Dackel Princess

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Has spring sprung in your little corner of the world? Other than the calendar how would I know? What’s your favorite thing about spring?

My favorite thing about Spring is the longer daylight hours. In many ways Spring has sprung. The ice is off our Lake, the snow is gone from our yard, and there are buds on the trees!

2. Besides the weather, what’s put a spring in your step recently?

A new little grandson, Quinn Wallace! He is such a sweetie and much loved by his entire family.

3. How does Easter impact you?

It’s the day our dear Lord rose from the grave, and gave us eternal life. Jesus, his life, his work and his very being, gives me hope.

4. I saw this somewhere on Facebook and thought it would make a fun Hodgepodge question. Which of the following would you find most disappointing…

a just stuffed taco shell breaking open and spilling out before you take the first bite? dropping a just-purchased Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts coffee? opening the peanut butter jar and finding it empty? upending onto the sidewalk a just-purchased ice cream cone? a burnt bagel popping up in your toaster when you’re rushing breakfast? or cutting into an avocado and finding out it’s rotten?

Oh now Joyce, those are all quite a conundrum! A broken taco shell, an empty peanut butter jar and a burnt bagel would not ruin my day.

However, the loss of a coffee, ice cream cone, and a rotten avocado have been known to move me to tears!

5. What’s something held together with tape at your house? Or a paper clip? Or a wing and a prayer?

An old Clipper Ship Plaque that we have above our fireplace. Hubby loves that thing. So it is held together on a wing and a prayer.

6. Do you feel underappreciated? In what way?

Not really.

7. What’s something you’d build if you knew how?

A cell phone charging station. I know what I want, but I refuse to pay the outragous price that is being charged. I know I can do it for less!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Once again I am appalled at the carnage and brutality of the radical Islamic attacks, which took place in Belgium. I believe that we must all band together to fight ISIS, or we shall all suffer at their hands.

Good News-Bad News

I spent the entire day on Sunday, out of bed and I watched soccer and movies and a few first run episodes of my favorite shows. Life is getting back to being normal, post flu, and it is good.

The bad news was that yesterday morning, Hubby woke up coughing. I yelled, No, No, No! But he continued to cough all day long. Ugh!!!

The good news is that he has no fever, or any of the other symptoms, so he may escape (and me too) with just a simple cold.

After welcoming Spring in yesterday, with the bluest of skies and the brightest of sunshine, I woke today to heavy snow. We really have not had much snow, and it is pretty, but I am so over winter!

Today one of us must venture out to the grocery store. I am out of bread, eggs and half and half for my coffee and tea. You know, the important things!

Have a great Monday!

Up And Around

I have finally surfaced after 5 days snuggled under all my covers in my bedroom. The TV was on Marathon episodes of Blue Bloods, and I slept. Long sleeps, sometimes, filled with coughing, but in a way, also determined to kick this case of the flu.

Thankfully, today I rose, feeling somewhat better, fever finally gone, and the recovery begins.

Of course I am royally ticked off about being sick. Being sick when there is a new baby in the family really stinks. It means you are quite literally, the last person anyone wants to see. And truth be told, I wouldn’t want to get my grandchildren or their parents ill.

The most wonderful of news is that my daughter is feeling so much better and Quinn is just a joy. Savannah adores her brother and Mandy, Matt and their children have enjoyed the bonding time.

They are the center of their universe. As it should be, quite happily so.

Happy Second Birthday Lili

I was thinking about Lili the other day and realized she would be two on her birthday, which is today. St. Patrick’s Day!

Truthfully, I thought she was older, because it seems we have had her for a very long time. Lili, with all her health issues and challenges.

But she is doing better now on her grain free diet, and the fact that Hubby takes her out for hours at a time, where she can run in the field, and burn off all that energy.

Lili is a sweet dog. I don’t think there is a mean bone in her entire body. But, when she was ill with her grain sensitivity, she wasn’t fun to be around.

So, Happy Birthday, dearest Lili.

Springtime Colds

There is one thing I hate in this world more than politics, it is being sick!

Last night I started having chills. I had a little cough, and my head hurt like crazy. I didn’t have a fever, but I did have a terrible taste in my mouth, and I felt like I was walking through thick molasses when I got up and moved around.

I went to bed early, but in the night kept feeling worse and worse. So, when I woke up this morning, I took my temperature and it was 101.2!

