Author: Dackel Princess

Friday Five

By the time you read this, I will be down at my sister’s house in Connecticut. I’ve left Hubby home to care for the doggies, and I’m off on my own. Before I went I thought I would write down a few things that I have been thinking about this week.

  1. Do you remember a musician named Harry Nilsson? I loved his music, back in the day, and I found this great video of him playing a cute little diddy, that seems easily played on the piano at the start, but ends with quite a flourish. Hubby asked, “So what’s he doing now?” I looked it up and discovered he had died in 1996 of heart failure. Drugs and alcohol lead up to this, and another life ended far to soon. He was only 52.

    Take a minute and enjoy this piece. It wasn’t famous, like his song from Midnight Cowboy, “Everybody’s Talking At Me”, but I love it.

  2. Thursday found Lili being tormented by a bunch of rotten squirrels and chipmunks! During our walk, it seemed they were all out and the poor girl was being driven crazy. So was I, as Lili is 77 pounds and it is all muscle!
  3. I’ve been making baked apples about two or three times a week. Oh they are so good. I use a little bit of light whipped topping and it’s basically a points free dessert!
  4. I also made a “Curried Squash Soup” that is points free and out of this world!
  5. My new find for the diet is “Flatout Bread”.

    flatout

    It is as thin as a tortilla, but it hold together well. It also has 9 grams of protein, and is loaded with fiber. Points Count? 2!!!

So you can see that I am trying to really work the program and make next Wednesday’s weigh in a good one. Onward and upward! Or should I say downward, as I lose this weight!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s something that has recently ‘tried your patience’?

It’s been pretty calm and not much has been making me crazy. Now that Lili is walking so nicely on her leash, we go out every day and have a good time. If I could just break her of using her mouth to get my attention I would be very happy. (She will gently grab my hand. It’s not terrible, but it annoys me.)

2. Do you think patience comes to us naturally or is it something you have to learn as you grow? On a scale of 1-10 generally how patient are you? (1=I blow up at the drop of a hat and 10=I’ve got all the time in the world).

I had to learn to be patient. I used to have a very quick temper. As I have aged, the temper has gotten more under control. I’m probably an 8 now. It takes an awful lot to make me pop my cork!

3. Share about a time when you felt like you could fly. Or a time you wished you could fly. Or a time you felt like you were flying.

Well, here is my story. I dream I can fly all of the time. I mean, I’m not in a plane or anything, just me soaring up into the skies. It’s such a freeing feeling and I love those dreams.

In life I have flown a lot with Hubby. He was an Airline Pilot, and I flew all over the world with him. I am grateful to both Pan Am and Delta for that opportunity.

4. Your favorite song with the word fly in the title or lyrics, or your favorite song that relates to flying in some way?

Hummingbird, by Seals and Crofts. Here it is. Enjoy!

5. What’s in your fall picnic basket and where are we picnicking in your neck of the woods this time of year?

People come from all over the world to enjoy the Fall Foliage in The White Mountains of New Hampshire. It truly is beautiful here! Picnic? Well, hot soup and a good sandwich.

6. Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, landscaping…which skill would you most like to possess and how would you put that skill to use today?

Electrical. There are so many little jobs I would like to do. Change sconces, wire up some outside lights, and fix a few lamps.

7. What’s something you think is too expensive to justify buying lately?

A new sofa. Currently Lili and her mouth have done in my 25 year old sofa, but I don’t want to replace it until she is over this gnawing phase of her life.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am off on Friday to meet my new grandniece! April is a month old now, and just a total doll! I can hardly wait to hold her in my arms!!! Here is a sneak peak of her precious little face!

received_10207025587051175

Happy

We have been blessed to find a fabulous house/doggy sitter. K. is one of those people that seems to have a knack with animals. I offered to write her a letter of recommendation and this is what I wrote.

