Dackel Princess

A Christmas Story House

Today Hubby and I stopped on our way to his Army Reunion, in Cleveland at “A Christmas Story House.

It was where the movie all about Ralphie and his wish for a Red Rider Beebe gun for Christmas, was filmed. The house, at one time was run down and on the auction block, when a fan of the movie bought it, and with a true love for the story, began putting everything back as it was. We walked through the rooms, and I could almost hear the characters in my head, as I have seen that movie a million times. I felt like a little kid. I could smell pine, the Christmas tree was all set up, with presents wrapped under it, and there, by the fireplace, was Ralphie’s Red Rider Beebe gun!

They had Pink Bunny costumes for people to try on and taking pictures was encouraged.

It was one of those things, I have had on my bucket list and and here I was!

The movie was made in 1983, on a shoe string budget. It was released to theaters for only two weeks, before MGM shelved it.

The real luck, for people like me who love this movie, is that Ted Turner bought the film and started running it on TBS. And a Cult Classic was born.

Happy Birthday, Uschi!

Today is the Birthday of my best friend, Uschi! We have been friends for a very long time, and our friendship has deepened, and now I think of her as a sister as well.

Uschi dear, I hope that your birthday is a good one and the year ahead, filled with sunshine and happiness! I send all of my love and many, many hugs!!!

Happy Birthday Uschi from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

New Englanders!

Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about New Englanders…

Forget Rednecks ….

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don’t work there, you live in New England .

People are really nice up here. And helpful!

If you’ve worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in New England.

Well, I never have (fat thighs), but I have seen this!

If you’ve had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you live in New England.

Guilty!

If Vacation means going anywhere south of New York City for the weekend, you live in New England.

Yeah, so what about it?

If you measure distance in hours, you live in New England .

That is true. Hubby and I are talking about our vacation and didn’t speak miles, just hours.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in New England .

You mean you know someone who hasn’t?

If you have switched from ‘heat’ to ‘A/C’ in the same day and back again, you live in New England .

Just this morning.

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England .

I’m getting better at winter driving. Hubby is still the best!

If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both unlocked, you live in New England.

Funny, but this is pretty true, especially the further north you live!

If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you live in New England .

One of the first things Hubby #1 taught me.

If you design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in New England .

Very true. Halloween is usually pretty darn cold.

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph you’re going 80 and everybody is passing you, you live in New England.

I think Connecticut is the worst place, but really, all over New England thins is true.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in New England .

Oh yeah, trust me. When the potholes are filled with snow and ice, the ride is a lot smoother.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you live in New England .

Oh man! This is so true!

If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England .

Just ask Hubby.

If you find 10 degrees ‘a little chilly’, you live in New England .

I am just waiting for the cooler temperatures!

If there’s a Dunkin Donuts on every corner, you live in New England .

Just down the street!

If you think everyone else has a funny accent, you live in New England .

Well, I strive not to speak with an accent. But…

If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all your New England friends, you live or have lived in New England.

OK, people. This is how it is!

Happiness Is…

It’s funny. Recently I was asked about happiness. Did I find it easier to be happy now that I am, ahem, “in my middle years”?

I answered quickly, that I was happy and I didn’t think too much about it at the time, but in the last few days, while doing mindless housework jobs, I’ve had moments of great clarity.

I looked up into the bright blue skies today, and felt such peace in my heart. So many wonderful things are happening around me. Some days I sit back and just feel the love and the happiness. Reveling in it.

In my youth I tended to feel anxious, and not always happy. I tending to look back, to regret so much. I always worried about every little thing.

In my middle years I live each day and enjoy the heck out of it. Seeing my daughter and granddaughter living their lives, seeing their happiness, it just doesn’t get much better.

Hubby and I are settled. We know each other so well, and share our life, as we have for the last 27 years. He is still the first person I want to talk to in the morning, and the last person I want to talk to at night. After all these years I still enjoy sharing life with this man.

My doggies are wonderful, and bring so much enjoyment to my days. In fact Lili is becoming so much better, that I believe one day she will be as easy to be with as the dackels are.

