Dackel Princess

Two Years Ago

Two years ago, I was in the middle of having my face rearranged due to cancer. They had operated on me a month before, and left me looking like this, while the skin graft took.

The biggest problem was, that the doctor basically maimed me, when he didn’t have to, and his idea of reconstruction would have left me looking like this, for a very long time.

OK, that is when depression set in, and I stopped going out, started eating (chocolate) to sooth my depression (trust me, that never works) and felt as though I would be hideous for the rest of my life.

After a couple of months, a friend gave me the name of her doctor in Boston, and I went down to meet him, and get a second opinion.

Dr. P. told me he couldn’t make my nose look the same, but he could definitely improve what the other doctor had left me with.

So, starting in July, I had my first surgery with him. After the first surgery with Dr. P. I could already see the improvement.

After that, we waited a few weeks for healing, then more surgery and the improvement was remarkable.

Dr. P. was not only a gifted plastic surgeon, but a wonderful man. Finally in November of 2013 he finished my reconstruction.

Now we wait, until the scars fade and I somehow forget what my face looked like before and get used to what it looks like now.

I will be honest. The way you look in the mirror to yourself, is something most of us never think about. We get up, shower, comb our hair and never really think that the person you are seeing may change.

And so it was with me. One day I looked like the person I always have know. And then, I wasn’t. I have really struggled with depression about this, and this spring I decided to fight back!

I am, who I am. The person inside is the same.

Now, it’s time for me to work on getting rid of all that chocolate that I ate to soothe myself during the surgery and after. Let me tell you, gaining weight, never helps with how you see yourself.

It’s hard, losing weight. And oh, so easy to gain it!!!

Life is as good as you chose to make it!

Game on!

A New Stew Recipe By Me!

Hearty Beef Stew

This hearty beef stew tastes better if refrigerated overnight, making it the perfect make-ahead meal (overnight can be expanded to several days too!).
Ingredients:

2 pounds top round or chuck steak with all fat and gristle removed, cut into 1-1/2 inch cubes
1/2 cup flour 2 teaspoons salt
black pepper
1 medium onion chopped fine
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped green or red pepper
1/2 cup butter
2 cloves garlic, mashed
1 bay leaf, crumbled
1/2 pound mushrooms sliced in thick pieces
2 tablespoons tomato paste
8 – 10 pearl onions
1/2 cup petite peas
1/2 pound carrots cut into chunks
6 tablespoons butter
1 glass red wine
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
thyme and parsley
Add 1-2 diced potatoes (I had leftovers)

Instructions:

Dredge the meat in the flour mixed with the salt and several big grinds of pepper, coating it on all sides and using up all of the flour.
Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a large Dutch Oven and brown the pieces of meat in the butter over a brisk heat.
Turn the meat to brown on all sides and scrape the pan from time to time to prevent the flour from sticking. This will take 10 or 15 minutes.
Toward the end of the time add the mashed garlic and bay leaf to the Dutch Oven.
Then add diced onion, celery, peppers to pot. When the meat is browned, start to add other ingredients to your cast iron pot, with a tight-fitting lid.
Cook the mushrooms in the skillet in the remaining butter and add to the Dutch Oven.
Stir wine into the Dutch Oven with the tomato paste.
Meantime, clean the pearl onions, and carrots and add to pot.
Pour in about 2 cups chicken broth. Simmer slowly.
Sprinkle the dish with dried (or fresh) thyme.
Simmer gently for an hour. Add the potatoes and peas, wait for 15 minutes.
Taste the stew for seasoning, arrange it so that an attractive array of vegetables is on top. Garnish with parsley or any other green herb. Cover it.
Fifteen or 20 minutes before you are ready to serve the stew, turn the heat on and reheat it slowly.
Take it to the table and remove the cover there, so that its aroma will be enjoyed by all.
A bowl of rice makes a nice accompaniment.

TBT:My Family Vacation

Back in 1965 my family set out on a road trip to Washington, DC. Dad drove and Mom attempted to read maps, and in the back seat of our car were my brother, Richard, my sister, Melodie and me. I was all of 6 years old and probably a bit of a handful.