“My husband and I wanted to go on a week long trip to a reunion in Ohio. We were very concerned about leaving our dogs, as we have a high energy German Shepherd named Lili, and three older, well-mannered dachshunds.
When we met K, Lili seemed to bond to her right away. So we made our plans and held our breath, hoping all would go well during our trip.
K was here bright and early to start her work with our dogs. As we drove to the reunion we received updates and pictures of our dogs on our cell phone.
K even started to train Lili to walk on leash, something that we had not been able to do.
K knows a lot about animals, and it is obvious that she loves them. In turn, they adore her. My three dachshunds, climbed into bed with her and slept like babies.
I had cleaned my house before we left, but when I came back, it was even cleaner and our sheets had been changed. I cannot tell you how pleasant that was after a two day car trip. We arrived at home with no house work to do!
I feel like we have made a new friend. K is sweet and kind and diligent in all she does. I highly recommend her and I will continue to use her as my pet sitter. I cannot tell you what a relief it is to find someone that can be trusted with your pets and your home. In the past we have not always been so fortunate.”

Since being home, I have continued Lili’s daily walks, that K started on, and the difference in Lili is amazing. I had not had any luck before this, but somehow, K broke the ice and Lili is a pleasure to walk!

Should anyone in our area need a dog/house sitter contact me and I will hook you up. K is a great woman and you will not be disappointed.

Bang, Bang!

The night before last, I woke at 2:14 AM to what sounded like gun fire. I counted the explosions and then it stopped. A moment later, it started again. Rapid fire. Then a single shot, and then one more.

Now I have to tell you, this really scared me.  I lay there in the darkness and wondered, what the heck was going on. It’s not hunting season yet, and it is a little late in the year for fireworks. Especially at 2:14 in the morning.

Yesterday seemed normal during the day and then tonight after dinner, we started to hear the blasts again.

So we called the police. If it is just kids with fireworks, then fine, fireworks are legal in this state, but if it is someone screwing around with a gun, then that is not fine.

This time, Hubby said I was not over-reacting. He was uncomfortable too.

What would you think if you were awoken in the night by what sounded like gun blasts? I admit, that despite the fact that I believe in a person’s right to bear arms, lately I’m thinking that background checks really need to be done. Too many crazy people shooting the innocent.

Pork, Apples & Sauerkraut

Yesterday I decided to make a wonderful Autumn recipe. I’m writing it down because I don’t want to forget this amazingly quick and easy recipe. This is what I did.

  1. One, 1-2 pound Pork Loin. Trimmed of excess fat.
  2. Four or five good size apples, peeled, sliced into wedges. (I used an apple slicer/corer)
  3. A quarter cup of Splenda Brown Sugar.
  4. One half a teaspoon of cinnamon.
  5. One onion quartered and sliced thinly.
  6. A half a pound of good Sauerkraut.

Get out your slow cooker. Add everything but the Pork Loin, and mix thoroughly with your hands. Once everything is mixed well, add the pork and mix it into the pot with your hands, to cover it with the apples, onions and sauerkraut.

Put on high for an hour. Check to be sure it has come up to a bubbling mixture. Once it has, turn down to medium low and cook 4-5 hours.

The meat was tender, and so were the apples. I served it with baked potatoes and pearl onions. Hubby was thrilled with the meal and wants me to make it again! One thing he doesn’t know is that he is getting it for a leftover meal later this week!

The Apple & The Turkey

Our apples are fantastic this year!

apples

Most days I go out and pick some apples off the tree. Sometimes I just cut it up and sharing bits with the dogs (they love apples!). I am enjoying the juiciest apples I have ever had. Today at lunch, I found two Cortland drops and brought them in, and peeled them, sliced them up and then adding some Splenda brown sugar,  and 1/2 teaspoon of butter, I put it all in a heavy pot and cooked it until the apples were soft. It was like pie filling with no crust.   Hubby and I got a big grocery shopping done, even though it was pouring rain all day. On our way back home we enjoyed the beautiful foliage! Finally, the leaves are turning. 20151008_123548

When we got home, there was the Turkey Family pecking at the apples along our driveway. I never knew, but apparently Turkeys like apples! Who knew!

Tomorrow I am planning to cook a pork loin in the crock pot with apples. Besides wild turkeys, I am also really into apples!

