Dackel Princess

The Friday Five +One

Another week has flown by. I remember being a kid and thinking that each day seemed so long, and the summers went by so slowly, and I remember feeling like I would never grow up! And here I am racing towards 60, and I look back and wonder where the heck the time has gone!

But for this week, here’s what’s been happening in my little corner of the world!

1. I saw my dentist at the beginning of the week. There is nothing major, but I do need some repair work done to the lower small teeth in the front. No cavities, but I’ve worn away the tooth edges on top of three teeth and they’ve been sensitive. So, the dentist will fill the tops of each of them and I should then be a lot more comfortable!

2. I’ve been watching my two favorite shows. Homeland and Roseanne. Homeland has really gone into some dark areas this year and although I have always loved Carrie, right now I do not understand her at all. I am enjoying the Roseanne reboot. Once again, Roseanne seems to be catching what it is like to be in the middle class, struggling for the very bread of life. But she also does this by showing a fierce loyalty towards your family. Your family may drive you insane, but in your mind and heart, you would throw yourself under a bus for them!

3. I started my low fat, low cholesterol diet. I’ve been eating oatmeal each day, and berries, and lots of vegetables. Last night I cooked up chicken for dinner, with carrots and I think the change will also help get my weight on a tightly controlled scale. I’ve got to stop watching the Pioneer Woman, as she cooks almost everything with heaps of butter, tons of buttermilk, and so much of it is deep fried! I love it, but apparently it doesn’t love my arteries!

4. My hair stylist had a cancellation yesterday and she had me in. My hair had grown an entire inch in 5 weeks! We were talking and she asked how I’d done this? Well, better diet, and I am taking Biotin each day. I noticed that my hair grows faster, thicker and my nails also grow longer and stronger. It’s the Biotin, I tell you!

5. Lastly, I am off to babysit the kids next Saturday so that their Mommy and Daddy get to have some grown-up time. My plans are simple. I plan to get down on the floor, play Barbie Dolls, Lego’s, Dress-up, and anything else that those two beautiful babes want to play. I want to read books, and cook them their favorite foods and just plain have fun.

My Plus One this week, is the news that on Thursday I had another lesion removed. This one from my chest wall. It was quick and with the help of Novocain, mostly painless. I will get the results next week sometime. A few years ago, a Psychic told me that I would never again have cancer. So, I am hoping she is correct on that and that this is nothing at all to be worried about.

Have an awesome weekend everyone!!!

TBT: Savannah & Me!

Looking back it’s hard to believe that it has been almost six years since Savannah was born! I recall that day so clearly and remember the very first time I help her in my arms!

Time flies and and Savannah is all grown up and even more beautiful than she was on the day she was born! And I am still crazy in love with my granddaughter!

Being an Oma is the very best thing in the entire world!

Rain Or Snow?

Yesterday I was sitting in my chair crocheting after lunch. I looked out the window at the skies and knew that if we were going to go for a walk, we’d better do it! So, I got Jack in his coat, and picked up the leashes for Lili and Arnie and off we went.

The wind had picked up, and although the thermometer said 52 degrees, it felt much colder. I should have worn my hat and gloves, but seeing the temperature on the machine, I definitely had made a poor choice.

Our routine walk was nice. No one was around today to talk to, so we simply did our walk and came back. One notable thing was that a rather large rotten tree near our friend’s cabin, had fallen in pieces onto the right of way road. They will need some young hands to help them get the tree moved.

Upon arriving at home, I walked Anneliese and Greta before settling in to finish up some computer work, and eventually warm up leftover Prime Rib. And I just have to say that the meat was even better the second time around! Best of all, we have one more meal of this wonderful cut of beef left.

Shortly after that, I looked out the window and it was SNOWING! Oh man! It snowed all evening, despite the temperature being in the upper 30’s.

I woke this morning and it is 32 degrees, and raining hard. Usually I walk the dackels early on, but with the rain falling, I knew they would not linger outside! And I was right. Not even Lili wanted to be out there.

