Dackel Princess

TBT: Me & Shubi

This picture was taken during a vacation in 1997. Twenty years ago. We were visiting New Hampshire (At the time we were living in Florida), and we drove up to Weirs Beach, in Laconia. Here I am holding my first wire-haired dackel, Shubi! It’s hard to believe it has been 20 years!

We stopped so Shubi could take a run down by the water. The beach was deserted, and it was a perfect time. Or it was until a man with a large dog came to the beach and his dog was off leash too! Poor little Shubi was so scared, she ran to the end of the jetty and jumped into the lake! His dog just stood there looking confused!

The man ran quickly and he jumped in and rescued Shubi, while Hubby went to see if we had a blanket in our car. I can still see this rather comical event in my mind. Shubi was fine, just wet and in the end we had a good laugh. The man’s dog was a nice one, although there was no convincing Shubi. I’m glad I have this picture to remind me of that funny day!

Hope

Here we are at the end of another year. I remember at the start of 2016 being so full of hope, and yet, it seems like in this big world of ours, so many things went very wrong.

Terrorism is running rampant, people are being so unkind to each other, and then there are the terrible losses the world has faced. Actors, Actresses, and Musicians, that wrote the music and lyrics of our life, have passed from this world.

And just before Christmas, two Seniors at my Alma Mater, Falmouth High School, were killed in an automobile accident. Two 17 year old boys, lost in a split second. Understanding the loss of a child, makes these deaths all the harder to bear.

There have been other things, personally that have made 2016 difficult for me. A botched surgery, a problem with medications, and living with pain, until I can see a specialist have really gotten to me.

However, before I become lost in the world of sadness, I remind myself of all of the good.

Our darling Quinn was born. Not only is he healthy and happy, but he is quite remarkable! He is walking, which means he is also falling, but the little guy picks himself right up and away he goes again. Quinn is tough! And he is all boy. This is something wonderful and new, as I never had a son. I really like having a grandson and marvel in his fabulous personality.

My granddaughter also amazes me. At 4 and a half years old, Savannah is all girl. She is sensitive, sweet, has her eye on fashions and dolls and cooking, but most of all, she adores her brother. And Lili! It’s the funniest thing. I expected she would like the smaller dachshunds more because they are close to her size. But no. She met our Lili, big (75 pounds) white and a bit of a klutz, and she loves her.

I also see how lucky I am to have good and loving family and friends, a roof over my head, warm clothes to wear and food in my belly!

I am hoping that 2017 will be the year of goodness, not just for my spine, but for the world around me. Although I know that life is like this. Both good things and bad things happen, people are born and people leave us, it is my hope that we will see more peace and happiness and love around us all.

I guess in the end I am lucky to have my faith in God. Through him I have hope and that will make 2017 a good year. Hope.

Christmas & Children 2016

I’ve always loved Christmas, but it is just the best now that we have grandchildren. Savannah is such a girly girl, and my love for Barbie Dolls is one I share with her. She was thrilled with her little Barbie house and dolls and she was even more thrilled with the Barbie clothing that I found for her dolls!

Savi and her dolls and doll house.

Quinn is our little man in motion. It’s hard to believe that he is only 9 months old and toddling all over the house! He is fearless, and when he falls, he gets right back up and walks on! Quinn’s likes are wheels. He loves to sit and spin them. Thus we got him a truck with little mini cars. All with wheels that move. But I must say, mostly he just wanted to walk.

Quinn is really quite the character!

He just loves to be on his feet walking everywhere!

Quinn's First Christmas 2016 from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

We all opened gifts and my favorites are always the yearly pictures of the children, that Mandy has done for every one. I also got the complete set of “Parenthood”! I am so excited about that. I’d seen a few episodes from the first season and loved it, but it’s all Pay Per View now. So, call me happy to have my own set that I can watch when I want, and keep and enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

The Friday Five

Tis the season to be jolly!

Here we are, December 23 and Christmas is just around the corner. My shopping is done, wrapping will commence tomorrow as well as my yearly watching of It’s a Wonderful Life! But this week’s Friday Five finds me looking back over the year and being very thankful for a few very important things.

Our darling grandson, Quinn tops the chart. I cannot tell you how thankful we are that Quinn is happy, healthy and beautiful. At nine months old he is already quite the character. The boy is walking!

He also will eat anything put in front of him. He is happy and loving and adores his big sister and family. Yes, Quinn brought so much joy into our lives with his arrival.

2. Miss Savannah continues to grow and become more and more dear in the process. At four years old, she is smart and determined, and she loves with her whole heart.

She is such a beauty too, with long light auburn hair and hazel eyes, like her Mommy. She is a kind child and seems to watch over other kids, especially her baby brother.

3. My daughter Amanda. She is amazing! I stayed with her and the family for a few weeks after my surgery to recover, and I witnessed her working at her job, from home. I listened to her in a conference call and I was so proud of the way she spoke. Not so much what she was saying, but the sound of her voice, her ability to answer questions quickly and efficiently and her manners are impeccable.

Mandy and kids

She is also the best Mom ever. As I watched her juggle motherhood, job and a sick mother, Me, I felt honored to be the mother of such a remarkable woman.

