Dackel Princess

Bring It On

As Hubby and I sat eating breakfast, we noted that the weatherman was forecasting snow coming into our area on Tuesday night, and then as Wednesday dawns, the snow would change to ice, slush and eventually rain.

Hubby had checked our fuel oil tank, and finding it just below 1/4 of a tank, he called to order the oil. You see we have a 600 foot driveway that is all downhill from the road.

The photo above was taken a few years ago. That’s Hubby and Fritz working to clear the drive. It’s all uphill from there.

Looking down into the bottom of the drive.

And of course, when you leave here, it is all uphill. The fuel oil trucks really have a tough time with our driveway in the winter when there is any snow or ice on it. So, we always pray for a clear driveway, when we need oil.

Not expecting that the oilman would arrive today, we were caught off guard, when as we sat down to lunch, the oilman arrived. Unfortunately, it wasn’t our usual man, but the oilman who delivers on Mondays. He was quite nice and even enjoyed meeting four slightly muddy dogs!

So, now that our tank is full, and the cupboards are as well, after yesterdays big grocery shopping event, I can safely say, “Mother Nature, bring it on!”

A Special Girl- Anneliese

I was sitting here today looking at some old pictures. There I was holding Anneliese 7 years ago, when we flew to Germany. She was going to meet her “lover” Isegrim. It was her very first mating, and I was so excited.

That breeding produced four healthy and handsome puppies. Two boys and two girls. All are still alive and well, and happy with their forever families.

But as I looked at the picture of the two of us, taken at JFK Airport, I realized just how much love I have in my heart for this small dog.

Oh, I love all my little (and big) beasties, but Anneliese now goes into the “special” category, where the names of Fritz and Shubi are listed.

Anneliese started special. When she was born, she came out kicking and screaming and I turned to Hubby and said, “Oh, I’m not keeping that one!” How wrong I was.

A few weeks into her life, this little miracle, climbed the fence from the puppy room into the kitchen, and then sat on the stack of newspapers, watching me cook dinner. When I turned and noticed her, I laughed and realized, she had decided all on her own, that she was staying, and I was her forever person. She always cuddled and kissed me when I would pick her up, and if I was sitting down, she would snuggle up next to my leg and fall instantly asleep.

Her two litters of pups couldn’t have been more different. The first time, all went well, and she safely delivered her four pups right here at home, into my waiting hands. I slept next to the whelping box and we shared her babies. It was such a special time.

The second time we bred her, the only pup she carried died at birth. She’d had a cesarean and as she slept, I dealt with the death of her puppy. I sobbed and sobbed and then I prepared how to help her when she woke up.

Anneliese knew she should have a puppy and we gave her a small toy lamb to keep in her bed. She nurtured that toy for a few weeks, and when she had gotten her strength back we took it away. We kept her on tranquilizers during this time, and once she was de-lambed, we weaned her off the drugs, but it was so painful to watch this.

I spayed her shortly after, as I could not put her through that again. In my book she had done enough with the first litter and deserved to be retired.

Now Anneliese is retired and is my constant companion. She is such a delight for me. Here are a few of her silly habits, that I find so endearing.

When we let her out to do her wee-wee, she will go out onto the patio and stand at full attention, and bark like crazy, announcing that big bad Anneliese is on patrol!

She loves ice cream, and when she sees me having some, she races into my lap, where she sits and waits for her taste!

During her wait, she will look straight ahead, and then do a quick peek at me, and then back to straight ahead and then the peek, until I am done and ready to share her little taste! It is the cutest thing ever!

She still snuggles my leg and sleeps wither her leg on my lap.

When we go to bed, Anneliese commando crawls under the covers and then will snuggle my belly, where she stays all night long. I never feel alone at night because I have Anneliese by my side.

When I traveled with her to Germany, Anneliese was such a great little traveling companion. The TSA Agents loved her. I had to remove her from her traveling bag, to go through the screening machine, and when the saw her little panties, they all went “Awwwwww”.

She is the only one of my dogs that allows me to trip their nails, strip their coats, and trim their ears without causing problems.

When I have had my surgeries, Anneliese is always first in bed with me, or in my lap. She somehow just knows. So, my sweet little Anneliese has joined the special ranks, of dogs I will never forget and will remain in my heart, always.

It’s “Love Your Pet Day”

I was looking up something on the Internet and I stumbled across the fact that today is “Love Your Pet Day”. I found this pretty funny, because in our house, every day is Love Your Pet Day.

