Falmouth, and the beaches, especially Surf Drive Beach, so this trip is a big deal for me, and I hope for Savannah too!

Me at Surf Drive a few years ago. My how I love this beach!

I have side trips planned to the Woods Hole Aquarium, a great playground at the Mullen-Hall School, where I actually attended grade school, as well as to a special candy shop, where a good friend works. I will not go crazy, but I will allow Savi to pick out a couple of pieces of candy. Not much. Maureen, here we come!

There is a great Crepe Shop in town and I think I may take Savi there for a meal. What’s better than a nice thin pancake spread with peanut butter and jelly? Their crepes are so good and I think she will love it! There is a crepe there with brie cheese that is to die for, and Oma shall have that one! There is also a Dairy Queen and I can see at least one ice cream cone in our future.

My sister Melodie is down there right now and we will be spending beach time with Auntie Mel and Uncle Ron as well. They have plans each night, but that is fine. Savannah and I will do our thing and then we will go back to the motel for sleep.

So Sunday I plan to pack my suitcase. Making a list, as I put each item into my duffel bag. I must make sure to pack my rash guard shirts (these keep you from burning) hats, sunglasses and most importantly sunscreen! On Monday I will take the list and add to it as I put things into the Highlander. Then first thing Tuesday morning, I am off to get my girl!

Let the adventure begin!

Memories From My Youth

I was thinking about family recently. Growing up, I recall that my mother’s family got together a lot. When I was very young, we all met up at my Grandmother’s House in Brighton, Massachusetts. She had a three-story home, that at one time or another had housed Grandma and PapaFred; her parents; her sister, Tilly, and Tilly’s son, George; Papa Fred’s sister, Hedwig and her husband Abert; my Mom and Dad; and my Uncle Bob and his wife Cynthia and their two children Carl and Erica.

Now, these people all passed through the house at one time or another, never all at once, but somehow, Murdock Street was the home base for many years.

Family always gathered at Grandma’s house to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. It was always so much fun. Good food, a lot of laughs, and a lot of hugs. My memories of those long-ago days are still very strong. I recall each family member, be they my Mom’s brother and his family, or all of Papa Fred’s family, as he had many brothers and sisters.

Papa had a heart attack when I was about 10 years old and Grandma and Papa move closer to us in Falmouth, on Cape Cod. They moved three streets away from us, and I remember running through the woods to their house. The door was always open and they were always happy to see me.

Grandma Honey & Papa Fred

The family parties continued, although I admit, they’d gotten smaller because slowly, the family was dying off. Papa was the youngest in his family and I recall his brothers and sisters passing early on. All except the eldest in the family, Hedwig, and she lived to be very, very, old.

In any case, after a few years, Grandma and Papa needed more help and so they bought a house with my Mom and Dad. It was a beautiful big home. Which meant, the family parties continued.

It was great because All the cousins were getting married and having children, and suddenly the parties were filled with babies, toddlers, and children! There was a small lake down the road and in the summer, during the cookouts, this meant swimming times too!

When parties were planned, everyone came. They came to see Grandma. She really loved family and would plan everything and call everyone. Mom would do most of the cooking, with Uncle Betty by her side, and Uncle George and my Dad were great at flipping burgers and hotdogs.

I can still taste my Mom’s potato salad! And why is it that the watermelon tasted so much better when we were all sitting on the fence spitting seeds?

I miss those days. I miss all those people. I miss the family gatherings when we all were together. They do not happen anymore. My sister Melodie and one cousin, Janet and I get together twice a year. But gone are the days of those big family gatherings.

Right now I am trying to establish a time each summer when I share beach time with my grandchildren. I want them to have the Cape Cod experience. I want them to know salty air, sunsets into the ocean and cookouts that last forever. I want them to spit watermelon seeds while they’re sitting on a fence and Dairy Queen runs on a hot summer night!

So many wonderful memories of my own childhood.

New England & Cape Cod

Being born, raised and living in New England all my life, I just assume that everyone knows where I am. The fact is, aside from hearing about the Pilgrims, and America’s early history, much of New England goes unnoticed in World History.

After hearing that Cape Cod was a mystery to some, I decided to put up a map and a little history of the area, that I called home.

You can read about the history of Cape Cod HERE. It is quite an amazing piece of land, and I grew up during the prime part of Cape Cod’s amazing familial history. Falmouth, during my childhood, was simply an amazing place to be. The place was warm with friendship and community spirit.

Here is a picture of good old New England. Its history is old and great, with the very birth of our nation. You can read all about New England, HERE.

As I have written, I now live in New Hampshire, which is part of New England. I miss the ocean so much, but I do love the mountains of my adopted home State.

I guess no matter how old I get, or where I live, I will always consider myself a Cape Cod Girl. It’s where I learned about myself growing up and somehow it’s a place I go to refresh myself and catch my breath.

If you have any questions about Cape Cod, or Massachusetts or New Hampshire, leave them in the comment section of the blog. Or if my comment section is still acting up, send them to dackelprincess (@) metrocast.net and I will answer them as best I can.

