Dackel Princess

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!

Summertime vs Wintertime

The pitter-patter of raindrops fell on my air conditioner, as I opened my eyes on Friday morning. Ah yes, the cool front was here! After over a week of 90+ degree days, filled with high humidity, today this cold front moved through, and cleared the air!

I do love summertime when the air is warm, the sun shines, and I don’t have to get my coat, hat, gloves, boots, and scarf on, just to go out and walk the dogs.

However, I am one of those crazy people that enjoy the somewhat slower pace that wintertime affords. I love the fact that when I go to bed in the winter, it is actually dark. I love the fact that it is nice and cool and I can make winter soups and stews in my cast iron pot! And I love that after we have snowfall, I can let the dackels go out without their leashes, and because the snow can get deeper than they are tall, they will race out, perform and then race in.

Summer is always nice, though. With beautiful sunsets, bright blue skies and the wearing of very few articles of clothing. I love the beach, I love the fact that fish fills our markets and that cookouts abound!

However living in a summer tourist area, means our little town of roughly six thousand people, more than quadruples. Traffic is bad, there are no parking spots, and it’s crowded.

Winter is wonderful because the streets are nearly empty, and when I go out I see the people I have come to know in our town, and life is…slower.

The fact of the matter is, I love our home during all four seasons here in my little town. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. With the exception of three weeks in the Spring, we call “Mud Season”. That is because I own a White German Shepherd, who loves to jump in mud puddles!

I really cannot pick out which season I like the very best. I love them all. Each one has their special qualities. Ad each season has birthdays of my loved ones that need o be celebrated!

The Friday Five

Here we are! The first Friday in July! Now, where is the year 2018 going? Seems to me, that it is flying by! As the week comes to a close, here are the five things on my mind right now.

I cannot tell you how much fun it was to babysit the children with their other grandmother! Mary is such a wonderful woman, and we really had a good time, enjoying the children together.
I now remember why I wanted to move back to New England after six years of living in Florida. Six years of High Heat, & High Humidity, made me realize, I am just not cut out for this type of weather. I will be happy when we go back into the 70’s and lower humidity!
Greta is continuing her slow decline. It breaks my heart. Each day I spend a lot of time, snuggling her in my chair. Each day is a gift.
I soaked a piece of steak yesterday in a Smokey Apple Marinade. It had a good 8 hours to set, and when I cooked it last night it came out perfectly! Tonight is fish! Probably Haddock.
My sister arrives for a short visit tomorrow, so I will be running the dust mop and vacuum today and making beds! Sister visits are never long enough!

Grand-Kids, The Fourth & Parties

The last few days have been so hot and muggy up here in New Hampshire, which is totally uncommon for early July. Perhaps mid to late August for a day or two, but we are going on nearly a week and I am just plain over it!

I took a trip down to co-babysit with the kid’s other grandmother, Nana Mary. We’ve become good friends over the years and we both enjoy spending time with our two grandchildren.

Last night we took the kids to Cracker Barrel for dinner. Now I must say, this was a great decision because other parents take their kids there too. So no one says a word if a child uses their outdoor voice or spills anything. It simply is what it is.

Anyways, the kids ordered kid food, Mac & Cheese, and Chocolate Milk, while Mary and I each ordered a steak and salad. It was a great meal. I stepped out to “go to the restroom”, but really I ordered a cake and ice cream for Mary’s Birthday and the Staff all sang to her. It was so much fun!

Our grandson fell asleep on the sofa after dinner, and I carried him upstairs to bed when Savannah was ready to go. Since there was awesome air conditioning in their parent’s bedroom, the two children and I slept there. Mary slept in the other air-conditioned bedroom.

Once the kids were tucked in, we opened a bottle of chilled Reisling and sat talking for nearly two hours before we went to bed. What a wonderful thing to have found a friend like Mary! And the fact that she and I are joined as a family makes it all the more special.

This morning dawned and the two children woke me up about 6:15. Savi was first to snuggle and cuddle, and then Quinn woke up. Now, remember, this kid is 2 and a half years old. This is what he said to me, all by himself first thing this morning.

“I’m not crying. I’m a big boy!” He then moved closer. “Love you Oma!”

My heart filled right up. This is the very first time he told me he loves me, without being prompted! Later on, he said it again. I was already crazy in love with my grandson, but now, I am simply over the moon in love!

The children really adore each other and sit for long periods of time cuddled together. It makes me so happy to see this.

Then I came home, stopping for a few groceries on my way, and we went to a Fourth of July Party at our neighbors. It was so much fun, and great to see everyone!

Hope you all had a great Fourth of July!