Inside The Pretty Package

So, I was sitting here this morning, thinking about love. How people meet. How sometimes you know, this is it, while other times, it’s just a friendship that happens.

I love to people watch. I do this whenever I am out alone, shopping or stopping for a meal. I just watch.

I have seen beautiful women with a frog of a counterpart. I have seen a drop dead gorgeous man with his average female mate. And I have seen two average people just so deliriously happy, that I began to understand the real truth of love.

Listen up, kids. This is important stuff here.

You see, it matters not what is on the outside. Sometimes the best presents in life come in plain packaging.

My grandmother used to tell me all the time, that eventually even the most beautiful face fades. The real key, the real trick, is to remember to always look inside the package for the truth.

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A beautiful soul can brighten up a life. That loving soul, can see beyond the shell and life can be even more wonderful than one can ever imagine.

I wish my Grandmother was here and I could tell her that I finally, honestly, understand what she told me, all those years ago.

I get it, Grandma!

Weekend Round-Up

The garden is planted, Savannah turned three, and laundry was done, rounding out the rather full weekend! I actually got out my swim suit yesterday and got into Mandy’s pool.

I’m currently not thrilled with how my body looks in a swim suit, but I am doing all I can to bring my weight down and under control.

The gift I wanted to purchase for Savannah, a child’s easel, was finally purchased at ToysRus. They had a really cute one and I was very happy with it. More importantly, Savi liked it.

But the real stroke of pure genius goes to Hubby, who picked out an alphabet dachshund, that sings the ABC Song, and then barks. Savi loved that. I think because she loves animals.

It was absolutely perfect timing to have her party yesterday, in the bright sun and heat! Sunday was cold and rainy. It would not have made a good pool party weather day.

Welcome to June first, and have a great week everyone!

Third Birthday-Pool Party

Today is Savannah’s actual birthday, but we celebrated it yesterday at Mandy and Matt’s with a cook-out, pool party!  The weather was perfect, and since it was really hot, almost everyone jumped into the pool!

I loved watching Matt, as he is slowly teaching Savi how to be comfortable in the pool. He is so patient and loving, and she holds on tight. What a great Daddy he is!

Unfortunately, there are not many pictures of Mandy in the montage, as she was running about making sure that everything went along smoothly. She is such a terrific hostess and a fabulous Mommy!

The family was there, as were friends with kids. I think birthday parties are even better when there are kids with cake and ice cream and delightfully messy faces!

So here we are, with this years Birthday Video. Savannah Rose, Third Birthday Pool Party Video!

Savannah's Birthday Party Age 3 from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday, Savannah

Tomorrow my darling granddaughter, Savannah Rose turns three years old! Wow! That sure went fast. She is such a delight and makes every one of my days special just by being the wonderful little girl that she is. How lucky we all are to have Savannah in our world!

Today we are having her Birthday Party! I think that May is the perfect month for a birthday. Warm, sunny and with flowers blooming. Beautiful. Just like Savi!

A Crazy Thursday

Thursday was a crazy day. I got an email from Walmart announcing that they could not deliver Savannah’s birthday gift today because of an out of their control delay! What!!!

Since we really needed to start planting the garden, we directly planted the seeds for the peas and beans and beets. We’d hoped to do more today, but it was so crazy hot, and we knew we had to be off to the big city!

I cancelled the order for Savi’s gift with Walmart, and then Hubby and I took a road trip. We stopped at a Chinese Buffet, and he ate normally and I, bringing my Weight Watchers books with me, planned what I would eat. I had Hot & Sour Soup, millions of steamed vegetables, vegetable egg foo yung, with no gravy (not a big gravy fan anyway), and then some melon. Oh yes, and I drank two tall grasses of water and 6 cups of green tea! (My teeth are still floating!)

We stopped for gasoline at Sam’s Club, and also found some great lamb chops, chickens, and ground beef. Since I try to always plan ahead, I had a cooler and ice packs with me. It was so necessary as we had another 90+ degree day.

We stopped briefly at one other store, before heading back home. Hubby wanted leftovers for his dinner, but I made some salmon, boiled potatoes and beets for my dinner.

I sure am tired tonight, and I know tomorrow I must get the rest of the garden planted.  After that, I need to go out and buy all the fresh vegetables to make an awesome salad for Savannah’s Birthday Party!

I cannot believe she will be 3 years old this weekend!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Did you do anything ‘memorable’ this past weekend?

No. Took care of Anneliese, did laundry, and cooked meals. You know, the usual.

2. Ronald Reagan is quoted as saying-

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”

Your thoughts? Do you somehow acknowledge and appreciate the freedoms you enjoy? Did your upbringing contribute to that sense of appreciation? If you’re a parent, are there specific things you do to pass on this sense of responsibility and appreciation to your own children in regard to the freedoms they enjoy?

I was raised in a very patriotic household. Several cousins served in the military and many gave their lives during World War II.

One who served, was the son of my grandfather’s brother Herbert, Private First Class Ernest Prussman, 13th Infantry Regiment.  PFC Prussman took over his squad on 8 September 1944 during the advance on Les Coates  in Brittany, and disarmed several Germans, including a machine gun crew. Shot by a German rifleman, his dying act was to unleash a hand grenade that killed the man who shot him. His Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously.

