Dackel Princess

A New Chapter

Finally today, I got Lili in her crate by leaving the door open and allowing her to go back and forth at will. At one point, she just went in, got comfortable and took a nap!

Lili is a real spitfire! She is a handful! At times I have found myself with the exhaustion of a new baby parent.

Thankfully, Lili is very smart. I’ve worked with her every single day and she is really coming around. I remind myself that a great dog just doesn’t happen, it takes a lot of work.

I have her Obedience Classes all lined up. She starts on June 16th. I will keep going with her until I feel comfortable that she knows what I want her to do.

I think with Fritz it was about about six months. He did very well, and it made the rest of our life together so very much happier.

So although I am tired, life is good and Lili is doing well. The dackels are adjusting. Life is finding a pace once again. We miss our boy, but honestly, Lili keeps us all on our toes!

My husband is a Vietnam Veteran. You know, the unpopular war. Wait, most wars are unpopular, but the Vietnam War found many young Americans treating the returning military abominably. So it was with Hubby.

He served his Country proudly. he made many sacrifices. He was out of the country for over a year. His plane was shot at. He had friends that died. It was a tough time, but he did it because he believes in our Country. As did the men and women, so many of them that did not come home.

I was not married to him then. I was just a wee bairn. I am grateful I did not know him then. I am not sure I could have taken him being there at that time. During the Vietnam War, there was no Skype, just Ham Radio Operators who occasionally put a call through Stateside.

He did come home, to a country of hostile people. But thank you to God, for bringing him back.

Now he is having health problems directly related to his service in Vietnam. The VA is evaluating him and I hope they can help with his healthcare.

My point today is to always appreciate the military that serve our country. They are your fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, mothers, sisters, daughters and aunts.

May this Memorial Day be a day of reflection, when one considers the sacrifices made by these men and women in service to our country.

To those who came home, and to those who did not.

God bless them all.

A Wet Spring

Despite the gray, rainy, day, Lili was able to get outside quite a bit for walks and exercise, and we only had one small accident. Granted, it is me that is trained, as I look for signals that she needs to go outside, and she is getting better at doing this each day.

Today was also the first day I gave her a rawhide braid (made in the USA). As it turned out I gave each dog a braid, and there was a lot of chewing and playing around.

I was pretty busy, yet I feel like I am not getting too much done. Probably because most of my work is running in and outside with Lili.

Of course, eventually she ran out of energy, and so did I. I guess I’m not the youngstrer I once was!

New England Pot Roast

New England Pot Roast

Six generous servings:

1 bone – in piece of chuck roast, (or a brisket) 4- 5 pounds, trimmed of excess fat

Sea salt or kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Vegetable oil, such as canola

4-5 cloves garlic, sliced

1 large carrot, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 celery stalk, chopped

2 teaspoons dried thyme or 6 sprigs fresh

2 bay leaves

3 tablespoons flour

3 ½ cups water or half chicken stock, half water. Do not use beef stock.

2 tablespoons tomato paste (I now use imported Italian paste in tubes which have a long shelf life and are of excellent quality)

8 – 10 small pearl onions

5 carrots in 1 -2 inch pieces

1 pound red potatoes or larger white potatoes in chunks or the fingerling potatoes

1 pound large mushrooms, quartered

Over high heat, pour sufficient oil to cover the bottom of a large Dutch oven or other large heavy pot (we use a large French enameled iron pot), generously salt and pepper both sides of the roast and sear meat until well browned on both sides. Remove meat and pour off oil. Return pot to medium heat and add chopped carrot, celery, onion and the garlic. Cook stirring, adding a small amount of oil if necessary, until softened but not browned. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir for 2-3 minutes. Return meat, adding water, tomato paste and herbs.

Bring to a simmer on top of the stove, cover (use aluminum foil under cover if it does not fit tightly). Place into preheated 325 degree oven and cook for 2 hours. Check at 1 hour and turn meat if it is not covered by liquid; add additional water if liquid is too thick – it should be the consistency of thin gravy.

At 2 – 2 ¼ hours, add remaining vegetables; the time varies according to size. Cook for a total of 3 hours. If the vegetables are not quite cooked, cover and let sit – cooking will continue using retained heat. Check for seasoning, adding salt or pepper to taste.

Skim excess fat from the liquid, cut meat into serving size pieces, arrange on a heated platter and surround with vegetables. Moisten with some of the liquid, pass the remainder at the table and enjoy a true New England tradition.

Throw Back Thursday

Here is a little collage for Throw Back Thursday. On the left is Fritz at 9 weeks old. On the right is Lili at 9 weeks. It is amazing to see their familial resemblance.

Fritz had a slightly boyish looking face, while Lili is very sweet and feminine.

Right now, we feel pretty good about how Lili is settling in. She is sleeping better and playing with the other dogs now too. And she is growing and changing before our very eyes. Today when I weighed her she was 14 pounds!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Under what circumstances do you do your best thinking?

Complete silence and stillness. No distractions, no one bothering me. Just me, in an empty room with a pen and paper.

