Dackel Princess

Turning 56

Yesterday was my birthday. And it was one of the best yet. If I had known that being 56 wasn’t so bad, then back when I turned 50, I wouldn’t have stressed so much over it.

It was a quiet day. Hubby and I talked about our cruise, and we worked on packing lists. Today I need to actually take all our heavy winter blankets and go out to the laundromat with them. I have four blankets and I want to get it done.

Then if I have some gumption left after all that, I want to come back and work on some more packing. Wednesday is baking day, Thursday is cleaning surfaces, and more packing and Friday, is when we pack the car up with our two cases. Saturday, I change the sheets, getting the bed ready for the house sitters and then we’re out of here.

Birthdays can be really good, even when they are quiet. This year, mine was the best! Thanks everyone, who contacted me and wished me well. It made me feel extraordinarily loved!

Just As I Am

As I sit here contemplating my 56th birthday, I started to think about all the things I have to be thankful for in my life.

Looking back, I have been lucky enough to know real and true love. Be it with my friends, or family, I feel blessed to know the kind of love where I can be myself and be loved just as I am.

To know the beauty of giving birth to my daughters and see them emerge from my body, all healthy and screaming, makes me count my blessings. It was surely the happiest days of my life, when my girls were born.

Amanda Mae

Mandy, Katie & Me.

I again felt that total awe, when Mandy gave birth to

Savannah Rose.

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And I held her in my arms for the first time.

Watching Savannah grow and become her own little person fills me with wonder! She is such a blessing to her mother, father and to all who love her.

I have been fortunate enough to meet and love deeply a good man, who loves me completely. Having realized long ago, I am no walk in the park to live with, I am grateful to be married to a man, whom I don’t totally freak out!

My daughter, Mandy is a real gem.

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Not only is she a wonderful daughter, but Mandy is seriously, the best mother I have ever known. I am so proud of the way she is raising Savannah.

My sister, Melodie has been a constant in my life. She has been more of a mother to me than a sister, and I am blessed. I cannot imagine life without her.

Likewise, my cousin, Janet has been more of a sister than a cousin. Since she is close to my age, and I cannot remember a day in my life without her love, I feel so very lucky!

I am also thankful to have several girl friends, who are like sisters. They share my happiness and my sorrows, but Uschi, Gail, Carol, and Candy are always there for me.

I have been lucky enough to breed the dachshunds I love and to hold a newborn pup in my hands.

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I have also raised Arnie and Anneliese from their first breaths and our connection is unlike any other that I have had with a dog.

No, life has not always been kind, but I am fortunate enough to have all these blessings, so that no matter what life throws my way, I seem to get through it all.

The Song is right, Love is All You Need!

Escape Completely…That’s What The Commercial Says!

A week from today we leave on a much needed vacation. Things with Lili have calmed down, the cold weather is creeping in, and my old bones ache!

I am relieved that Lili is doing better. It will make things so much easier for our house sitters. I am so glad I found people who will actually move in and care for the animals for us. This way Lili and the dackels don’t have to be alone.

I have acquired a sinus infection, and I am taking Cipro and decongestants and nasal spray that my doctor gave me. I simply must be 100% by next week.

Funny thing is, I have no fever right now, after three doses of the antibiotics and I am actually starting to feel better. Fingers crossed!

The packing has actually begun. I have a laundry basket that I have been tossing things into and soon I will drag out our cases and start to organize them. This time I will not over pack!

I will be putting up links next week so you can follow the ship we will be on. They have a bridge camera, so you can see what the weather is like for our trip!

We will be on The Royal Princess!

Throw Back Thursday…The Berlin Wall

When the Berlin Wall came down, we went back to share in the happiness of the German people. We had been over the summer before while Hubby had a temporary assignment with Pan Am, flying charters. I grew to love West Berlin, and hoped that one day it would be reunited with the East.

When it was, we went back and I had Hubby help me so I could stand on top of the Wall at the Brandenburg Gate. (I’m in the black pants and tan jacket.)

Here I am, with the Brandenburg Gate in the background, 1989.

(I was standing on top of the Wall!)

Many years later I befriended Uschi. A Berlin resident. At this point, the Wall was gone, and the area was made into a pedestrian walking mall. So much life altering history, in such a short period of time!

Veterans Day

On Tuesday I took Hubby out to lunch at a restaurant that gave Veterans a free meal. There is nothing Hubby likes more than a free meal! So off we went bright and early, so we could get a table.