We filled the back seat with boxes of Barbie toys, and I remember having to be totally silent when we drove through large cities with heavy traffic. Dad really was a nervous Nelly about driving in the city.

We stayed at the Mayflower Hotel, and although I remember nothing about the room, I do remember liking the rather elaborate elevator that they had.

We went to the Lincoln Memorial, and stood for Dad to take our picture. It was so hot and I recall that we were all sweating like crazy. My poor brother was wearing a suit.

And then over to the White House. Dad insisted we pose and I recall refusing to sit down and burn my legs. Being the baby of the family, I wasn’t forced to sit down, but my sister and brother were.

We visited Arlington National Cemetery, and President Kennedy’s grave. I remember the eternal flame, but not much else.

The most important thing about this trip is that it was the only vacation that we took as a family. We made day trips, but never again did the five of us travel or do any sort of vacation together. I am so happy to have these pictures, and my sister’s great memory, so I can look back and remember…

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Speaking of April 15th…what’s the most ‘taxing’ thing you’ve done recently?

Taxes! LOL! Not, not really. Yesterday was grocery shopping and errand day. Hubby stayed home (he usually comes with me), and so I had to do the entire big shopping alone. By the time I shopped, got home, got everything put away, made dinner, and cleaned it all up, it was 7:30 and I was beat!

2. When did you last take a taxi somewhere and where was that somewhere?

Oh my, it has been a long while. Years. Probably the last time I traveled to Germany with Anneliese. That was 2009!

3. What’s something you can do today that you couldn’t do a year ago?

See my beautiful granddaughter, who has grown from toddler to little girl! She will be three next month!

4. How often is chicken (in some form or fashion) on your menu at home?

Once or twice a week.

Which of the following would you most like to see on your table tonight…a chicken salad sandwich, your mom’s fried chicken, a Chick-fil-A meal, Cracker Barrel’s chicken n’ dumplings, a roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings, or ‘hold the chicken, I’m a vegetarian’…?

Roast chicken dinner. I have the best recipe HERE for a perfect baked chicken. Love baked chicken!

5. What was your favorite television program when you were a kid? What characters do you remember the most?

I loved The Partridge Family, The Brady Bunch, My Three Sons, and The Original Star Trek! Favorite character? Keith, (David Cassidy!) Although I also loved Katie, in My Three Sons.

6. What was the last piece of ‘art’ you made?

I went to a painting class in February 2015. We had so much fun! Left to right, my cousin Janet, daughter, Amanda, cousin Sue and me.

7. What frustrates you most about the Internet?

How sometimes it can slow waaaaaay down. Mostly, it is fast and gets me where I want to go. So I don’t have too many gripes.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Hubby and I hoofed it out today to get our free Ben and Jerry ice cream cone. He got Mint Chocolate Chunk and I got my favorite Cherry Garcia! The lines were long, but it was worth the wait!

Spring

Oh what a beautiful day we had on Monday! 74 degrees and sunshine so bright, with not a cloud in the sky! Since it was so perfect, it was decided that Monday would be a great day to shop. Unfortunately, Hubby’s back is bothering him, so I gathered up my bags, coolers and lists and off I went.

I left here just before noon and didn’t get back until 4 PM. I unloaded all the groceries, put them away, sat for a few minutes before I started dinner.

Steak, mashed potatoes and zucchini and summer squash.

Oh crikey, after that I had to do the dishes, and finally at 7:30 I got to sit down. Yeah, now my back is sore! LOL!

I went out with the dackels, and they were so happy with the warm sunshine. Greta just basked in the sunshine! Then she came in, and with a smile on her face, fell asleep!

Happy Anniversary Jin & Ian

Two years ago today my niece Jin, married her best friend, Ian and they started their life together. They make such a magical couple, and their wedding was beautiful!

It was the last big event for our mother before she passed. She was so happy for them, and to go to the wedding where she could see all of her family.

Me, my sister, Melodie, and cousins Larry and Janet, with my Mom.

Jin and Ian taking their vows.

The newly-wed couple.

It really was one of the most joyful family events we’ve been to in a very long time. Jin wore a magnificent Korean Wedding Hanbok. She was, simply lovely!

Now we know that their love has multiplied and they are expecting their first baby in September. Call us all super excited!

