Dackel Princess

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Do you wear your heart on your sleeve, or keep your emotions tucked in tight?

Oh I tend to be an open book. Although, as I age I realize there are times I have to tuck it up, and be the one who doesn’t flip out.

When Katie died nearly 30 years ago, people came to the house to bring food, and they would come in and fall apart. Oddly enough, for the first 6 months, I was comforting them. Looking back, I think that is so strange.

2. How did you meet your closest friend?

I am lucky to have several amazing women in my life.

My sister, Melodie, cousin, Janet and daughter, Amanda are all special family members and friends as well! I am so lucky!

Uschi, I met online on a German Dog Web Page. We’ve been email friends ever since, and have been so lucky to spend various vacations together.

Gail, I met when I was 13 at Summer Bible Camp. It was strange because we never imagined we would be life long friends, but here we are and I am so grateful to God!

Candy, I met in Church in Florida. We share a great love of music. Singing in the choir together while I lived there.

Carol 1: I met in Florida, as we both were Lay Eucharistic Ministers. She is an amazing woman.

Carol 2: I met when I joined Weight Watchers. She is very much both friend and mother to me. I am so blessed.

3. Pink lemonade, grilled salmon, cotton candy, pink grapefruit, a strawberry milkshake, or raspberry sorbet…of the pink foods listed, which one is your favorite? Least favorite? Which one have you most recently consumed?

Are you kidding? I just listed myself as a lifetime member of Weight Watchers. I love them all!

4. When were you last ‘tickled pink’ over something? Explain.

Perhaps this past weekend. I babysat my favorite little girl grandchild, and had the best time playing with her, eating lunch with her, and watching her nap. Then in the evening, Mandy and I went to dinner with my cousin, Janet, and her sister in-law, Sue. We had such a great time! After dinner, we went to a painting class! That was so much fun!

5. Are you a fan of television talk shows? Daytime, nighttime, or both? What’s your favorite?

I used to be. I loved Regis and Kathie-Lee. Now I occasionally watch Kathie-Lee and Hoda. But mostly, I don’t watch them anymore.

6. When was the last time you wanted to ask a question, but felt too foolish to do so?

Long, long, ago. In my 30’s I finally got it into my head…the only stupid question, is the one you don’t ask!

7. My favorite evening treat right now is Klondike Sugar Free Ice Cream Bars .

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I’m in the process of making fresh blueberry muffins for breakfast. Hubby is still sleeping, (It’s 9:45 AM on Tuesday morning!), so I thought I would spoil him with some sugar free muffins!

Blessings

As I was driving home from time spent with my daughter, Mandy, I was feeling so very blessed. Mandy and I, along with my cousin, Janet and her sister in-law, Sue, went to a painting class on Saturday evening. We had a blast and although the greats like Monet and Renoir will never be challenged by me, I must say, my enjoyment, perhaps exceeded theirs.

The setting was a small river, with a cabin setting amongst the snow. It was fun to watch us all interpret the same picture in very different ways. I am also the most vocal, and critical of the four of us, so their was a lot of gasping and eeking on my part, which caused my family great laughter. I am glad. It was great to hear them laughing with me, happily!

I also spent time both before and after at Mandy and Matt’s home. I have to say that my daughters touch, as she and Matt set up their new house was all around. Mandy has such a good eye and gentle heart. I felt so comfortable, so at home. I sat there yesterday while Savannah was napping and Mandy and Matt were at the movies, feeling so proud of my daughter and Matt and the home they are making for Savannah.

I slept over, as I don’t see very well in the dark, to drive at night. I fell sleep almost instantly and slept really well, until I heard Savannah calling to her Mommy. That, was such a sweet sound. I am so thankful that I was there to hear this endearing exchange.

We went out for breakfast and shared pancakes, french toast and oatmeal. And I mentioned to Mandy that it was time for me to stop looking at my scars and start taking pictures of me with Savannah again. Life it too short. So she took this one.