2. Are you a risk taker? What’s one big risk you’ve taken?

No, I wouldn’t say I am a big risk taker. I think probably because I have already lost so much in my life, I tend to play things very carefully. Perhaps sometimes too carefully.

3. Some of the most common phobias according to the National Institute for Mental Health are-fear of spiders (arachnaphobia), snakes (ophidiophobia), heights (acrophobia), fear of spaces from which escape is difficult (agoraphobia), fear of thunder and lightening (astrophobia), fear of dogs (cynophobia), injections (trypanophobia), social situations, flying (pteromerhanophobia) and fear of germs and dirt (mysophobia). True phobias affect only about 10% of adults, but of those listed which would you rate as your greatest fear?

Really dislike snakes and heights. I remember going up to the top of the Empire State Building and nearly getting sick. No, heights are not on my list of fun things.

4. Are you settled or do you feel the need to move somewhere new?

Eeventually I would like to move closer to my daughter and granddauughter. But where we are right now, is beautiful and I do love it.

5. What is something you find annoying when dining in a restaurant?

Loud talkers and loud laughers. On our last vacation at the table next to ours was a large group. Every night they laughed loudly (drunkenly) and talked like they were giving speeches in a large convention hall. We asked our waiter for help, but he was in an awkward position, as this was his table too.

6. Daffodil yellow, sunset orange, spring green, or sky blue…your favorite color this time of year?

Deep sky blue!

7. If you were going to take a holiday all by yourself, where would you go?

Hmmmm. Good question. I’d love to go to Paris and just go to museums each day. But then, I love the Carribean, and would love to go there and feel the warmth. Or Alaska and enjoy the majesty. Too many wonderful places in the world!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Lili Marlene continues to assimilate into our home. The dackels have all been canine good citizens, and although they have not “welcomed” her, they have put up with her clumsey puppy ways. I remind them that one day she will be the big protector dog!

(Yes, new Mommy is tired, but very, very, happy!)

Just a Quickie!

Well, we can call her Lili the Leaper!

I had a 2 foot puppy gate up to keep her from going down the hall, and she leapt the gate! So I put up a full size 3 1/2 foot x-pen as a gate across the opening. She is so disappointed as she cannot jump this one! She has even stopped going over there trying to sneak across the border!

Also in the last 48 hours, she has had just one accident! She also is going to the back door and whining when she needs to potty. Progress!

Here is another thing, I’ve worked on Lili’s recall to me, as well as the “no bite” and she is such a smartie pants. At first she tried to show me who was boss, but by the end of the day she was getting the hang if it all.

Lili, my love, you are growing up!

Which Side Of The Crate Door?

Saturday night Hubby was up later than me, so he was assigned the last walk and the putting of Lili into her crate. Then he came to bed.

This morning I woke, and there was no noise from the mud room where the crate is stored. I dressed quickly (I do that a lot these days) and went out into the kitchen. There, greeting me with a wagging tail and a big doggy smile, was Lili!

I looked at her crate, and the door was firmly shut. Nothing was amiss. I took her outside and she performed well. But I came in, still wondering about Lili, the magical puppy!

Hubby got up and I asked him about it and he was shocked! He swore he got her in the crate and closed the door with her inside! Well, seems Lili is a magic dog who transported herself out of that crate!

The Good Things In Life

I was thinking today as I walked Lili for the one millionth time that there are times, events, beauty that are indescribable.

For instance, this morning the rain was comming down in torrents, and blowing sideways as well. And there I stood with the little puppy, Lili, she stood in the puddles on the lawn and eventually she performed. But she did not enjoy it. Her face’s look! No way to describe it.

The next snapshot in time today was when the sun came out, the skies cleared to bright, robins egg blue, and Lili and I went out to get the mail and I carried her around to meet my closest friends. Who, of course, were taken by her amazing beauty!

Then I watched her sleep at my feet. All small, fluffy white, and sweet! My breath caught in my throat and I cried.

We watched the Preakness Horse race and saw our horse, California Chrome win! I took there, in front of the TV jumping up and down and yes, I cried again. Yeah, I’m a crier!

Then after dinner I glanced out the front window and there was the most lovely sunset. But you know, no matter how good of a camera I had, I could not catch the sheer beauty that I beheld.

My day will end soon (Saturday) and tomorrow will dawn a new day. I wonder what tomorrow will bring!

“My Brilliant Career”

Friday night saw Hubby and I watching “My Brilliant Career” on Turner Classic Movies. The story was about the heroine, Sybylla (Judy Davis), a headstrong girl growing up in early 20th century Australia, has the opportunity of marriage to a wealthy young man (Harry played by Sam Niel) whom she loves, but rejects it in order to maintain her independence, preferring to take a job as governess/housekeeper to the family of an illiterate neighbor to whom her father owes money.

The acting was amazing, although we both felt that the end of the movie left us with more questions than answers. Still I find it so interesting to watch movies based in other countries, and written about life in them.