I am so darn angry to be sick for several reasons, but the biggest one is that until I am in tip top shape, I will not be able to go and see my grandson!

Rats, Rats, Rats!

I know that this is viral, because I am on antibiotics for my sinuses. Here I am just one giant sick blob, and I am not happy about this at all!

Well, today I will take the day to rest and sleep and do not very much, and hopefully tomorrow I will be feeling worlds better.

Springtime colds are simply no fun at all!

Quinn

I am starting to settle in, here at home, after a whirl-wind time at my daughter’s, for the birth of their second child, and first son.

Matt’s Mom and I took care of Savannah during the time that Mandy was in the hospital. Savannah is an amazing little girl. So grown up in so many ways, yet still so young and in need of her parent’s loving touch. We were happy to get her to eat, get dressed, and take a bath.

Mandy’s sister was also there, and she was a help with Savannah too. Especially at bedtime and in the night. Ally loves Savi so much and would do anything for her.

I continue to be my daughter’s biggest fan. She is an amazing woman, and as I watched her going through a rather difficult birth, and it’s after effects, my heart was so full of love and pride. Not because of anything I did. But because Mandy has made her own way in this crazy world, and has become a remarkable woman.

I know I am a real wimp when it comes to pain, so when I ask for a morphine drip for a hang-nail, no one is surprised. Yet here was my daughter, in, what I knew was terrible pain, and she called it a 7. Even Matt knew Mandy was being a little too brave and he told the nurse that she should add two points to that score.

Mandy also was unbelievable and wonderful, when Savannah came to meet her brother. She made sure Savi sat right down with him and I could see the happiness on her face as she watched her two children meet each other!

I stood back, with Matt’s Mom, Mary, and we watched this lovely little family during their first moments. We both fell instantly in love with Quinn. And I think, as we stood there watching it all unfold before us, fell in love with our children and our grandchildren all over again.

Mandy had the same OB Nurse that she had when she delivered Savannah. Diane is a peach, and when I watched her doing her job it struck me that she had 2 patients, not just one. And she handled it all with gentleness and serenity. Her presence was a calming one.

That first day, Mary, Ally, Papa (Hubby) and I all got in, as well as my former husband, Bob. Matt’s Dad was not feeling well, and had to steer clear of newborn baby, Quinn.

It’s funny, but Quinn’s name is perfect for him. In fact, I just love his name. Quinn Wallace… It fit’s him so well.

Friday Five

The biggest news of the week is that Quinn was born on Monday. He is a good baby, and very handsome. My daughter has been pretty exhausted since giving birth, but at the same time, they are both so happy to finally meet their son. So here we go with the Friday Five, Birth List.

Quinn was due to come Monday morning at 7:30 AM via C-section. But this little guy had other plans, and Mandy went into labor in the evening of the 6th.
It was not what anyone had hoped, as the actual c-section was really tough, but Quinn was born at 5:14 AM and weighed in at 7 lbs 13 oz and is 22 inches long.
He is a handsome boy and resembles his sister, Savannah Rose. However, where Savi had darker hair, Quinn is very blond and fair.

Savannah is on the left and Quinn on the right.

My daughter continues to amaze me. Even though I know she is tired and sore, she never says a word to complain, and she has done a great job caring for this new little man, despite the fact that she is, herself, recovering.
It looks like she and Quinn will come home today from the hospital. Once Savannah gets home from school, they will be a family of four in their own little house.

Matt’s mom and I have held down the fort. When our kids are ready, we also will head to our homes. But it has been so much fun being part of this happy time.

Happy 12th Birthday, Greta!

Today is our dear dackel, Greta’s 12th Birthday.

Greta was born in Rehden, Germany. Hubby and I flew over in May of that year, and on the 5th of May, we drove with Uschi out to meet the owner of the Vom Geestmoor Kennels. It was so much fun. The 4th was Hubby’s Birthday and it was also Herr Hollmann’s wife’s birthday. A grand party was planned with cakes and coffee and the best present of all. Greta!

It seems like just yesterday. And now, here we are celebrating Greta turning twelve years old!

I had gotten her because our girl, Shubi was very ill, and I was suffering with the anticipation of the loss. Greta, was like a bright ray of sunshine! And over the last 12 years, she has become my sweetest girl, and of course Mama to both Arnie and Anneliese.

Happy Birthday, Dearest Greta!