Dackel Princess

TBT: Potsdam, Germany 2004

Here is Hubby holding 8 week old baby Greta! Our friends brought us down to Potsdam to tour the city, and poor Jack was really having trouble with the walking. That was before he had both of his knees replaced.

Now my bionic guy can walk around with no pain to his knees! That was all the way back in 2004. May 7th to be exact! So long ago now, but I can remember this day like it just happened!

She weighed all of 6 pounds then, and was as light as a feather. Now our Greta is eleven years old and a 24 pound senior girl!

That was such a nice day. The sun was shining, and we went to a little restaurant and had wonderful Wiener Schnitzel and German beer!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. When is your next big deadline? What’s it for?

Savannah’s Birthday. I like to make a montage of events surrounding her, and all of her loving family members during the last year.

2. May is National Barbecue Month. Do you prefer cooking indoors or out? What’s the best thing about a barbecue? What’s the last thing you cooked on an outdoor grill?

I love when food is cooked outside. Mandy and Matt had a cookout on Mother’s Day and I had my first hotdog of the season as well as grilled shrimp. YUM!

3. What is one thing on your “never again” list?

No more big dogs. I love Lili, but she is so full of energy and at times hard for me to handle. Unfortunately, I am simply not strong enough for a big dog puppy! I think I will stick to the dackels from now on.

4. What’s something that annoys you about people your own age? Something you love about your generation?

Not much annoys me. Perhaps when I see someone my age trying to act like they’re still in their 20’s. What do I love about my generation? Well at this point, we know who we are (most of us) and have settled down.

5. Lilac, iris, hyacinth, pansy…your favorite purple flower?

Lilac. Always and forever. We had a whole hedge row of them at my childhood home. I loved to go and sit under them and smell the sweet perfume of the flower! Still do. I have them planted all around my house.

6. Whats a song that always calms you down?

I have always loved this music. I first heard it when I went to see “Somewhere in Time”. Then I searched and found more from Paganini that I loved. But always, this is the first.

7. What’s the last thing you donated?

Clothes and shoes. I try to bring things down to St. Vincent DePaul two or three times a year. Especially in the Autumn, I try to bring coats in that we no longer use.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I went to bed the night before last, during a rain storm. I woke the next morning, and my trees had leafed out and the grass in my yard is bright grassy green! I repotted some of my vegetable plants yesterday and the two tomato plants grew like crazy, just over night!

Denial

OK, so after losing all the weight I wanted to back in 2008-2009, I have now slowly but surely gained it all back.

There I have said it. Not that you didn’t all notice, but I’m like the person who passes by a mirror 20 times a day and never looks at their reflection.

I was the Queen of Denial!

Then I had a moment when I could no longer lie to myself. I simply had to face what I’d done to myself. That was on Mother’s Day morning when none of my shorts and summer clothes fit.

I thought about it and then for whatever reason, I was looking back at blog entries and I reread back in 2008 when I first joined Weight Watchers. It was their old program and I was able to eat smaller portions and lose 2-3 pounds each week.

I still had all my books, and the magical Points Finder Slide. I have all I need to step back in time and do the old program.

I’m thinking I need a little reigning in. Weighing, measuring, and making better choices. The old plan accounts for the fact that there are certain vegetables that need to be counted, and also lets you know, you cannot eat unlimited fruits. Each fruit has a point!

So, I’ve decided to give myself a good month on the old plan. Hubby is all for this and he has told me he will be supportive.

I so hope by my birthday in November, I will be either back to or close to my goal weight.

Wish me luck!

Mother’s Day Recap

Today was such a wonderful Mother’s Day. We drove down to Mandy and Matt’s house, and Matt’s parents, Mandy’s grandmother, Grammie Alice, my former husband, Bob and Jack and I all celebrated.
All day long Bob and I played with our granddaughter. We played dress up, and wiffle ball, we dug in the dirt, watched ants outside and we chased after her. At one point Bob asked Savi if she wanted to play a game with him and grandma and Savi got all in a huff! She said, “No Bob, her name is Oma!” We both threw our heads back and laughed.

Savannah’s long curls.

An accidental natural light picture. I love it though.

Smiling Savannah.

My beautiful daughter, Mandy and her sweet daughter, Savannah.

What a lovely day it was. Mandy and Matt worked so hard to make it a very special Mother’s Day!

What a Let Down!

Tonight we went to my favorite venue to see a singer I have long admired. I expected a few of the old songs and some new songs.

Todd Rundgren was always a soulful balladeer, and his music inspired me. So imagine my shock when we were presented with a show that combined the likes of a Severus Snape character+ from the Harry Potter series and Richard Simmons, known to millions for his bouncy athletics!

I was also sitting next to a young woman who was quite obviously on another planet due to drugs and alcohol. At one point, her gyrations earned me an elbow in my head!

So I screamed at her, that the next time this happened she would get punched in the face.

Yes, I said screamed. The bass music (I guess you could call it that) was so loud and all one note that it was difficult to tell what any of the lyrics were. We all felt the monster beat in our chests.

Since I’d been the instigator to buy the tickets and make a night of it, I ended up feeling guilty and terribly let down.

I wanted to hear just two of his old songs. I wanted to hear them sung with warmth and class.

All we got was noise.

Shame on you Todd Rundgren!

Maribeth’s Marvelous Meatloaf

Maribeth’s Marvelous Meatloaf

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

Ingredients:

1 lb hamburger
1 lb ground pork 1 egg
1 tbs olive oil
½ onion finely diced
¼ cup finely diced green pepper
¼ cup finely diced red pepper.
2 tsp Cumin
2 tbs spicy mustard
3 sliced Italian bread
water
½ cup dry Italian bread crumbs. (you may need slightly more) 3 slices of bacon

Directions:

First take the 3 slices of Italian bread and place in large bowl. Add as much water as it takes to cover them.