TBT: 27 Years

Twenty-seven years ago today, Hubby and I said “I do”. For better or worse, in sickness and in health, our journey together has gone on.

We’ve always been there for each other, and together, I don’t think there is anything we can’t get through. It’s really a stroke of luck, when you marry your best friend.

No matter where I am, when I wake up in the morning, or just before I go to bed at night, I want to talk to Hubby and tell him all about the day.

So, Happy Anniversary Hubby!!!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Besides left over Easter goodies, what’s something currently kept in a basket at your house?

Laundry. I’ve never been much of a basket person, but I do have baskets of laundry…always!

2. ‘The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.’ ~Michelangelo Buonarroti ) So which one are you…the one who aims too high, or the one who aims too low? Have you ever seen The Sistine Chapel? Did you know Michelangelo’s surname prior to answering this question?

I’ve never seen the Sistine Chapel, but then, I’m not dead yet! I have done many things that people said could not be done, and yet, here I am.

3. April 7th is National Beer Day. Hmmm…wonder how that’s celebrated? Do you like beer? Have a favorite? If you’re not a beer drinker do you have any recipes you enjoy cooking that call for beer?

In my youth I drank a lot of beer. When I lived in Germany, and whenever I go back, I drink a lot! Best beer in the world, almost any German Beer. One I especially like is Andechs! It’s a Bavarian Beer made by Monks. And it is soooooo good!

4. When did you last travel somewhere new? Tell us where? How’d it go?

We cruised last November, and we stopped in St. Kitts. We took a tour of the Island, via train and that was a lot of fun. Although monkey’s are not indigenous to the Island, someone brought some over and now they are everywhere!

These are Vervet monkey’s. Cute, yes, but they bite, so beware

5. The value of ____fame and fortune__is greatly overrated.

6. What’s a pet peeve of yours when it comes to restaurant dining?

Screaming children, who run around, causing madness and mayhem. I love kids, but come on. I raised two girls, and when we went out, I made sure they had things to do so that they didn’t bother other diners.

7. It’s Poetry Month…share a favorite poem, either the title, a few lines you find meaningful, or the whole kit and caboodle.

Rudyard Kipling

Four Feet

I have done mostly what most men do,
And pushed it out of my mind;
But I can't forget, if I wanted to,
Four-Feet trotting behind.

Day after day, the whole day through --
Wherever my road inclined --
Four-feet said, "I am coming with you!"
And trotted along behind.

Now I must go by some other round, --
Which I shall never find --
Somewhere that does not carry the sound
Of Four-Feet trotting behind.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Easter was simply magnificent!

Mandy’s beautiful dining-room.

The whole family.

The food was wonderful, the company, terrific, and my granddaughter, fabulous!

My daughter, Mandy is a natural at welcoming family and friends into her home.

Easter 2015

All day on Saturday, I worked cooking and helping Hubby with the Income Tax. Both things got done with a modicum of hassle, but lets just say, at least as far as the taxes go, I am happy to have that done.

The cooking was a bit more interesting. I made an Angel Food Cake that I sprinkled colored sprinkles in, thus making it an Angel Cake with Fairy Dust!

I also made some deviled eggs, and pared 3 pounds of strawberries to go with the cake. A perfect ending to a perfect Easter dinner.

Mandy is doing the dinner. I think she is making a ham. She is an amazing cook so I know the meal will be a good one.

I was looking through some past Easter posts, when I found this one from 2010. It’s called the Easter Snake. Have a peak, and enjoy!

The Easter Snake from Dackel Princess Maribeth

Spring Cleaning 2

For those of you that know me well, you know I have been vowing to clean the office for sometime. It’s been years months, but finally I decided to get all the filing items together and sort those, and slowly, but surely just do it.

I worked all day on Friday, and will be working on this again tomorrow. I discovered a box of old photo’s (the real kind) and I will have some fun in the future, scanning those.

I want to be done with it by mid-week because we are finally getting the VCR, DVD, and Satellite and cable all hooked up and working correctly on our family room TV.

This means a lot of working on the floor, on my hands and knees which isn’t always easy for me, as middle age has set in.

Friday was a beautiful day. It was actually 62 degrees here for most of the day with sunshine! How great is that!