The Friday Five

I cannot believe how quickly this year is going by! Or do I say that at the end of every week? In any case, this past week flew by rather quickly and as I sit here writing this, I find that I would like to take a day and just move at a slightly slower pace.

Aside from making Jack his favorite Lamb Paprikash for dinner, I really do not have anything big planned. So, here is my list of the five things that have been on my mind this week.

On Wednesday I had to have another MRI on this darn lump under my left arm. I dreaded this because my left shoulder can be very painful, and lying still for the exam might cause discomfort. However, the doctor and technicians worked quite hard to locate the lump, and then position me, comfortably. The exam took 1 hour and 45 minutes! In the end, I was only slightly stiff. I will get the results soon.
The funniest thing happened on the way down to the test. The hospital had called asking me to come in early. I told them I was on my way and could be there in 45 minutes. Then, a Police K9 Car got in front of me on the highway, and he was going about 80 MPH! So I got behind him, in the center lane and followed him right along. Because it was a Police Car, the other cars on the road moved right aside. It was like the parting of the Seas! I made it in 30 minutes, give or take to the appointment!
After said appointment, I needed to drive to my daughter’s house to drop some things off. Since I’d missed lunch (It was now 2:15 PM) when I saw Dairy Queen looming in the distance, I swung over and bought myself a small Kiddie Cone. That cone tasted so good and I enjoyed every bite until I realized I had dripped on my nice pants! Ugh!
After stopping at Mandy’s, I hit the highway again to stop at three stores. Let me just say, I really was not feeling much like shopping, but…the dogs needed food, the cupboards were bare, and I had a gas tank that was showing E in a bright red flashing light!I picked up a rotisserie chicken at Market Basket and drove over to get gas. At the filling station, I was next in line when a pick-up truck drove over the curb and cut in line! I was not amused! The car ahead of this cheater pulled away, so I pulled the Highlander in, and left my back end sticking out! My car was empty and took a lot of fuel. So, while I pumped away, the cheater was trapped behind me. I hope he thinks about this before he pulls this on some other person, but probably not.
Time was ticking by and I needed to be home by 5 o’clock to feed the hounds! I knew I could not make the drive in time, so I called Jack and told him to ignore the dogs. I would be there 10 minutes late to feed them. Then a State Police Car passed me going 80 + MPH, and once he pulled back into the slow lane, I followed him, going 80 until my exit. I drove the rest of the way at the speed limit, and then pulled the car around the house to the back door, jumped out, came into the house and it was 4:55! I made it! I quickly gave the girls their medications, doled out the crunchies and then the canned foods. And at the stroke of 5 PM, the dogs were fed!

So that was the middle to end of my week to the end. All in all, a good week for sure. The weekend will be filled with the usual laundry, and cleaning, as I start the packing process for my trip.

I hope you all have a great Friday and enjoy this summery weekend!

TBT: Greta At The Dog Show

Greta was two years old when she went to a German Dog Show held in New York State. She was examined by a German Judge and found to be Excellent! She was such a good girl and she allowed me to show her, even though we had not worked too much on the form. But she somehow knew what to go and flirted in a nice way with the judge.

In the end, she came in second place. The winner was the sister of Greta’s eventual mate, Bernie.

Here is Greta with her prize. She loved that thing for years. Until it completely fell apart!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s something in your house you’d like to get rid of but can’t?

Nothing really. If I didn’t like it, it wouldn’t be here. Perhaps I would rearrange things with some new furniture, but all in good time.

2. When is the last time you experienced a sense of nostalgia? Elaborate.

Today. I found out that a man that I had dated only once, but who had been a very good friend all through High School died suddenly. Our one date was on a summer night, on Cape Cod, when we walked all over our town, eventually ending up at the Town Band Concert. I remember sitting with him, on a bench near the Harbor listening to the music. On that one date, we talked and joked. It was sweet, and in the end, we remained good friends. I really liked this man and my heart is broken at his early passing. The strange thing is, he lived just down the road from me all this time, in New Hampshire. I never knew. Dear Friend, rest in peace…

3. You’re only allowed three apps on your smartphone or tablet…which three do you keep?

WAZE, Word With Friends, and Weight Watchers. WAZE is the best and it gets me where I want to go, plus tells me about traffic, speed traps and more. Words With Friends, as it’s the only game I play and I enjoy this! Lastly, Weight Watchers. I can scan in barcode, as well as track my food. Very handy!

4. July 11th is National Blueberry Muffin Day. Who knew? Do you like blueberry muffins? If you were going to have a muffin would blueberry be your choice? What’s the last thing you baked?

I love Blueberry Muffins. They are wonderful. But I don’t want to take the points hit. My favorite muffin is probably blueberry. Last week I made Chocolate Chip Muffins for the kids. I make little mini muffins for them and they love them!