Meanwhile, in saute pan using 1 tbs olive oil, saute onions, and peppers until the onions are translucent. Set aside to cool.

In separate bowl, beat egg, Cumin, and mustard until well mixed. Set aside.

Take Italian bread and squeeze out all the water and pour all the water out of the large mixing bowl.

Add ground beef and ground pork.

Add soggy bread that you have mashed up.

Add the egg mixture

Add cooled onion and pepper mixture.

Mix thoroughly with your hands. Add the dry bread crumbs and mix well. You may need slightly more or less. Make sure mixture is well mixed and evenly mixed.

Place in large loaf pan sprayed with PAM.

Place bacon over the top lengthwise. Tuck edges down the side of the meatloaf.

Place in 375 degree oven and bake for 1 hour.

Turn heat up to 400 degrees and cook for 15 more minutes.

Remove from stove. Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes.

Carefully place on platter. Slice into potion size as needed.

Serve with a salad, mashed potatoes and gravy.

Makes great sandwiches the next day!

Family!

Tonight we had my cousin, Larry over for dinner. I don’t see Larry as often as I would like, so this was pretty special to me.

Anyway, I decided to make some good old fashioned comfort food. Home-style meatloaf , mashed potatoes, and gravy, with corn on the cob. I also bought a light, fluffy, strawberry cake that was simply divine!

This was taken a few years back. My cousin Larry, my sister, Melodie, my cousin, Rikki, and me.

We sat around, talking and sharing, and enjoying each others company. We’re hoping he will come back soon to visit and bring his wife, Cindy. Although, since they are building an addition to their house, it may not be anytime really soon. But we shall see.

The best part was to watch Larry and Lili. She just loves him, and Larry is so good with dogs. He took her out for a walk and then played ball with her until he left. Currently she is on the sofa drowsing.

TBT: 2005 When It All Began

Looking back, May 2005 was when I started writing Dackel Princess. Sometimes I like to go back and read my thoughts. It’s been a lot of fun. We all have my cousin, Janet to blame, as she got me into writing. 10 years! And even though I have not been as diligent in the last year, I am going to try to be better about keeping my blog up and running. So, here is what I wrote that first day.

As this is the opening day of The Dackel Princess, I would like to welcome everyone to my site! As I write, spring is upon us here in the mountains of New Hampshire. With temperatures on the high 70’s my apple trees are starting to blossom and the trees on the hill are starting to leaf out. It is so beautiful! All three dogs have been running around in the yard this morning. Currently the two dachsies are taking their second nap of the day, (more like one long, long nap) and Fritz is outside asleep on the patio. His favorite spot to be. Me? I’m sitting in front of my computer trying to figure out a new bit of software. So here’s to the first entry! With many more to come!!!

This is Shubi!

June 29 008

Greta

Fritz

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s a phrase your mother often said to you? If you’re a parent, is this something you now say to your own children?

She used to say, “I love you quiet extraordinarily!” I never really listened or believed her. Now she is gone I miss that. I’ve always been very verbal about my love for my kids!

2. What is a scent you associate with your mother or your childhood home?

Lilacs. We had a whole set of them against the fence in the front yard of our home. Yes, lilacs are a family favorite.

3. What’s an activity you remember always doing with your mother (or someone who was a mother figure in your life)?

Tea time. Mostly with my grandmother. Tea, in china cups and saucers, served with some nice fine cookies.

4. Flared jeans, maxi dresses, and jumpsuits are 70’s fashion trends back this spring. Are you on board? Which trend would you be most inclined to try? For the men…flared corduroys, wide-collared shirts, and floral prints…what say you?

Maxi dresses. I loved those.

5. May 6th is Teacher Appreciation Day and also Nurse Appreciation Day. Is there a nurse or teacher you have especially appreciated along the way? Tell us why?

My dearest friends, Candy and Carol are nurses. They’re fearless and compassionate and loving. And my niece is an elementary school teacher. I am so proud of her!

6. If I came by your house, what would I find on your fridge door?

A collage of family pictures. I made up a big one and taped it on. We have stainless steel and no magnets stick. So I came up with the idea to make the collage online at Walgreens, and stick it up there.

7. Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana made her royal entrance on Saturday, May 2nd. On a scale of 1-10, how much attention did you give to all the news coverage? 1=Who’s Charlotte? 10=sat glued to the telly, cuppa in hand.

10. I was so excited by her arrival and then the naming! I love her name, by the way! Charlotte Elizabeth Diana! I had the news channels on all day.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I went to the Dentist today. Yep, I got a clean bill of health. No cavities and no gum disease. When he pronounced that I was a little shocked. He laughed and said that over 50 you have to watch out for gum disease. Gosh, over 50, your hair turns gray, your metabolism slows down, and your gums can fail leading to your teeth falling out!

Seventy-Seven

Seventy-seven years ago today, Hubby was born in Boston, Massachusetts.

His parents were immigrants from Canada, both having come to Boston to find work in the early 1930’s. Hubby was a first generation American. Something his mother was very proud of. She loved her native Nova Scotia, Canada, but she also loved America and the opportunities it gave those willing to work hard.

Anyway, Hubby came into this world on May 4th, and after a few days his parents brought him home to their house in New Hampshire. My guy may have been born in Boston, but in his heart he has always been a New Hampshire boy!

I missed most of his life, coming into it during his late forties, when our children met and became playmates. For a very long time, we were just friends. Then when both our marriages fell apart, our friendship began to deepen, and eventually we married.

Anyway, today I celebrate this special day. The birth of the man that I have called best friend, husband and lover, all of these years. Know more than anything, that you are loved very deeply.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Hubby from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.