Author: Dackel Princess

TBT: Berlin, Germany, Before Reunification

The summer of 1989 Hubby had a temporary assignment in Berlin, Germany with Pan Am. He and two other pilots flew over this A-300 Airbus to be used to bring vacationers out of Berlin to various European destination. It was before the Wall came down, so essentially, West Berlin was a closed city.

This is the A-300 Air Bus that Hubby was flying back then.When he flew it across the Atlantic from New York, the company allowed me to accompany them. It was one of the most amazing times in my life, as I was able to prepare their meals, like a Flight Attendant, and witness St. Elmo’s Fire.

The plane we flew over.

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Here we are at Spandau, having a meal and of course, a wonderful German Beer!

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The Girls standing against the Wall in a fairly safe place. Since they were both out of school, we brought them over to Berlin for a month. I am so glad we did.

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The girls, Mandy and Hubby’s daughter Jessica, looking over the Glienicke Brucke. This famous bridge was used as the back drop in many movies made about the Cold War. In “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold” the bridge was used as the back drop where Spies were exchanged.

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At Check Point Charlie, when it was still active.

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I grew to love Berlin. I told Hubby if he ever had a chance to get transferred there, I would gladly go. We had a flat near the downtown area, and it was wonderful.

In my heart, I will always be a Berliner. I think my German Grandfather would have loved that!

The Weather

Tuesday provided a day filled with incredible weather. Incredible strange and incredibly bad! It all started off with another hot and humid day, like all the others we have had the past week.

By noontime, the clouds began to move in, and the winds whipped up and we had the first of three strong thunder storms.

To our south they had terrible wind, rain and hail. At the end of the day, after three storms like that, you breath a sigh of relief that you made it through, and that no one was hurt.

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In fact, in the evening, as the sun finally set, we were gifted with a beautiful sunset, and one full rainbow and the beginning of another. Reminding us, that God does in fact, love us.

Catching Up

The weekend went by far too fast, and this actually extended into Monday, as well. I’ve been trying to get caught up with miscellaneous cleaning jobs before Friday, and yet, I am saving the thorough vacuuming until Thursday.

Why, you might ask? Because all I have to do is vacuum the house, Lili will come into the room, sneeze and it seems all her hair comes flying out of her body and covers the floor.

The other last minute item, is the changing of our sheets. I want to do it on Thursday because it will be a bit until I can do it again.

Last night was a celebration at my neighbors. One of her daughters had a birthday, and the other leaves for Dhaka, Bangladesh to teach for the next year. She has been doing this for some time, and has been to Turkey, India, China and now Bangladesh. Quite a resume.

Anyway, cake was eaten, champagne drunk, and great talking! I love these types of events.

Today I dip my head, in the fountain of youth, and afterward stop at the dollar store to buy paper products, so Hubby isn’t overwhelmed with clean-up while my hand recovers.

So, off I go to start the day!

The Love

All weekend long, I have gotten the feeling that I am greatly loved. Who, you might ask, is snuggling up to me and showing me copious amounts of love?

If you guessed the dogs, you would be correct. I think they sense a disturbance in the force. Somehow they know, that this week is the week that the nasty, tricky, trigger, finger will be repaired.

The dackels are constantly by my side and even Lili has been staying close. I feel loved. I feel their warmth. Most of all, I feel reassured.

I’ve told them all that it isn’t a big deal. A quick twenty minute surgery and snip, snip, all will be well. Then it is just the recovery time.

So now, it’s the countdown. Laundry, meals put up and ready to go and sheets changed.

Hope you all have a great week!

Blessings

Today I am writing about my dearest friend, Carol. I met her 8 years ago, and she quickly became one of the most important women in my life.

Carol is an identical twin. Her sister is named Carolyn. I cannot recall how many times I have teased her about this. After all, back when she was born, times were different. And with an identical twin, she may actually be Carolyn and not Carol at all! (lol)

She has told me many stories of her mother, affectionately called Ma, and I wish I’d gotten to meet her. She sounds like an amazing woman.

Carol is always a phone call away. She is never too busy to answer a call, or listen to my happy chattering, or hold me in her arms when I cry.

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I’ve told her many times, that she is not just a friend, but a second mother to me. Someone who loves me regardless of my short comings.

She has said I am another daughter for her. I wasn’t looking for her, and she wasn’t looking for me, and yet, there we were eight years ago falling into each others paths.

Sometimes I believe that God finds people we should have in our lives. So he drops us into a situation and then lets us see how things work out.

So it was with Carol and I. We met, and decided that we really wanted to be in each others life.

What a blessing that has been in our lives.

Quick & Easy Four Bean Salad

Four Bean Salad (for canning)

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  • 6 c. total garden beans (yellow wax, green, Romano, or combination)
  • 1 c. cooked chickpeas
  • 1 c. cooked kidney beans
  • 1 large onion, quartered and thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, pressed
  • 1 tsp. mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp. pickling salt, or 1 1/2 t. kosher salt
  • 1 c. white vinegar (5 %)
  • 1/2 c. fresh lemon juice (I use Real Lemon)
  • 1 1/2 c. sugar
  • 1-2 tsp olive oil
  • 1&1/2 c. water

1) Blanch your beans in boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain and cool. Set aside.

2) Combine all the non-vegetable ingredients except for the oil (vinegar, sugar, lemon juice, herbs, spices, water, etc.) in a large pot and bring to a simmer. Briefly remove from the heat and add the oil. After combined, stir in the vegetables and bring to a simmer. Turn off the heat and let cool; refrigerate for at least 12 hours. (***This step is necessary to make sure that the vinegar actually penetrates the beans, making them safe for a water-bath canner.***) I usually let them set overnight.

