Dackel Princess

We Were Down!

Mama said there’ll be days like this
There’ll be days like this mama said
(Mama said, Mama said)

I woke up on Sunday morning only to discover that Dackel Princess was down and out. I thought perhaps my Web Maven was working on a few issues I’d been having, but she came right back to assure me that it wasn’t her and to contact GoDaddy to have them work the problem.

I did just that, and after nearly an hour on the phone with them, they finally had to admit the problem was on their end of things and that they’d be working on it.

Somehow this doesn’t reassure me.

Right now I am looking at losing the last 7-8 years of my blogging. Why? Well, somehow I didn’t back up the blog! There I have said it! I need to remember to weekly back up the blog. That is if I get it back.

Right now I am feeling queasy and my head aches. When I think of all of the work, all of the hours spent at the computer, it makes me sick with fear!

Later

About 2 PM I was contacted that Dackel Princess had been revived! The first thing I did was back up all my files, all 18 years of blogging.

It’s funny but when I thought of all the things I have written in the last 18 years I was so worried that I’d lost them. How on earth does one recreate the feelings you had the first time you held your grandchildren? The first time you watched your dog have puppies? or the happiness you felt when you made your first batch of peach jam?

It’s all backed up now, and I will continue to run backups each week. Meanwhile, I would love to print out the entire blog. I’m sure at this point it will be the length of “War and Peace”, but at least I will have it in front of me and I will not stress nearly as much. Or will I?

—

Ugh!

I woke this morning and walked out into the kitchen to discover that poor Lili had been sick in the night. I mean, really sick. She had somehow managed to hit every throw carpet in the kitchen, and almost every inch of the floor.

Before I even had my first cup of coffee, I had to clean everything up and mop the floor after. I also got all four rugs into the washer and then I came up, washed up and sat down with my coffee.

Despite knowing I had done a thorough cleaning, all I could smell was dog sick. In self-defense, I lit a candle and sprayed Fabreeze and prayed for a change in the wind! LOL!

Fortunately, Lili recovered quickly, and none of the other dogs got sick. I suspect that Lili has been drinking out of the Spring on our property. Not exactly good for her tummy!

As I write Lili is curled up next to me. She was so upset this morning and acted rather ashamed of herself. Tonight she is acting so sweet and loving. I think this is her attempt to make it up to me. I’m just glad she is feeling better!

Happy 80th Birthday Jack!

Today is the eightieth birthday of my husband Jack. It’s quite a milestone for him and for us. We met many years ago and were friends for a long time. We saw each other through many difficult times in life, and eventually, when we figured it all out, we got married and started our life together. That was thirty years ago. How the time has flown.

Today we celebrate Jack’s birth and here is hoping for not only a happy day but a healthy and wonderful year ahead!

Thursday Thirteen

Since tomorrow I will be skipping the Friday Five, I thought I might skip back and do a Thursday Thirteen. When I first started blogging, I used to do a Thursday Thirteen list each week. Eventually, I ran out of ideas. Let’s face it, I’ve been blogging since 2005 and I think I may very well have made lists for almost every part of my life.

This week, I am going to write a list of thirteen things I have learned are important in life.