In fact a few years back a friend of mine said that when she died she hoped to come back as my pet! It cracked us both up, but today I look at how our pets are treated in this house, and I would say, that yes, it’s always “Pet Day” here.

In fact when I think about it, my dogs, my pets, are probably my best friends. And here is why.

They listen to me, when I need to talk.
They never talk back or answer in a sarcastic manner.
They love to snuggle. Even when it is hot.
They will never complain about your cooking.
They actually feel bad when you are away from them.
When you come home, they are always happy to see you.
If you can’t finish your meal, they never get angry, they finish it for you!
They always want to go out for a ride.
A dog will follow you all around the house, just so you will stop and pat them.
And best of all, their love is unlimited.

So take your dog for a walk, or share a nice snack with them. It’s “Love Your Pet Day”!

TBT: A Gunslinger & His Saloon Gal

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. February 17th is National Random Acts of Kindness Day. It lands on the calendar one day after National Do Something for a Grouch Day (February 16) which somehow feels related. Perhaps the 16th inspired the 17th?

Tell about a time you performed a random act of kindness or were the recipient of one. Will you make an effort to perform a random act of kindness on the 17th? Share details if you’re so inclined, and if you have something specific in mind.

Many years ago now, Hubby and I were on a cross country camping trip. We’d stopped in New Mexico to buy groceries, and as I was looking at the meats, when an old woman suddenly collapsed to the ground and began to convulse. I dropped my things and ran over and got her on her side and carefully placed my grocery pad into her mouth to keep her from biting her tongue. Meanwhile, I yelled for someone to call for an ambulance.

I stayed with her, holding her, until the Paramedics arrived. Several months later, we got a call from the woman, thanking me for what I had done for her.

The thing is, this was sort of an extreme case. I try, each day, to do things to help people, animals, etc.

Hebrews 13:2 King James Version
2. “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

2.What’s the most uplifting or encouraging thing you see happening in the world right now? You may have to dig deep for this one.

Forget the world. Too many very heavy things happening in the public world. I chose to think of this. My grandson will be with us sometime in the next 19 days! A new gentle soul to watch grow, to love and to share my life with!

3. Black olives, black currants, black grapes, black beans, blackberries, Oreos…your favorite food the color of night? Your least favorite on the list?

Favorite black food? Gee, let me think, dark chocolate! Least favorite? Very tough, you see that’s why I am a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers!

4. A while back I read (here) a list of twelve things you should do before you turn 50. They were-

travel when you have the chance,
take care of your skin,
learn a foreign language,
make exercise a habit,
leave a toxic situation,
stop caring what others think about you,
stop worrying,
volunteer,
spend time with your grandparents,
pledge to work less,
learn to cook an amazing dish,
and seize an opportunity as it arises

What do you think of the list? What would you add or remove and why? If you’re over 50, have you done all 12? If you’re not yet 50, have you done any at all? What’s on the list that you haven’t done, but would like to do?

I would love to learn to speak German, but I simply do not have a knack for languages. Sadly, my grandparents are all gone. I wish they weren’t and I could sit down and have a good long chat. Especially with Grandma Honey.

I do need to stop worrying so much, but that is a tough one. This year I plan to seize as much time as possible spending time with Savannah and my new grandson.

5. Besides the classic Christmas flicks, what’s your favorite film where winter plays a part in the setting?

There are a few. Dr. Zhivago is the classic. The cinematography is breathtaking, and the acting is as well. What an amazing movie! And for the comedic part of the winter equation, “Ground Hog Day”, with Bill Murray.

6.When did you last feel helpless, and what did you do about it?

Just before they diagnosed my cervical disc problem. The pain was incredible, and I was so scared. I think not knowing in a situation like that is the hardest part. Once I met my Neurosurgeon, and he knew exactly what to do to make me feel better, I breathed a sigh of relief! And today it is two months since my surgery!

7. Share a favorite proverb.

I don’t know if this is an official one, but it’s the one I use all the time. I think I got it from my former husband, and it’s just stayed with me all these years. “Sometimes chickens, sometimes feather”.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My suitcase is packed, and all I need to do is toss in my toiletry kit and hit the road. Where am I going? Well, once I get the call from Mandy, I am off to be with Savannah, while Mandy and Matt bring their baby boy into this world!

Away With You Mr. Molar

I went to my dentist today. I swear I have been paying his mortgage for a few years now, with all of my dental problems. Today was no different.