All this thought about happiness, made me think of this song, a favorite from long ago. Kick back and enjoy.

Parallel

Saturday is always a day when one must get up and hustle a bit, so we can get dressed and down to the Post Office before noon. On Saturday, our Post Office closes then and if you don’t get there, you have to wait until Monday.

So after my shower, I asked Arnie if he wanted to go for a ride and the two of us hopped into the Highlander and headed downtown.

The area around the Post Office was packed. Not even one spot to park in. I drove around the corner one time and I was driving back around the Post Office, when I spotted one spot.

It was a nice spot, but it would mean I would need to parallel park, and I thought to myself, “Well, old girl, time to give it a go!”

So I pulled forward, cut in and backed into the spot. Slowly I went until I saw the car was aligned. I put the car in park, kissed Arnie’s head and hopped out. It was then I realized that I had perfectly parked the car! I mean, spot on, perfect!!!

Now the only reason I mention this, is that I have not been able to perfectly park a car since I sold our Jeep. That vehicle was really easy to parallel park, the Highlander, well, not so much!

Which is why, I felt thrilled! And you know what? I did not see one person I knew to share this with. No one. I got back into the car, looked at Arnie and I told him. Now, Arnie is a sweet and cute doggy, but he could have cared less.

I arrived home with this news and Hubby seemed nonplussed. So I came up and put it on Facebook. I think I got three likes.

Okay, I know. I am 56 years old and I should know how to parallel park and do it at the drop of a hat, but I confess, I am challenged.

So I decided to write it down here, so when I am old and gray, I can look back and see that at least one time, I was able to park perfectly!

Detail

Have any of you had your car spiffed up and detailed? You bring it in, full of donut crumbs and coffee stains, and hand it over to people who will clean it up for you. You pick up the car 6 hours later, and it is like a brand new vehicle. Then you fork over $150.00 for this service.

Well today I vacuumed, washed, treated the leather seats, did the windows, (Hubby took the car to the car wash for a super wash and wax) and then I finished with the carpet freshening and window polishing.

I came up stairs and sat down and thought that $150.00 was worth all that I had just done! In fact, I’m booking in a hot bath tonight so I can soak away the aches in my hand from this cleaning.

Now the Caddy is beautiful and ready for the trip. Hubby is changing the oil tomorrow, and filling the gas tank. Then we begin packing the old girl for this trip.

I sort of feel I should have named the car before now. After working so hard to make her pretty again, I think she really does deserve a name.

I came up stairs and sat with a tall glass of water, and thought long and hard about the work I had just done. Call me extremely happy with a job well done.

But next time, I want to get paid!

Friday Five

This week has been a strange one. So here are five things that got me thinking.

I saw, online at the Falmouth Theater Guild‘s Web page this picture. That’s my Dad sitting at the piano, and yes, that is me sitting next to him. A very young, maybe three and a half years old, Maribeth. My brother is right behind us in the light colored shirt, and my sister is sort of cut off, but is on the far left.
I found a review of a play I was in as an eight year old child. I played Gretl in The Sound of Music. It was a wonderful experience for me, but i never really knew about the full text of the review. Mom had save a copy, but it was sort of frayed and some was missing. This gave me a good idea about how the show was received.

In this picture I am to the right of “Maria“. The thing I remembered most about this production was how wonderful everyone was. The adults were all so kind to the children. I have never forgotten.

Today I made lists, and then lists of lists. I think I am getting a little obsessive about packing for our trip!
I had my second physical therapy session. It went really well. The therapist made a splint for me last time, and it has made such a difference. I can already straighten out all of the fingers.
I’ve been loving the weather this week. Oh, how beautiful it has been. It finally feels like Autumn!

TBT: Katie In The Apple Tree

Since we are in the midst of Apple Season, I thought I would put up this picture of Katie, way back when we picked apples at Rose Farm. She was such a little monkey, and up the tree she went! I’ve always loved this picture.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What have you ‘fallen for’ recently?

