Dackel Princess

Spring & Summer

Wednesday I decided to set some goals for this spring and summer. I started today by cleaning our patio furniture. We have those plastic chairs on the patio and after many years the pretty white chairs and table were a grungy gray color with some greening junk growing on it. Personally I was ready to bring them in for recycling, but at the last moment I looked up on Google how to clean these.

I changed into junkie work clothes, got two bottles of Clorox Foaming Shower Cleaner, and an SOS pad and rubber gloves and my rain galoshes. I sprayed, wiped and scrubbed and in just over an hour our patio set looked pristine! I was astounded!

This weekend I need to drive down to Lowe’s and buy my planting soil. This weekend I will be planting the seeds for my garden.

I used to plant a million seeds and then I ended up with too many seedlings for the garden. I went around the neighborhood giving them away. So now I start the seeds I need and that’s it.

It makes things easier for me in the end. This year I am planning to plant more peas and tomatoes. But less summer squash and zucchini. I’m also going to try planting beets and brussel sprouts. A slightly smaller garden would be good.

This year my main goal is to make jams and jellies from the fruit. Especially the peach jam and grape jelly. Those are everyone’s favorites. My supply of the jams and jellies are down.

I also want to get our basement cleaned out. There is just far too much junk down there! Recycling Center, here we come.

Hubby and I have an overnight trip coming up in May. Our house/pet sitter is all lined up and it will be a nice break for us.

What are your plans for the spring and summer?

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. April 22nd is Earth Day. Are you inspired by nature? In what way?

I am. After a long, cold, and snowy winter, to see the grass greening, and the trees budding, it’s really a renewal. Mother Nature’s way of reminding us all of the goodness of nature.

2. Down to earth, four corners of the earth, move heaven and earth, not have an earthly chance, or salt of the earth…which earthly idiom have you most recently encountered? Explain.

Well, I would move Heaven and Earth for Savannah and a chance to spend time with her. But I think salt of the earth is what I have heard most in my life. I grew up on Cape Cod and this was an often used saying.

3. Share one piece of advice you might give a newly engaged couple.

Remember. Marry your best friend. The first flush of passion, will become mellow with age. Unless you are truly the best of friends, the married won’t last too long. So work now to develop a true friendship with your fiancee.

4. When did you last engage someone to perform a job, task, service, home repair, or improvement? On a scale of 1-10 (ten being the best) how would you rate their work and/or your satisfaction with the job or service provided?

We had to repair our oil burner. A small repair actually, but the serviceman didn’t know about our furnace and it took him three visits to get it right. Fortunately I complained about the bill and they lowered it. Was I satisfied? Eventually.

5. When did you last find yourself engaged in small talk? Are you awkward or an expert or somewhere in between?

I go out every few weeks with my girlfriend for lunch. That is sort of the extent of my small talk. Although, Savannah sent me a movie message on my phone and it was so adorable, I sent her one back!

6. What was the last historic place you visited?

Honestly, it’s been so long, I can’t remember.

7. The world would be a better place if we just could love one another and be tolerant of each other’s ways and beliefs.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Well, I’m having a tough time with Weight Watchers. I try so hard and then don’t do too well. Last week was okay, but then this week I’ve really struggled. I hope this summer I can get out and perhaps do some walking. One thing is for sure, I need to get a handle on my eating and exercising.

Simply Crazy

Monday was a crazy day. I literally cooked all day. I made a turkey pot pie, turkey soup and for Hubby’s lunch a hot turkey sandwich.

My hand is feeling so much better, so I took a chance and just took care of all the leftover turkey stuff. It came out well. Unfortunately, the pork, potato pancakes and beets that I made for dinner were a disaster. It seems lately, when I try to make a leftover meal like this, disaster strikes. Tonight was no exception. Dinner was terrible! I’ve decided to work a bit more on planning dinner menus.

Have any of you watched “Dancing With The Stars”? I’ve never watched it, but this year I wanted to watch because of Meryl Davis and Charlie White. I find that I really enjoy it.

Tonight I plan on an early bedtime. I’ve been a bit tired lately and think a few extra Zzzzzzz’s may be useful!

Savannah

Easter went well. The turkey was moist and yummy, but I sort of failed at the mashed potatoes. I’m not sure why, I made them the usual way, but they were runny more than creamy.

I always love to get together with my cousin, Janet and her husband Dave. In fact I have adopted Dave too, and he is now a first class, full fledged, cousin!

Dave helped Hubby put in the air conditioners, just in the nick of time! Our temperatures are rising during the days and the house holds the heat at night. Thus I have my air conditioner in our bedroom on right now to cool the room down!

This week I will continue on with my therapy, but I am happy to report that my hand is doing much better. I’m doing so well, in fact, I think I will soon be out of my splints.

I also would like to get out with my friend, Laurie. It’s time for me to start Savannah shopping! She will be 2 at the end of May.

At Birth.

A year ago.

Below, was taken a week ago.

The last two years have gone by so fast! I sure love being an Oma!

Happy Easter

Today began the first part of my spring cleaning. I dragged out my heavy winter blankets and piled them into the car and brought them to the laundromat for a good washing. $14.00 later, The blankets were washed and I put them in baskets and dragged them home, and I’ve been drying them in our machine er since.