Always tell the people in your life that you love them. Don’t miss that opportunity.
Life is short. Don’t spend it being angry or carrying a grudge. Go forward.
Find your joy! Find it and hold onto it and allow yourself to feel it.
Remember that your children and grandchildren are the most important people in your life. Spend time reading to them, getting down on the floor and playing with them, laugh with them and when your kids are nearly grown or grown, remember to always listen to them. I saw a quote that said: Hearing is one of the senses, but listening is so important to learn. I’m still working on this!
Remember to treat your friends like you would a beloved garden. Nurture them, care for them and never be too busy for them.
Believe in something greater than yourself. I believe in God, and my faith has gotten me through some very tough times. My faith also gives me hope for the future.
Go someplace. A beach, a field, a mountain top, somewhere and sit in the quiet. Hear the peace around you. I always love to go outside in the middle of a snowstorm and just stand there and listen to the silence. It lowers your blood pressure and trust me, it will put a smile on your face!
Listen to music. Not just when you are in your car, but turn on a series of tunes when you are working around the house, doing laundry, etc. Make a playlist of your favorite songs and then…rock-on!
Laugh! If you are having trouble finding things to laugh about, put on a good old comedy movie. Quite honestly, having 4 dogs gives me plenty of chuckles each day. That and the fact that I am a big klutz makes me laugh a lot. Laugh at the silly things you do. Don’t take everything to heart!
Listen to the voices of your people when they call your name. A few weeks ago I entered my daughter’s home and the children both came running calling out my name…”OMA”! and my heart filled! Likewise when I hear my daughter call me Mom or Jack call me Hun, I smile because I know I am loved.
Take a long walk. Through a forest, along the shore, and just breathe. Remember the things that make you love where you are walking.
Take your time. Enjoy what you are doing, seeing, feeling, and believing. Don’t rush. Life goes by in a flash.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. Is there a flower you associate with a particular memory? Explain.

Growing up on Clipper Lane, in Falmouth, my mother had a hedge along the fence of lilacs. I would crawl under the bushes and sit and inhale the scent of her lilacs! When I smell lilacs now, it brings me right back to my mother’s lilacs. I miss them, and I miss her too!

2. Last time you helped someone? Tell us how.

I was in the grocery store today and a very small, elderly woman was trying to get a can off one of the top shelves. She almost had it, but I could see it was going to fall right on her head, and I ran over and grabbed the can and steadied her. She was quite distressed and tried to apologize for bothering me, but I smiled and I told her that I was the tallest person in my family of “circus people” and I am used to getting things off of the top shelves! This made her laugh.

3. It’s National Salsa Month (the food, not the dance) so tell us, do you like salsa? Hot, medium, or mild? Homemade, store-bought, or from your favorite restaurant only?`

I do like salsa, sometimes! But mostly, I’m not a fan, unless there are nice warm tortilla chips! Then that is just fine.

4. When I was twelve years old…

I rode my bike everywhere, still went to parks to swing on swings, and went to the beach every day in the summer. I babysat for the very first time, for a baby boy, who was born prematurely. He was so tiny! But he was a really good baby.

5. It’s the first of May so let’s run with it-first things first, don’t know the first thing about it, first dibs on something, first impression, first rate, first cousin, first string, first come first served, at first light-which phrase can best be applied to something in your life currently or even recently?

First Rate. My weekend mini vacation on Cape Cod was First Rate! We went to three new restaurants, spent time watching the Ospreys and stayed in our favorite hotel, and had a First Rate room! All in all, it was a First Rate weekend!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I had to go to the dentist today to have some minor dental work done. It required Novocain and I could feel my heart race for a good 5 minutes. I guess I will need to mention this to my dentist before any further work. I wonder if there is a Novocain like medication, without the stuff that makes one’s heart race? The numb feeling lasted nearly 5 hours! Tonight my mouth is just a little sore, but nothing too bad!

Oceans & Ospreys & Quahogs!

Now that I have been back home in New Hampshire for over 24 hours, I simply want to repack my bag and head down to the Cape again. I want to watch the ocean and the Ospreys and walk along the shoreline. Alas, that is not to be right now, but I do have a trip planned again this summer. That’s great, as it gives me something to look forward to.

While I was down in Falmouth, I stopped by the Green Pond Fish Market and got wonderful Stuffed Quahogs and at another shop I was able to get a Seafood Pie. I was so excited to bring these home to share them with Jack. Surprisingly, he was not too impressed with the Cape Cod fare. Perhaps one has to be raised on it, to love these delicacies.

I think in many ways, I fell in love again with Falmouth. As I drove around the familiar streets, I could recall so clearly, my time spent there. Oh well, I guess I know where I will be going over the next few years for my weekend getaways!

And I know when I go, my two faithful sidekicks, will always be going with me! We sure have a good time together!

Love you two!