My granddaughter, Savannah, all over again! This past weekend, at the end of my visit, when we were saying good-bye, she said she didn’t want me to go. It’s the first time she expressed in words, that she didn’t want me to leave. That filled my heart!

2. What’s something you’re ‘squirreling away’ for later?

I have a hot pink and orange bag that I got from Clinique a couple of years ago. I decided to make it into my “OMA BAG”. I like to buy little things for Savannah, and then when I go down to visit she gets one of the things (sometimes two) from the “OMA BAG”. It’s always fun to watch her reaction to something I’ve picked up along the way. This past weekend, it was Rapunzel Barbie Doll!

3. How do you like your apples? Sweet? Tart? Crisp? Cooked? Apples are one of the superfoods for fall…how often do you eat an apple either plain or as part of a favorite recipe? What’s your favorite variety?

My two favorite apples are not found easily. They are the snow apple (it is believed to be one of the ancestors of a MacIntosh) and the Winter Banana (it was a seedling variety’s discovered in Indiana in the 1870’s). That apple has a sweet taste almost like a banana. Of our apples here at our home, The Mac’s are great as are the Enterprise. Love to make apple pie with Cortland and Jonathans.

4. According to Fodor’s the ten best fall foliage trips in the US of A are-Aspen Colorado, The Catskills New York, The Berkshires Massachusetts, Columbia River Gorge Oregon, Green Mountain Byway Vermont, Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway New Mexico, Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, Upper Peninsula Michigan, Lake of the Ozarks Missouri, and Glacier National Park Montana. Which would you most like to visit this fall and why?

Well, we live in New Hampshire and I think we have the best foliage, especially in the Mount Washington areas. Around my little lake we have breathtaking foliage. This picture was from a couple of Autumns ago.

5. The topic of legalizing marijuana was raised in the most recent televised political debate so let’s wade in too. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia currently have laws legalizing marijuana in some form. Four states have legalize marijuana for recreational use. Your thoughts?

I do not believe in it at all. The man who hit my car and killed my daughter, did so when he was stoned! Legalizing it for medical use only (and we are talking cancer pain control) should be allowed, but tightly controlled. This is a drug. It can and does, impair your judgement!

6. Are you okay to watch a movie already in progress or do you need to always see it from the beginning? How about jumping into a TV series somewhere in the middle? Is that okay?

I like to see everything from the start. But…if I know the movie or show, then tuning in “in progress” doesn’t bother me.

7. Thursday (September 24) is National Punctuation Day. What rule of punctuation trips you up most often? What rule of punctuation, when broken by someone else, bugs you the most?

Comma’s, bug me the most. And I am always thrown by semi-colons.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I went shopping on Monday, and made some nice purchases. Some pretty tops, and one nice sweater jacket. Everything at Talbot’s was on sale, which makes it even better! My girlfriend Laurie, is wonderful to shop with. She is a realist. Not just how things look on me, but also the cost. I had about six items I liked in Talbot’s and she helped me pare it down to three. She also, gently pointed out, that I needed a new supportive unmentionable. She was right. We went to the unmentionable shop, and a lovely young lady helped me to get fitted and then find an unmentionable that not only fit, but was comfortable. I look like a new lady!

Girls Day Out!

This morning I made breakfast and then started to get ready for my shower and the phone rang. It was my friend, Laurie. She wanted to go off for a girls day with me. So I quickly showered and dressed and drove over to pick her up. We drove to the Outlet Stores to enjoy shopping for bargains.

The weather here was perfect, 70 degrees, sunny and with a light breeze. Just right for walking around the open air mall shopping.

I bought four shirts to wear at the Reunion and a cute knit jacket. All things were 40-70% off the original price. There is nothing better than shopping to lift one’s spirits.

We ate out at Pizzeria Uno. They have a lunch special of soup and a small pizza. We split this and it was okay. Not crazy about the pizza, but, well, it was okay.

We returned to our town, and I dropped her off at her place before returning home.

Hubby was so busy caring for one of the apple trees that lost two large branches. Greta met me in the drive, and the dogs inside the house were really glad to see me.

All in all, it was a perfect day!