Dackel Princess

Spring Cleaning

I found this great list online that guarantees it will help you Spring Clean and organize you house! Well, I could sure use that this year, as I am forced to admit that this winter found me hunkered down, with dogs and blankets, letting the deep cleaning go for the winter.

Now is the time to start in one room and work until it is finished and then move on to the next.

Anyone who has been reading me very long will be aware of the fact that I need to clean my office. I have stated this year after year, but 2015 will be the year that I actually get it done.

And God willing, I will also get a little painting done as well, although I am not going to freak myself out too much with over planning.

I go today to have my eyes examined for new glasses, and then I need to pick out new frames. I also need to select the lightest weight lenses, as the bridge of glasses cut right smack dab into my scars. Very uncomfortable!

Hubby is starting to feel better, and he wants to go with me to the shop, but I have told him he is still grounded until the cough is better.

For now, off I go. It will be nice to have a little quiet time away from dog world! LOL!

The Reports Of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

Recently, I got a letter of condolence from an old friend of Hubby’s. I was very confused by this, as at that moment, Hubby was alive and well, and sitting across from me in the family room.

Upon finishing the letter, we realized that he had not gotten our Christmas card and annual letter. Thus listing all the things we had done in 2014. Lots of fun things. Certainly no “Weekend at Bernies” .

Since we did not have an email address or a phone number for this friend in England, we did what normal people have done for centuries…we wrote a letter.

We included pictures, to show Hubby was still alive, and included our phone numbers and email addresses. Then we went to the Post Office, got the correct postage for this missive, and then kept our fingers crossed that this would work.

It took two and a half weeks, but two days ago, we heard from this friend, via email. He was quite happy to hear that his old friend is, in fact, alive and well.

So the Post Office failed at Christmas, but at least the second letter got through. All of this made me realize that having a back up email address is really important!

So next time you think a friend may have gone to his eternal rest, send an email, or at the very least check the obituaries.

“The Reports of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated”.

Mark Twain

The Birds Are Back

So yesterday, while kicking back a little and trying to kick off this cold, I sat gazing out my bedroom window. Despite the fact that the snow was still falling gently, I saw a certain sign that spring is here.

The birds are back.

Yes, the trees seemed to be teaming with the little birds, that vacation in the south. My Cardinals were there, as well as some robins, blue jays and these tiny birds, chickadee size that are a pretty blue.

I opened the window, and I could hear their chirps of welcome to the morning. Surely Spring is close by.

You can see them in the trees, and hear their beautiful voices. We may have mounds of snow on the ground, but we do have the sweet songs of Spring in the trees!

Where is Spring?

Winter seems to be dragging on, despite the fact that the calendar says it is spring.

Besides more snow, both Hubby and I have some sort of flu/cold. Hubby has been hard hit. He just wants to sleep, and his fever has been up there too. The coughing rattles his body and his sneezing scares even the dogs.

My fever spike again in the night. My cough returned with a vengeance, and I just plain feel like curling up with my blanket and a couple of dackels.

Although Hubby’s appetite came back a bit last night, mine is none existent. One would think this would be a great way for me to drop some weight, but as soon as my body stops accepting food, it shuts down and I actually gain weight! Yep, I could survive a nuclear holocaust, as I just don’t need food!

I have found this time particularly good for viewing movies on Amazon Prime, and HBO. One movie I watched was an ABC Movie of the Week, called “Maybe I’ll Come Home In the Spring”. It starred a very young Sally Field as a teenage runaway/hippie, who comes home after becoming unhappy in her “free” lifestyle.

Now I had seen it, way back when (age 12 or 13?), and I thought that the Hippie lifestyle was so wonderful. No rules, love, peace and harmony. But here I am at 56, and I realize what a total waste of time that lifestyle is.

The acting was ok. Nothing great. It was fun to see Sally Field as a teenager, but the over all writing, directing and story point just were so very weak. Unfortunately that is 90 minutes I can never get back! lol!

Today I plan a nice quiet day. About the only thing I will do is make meals and change sheets. Oh yes, and watch it snow….again!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Share a favorite song, book, or movie title containing the word green?

2. Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying, ‘Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.’ Would you agree? Are you a believer in luck?

I do believe in cause and effect, but I also believe in luck. And not always good luck either.

3. Spring water, Hot Springs, handspring, spring fling, spring break, spring fever, offspring…which ‘spring’ word best applies to something in your day, week, or life right now?

Spring fever. I woke today to find it is snowing once again! Yeah, I am definitely ready for spring!

4. What’s something you do to make yourself look or feel more confident?

I do my hair and make-up. I also try to wear something that makes me feel confident.

5. It’s National Celery Month…are you a fan? If so, what’s a snack or dish you enjoy that calls for celery?

There is so much. We love hot wings, served with celery stuffed with blue cheese. I use celery is every soup or stew I make. I also use it when I make potato salad, or tuna salad.

6. What’s one thing you wish you’d learned sooner?

To brush AND floss twice a day from the moment I popped my first tooth. Good dental care for children is so important.