Ah we are so blessed in this life. Sometimes we just need to look around us. Blessings are right there!

We Are The Champions!

Once again, the New England Patriots Football team, are the Super Bowl Champions! What a game! So for all of you in Patriots Nation!

TBT: The Snow

In honor of the most recent snow storm in New England, I think they called it “JUNO” I am posting these photos from my past.

Here I am with my sister standing in front of a huge mound of snow at the Stop & Shop Plaza. I think I was just six or seven years old.

This was our German Shepherd, Lorelei (Siren of the Rhine). She was trying really hard to make it through the snow.

Many people think you can move to Cape Cod and somehow it is like retiring to Florida. Not really. Cape Cod can get just as much, if not more snow than New Hampshire. It’s just the summers there, can be Heaven!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. When did someone last suggest you ‘chill out’? Or, when did you last tell someone (or want to tell someone) to ‘chill out’? Or, when did you last tell yourself to ‘chill out’?

Yesterday when I woke up and was all stressed out about the impending blizzard. I told Hubby I needed to shop and stock up, and how would I ever get it all done before the snow flew! They were forecasting 1-2 feet of snow for us! Yes, on Monday afternoon, I was flipping out! Hubby did, what Hubby does best, and just let me go. By dinnertime, I was exhausted and somehow fell asleep pretty quickly.

Today, I sat watching the snow, telling myself that I could now chill out. Not a darn thing I can do now about the snow. We have 8-10 inches and it is still snowing. But my daughter got the jackpot!

Savannah and her kitty

See the snowbanks?

A real New England baby!

2. What most recently caused your heart to melt?

See the above photos of Savannah Rose! She simply melts my heart!

3. “An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.” G.K. Chesterton

Your thoughts? When did you last experience either an adventure or an inconvenience? How did you see it at first, as an adventure or an inconvenience? Does it feel the same in hindsight?

Getting ready for this snow storm. Definitely an adventure! Not an inconvenience at all. Actually, I felt a true sense of purpose and accomplishment!

4. A Wendy’s Frosty, root beer in a frosty mug, or a frosted chocolate cupcake…of these three, which one is your favorite ‘frosty’ treat?

What about a Rootbeer Float? That presented in a frosty mug is darn good!

5. Would you say your life so far this year has been more like a circus or a symphony? Explain why.

A Circus I think. It’s been a wee bit crazy, with both Hubby and I getting the flu, despite the flu shots we both had. Things are looking up, and getting back to normal now.

6. Since it’s a ‘snow day’ here, what’s your favorite song containing the word ‘white’?

7. If you had to leave the city you currently live in, what would you find the hardest to leave behind?

I think the small town atmosphere that we all share. I go out to the Post Office or grocery and I see people I know and have known for years. I will miss that.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Hubby has been working on keeping the driveway cleared and the path for Lili and the dackels. Tonight he is really tired. I think I will just let him dose in his recliner.

The Blizzard of 2015

Yep! The snow is falling! I woke in the night and it still had not started in my part of New Hampshire. However, in southern New Hampshire, where my daughter lives, it is crazy, and they are getting dumped on.

We are all set with food, for both man and beast. So we can sit back, watch movies all day, and enjoy the falling snow.

Mandy and Matt, on the other hand, will need to start to dig out fairly soon. They may even need to do it twice.

Blizzards are wild and crazy things!

The Perfect Key Lime Pie

I have searched high and low for a good classic Key Lime Pie recipe. Most were okay but nothing to write home about. So I started playing. I played and played with recipe’s until I got it right and here it is. For those of you who love this pie as much as I do and yet couldn’t find it outside of Florida you will love it. Of course for those with cholesterol problems, this is not for you. I have made it with both the fat free cream cheese and fat free condensed milk, but the egg yolks will still kill ya. A special note here. Use only Key Lime Juice. It can be found in some grocery stores bottled, and some specialty groceries will actually carry Key Limes. Regular Lime juice will not cut it! Anyway, save it and make it for a special occasion. I promise you will love it.