Have a great weekend every one!!!

Friday Five

This week I have been trying to get settled back in at home. There has been so much to do, this being apple season, and I also decided to make some major adjustments in my life.

  1. I resolved on Wednesday to give myself a year to lose all of this weight. It’s a goal I hope to achieve, because, well, quite honestly, I am very unhappy being this over weight. I returned to Weight Watchers with great determination, and confessed my sins.

    20151002_154009

    (At least the most recent ones!) I down loaded the Weight Watcher App and have been tracking everything that has gone into my mouth! The real trick is to stay with it and not to get sloppy and lazy with my journaling.
  2. Along this same path, I decided that I would begin doing this thing, I refer to as a four letter obscene word…EXERCISE! I decided the best thing I could do was take Lili for walks. She needs it and I kill two birds with one stone. She gets her exercise while I get mine. **Groan**
  3. Our first day was tricky. Lili pulled me and I feared I was not going to live long enough to lose the weight. However this morning, I got out Fritz’s old training collar, and put it on her. She responded immediately, and stopped pulling, walked by my side and when I would stop her, sit her, and stay her…well, she actually listened. Our walk was so much fun that I hope tomorrow’s forecast of rain is wrong, as I want to go again!
  4. I have decided to continue to drink a large glass of water before each meal. It not only aids with digestion, but it seems to fill me up. I’m not a fan of drinking water, but I’m starting to realize as I get older, that sometimes one must do things they do not like for their health.
  5. I’m planning more fish meals, which is always good. My cousin, Dave, went fishing this summer and brought me back some really beautiful Salmon! And if I watch the sales I will stock up on fish, when I can. I have also discovered another great food.  Flat Out Bread. I made myself an egg roll-up this morning and it was really good, and lunch was a tuna roll up with lettuce and tomato. I must keep things new and interesting, and not get into a rut with the foods I am eating.

So that’s what’s happening this week. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and can enjoy the Autumn weather where you are, or in the case of my Aussie friends, enjoy your spring!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. It’s October so let’s get this out there first thing…have you jumped on the all-things-pumpkin bandwagon? How so?

Not at all. I’ve never really understood it. I love pumpkin pie, but all the other stuff, especially pumpkin coffee…not my thing at all.

2.  “We have more power than will; and it is often by way of excuse to ourselves that we fancy things are impossible.” Francois Duc De la Rochefoucauld  

What’s something you once thought impossible, but in hindsight see as more a matter of lack of will?

For me, it is dieting. When I turned 50 I worked so hard to lose the weight, and I did. I was fifty and fabulous. But then I got sloppy and tired of dieting. I am today, this morning starting all over again.

3. The rose is America’s National Flower, but every state also has its own (click here to see the list). Are you happy with yours? If you were in charge what would you declare your state’s flower? If you’re outside the U.S. what bloom would you like to see labeled as your country’s national flower?

I wouldn’t change a thing. New Hampshires State flower is the Lilac. And that is my favorite!

4. What have you lost interest in recently?

Dieting. As I said above, I am so tired of it. But I know, it is important, and for my health, I must do this.

5. In your opinion, who’s the best living musician?

Probably, Paul McCartney. He is still writing songs, performing, and he was part of the group that changed the worlds perception of music. At least modern popular music.

6. S’mores-love ’em or no? Ever make them indoors? Last time you sat around an outdoor fire? Are making s’mores and sitting round a fire pit on your autumn bucket list? Do you have an autumn bucket list?

I have not had a s’more in years. Good thing. I’m just having a big problem with food and need to stay away from those too.

7. Your favorite small town? Why?

My own. We have just under 6000 people who live here year round. In the winter, Meredith is simply a perfect little piece of heaven!

8. Insert your own random thought here

Time to do laundry, go grocery shopping, and make healthy meals for both Hubby and I. I need to get back on the Weight Watcher wagon, and work hard to drop these very unwanted pounds.

I caught sight of myself in the mirror at the hotel (why do these rooms have so many mirrors?) and shuddered at what I saw. Yes, time to stop being self destructive, and get back to doing good things for myself!