3) When the beans are almost done marinating, prepare your canning supplies. Clean and sterilize 4 pint jars. Prepare a boiling water bath and heat the lids.

4) Bring the vegetable mixture to a boil. Fill the jars with the solids, then cover with the hot liquid, leaving a 1/2″ head-space. Cover with two-piece lids (remember, you can reuse the jars and rings, but use fresh lids every time) and process in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes. Set on a double folded dish towel. You should hear the lids thunk down, letting you know they have properly sealed.

Friday Five

Another week has flown by, and also another month. 2015 is racing past me. The funny thing is, as a child I recall thinking how long time was. A day seemed to last a year and a year…forever.

Now, here I am in my middle years, and I’m quite shocked at how quickly time passes us.

Okay, here is my Friday Five, on this the last day of July.

  1. I learned how to make Four Bean Salad to can for later this winter. I also have frozen 4 pounds of wax beans!
  2. I went in to my canning storage area, and re-arranged everything. I would really love to get shelves to store everything down in the coldest part of the basement.
  3. I really think my eye is getting better. I definitely needed the antibiotics.
  4. Today was sheet changing day. I love that. It’s one of those things that relaxes me. The feel of cool crisp sheets, when I crawl into bed.
  5. Next year will be my 40th High School Reunion. I’ve volunteered to be on the planning committee. I think it will be a lot of fun.

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    My Senior picture from our yearbook. But goodness 40 years!!!

TBT: Shubi

My darling Shubi! She was the very first wire-haired dachshund that I owned. She was the dog of my heart and I loved her deeply.

She came from Landshut, Germany, in 1996 and lived to be 10 years old before passing over to Rainbow Bridge. She was everything one could want in a loyal companion and more. I imagine I will miss her until the day we are reunited.

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But for today, here is a photo of Shubi playing in the snow and then down at the beach, playing fetch the stick. She swam out to get it and bring it back. That was one of her favorite games.

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Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. I recently read here about four secrets to happiness from around the world. They were-

Overcome your fears by facing them head on, allow yourself to relax and reset, work to live versus living to work, and find the good in life. Not sure if these are the actual secret to happiness, but which of the four do you struggle with most? Which one comes most easily to you?

Overcoming my fears and facing them head on. I tend to try to hide from my fears, but of course, you never really escape them do you?

2. How would you spend a found $20 bill today?

I’d go shopping for Savannah. Did I mention that Savi and I had our first online shopping experience? Oh my, it was so much fun!

3. Ego trip, power trip, guilt trip, round trip, trip the light fantastic, or trip over your own two feet…which ‘trip’ have you experienced or dealt with most recently? Explain.

Round trip. I drove down to Mandy’s (1 hour 10 minutes) and then the next day, drove back. It was a good time!

4. If you could master any physical skill in the world what would it be, and how would you use that skill?

The thing is, I have done so much in my life. Since the advent of my arthritis, I will answer by saying, I would, once again, love to master gymnastics. I just loved that part of my life.

5. As July draws to a close, let’s take inventory of our summer fun. Since the official first day of (North American) summer (June 20th) have you…been swimming? enjoyed an ice cream cone? seen a summer blockbuster? camped? eaten corn on the cob? gardened? deliberately unplugged? watched a ballgame? picked fruit off the vine? taken a road trip? read a book? Are any of these activities on your must-do-before-summer-ends list?

Swimming-Yes, Enjoyed and ice cream cone-no, seen a blockbuster at the movies-no, camped-no, eaten corn on the cob-yes, gardened-yes, unplugged-no, read a book-yes. I would love to have one last cookout!

6. The Republican Presidential candidates will debate on August 6th. What’s your question?

How can you protect America, globally?

7. What’s your most listened to song so far this summer?

I’m not sure. I’m an oldies kind of gal!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My eye is bad again. On antibiotics and my doctor told me that if this doesn’t work, I will need it cut out! Yikes!!! Prayer for divine intervention, so I heal!

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My Weekend

Well, it was a great weekend. From watching Savannah, to enjoying Amanda’s company. I drove home, stopping at LL Bean to shop for something for me. It was not to be had, but I did find a great deal.

Hubby can never find jeans that fit his tall frame, and long legs. But they were having a big sale, and so I decided to check the men’s section. There I found a pair of jeans marked down to $15.00! Wait, it gets better!

I had a gift card for $14.00 and so in the end, the jeans cost just $1.00! I love a good sale, and so does my husband.

I came home and started to prepare everything I would need to make 4 bean salad to can. I got it all ready, and currently it is in the extra fridge to set overnight. Tomorrow we will can them and see how it all turns out.

I told Hubby that I was unhappy about how the marinade turned out. So I just dumped it and started again. The second time was the trick.

After being gone overnight, I was royally greeted by all the dogs! I think Hubby was happy to see me too, but he did not jump up and down, or try to lick my face!

This week I want to do some deep cleaning. I want the place spic and span clean before my hand surgery. Wouldn’t you know, I am right handed and the surgery will be on my right hand!

A breeder friend of mine, has a female dachshund who just welped 8 puppies. Apparently she delivered a couple naturally, but then was rushed in for a cesaerian. Mother and pups are doing well, but it will be a few more days until everyone will be out of danger.

So that’s all for now. Everyone have a good week ahead!