My day today will be a quiet one. Maybe a little laundry, but definitely a lot of crocheting! Have a great Wednesday everyone!!!

Dental Day

Today is Dental Day. Every six months I force myself to put all my childhood fears aside, and “man up” and go to the dentist and smile a lot and breathe deeply and get through yet another appointment.

Now don’t get me wrong. My Dentist is a very nice man and the hygienist I use is very sweet, kind, and friendly. It’s just that all those times I went to the horrible, child-hating, dentist of my youth, really scarred me for life.

It makes me so happy that Mandy found a wonderful children’s dentist for Savannah, who proclaimed that she wanted to go to the dentist soon because she missed them! What a wonderful thing.

In many ways, life has changed for kids, since I was one. Both doctors and dentists make a point to treat their little patients well. When I met Savannah’s Pediatrician, I was so impressed by the real joy she had upon seeing Savannah again.

I recently decided to switch doctors. It was a difficult decision, mostly because I will admit to being lazy. The office was familiar, and close, even if I didn’t feel I was getting the best care. But with a little nudge from Jack, I switched to a female doctor in Manchester. She was really on the ball, took a detailed history, did a first class physical, and blood-work which found me having a cholesterol problem, and the fact that the old doctor had me on too much thyroid medication!

I bought a book on lowering my cholesterol naturally, and my medications have been adjusted. She also lined up a skin cancer screening and a few more tests.

Now I concentrate on actually eating with a purpose. Lowering my Cholesterol numbers so I can avoid taking any new medications. Anyone have any Cholesterol lowering secrets?

Crazy Things That Happen In The Morning

I woke this morning at my new normal. 6:30 AM. It was cold, the dogs were stretching, and I knew I needed to jump into my clothes so I could walk Anneliese, who has started to run off in search of the awakening critters in our stone wall.

What I wanted to do, and what I did were two very different things. Greta walked down the bed ramp and headed to the door. This requires a fast response, because the girl is old and needs to be able to go out, right now!

So there I was, in my underwear and socks, running through the bedroom and kitchen to put Greta and Lili right out the door! Thank goodness I live in the middle of nowhere, so no one saw me in my socks and panties! I then ran back to the bedroom, slipped on my jeans and a shirt, and some shoes and returned to the kitchen to grab my coat and Anneliese and her leash, and off we went.

I must say that my morning coffee never tasted so good, as it did after my early morning dackel chase!

Happy Easter

Here we are. Easter 2018. What a beautiful and joyous day! My holiday celebrations are not what they once were, with many hours spent singing at church and big dinners, but in my mind, and my spirit and my soul, I rejoice at the Resurrection of Christ! Oh what a blessed day for us all.

We are staying home this year. I’m cooking a small Prime Rib for Jack and we shall enjoy the peace of the day. The sun is shining and Spring is on it’s way.

Happy Easter!

Once In A Blue Moon

I am not quite sure where the time is going. All I know is, tomorrow is April 1st! Our days are getting longer and we have more daylight, so even if the temperatures are still cold, the light gives me hope that Springtime is on it’s way.

Yesterday we were in the middle of watching an old movie, “Sense and Sensibility” when the dogs reminded us that it was time for our walk. Jack and I looked at each other and decided that it was time. So, we abandoned the movie, and off we went with Arnie and Lili for our walk.

We’ve been building up and expanding our walk, and the dogs really look forward to it. I cannot recall if I mentioned that Mr. Arnie has a heart murmur now that he has entered his golden years. We have slowly increased his exercise (Arnie is a couch potato!) and changed his food. I am hopeful that we can keep him nice and healthy for a very long time!

Lili is crazy healthy, and she needs these walks to burn off all that energy! And boy does she run all around while Jack and I walk at a sedate pace. The good news here is, Jack and I both are getting stronger and Lili gets to crazy run all over the place. We do leash her when we get close to the busy road, but once we are away from it heading home, we let her go and off she runs. And there is such joy in her heart!