4. My cousin, Janet. She was there for me during my recovery. Helping me with broken cell phones, shopping for clothes I could wear that didn’t hurt my incision, and bringing me to her home for Thanksgiving, where we did everything from eat, watch wonderful movies and play Cards Against Humanity!

She comforted me and made me feel so very loved.

5. My sister. Always my sister. For she loves me no matter what, warts and all. And I love her. One thing I love about my sister is that her heart is really very pure. She adores her family and all her grandchildren, and always works hard to make each one feel special.

Melodie on the left and me on the right.

Someone once said to her that ‘Not everyone will like you’, which confused my sister. She really loves people, even if she is treated unkindly in return. Her heart is big and full of love. It’s sad when people don’t understand that if you are lucky enough to be loved by my sister, you will have a devoted friend, and helper for the rest of your life!

There is, of course Hubby and there are so many other women and men alike who have been here for me this year. How lucky I am to have these wonderful people in my life. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

TBT: Christmas 1983…My Girls

My girls, Mandy and Katie

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s left to be done on your Christmas to-do list?

Wrap. I also want to see if Hubby can get down our mini tree to have out. We have no decorations up and I miss them.

2. The Hodgepodge lands on the first day of winter this year. What’s your favorite thing about winter?

Watching it snow. Not ice, but snow. Slow, big flakes and a fluffy white sky.

3. In what area of your life are you immature? Feel free to elaborate or not.

I do not handle being sick well. I sort of want to be babied. But let’s face it. At 58, I’m no baby, so I need to stop whining, and grow up!

4. What was the most (or one of the most) important lessons you learned in 2016?

To be humble. After my second spine surgery failed, and I had a medication problem, and all, well, I really lost it. I had to humbly take my lumps. Now, I have an appointment with a new doctor, and I am back in control. But this year? Yes. Being Humble.

5. It’s Fried Shrimp Day…are you a fan? What’s your favorite way to eat shrimp? Will there be shrimp somewhere in your holiday feastings?

I love shrimp. And yes, I plan to serve a shrimp cocktail ring the day after when my family come to visit.

6. What sound lulls you to sleep?

The TV. A dackel snoring, or the sound of an air conditioner.

7. What one word best describes your 2016?

Now that is tough. First one is JOYOUS! As our little Quinn arrived. But also, Disaster, as my spinal surgery failed. But let’s just stay with JOYOUS, as Quinn is so awesome!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Christmas is nearly here and I feel blessed. I have a wonderful family, and dear friends. Despite the challenges in life, I know I have the love and support of these people. That fills me with hope!

Happy Birthday Mandy

My daughter, Amanda has her birthday today. She is such an amazing woman and I am proud to be her mother.

You see, Mandy is really a self made woman. She had ideas about what she wanted to do in life, and she worked hard to get where she is.
Not only is she a success as a career woman, but most importantly, she is the best mother I have ever seen. She is devoted to her kids, and loves them completely in such a beautiful way.
I am so lucky to have her as my daughter, and on this very special day, I just want her to know, how much she is loved!

Happy Birthday, Mandy!

Mandy's Birthday 2016 from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Who Wants A Dryer For Christmas?

Over the weekend our clothes dryer died. It’s 17 years old and I wasn’t feeling too bad about it, but then we started to price gas dryers and the installation. All I can say is, Oh my gosh! Expensive!

It would be over $1000.00 to buy the dryer and then have it converted to propane, and hooked up!

We had it repaired one time and it’s been perfect since. In fact, aside from heating up, the dryer works fine.

So, we’ve decided to call the repair man, who also does installs and talk to him. He can do the unhook of the old dryer and the installation on a new one, as he has a license for this. Need to figure out cost efficiency.

Meanwhile, I’ve been doing small loads of laundry that I hang up in our guest bathroom to dry. Not the best, but better than nothing!

The Friday Five

I’m trying to get back into the swing of things, despite being laid up with a bad neck. I never realized what a tough job it had holding up an 8-12 pound bowling ball known as a head! However, here is what’s going on in my life on a day to day basis.

I don’t sleep much. It’s hard to get comfortable in the recliner or in bed. So, I watch a lot of TV, and a lot of movies. I find that TV is the best sleeping pill ever. Seems to put me right to sleep!
Each day we go out for 20-30 minutes and I walk around, inside stores. There is now snow and ice outside, so being inside is the best. I also tend to see people I know, and it is good for both my body and morale. When I am done with the walking I just get back in the car and we go home.
Whoever invented a Cervical Spine heating pad should be hugged and kissed. It is amazing how this cape of warmth helps me.
I am psyched about the appointment in Boston. I want someone to look at my neck, x-rays and MRI and figure out exactly what is going on and what we can do to fix it.
Most of you don’t know that I had a really bad reaction to the pain medication they gave me, so unless I absolutely need pain meds, I’ve chosen not to take anything more than Ibuprofen and Tylenol. I think in some ways this is good. It keeps me from doing too much that would aggravate my neck and when I have my next surgery, they can hopefully use medications that will not make me so ill.