7. Would you like to own a second home? If so where would you want that home to be?

Falmouth, Massachusetts. My childhood hometown. Down near the beaches I grew up on.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Snow? No! I am ready for Spring to come!

Saying Good-Bye

I woke today to find that a dear man who I had known as a child had passed from this life to the next. He was 88 years old.

Dr. D. was the father of my childhood pal, and he was always including me in fun things. My first camping trip to Maine was with his family. I recall sitting in the back of the family Jeep on our way to the camp. We also took a walk early one morning there and I saw my first moose!

There was a time that I was up in the tree house with a few kids, and they got down, took the ladder and left me there, and pulled the ladder away. This was a pretty high tree house, and I was stuck. I sat there crying my eyes out, as the sun set.

Then there was a flash light, and there he was. Dr. D. put the ladder up to the tree house, and helped me down. Then he took my hand and walked me home.

As I grew up, and got married, and was in the hospital having my second child, Dr. D. was the on call anesthesiologist, and he came in to give me an epidural. Then he asked if it was ok to stay to watch our baby being born. Absolutely!

Each time I returned to my hometown on the Cape, I would pop in to see him and his wife. They were always gracious and happy to see me.

Now he is gone, and I am sad that I will not see him again in this life. I never got to thank him for all that he did to make my childhood a happy one. So I send off these feelings in a prayer and hope that they will reach him in Heaven.

For he was a good man. Rest in Peace, Dr. D.

TBT: Mandy

Today’s TBT subject is my daughter Mandy. The first picture was taken when she was about 3 years old. She is holding a cat that was named Sally Penny.

I look at her little face and I can see how much Savannah looks like her Mommy!

The next picture was taken when Mandy was the flower girl at our friends wedding. She was so adorable all dressed up, with flowers in her hair, and her hair set into curls that day. I think she was almost 5 then.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s the first image that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘spring’? Which phrase best describes the season of spring where you live right now (today)-sprung! almost there, or still waiting?

Still waiting for spring. We have about 2 feet of snow in the back yard, so this year, the image that will help me feel spring is here, will be seeing my green grass again!

2. Bed, couch, stapler, garage door, computer mouse, recliner, flashlight, door knob…which household item containing springs most needs replacing in your home? Speaking of springs…did you ever own a Slinky?

Yes, owned a slinky as a kid. Right now, my bed needs replacing.

3. March is Women’s History Month. Share a favorite quote by a woman.

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” ~ Mother Teresa

4. What’s a question that looms large in your mind right now?

Is winter over? It was close to 50 degrees today and sunny. It actually felt warm! Is Spring here?

5. Are you a sugar freak? By that I mean how much do you love sugar? With all the bad press sugar gets these days, have you made any efforts to reduce the amount of sugar you consume?

Oh goodness I try not to eat too much sugar, but I do love it! I have a terrible sweet tooth!

6. Would you rather have less work to do or more work you enjoy doing?

More work I enjoy. Like babysitting Savannah. Right now that is my favorite thing to do!

7. Ever been to Texas? Of the top ten Texas tourist attractions which would you most like to see-The Alamo, The San Antonio River Walk, The State Capital, Dallas World Aquarium, Padre Island National Seashore, Houston Space Center, Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Moody Gardens, or Galveston Island?

I’ve never spent time, just passed on through. And let me tell you, driving through Texas takes a long time! That’s one big state!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I think we can safely say we have entered New England’s Fifth Season. Commonly known as “Mud Season”. Hubby and I went out to vote today and all the formerly frozen dirt roads are now mud. Deep, slimy, mud!

Happy Birthday, Bernie!

It’s funny how you meet people these days. Years ago I met Bernie and his late wife, Louise online. They kept a blog and so did I. Soon we were messaging off our blogs and becoming friends.

Tragically, Louise passed from this world to the next and her physical presence is deeply missed, even though she lives in our hearts.

I was lucky to meet Bernie back in 2010, when I was in Berlin, Germany breeding Anneliese, and he was there on business. We hit it off right away!

Today is Bernie’s Birthday. I want to wish him a happy day and a healthy year ahead! You are deeply loved and cared for by all you friends and family!

Happy Birthday Greta!

Today our darling Greta, the senior dog of our pack, turns eleven!

I cannot believe the time has gone by this quickly! She is now, truly, a senior doggy!

We brought her home from Germany when she was just 8 weeks old. I worried that she would not handle the trip well, but she acted as if she flew on an airplane every day!

She grew to love Shubi and Fritz and after Shubi left us, Greta seemed to take over in her stead.

Before long she went to German Dog Shows and then she met her doggy husband Bernie, and they had their first litter of puppies! Arnie and Anneliese were her babies from that litter.

They had one more litter before Greta retired from breeding. I have to say that of the 10 pups she had, she was one of the best mothers ever.

Greta still tickles me daily with her attitude and antics. She demands the other pups treat her with respect and truly is our queen bee!

Here is a short video montage of my sweet girl over the last eleven years!

Greta's Birthday Video from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.