This morning the last Blue Moon until 2020 was just starting to set when I got up. I grabbed my old camera and my cell phone and after walking the dackels, I ran outside and took a bunch of pictures. Surprisingly, my cell phone took much better pictures than my Olympus camera.

I wish my camera was good enough to catch all the shadows on the moon itself. They were there, but not captured. I can see it in my mind, and many times I find that those types of memories are stored for me to look back on and enjoy in private.

I wish you all a blessed Easter.

The Friday Five

The week has flown by. I’ve actually accomplished so much, and I have been loyal to exercising every day. For the first time in well over a year I am feeling strong, healthy and well! So here are this week’s Friday Five.

As mentioned above, I am exercising. A year ago after the infection, I was so weak that I could not walk more than a few steps in my driveway. I would come in and fall asleep. Now we are walking the full length of our driveway, and the full length of our street, and back again! All the while trying to keep up with Lili and Arnie!
Today is bed changing day, laundry and I may even pull out the vacuum, (the big one!) and do the rugs and under the sofa, bed and mudroom. Or maybe not! (LOL)
Wednesday we went grocery shopping for the holiday. Everything was on sale. We bought a small ham, a small boneless leg of lamb, and Prime Rib. All were under $5.99 a pound! In any case. I figured I would make the Ham on Sunday for Easter for Jack and me. However, at breakfast, Jack said that of the three he would rather have the Prime Rib for Easter. No problem. Just a slight meal shift.
Arnie suddenly became very picky about eating his food. Or should I say, he simply stopped eating. So we kept trying different foods until we found one with a good reputation and one he would eat. No small feat! It was pricey in the stores, but I checked with “CHEWY” and it was nearly half! Arnie is now a very happy boy!
As my week comes to an end, I am happy and content with the world around me. I am thankful for all the blessings in my life.

Happy Easter!

TBT: Easter & A Little MB

I think I was probably 3 years old when this picture was taken! That’s my big brother, Dickie, and my sister, Melodie and that little bit of a thing, is me.

I miss my brother, who died far too young, and every day in every way, I am grateful for having the best big sister, ever!

This was Easter 1961. We always dressed up in new clothes, new shoes and our baskets for the holiday. Both sets of grandparents came down and quite often my mother’s brother Bob and his wife Cynthia and their kids, Carl and Rikki and their families joined us. Holidays were always a big deal for us. In my mind the holidays still are.

I bought my ham today and large potatoes for making baked stuffed potatoes, and lots of vegetables!! I just love Easter.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s a word that describes your life? A word you wish described your life?

My life is “FULL”. Full of good people, good things and full of happiness. I have known great sadness in the past, but I chose to turn my life around, and have it be full of great time, great loves, and much happiness! I got my wish!

2. Back in my day we___________________________________?

We somehow managed to be able to run all around the town, ride our bikes, go to the beach, and live, what they now refer to as a “free range childhood life”. It was fabulous. I played in the sand and dirt, I climbed trees and when I think back on my childhood in Falmouth, I think of freedom.

3. When it comes to takeout are you more likely to opt for Italian, Mexican, or Chinese food? Does a typical week at your house include takeout.

We somehow don’t do much take out. Perhaps a burger or a sub once in a while, but that’s about it.

4. Think about the people you most respect. What is it about them that earned your respect?

The people I respect the very most are the people who are always trying. Trying to improve themselves, trying to improve their life for themselves and their families. I also respect those who never give up, when life throws them tough times.

5. What’s something your friends might see and say is ‘so you’?

Oh goodness. I think most people would see an apron and say that! I love to cook and I love aprons!!!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Jack and have been walking now for nearly a month. We love getting out for the 30 minute walk with Arnie and Lili. And for every step we take, Lili takes 10. She just loves running through the fields and leaping about. My darling Arnie is happy to walk by my side and this walking is so good for him. On his last Vet visit we learned he has a heart murmur. Not uncommon in elderly dogs. So, I have been working on his diet and exercise to help him stay in good shape!