Author: Dackel Princess

The Friday Five

Computer Woes

Once again I am having computer difficulties. Jack offered to let me use his laptop to hunt down a new machine. So while I figure out what I want, and where to get it, I am also using his machine to update the blog. So, gentle readers, here are the Friday Five.

  1. Many people have told me to get an Apple Laptop. When I priced out, what I want in their machines, it was well over 3 thousand dollars. Should I spend 3 thousand dollars on anything right now, it would be a good vacation! So I’m not thinking Apple.
  2. There are several HP’s that I like, and I think we will take a ride to Staples, or BJ’s. I also think I may go to their web site and “build my own”.
  3. I was looking at computers on Amazon, but a lot of people complain about the fact that they feel they are getting refurbished machines and not new ones. I would ignore it if I read just one review like this, but it seems to be happening a lot.
  4. Aside from computer woes, I decided to deep clean my kitchen from the top down. It meant climbing ladders, and standing on the counter to wash the tops of cabinets, and really work to get the greasy film off the light fixtures. Well, the next day I could hardly move. You see, I have not worked my arms above my head, and in a washing motion in well over two years, due to my neck/spine problems, so yesterday I could hardly move! I took the day off to do laundry and this morning I feel much better.
  5. Tomorrow is Quinn’s birthday party. His actual birthday is March 7th, and that is when I will post his birthday montage. I’m really looking forward to seeing all the kids!

Well that’s it for Friday. I will try to “borrow” Jack’s laptop to add an entry to Dackel Princess each day. Hopefully, I will get my very own laptop soon.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

From this Side of the Pond

 

1. Are you currently operating at 100% capacity? If not, what % are you? What’s keeping you there?

I was just saying to Jack that I am still working on regaining my strength after last years infection. I think I am probably back to 75-80%. I work and work at things, but just can seem to gain the strength I lost.

2.  Have you done your taxes? Planned/booked a summer holiday? Thought about or started your ‘spring cleaning’? Besides what’s listed here, tell us one task that needs doing before spring rolls around.

Jack does the taxes and he can’t start until we get all of our documents. I have a trip planned in April, but so far that is it. One thing that needs doing before Spring rolls around? I need to spend one hour each day working on the little things in each room in the house. Then by the time Spring arrives I will be where I want to be.

3. What’s a favorite food from your part of the country?

Probably Whole Belly Clams. I simply love them. Deep fried with a nice seasoned breading.

4. This isn’t a leap year, but let’s run with it anyway…look before you leap, a leap of faith, grow by leaps and bounds, leap to conclusions, leap at the opportunity…which phrase might best be applied to your life currently (or recently)? Explain.

I think “growing by leaps and bounds”! My two grandchildren are growing like weeds! And it is so fun to watch!

5. As the month draws to a close list five fun and/or fabulous things (large or small) you noticed or experienced in February.

  1. Amazing sunsets. And a few awesome sunrises.
  2. The Supermoon.
  3. Finishing my daughter’s Afghan.
  4. Starting my best friend’s afghan.
  5. A trip to visit my Sister!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

This weekend we will celebrate Quinn’s second birthday. His actual birthday is March 7th, but we will celebrate on Saturday. I cannot believe that time has flown by and my little grandson is two! It seems in so many ways, as if he has always been with us.

Life

It seems that life has a way of changing quite quickly. Like the John Lennon song goes, “Before you cross the street, take my hand. Life is what happens to you while your busy making other plans.”

On Sunday we learned that my brother in-laws Aunt (the sister of his mother, who just passed) had gone to bed in her warm much loved pajamas and while sleeping peacefully in her own bed, had gone home to Heaven, to be with her husband of 60+ years, and the rest of her loved ones.

Sally was a sweet, warm, funny, kind woman. She was the blond sister to my brother in-laws brunette mother, The two of them looked very much alike facially and they both enjoyed the heck out of their families.

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Sally, with her husband, Gene, and Nancy, last year.

Within a two month period, they all passed. Yet now, they are together again.

In fact all of her kids and most of the grandchildren came to Nancy’s service on Saturday. At one point friends had drifted off to go home, but the cousins all stayed behind, just a little bit longer, to reminisce and share their much loved stories of Nancy. Of course this brought in the memories of Nancy’s other brothers and sisters. And at that time, we believed that Sally would be the last, but also we thought she would be around a little longer. The plan was, to have a big family gathering this summer. Something I hope they still will do.

Anyway, after everyone left, I went back to my sister’s house, and we just sort of collapsed. Thankfully, there was plenty to eat, left over from the Memorial Luncheon, so we picked at food, watched the Olympics, until the bed called my name at 10:15 and I fell instantly asleep.

The next morning, my sister got ready to go to church. She sings in their choir each week. She asked if i would go. I was in my pajamas and didn’t feel like going. I know, bad sister!

After she left I started to feel guilty, so I told Ron I was going to get dressed and go with him. I changed, brushed my teeth, and was all set, when Ron’s phone rang, with the news about his Aunt. After his call, we headed to church, and my sister was so happy to see me, as Ron took her aside to tell her the news. And then, my sister was happy to have me there, with her, as she faced another family member, leaving us.

So the weekend was a tough one, yet filled with so much love, and also full of hope. I do believe in God. I do believe in a place where our pain and suffering is gone and we are reunited with those we have loved and lost. Heaven.

I came home and I stood looking at my husband and I reminded him that life is so short. That we need to tell each other every day how much we love each other. How much we love those of us that are near and dear to our hearts. Life goes by so quickly.

Remember, gentle readers, you are loved.

Blessings!