5. What’s the biggest way you’ve changed since you were a child? In what way are you still the same?

I guess you could say that this answers both questions. It’s been a long time since I was a child! In the last few years, I have tried to become a better listener. I am too empathetic. By that I mean that someone will say “I have a terrible splinter” and I will say “I had the worst splinter ever when I was 15”, trying to let them know that I understand their pain. However, what they really wanted and needed was for me to listen and to say, “I’m so sorry. Did you get it out?” So this is what I am trying to do. Be empathetic, but not make it about me.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I’d hoped to wake and find Anneliese all better on Tuesday morning. This did not happen. Her eye still looks bad. If she is not a little better on Thursday, I will need to call the Vet. again.

This & That

Any hope I had of being super productive on Monday went down the drain, as I had a bring Anneliese to the Vets, and then by the time I got back, the temperatures were in the 90’s and quite honestly, I was feeling lazy.

In fact, while I sit here writing, I still have dinner to make, and I really do not feel like cooking anything at all! Let alone, a full meal. It’s one of those nights where I would be happy to eat yogurt and fruit and nothing else, but Jack would never go for that. First, he is a traditional kinda guy, and Second, he doesn’t really like yogurt, and certainly not for dinner. Ah, such is life.

Anneliese has Corneal Edema. Basically is means The normally clear cornea becomes water-logged and swollen. It is common in older dogs. In the picture below you can see the opaque whiteness in her eye. You can also see that it is swollen. So, she is on an ointment to reduce the edema and inflammation and we are to watch her carefully. Needless to say, I am watching her like a Hawk!

I watched a few matches of Wimbledon Tennis. I missed the morning matches due to my drive to the Vet., but I was home in time to watch the end of Nadal’s match, as well as Del Potro, Djokovic, and Anderson’s matches. Of course, Del Potro must finish his match tomorrow as they ran out of sunshine!

I woke in the night because our automatic light was on outside. It was 2 AM and I worried that perhaps Jack had forgotten a dog out there. I counted them all, and sure enough, they were all present and accounted for. So I looked outside and saw my Mama Deer and the baby fawn outside in my yard. That was worth getting out of bed for!

Have a great day, Everyone!

The Weekend

Sunday was a very good day. I woke feeling a lot better after several days with the stomach flu, and actually ate a normal breakfast. By lunchtime, I was able to eat my favorite roasted eggplant, which was a very good thing, as I had purchased several on sale a few days ago.

I managed to cook three meals for us, and clean them up without having to nap in the afternoon. This is also a first since the flu passed by. I’m just feeling a little tired tonight.

Tomorrow will be a laundry day, and I really want to get the vacuum out and run it around the house. I would also like to make something nice for our dinner, but I am not sure what yet.

Today (Sunday) I noticed that Anneliese’s left eye is swollen and has a white area off to the side. I do not know what it is, it may be nothing, but I will be calling first thing on Monday morning to bring her into the Vet. I think it is better to go in and have them tell me it’s normal, then to worry about it and then have it turn out to be something serious.

Oh yes, and there is still Wimbledon Tennis to enjoy, and enjoy i will. I am amazed how many of the top players are out of it this year already. Still the tried and true Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are still in it for the men, and Serena Williams for he women.

I am happy to see so many bright, young, newcomers. It makes me happy to see this new generation of tennis players. Since I am a tremendous tennis fan I am really happy. And no, I cannot play tennis, but I do love to watch!

Happy Monday Everyone!

The Stomach Flu

On Friday my stomach decided that I had seen better days and rebelled. I looked at food and felt my tummy do flip-flops. Even the smell of food did not sit well. And I had a small fever.

Jack and I tried to figure out what was wrong. Essentially we had eaten the same things the last few days. However, the question remained, had I eaten something wrong? Food poisoning? Or, was this a summer type stomach flu?

I managed some Chicken Noodle Soup in the afternoon. You know, the old-fashioned, condensed soup? I threw into the mix some crackers, and that seemed to settle things down for a while.

I then went to bed and slept for two hours. Something I almost never do unless I am really ill. Bed felt wonderful, and Arnie was my nurse. He is such a wonderful dog. (I am still happy that the woman who wanted to buy him from me, all those years ago, changed her mind!)

I did eat dinner. Mom used to say that plain white baked fish, was good for bad stomachs. Along with boiled potatoes. So, despite feeling terrible, I baked some Haddock, and boiled some potatoes and ate that.

It wasn’t too bad, and I held it down. At 9 PM, Greta decided to go to bed, and so I also went and snuggled with her and Arnie. I had the TV on and wanted to watch a show, but my eyelids dropped and I fell asleep. And this morning, I cannot recall what I wanted to see.

Saturday morning found me still feeling pretty terrible, and I am not sure what I will do today to settle the old stomach. I’m out of soup so I’ll have to send Jack to the store, and maybe I will take some chicken breast out of the freezer to try to eat for dinner.

Meanwhile, this has to be great for my diet! After all, what did the late, great, writer, Erma Bombeck say about the being sick? I believe she said, “I am always one bout of stomach flu away from my goal weight.” And so it is with me!