I started having a problem with the back, top, left molar this past weekend. I knew I had the appointment today, so I didn’t call him, but waited, in pain, until today.

It was something Hubby and I talked about, because this tooth has been problematic for a few years. It really is not a good candidate for a root canal, because of the area of my face where the root comes. Unfortunately for me, the root is precariously near my sinus.

I also wasn’t sure I wanted to spend 5 grand on an implant. I’d rather take a vacation.

So, when the doctor looked at the tooth today and tested it, he agreed that my best bet was to have the tooth pulled. But, he wants a dental surgeon to do it, due to the problems with the sinus.

Many, many, years ago, when I was in 8th grade I had to have the bottom back molar pulled when it became abscessed. With the top molar being pulled, there will be no difference in my chewing.

So, Tuesday I get a small cavity filled, and then Wednesday I get the tooth pulled.

If I had one thing I could go back and tell my child self, it would be to brush and floss and cut out the sugar. It hasn’t helped my teeth and it sure hasn’t helped my weight!

Freezing!

The weekend was a cold one. In fact the coldest one we’ve had in a couple of years. Waking to temperatures of 12-20 below zero (F), made me want to hunker down with a blanket, and three dachshunds in my lap. But, even then, my hands and feet felt cold all weekend long.

I spent part of Saturday with a temperature and chills and a lot of mouth pain. My top left back molar also painful, the gum swollen and I’m having a nervous breakdown thinking that this tooth may need to be root canaled.

I’m thinking of just having it pulled. You see way back in my youth the molar on that side on the bottom was pulled and so there hasn’t been anything for the top tooth to hit and chew with.

It is just coincidence that I have an appointment on Monday morning with my Dentist. We shall see what he says, and go from there.

I have managed to stay on the WW program all week. I’ll find out Wednesday if I have lost anything. I sure hope that I have because I really have changed the way I eat, and I have measured and counted all the Smart Points I’ve eaten.

I find this program really steers me in the direction of eating healthier. If you look for zero point foods, well, there is a lot to eat.

Wish me luck!

I’ve Gone To The Dogs!

Friday found me hunkering down to survive the cold. I woke early and at 6:45 AM it was -4 degrees F. Not even Lili wanted to be outside.

I came in and made coffee, and sat down. to watch the news and enjoy the heat of my cup of Joe (coffee).

The next thing I knew Anneliese jumped up and sat next to me. Probably out of a desire to suck up my body heat, but then, I don’t care. I love little dackel snuggles. She looked up at me and smiled. I tried to capture it because she has such a delightful smile!

Hubby got up and the next thing I knew, I had Lili in my chair snuggling next to me. Now you have to understand, Lili is a sweet dog and I really do love her, but…well, my dackels are my favorites.

But Lili, for some reason, adores me! And I’ll be darned, I really do love this dog. She is growing up, and she is getting easier to handle, and we can actually play with her outside.

Best of all, if we come in, she comes too. She doesn’t like being outside without one of us. In fact she runs right back to the door to follow us.

Lili will be three years old on St. Patrick’s Day. Perhaps it’s the luck of the Irish that has her calming down ~~at last~~!

Friday Five

Another week has flown by and there is so much going on. So here are the top five things happening this week.

I have been working in the office and have, probably two more days until all the work is done. Finally, after many years, I have actually been doing a deep cleaning! It’s looking great in there!
I also went back to Weight Watchers on Wednesday. It was not pretty. But I went and weighed in, and started their new Smart Points program. I’ve made it through two whole days, without cheating once.
I realize that I will need to be on this healthy eating plan for the rest of my life, as I am quite simply, an over eater. I love to cook and I love to eat. That is a bad combination.
I decided this morning that I needed to clean and organize my closet. I still cannot wear my turtlenecks, so I folded them all up and put them in a container. We will see next Autumn if I can take the pressure on my throat.
We built a nice fire in the fireplace, and Miss Greta took up residence right in front. She’s an old lady, and she likes to warm her old bones by the warm of the fire!

TBT: Love

In honor of Valentine’s Day on Sunday I am going to post a few pictures of my loves. When I look in my life, I am so blessed to love and be loved by these amazing people.

Me and Hubby on our wedding day.

Me holding my new born daughter, Amanda.

Me holding my first granddaughter, Savannah Rose.

My sister, Melodie, holding me!

Melodie, my cousin, Janet, me, my friend, Tracy and my cousin, Larry.

There are many more loves in my life, but these are the first line. Soon there will be a little boy joining us. Another love in my life!