Saying Good-Bye

‍Today we had a Memorial Service for my brother in-law’s mother, Nancy. All our family and friends gathered to say our farewell to this remarkable woman. The church was beautiful, and the service and music lovely. My sister and brother-law’s two sons, daughter and daughter in-law all spoke. They  each provided a loving tribute to this incredibly strong, resilient and loving woman.

As I said the music was lovely and I found myself listening while silent tears streamed down my face.

Nancy was fun, kind,  energetic, encouraging, and as I looked at her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren I realized what a positive legacy that she has left this world. She loved so much, and she was loved deeply!

Nancy loved to paint and had many framed scenes. Mel and Ron offered many of the paintings to family members. Her work will now be with her family to hang in their homes and remind them of this incredible woman.

The luncheon afterward gave us all time to visit, exchange stories, catch up on life and at the end, I felt such peace in my heart.

Nancy is now with God in Heaven. Her pain is over and her spirit is restored. She is with those who have passed before her, those she loved with all her heart, who welcomed her home.

God Bless you, Nan. May you rest in eternal peace.

I’m Here In CT

I drove through four states, in four hours and fifteen minutes. The first two hours found me driving through a winter wonderland, as a fresh few inches of snow had fallen, and the trees were all coated, giving them a lacy appearance. It was gorgeous!

The second half of my drive was just bleak midwinter, with bare ground and cloudy skies.

I arrives and spent part of the day playing with my grand niece, April. She is two and a half, and a fun baby girl, who was happy to spend time with her old Auntie!

We had lunch out, before April took her nap and my sister and I got to sit and chat. This is just the best!

The Friday Five

I am off for the first trip to my sister’s house in two years. We’ve gotten together other places, but not at her house. It is the weekend where we’re having the Memorial Service for my brother in-law’s Mom, and I really wanted to be there for that. But here are five more things I am thinking about.

  1. Jack took my car to the car wash and also checked all the fluid levels. I vacuumed and sprayed the car down with Fabreeze. It has the dusty, mid-winter smell.
  2. I have everything in the car accept my toiletry kit. Once I brush my teeth and do my hair, then that bag and my cellphone charger bag will get tossed in as well.
  3. The dogs are all depressed. They saw the suitcases come out, and they know I am leaving them. Jack will be here, but to them, there is nothing like Mommy.
  4. I put my “funeral” dress on today and the zipper broke. Not because it was under any stress, but just because it’s a crappy zipper. I shall wear pants and a pretty top to the service.
  5. I’m loving the new phone. I have it all set up for the trip. Yay!

Have a great weekend everyone!

A New Smart Phone

After three years, I went in today to buy a new Cell Phone. I’d been thinking about getting an Iphone, but as I talked to the sales person, and tried the different phones I ended up getting, the Samsung Galaxy S8. It has a 14 megapixel camera on both sides, and is fairly easy to use, because my last cell phone was a Galaxy S5.

I came home, charged the cell phone up and then worked setting it up for use. I figure by the weekend, I will be all set, although right now, I am still a little scrambled as I set things up.

I immediately ordered a cute Otter Box for it, and it will be here on Thursday. And then I will be settled with the new phone.

It is certainly thinner and lighter. I will feel so much better when the Otter Box arrives and I know she is protected.

When was the last time you got a new cell phone? And what are you using an Android or an Iphone? Pro’s? Cons?.

Computer Woes

After a little struggle, my computer is once again up and running. It seems that there was a virus in the Firefox program causing all sorts of weird things to happen. I’m not the fastest typist around, but when I typed and stopped and went back to read what I had written, it was depressing to find that the computer was only a quarter of the way through the sentence I had typed.

What my computer guru did was completely uninstall Firefox and all of it’s sub folders, and then we did a fresh install of the program. So far it seems to have worked and I am hopeful that we got all of the virus out. I really do not want to have to have the hard drive wiped.

So, most of my day has been spent setting up Firefox, installing my bookmarks and then making sure that all the passwords were up to date. And about passwords, all I can say is EEEEEK! I have so many, that I can no longer keep up. I have a locked file in a different place where I keep them all. But my goodness, it can be confusing. Especially now where many sites want you to change your password frequently and then not use any password that you might ever have used with them! Oh my!

But the machine is now almost completely programmed, at least with the important stuff, so I can sit back once again, and crochet!

My Weekend

On Sunday I woke up to discover that 8 inches of snow had fallen overnight. Now we were supposed to only have 2-3 inches, so 8 inches was a real surprise! I felt bad for Jack, who would have to go out with the snow-blower to clear our drive. I decided to spoil Jack with three nice meals during the day. I admit breakfast, and lunch were nice, but ordinary.

As Jack finished his breakfast he went to get dressed and said, “Maribeth, someone plowed our driveway!” We both were surprised, as I had been out around 8 o’clock and the driveway was un-plowed. An hour later, it was done. I guess by the snow-plowing fairy! Whoever it was, I thank them, with all my heart!

During the day I had felt tired once again, and I lay down on the sofa. The next thing I knew, Jack said, “Are you awake?” I groaned a little as I began to wake. “It’s five o’clock” he said.

What? How could this be? I just lay down at 3:15 for a little nap. Now it was 5:00 and time for the dogs to eat!

I realized that yesterday I slept for an hour in the afternoon and today over an hour and a half, and I am filled up in my sinuses again. Ugh! At least I still have my medication for that, which I started on Sunday night.

Later  in the afternoon I made  a dinner that was really good! I made Brussel sprouts sauteed with onions, garlic and bacon, pork chops sauteed with fresh rosemary and thyme, and in a country gravy, and mashed herbed potatoes, served with our own apple sauce.

Jack was delighted and I admit, it was easily enjoyed. I just love it when a meal comes together like this.

So that wraps up my somewhat sleep filled weekend. I hope you all had a nice weekend and enjoyed yourselves.