For The Love Of Cape Cod

Like all good things, my time back in my hometown came to an end yesterday just after lunch. We spent the morning on the beach collecting shells and sea stones and watching the Osprey’s building their nests as they get ready for another year of raising their young. You can read about the Osprey’s HERE.

We had stopped in a parking area to watch one particular nesting pair, and before we knew it, they were dive bombing my car. We snapped a few more pictures and then drove off so they could once again relax.

Besides the Ospreys, we saw Swans, also nesting, Canadian Geese, and Mallard Ducks. As I watched all of this nature around me, I couldn’t help but think how much I had missed in my youth, simply taking for granted the things that occurred around me. I spent so much time scanning the level earth, that I forgot to look upward into the skies and be amazed at all I saw there.

I also spent time watching the wild rabbits hopping around. Now, these aren’t your typical small bunnies, but rabbits that are the size of a small dog or good sized cat!

In so many ways, during this visit to Cape Cod, I felt like I was seeing my hometown through new eyes. The sheer beauty of what I saw was overwhelming.

From the gardens to the ocean, I was truly awed by the loveliness of my hometown. More pictures to follow.

Beautiful Day

Saturday proved to be a really amazing day! Not only did we enjoy two lovely gardens, but the sun shone brightly, the air was warm and the woman who made a real impact on my life, Carol, my second grade teacher, and I were reunited!

Truth be told, I have been looking for her for a couple of years. And today there she was!

There is much to write about and I will elaborate on it all in Monday’s post.

This is one of my best visits yet to my old hometown.

All Good Things

The most wonderful thing happened to me yesterday. My daughter, who is vacationing with her family at Disney World wanted to Facetime with me. So, I called her, and I discovered that my grandson, Quinn wanted to talk to his Oma! I cannot tell you how that warmed my heart.

We talked for a bit and Mandy showed me around their room at The Polynesian Resort. I also got to say hello to Savi and their Daddy, Matt. I felt so loved!

‌Meanwhile, I am in Falmouth with my sister and cousin, and despite the rain yesterday, we are looking forward to a pleasant day today. Except that it is 4 AM and I am wide awake writing this, while my lovelies sleep.

Last night we went out to The Bear in Boots Restaurant and had a great time. We shared a huge Charcuterie Board, and Steak Tips and a Korean Dumpling. Like my friend Krista, who loves Proseco, that is what I ordered! It was so nice.

We came back to the room, watched a little TV, but mostly played Words With Friends with each other. I knew I should have brought the Scrabble game.

Today we’re off to shop, go to the gardens and tonight go out to The Landfall for dinner. Seafood, fresh off the boat is in our future!

Have a great Saturday, everyone!

The Friday Five

Here we are at the very end of April! The year seems to be rushing by, although a neighborhood child told me that this school year was soooooo long! It made me laugh to recall how I’d felt the same in my youth when every day seemed like an eternity!

As the week ends and I look forward to my girls weekend on the Cape (Cape Cod), here are the things that have been on my mind.

I’ve done all the laundry and packed my suitcase for the trip. I don’t have to worry about Jack running out of clothes, or having to do a lot of laundry when I get back.
Besides packing my clothes, I have packed a bag of teas, and goodies to have in our room. The room has a coffee maker, that you can heat water in for tea. Perfect. I am a big herbal tea drinker.
I did a thorough cleaning of the Highlander. After a long, cold, snowy, wet, winter the inside and outside of the car were a mess. I brought down the carpet cleaner, I’ve written about before, and used the upholstery attachment on the seats and rugs. It came out so well. I must interject here, anyone that does detail work like this on your car is worth their weight in gold. I spent an entire afternoon doing this! But it is so worth it!
Tonight I cook the last meal for a few days! I am really looking forward to the time off!
I bought these wild napkins. Now I didn’t know exactly how wild until I opened the package. You see, I love a bargain, and these were 700 napkins for $2.50! But when I opened them I realized they are full of goofy printed napkins. Oh well, it’s an adventure, right? Here is one of a dachshund.