In past years we have arrived at these chain restaurants, only to discover mile long lines. We got there early enough so that we were seated promptly, and in the area where we had a waiter that I knew.

We sat down about 11:20, and looked over the menu, and ordered. They brought chips and salsa, and our drink, and then we waited. Unfortunately I am addicted to chips and I ate far to many as we waited.

Because chips are dry, we order another round of drinks. Then we waited some more. Finally I asked Garret, what was happening? Did he forget to put our order in? No, apparently two of the cooks called in today sick. Whatever the excuse, the two cooks in the kitchen were overwhelmed and it took over an hour before our meals arrived.

Both of us were thrilled. The food was great, and it was wonderful just spending the time talking to each other. One group waited 45 minutes and then left. Sadly, their food was just about ready to be served.

We finished up, having eaten too much, and then headed out to do a few errands. When we got home, I just wanted to take a nap. Instead I downed an alka selzter and prayed for my tummy to settle down!

In any case, I hope all the men and women who served in the military had a great day on Tuesday!

Veteran’s Day

God Bless the men and women of our country. They serve us well, and hold our freedom in their hands and their hearts.

Thank you!

Veteran’s Day from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Pictures taken at The New Hampshire Veteran’s Cemetery.

Kathleen Alynne November 8, 1978-June 19, 1985

In Memory of Katie from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

“Do not judge the bereaved mother. She comes in many forms. She is breathing, but she is dying. She may look young, but inside she has become ancient. She smiles, but her heart sobs. She walks, she talks, she cooks, she cleans, she works, she IS, but she IS NOT, all at once. She is here, but part of her is elsewhere for eternity.”

Yes, Another Computer!

I woke up on Sunday and my computer had died. I think it must have been sometime in the night. All I know is that when I got up and tried to turn her on…nothing happened. I called my computer guru and he came at the start of the week.and pronounced her really and truly gone. He did, however, download all my programs onto an external hard drive and on Wednesday, Hubby and I went shopping for a new laptop.

I’d seen cheap prices at Best Buy, but I warn you, they are high pressure salesmen, and they do not really care what they are selling you.

At one point I was getting light headed from hunger so we left to have lunch and I read all the sheets about their computers. I was not happy, since most of them did not have a CD/DVD drive.

So, we drove over to Sam’s and I found two I liked. I called my Guru, who at this point is on speed dial, and he helped me decide what machine to buy. An adorable ASUS Sonic Master.

Taking it out of the box and plugging it in and then turning it on, well I could feel my hands shake! But when I got to the start page I realized I was about to step into another frontier! Windows 8!

It’s been a challenge, but today Brad came and installed framework that gives me back my XP type frame work. Now I love the machine and I am having a great time. Once again, computer working is fun!

So that is where I have been these last few days. Here, but computer-less. Now I am up and running and happy to be back!

This & That

Saturday found the cold moving in, along with nuisance rain. The trouble with all of that is, no animals and no person really wants to be outside for long.

The dogs would race me out, do their business, and then race me back in! Those little devils really kept me on my toes!

Since it was so crappy and Hubby was trying to get the last of our apples picked before the first hard frost, I made him a big pot of his favorite Cabbage Soup. Poor guy was simply chilled to the bone!

Around 3 o’clock this afternoon I was struck with a migraine. I do not have them often, but when I do, it’s best to take some Motrin and go to bed in a dark room. Which is exactly what I did. I think I slept about an hour and I woke feeling quite a bit better.

Tonight I will start working on my 2015 calendar. Each year I put together a calendar through Walgreens, with all my favorite pictures from the past year. This is going to be a fun one because of my girls!

I hope you all remembered to turn your clocks back last night. Time to fall back!

November Arrives

Can you believe it is November 1st? Where did the month of October go? Or for that matter, the year 2014!

I have started to put items in shoe boxes as I prepare for our trip. Since I have lost a little weight the shorts I wore last winter on our trip, no longer fit me. Too big. And it is November, after all, so there are not many stores carrying shorts.

But, I did find an online catalog selling them in an array of colors for $6.99 each! So I ordered Navy Blue, White & Black. At this point, I am all set for the trip!

We’re going to see “St. Vincent” with Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy today. I’ll let you all know what I think tomorrow.

Have a wonderful and blessed All Saints’ Day!