Key Lime Pie

1 graham cracker pie crust
8 ounce bar of cream cheese
4 egg yolks
3/4 cup Key Lime juice
1 can sweetened condensed milk
pinch cream of tarter

Beat cream cheese until soft and smooth. Add egg yolks. Beat this until it is completely smooth. Slowly add Key Lime juice, blending well, then add the condensed milk and cream of tarter. Blend until this mixture begins to thicken just a bit. Then pour into pie crust. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes, or until pie has completely set. Cool on wire rack. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. Garnish with whipped cream and a thin slice of lime.

Big Snow Storm? Who Knows…

Oh boy!

I woke up this morning and the weatherman is forecasting a huge snow storm for Monday night, Tuesday and into Wednesday! What is huge? 2 feet of snow! Add to that high winds. All this means, it will be one giant mess!

I’m going to encourage Hubby to call our friend, and snowplow driver to cover us on this storm. Hubby is just getting over the flu and certainly doesn’t need a relapse of it.

On Monday I go in for my six month check up with my doctor, and I will stock up on a few things, in the event we get snowed in for a few days. You know, bread, milk, eggs, and yogurt!

We also need to stock up on gasoline in the event we lose power and need to use the generator. I don’t usually go crazy when a bad storm is forecast, as the weather people tend to go overboard with their hype. However, it appears that everyone from the local weather people, to the national weather channels are saying the same thing. So, to be on the safe side, I’m stocking up.

Blue Bloods

It’s been a long week. I started in on Monday with a case of the flu. Yes, I did have the vaccine, but apparently the big-wigs at the CDC made a mistake with the recipe, so people are dropping like flies with this darn flu.

The good news is I am finally better, as is Hubby, and I imagine in a few more days I will be up and running.

Meanwhile, I’ve been watching a lot of TV.

I’ve discovered “Blue Bloods”. It’s a police show set in New York City, with Tom Selleck Donny Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, and Len Cario. They are the Reagan family. They work as police, and district attorneys and Police Commissioners. The stories are well written and the acting is great! I didn’t expect to like it, even though Hubby has been watching it for the last few years.

Since they have well over 100 episodes in the can, they are now being rerun on the cable channels. Thus the marathons I have been watching the last few days.

Check it out. If you like crime stories, with great acting, and not much gore, this is the show for you. They also focus on the closeness of the Reagan family and that really is a beautiful thing.

Baked Indian Pudding

Durgin Park is a well know restaurant in Boston. It’s been there forever, and the food is good old New England fare. Whenever we go, I always get their Indian Pudding. Here is the story behind it, and their recipe.

Durgin Park’s Indian pudding is the best there is. Dark brown with substantial gravity, it smells like roasted corn and tastes like the first
Thanksgiving. The long cooking time is necessary to soften the corn and for the flavors to meld. Although some restaurants add raisins or other
flavorings, the only traditional way to doll it up is with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting fast atop each hot serving. Tommy Ryan loves telling the
story about the time he was eating in New Hampshire-just a regular customer, unknown to the staff. He asked the waitress if they had any Indian pudding for dessert. “Well, we do,” she said reluctantly, but then she bent close and clued him into a secret: “Sir, if you want really good Indian pudding, I suggest you go to Durgin-Park.”

Just to keep the record straight: this is not a Native American dish adapted by the colonist cooks. Its name comes from the fact that early
settlers considered virtually anything made with corn to be Indian nature.

1 1/2 plus 1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup black molasses
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. In a bowl mix 1 1/2 cups of the milk with the molasses, sugar, butter, salt, baking powder, egg and cornmeal. Pour the mixture into a stone crock that has been well greased and bake until it boils. Heat and stir in the remaining 1 1/2 cups milk. Lower the oven temperature to 300 degrees F and bake for 5 to 7 hours. Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Makes 4 to 6 servings