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Tomb_of_Ernest_W._Prussman_at_American_Cemetery_in_Saint_James,_Normandie,_France

A street at Fort Benning, Georgia was also named after him. As was a a square in Boston at the corner of Faniuel and Goodenough Streets.

3. Loudest noise you’ve ever heard?

I was napping on my sofa when we lived in Florida. All of a sudden there was an extremely loud explosion! A bolt of lightening had hit the phone pole transformer at the end of our driveway, which was very close to the house! I literally fell off of the sofa!

4. What was the last thing you ate that might be considered ‘junk food’? Did you enjoy it?

We are into week two of the Weight Watchers plan and I have not so much as had a potato chip or a french fry or a cracker! Let’s not talk junk food….

5. When was the last time you were somewhere the crowd felt ‘packed in like sardines’?

At the airport in Boston, last time we went on a vacation. I avoid crowds at all costs.

6. Are you organized when it comes to packing for a trip? Do you make a list weeks in advance or toss items in last minute? Are you a carry-on only sort of packer or do you need an entire suitcase for your shoes?

Oh, I am an over-organizer for sure! My lists have lists! But in many ways this is good. I learned after getting to Germany one time and not having packed socks for Hubby. And then there was the cruise where it rained every day and we had no umbrellas or rain jackets!

7. What was the last sporting event you attended in person? Did your team win? Did you care?

I don’t go to sporting events much. Probably it’s because of the whole crowd thing. Mostly it’s just a real pain to get there from where I live in the mountains of New Hampshire!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Anneliese is better, I’m still waiting for Savannah’s Birthday gift to arrive (not happy about this!), Wednesday is weigh in day at Weight Watchers, and Thursday is planting day for my garden. Busy, busy, busy!

More This & That

Sunday was a good day. Busy, but good. I somehow managed to get a ton of laundry done, and that being said, I also managed to avoid ironing. That great pleasure will come tomorrow.

We watched the Indy 500 race on TV, a few games from the French Open, and a couple of movies. The most notable being, “Lost In Translation”. I’ve seen it a million times before, but I really love that movie.

I recall many years ago when I first went to Germany with Hubby. He had to go off to work and I was left to my own devices. I spoke no German and understood none either. I felt deaf and dumb, as I was unable to understand anything people said, or to speak with them.

Like Charlotte in “Lost In Translation”, I remember calling my mother and father, because I felt so totally lost in this new world. I didn’t know who I was anymore, or where I fit in.

Eventually I came to love Berlin, and explored the city. Although I never learned to speak German fluently, or even well, or let’s face it, most toddlers spoke better than I did, I did learn key words and I could follow along.

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Ah sweet life. I would not have traded that time for anything. I learned so much.

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Mostly I learned that no matter what, I could rely on myself.

Anneliese continues to do well, and I think she is on the right road. Thankfully! I’m not sure what I would do if she went down with a bad back and did not recover!

A Blessed Memorial Day to you all, and to the Veterans in your life.

This & That

Medical Report: Anneliese is doing much better today. She has not cried once in pain, and was able to go out to do her business without being carried. Very happy! Still keeping her quiet.

In other news, I have continued to write down everything I am eating, and make good choices, RE: no fried food, no junk food, and lots of vegetables and fruits, all weighed and measured. I mention this because I weighed myself this morning and I swear to God, I have not lost an ounce! Discouraging!

Yay, the French Open Tennis Tournament has begun! I love the summer because of all the Grand Slam Tennis matches! I cannot play worth a darn, but I do love to watch! It’s like Ice Dancing. I’m never going to be Meryl Davis, but I do so love to watch her and Charlie White skate!

I have started to look at cruises for either very late 2015 or 2016. There is one I saw out of Texas, and it goes to a few places like Key West (fun!) and the Bahamas (also fun!). We shall see. As in all other parts of our life, we only sign on with a good sale!

Today is also crystal cleaning day. I noticed that after a long winter’s nap, the crystal glasses I hang in the bar area of the kitchen need washing. The dishwasher is full of the wine glasses and I hand washed the champagne flutes.

As always, there is laundry to be done and today, my least favorite chore…ironing. Does anyone actually like to iron?

Off I go into the world of home-making. Have a great Sunday, everyone!

Anneliese

Currently, my little Anneliese is down and out with a sore back. I’m trying to keep her quiet, so everything can heal. I’m also keeping Lili away from her, as I believe Lili is the one who injured her.

Anneliese is eight years old. I know she is a senior doggy now, although in my mind she will always be my puppy-girl.

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Anneliese is a real sweetheart. Especially to me. She picked me out of the litter when the pups were born. Funny how that works. I was looking at all the pups and wondering which of Greta’s babies I would keep, and there she was, having picked me out. How lucky was that.

Every night in bed, we snuggle and she is the warm reassurance that I am not alone in the dark. Each morning when I open my eyes, she commando crawls up to me, and showers me with kisses.

This morning she seems a tad bit better, although she is still having some pain. In some ways it is good, as it helps keep her quiet.

I do hope she heals quickly!