Hubby helped me with prep work for Easter dinner. He peeled all the potatoes, and pearl onions. He also worked in the yard (with Arnie’s help) pruning fruit trees.

Hubby and Arnie have become good buddies. Arnie really fusses to go out with Hubby and he waits each afternoon for their walk. It’s pretty cute.

We’re doing turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, butternut squash and peas for dinner. I even got some dinner rolls as a little surprise. I know I shouldn’t but I love rolls at a fancy dinner.

We got a good deal on strawberries, so we’ll be having strawberry shortcake for dessert!

I am ready for Easter. In so many ways, for me, it means the start of spring, and after such a long cold winter, I am ready for spring.

Happy Easter, Everyone!

Good Day/Nice Day

Friday was fairly quiet. I spent the afternoon chopping vegetables for a homemade soup for Hubby and for the turkey stuffing I am making to go into my turkey bird in Sunday. It is all done, and that makes my preparation for Easter pretty much done.

Although it was cold today, the sun shone brightly and the skies were mostly blue. Hubby took the dogs out in the yard and played ball. Then he was off for a walk with Arnie.

I’m working hard on a project and tomorrow I need to burn a CD and then continue to work on that project. More to come…

Fobs

Well, the day started out quite happily. We got up, had a nice breakfast and then went to our bank to get our check and then head south to get our car.

We were excited the entire trip, talking happily about the “new” car. Really, the car is beautiful, and looks brand spanking new.

We arrived early at the dealership, and they ushered us into the accountants office. Memo to myself: Don’t allow anyone to ever do this to me again.

The agent attempted to get us to purchase more of a Warranty Package for the car. He kept stressing how expensive the keys and key fobs are if we should lose one.

After listening politely, we declined and then signed the ownership papers. We were escorted out, I was given a full set of keys and Hubby was handed a small manilla envelope with his key.

I prepared his vehicle with our EZ Pass and a radar detector, and then Hubby got behind the wheel of the new car, and off we drove. I was following him, and our plan was to meet at a little Dairy Bar for lunch.

When we pulled in, Hubby noted that he did not have anyway to lock the car. He had no key fob! I checked his pockets, I looked in the car. Then I called the Dealership. Our salesman was not in, but I spoke to the accountant, the closer, and a secretary. All blamed Hubby.

“Are you sure it’s not in Hubby’s pockets?”, “Did it fall on the floor?”

Lunch was not as nice as it could have been. Hubby was upset and frankly, so was I. Who sells a car without two sets of keys and door lock fobs?

Finally we got home, and Hubby called the dealership. He put the call on speaker phone and finally we reached our salesman. When I heard him say, “Well it is a used car and it didn’t come in with a second fob!” I wanted to jump through the phone and throttle him!

Do not lie to me. Do not lie to me! He knew this before we even left the lot, and yet he did not tell us. Worst of all, they first tried to blame Hubby for the loss. Now, a new fob with be just over $100.00 to buy the fob and have it programmed. The fob itself only costs about $20.00, and this dealership felt they could lie to us and not provide 2 complete sets of keys. What kind of business are they running there?

Hubby and I talked about it over dinner. Why on earth would a major dealer in southern New Hampshire be so petty as to cheat a customer out of a remote locking fob on a car? The price we paid was good, but still pricey. After all it was a 2012 car, with a little over 8000 miles!

We have decided to go to our local Toyota Dealership for any maintenance, and they will set us up with a fob.

But I must admit, I was fooled by these people and it makes me mad. Mad at me and mad at them! Buyer beware!

A New(er) Car

On Wednesday Hubby and I drove about an hour from our home and looked at a car. We’ve been talking about getting another vehicle since our 20 year old Jeep has literally rusted away, and is headed to the Junk yard at the end of this month.

The Jeep was our only four wheel drive vehicle, so we decided to watch out for a newer four wheel drive vehicle.

Now many people dislike ads on Facebook, but I saw a Toyota ad and followed it. We had done a lot of research and decided to look for an older Toyota Highlander. However I found an ad for a 2012 Highlander, with just over 8000 miles on it!

Skeptically, we drove down and looked it over. It’s got to be one of the cleanest used cars I have ever seen! And the car itself offers us all that we need for winters in New Hampshire!

She’s a pretty car, and drives very well. Her engine is quiet and the seats are comfortable, both in the front and in the back.

We haggled the price and did get it down some, and we both feel good about that. So today, we pick up the check at our bank and go and pick up the car. Then I told Hubby we simply cannot eat for the rest of the year.

Moles

Tuesday it just rained and rained. All I could think of was how happy I was that this wasn’t snow! There are very few mounds of snow left in our town. Most of them are gone, and I thought I saw some green returning to my lawn. At least, where the moles have not ruined it!

You should see our front lawn! It appears that the moles had a field day under the snow this winter, as the burrowed through the ground!

Oh I detest moles. They are gross and ugly and there really isn’t much to recommend them.

(picture courtesy of Wikipedia)

The only thing I ever saw that made me appreciate them actually happened about 8 years ago. My first dackel, Shubi had been very ill. I was treating her with chemotherapy and I questioned if I was making a good decision, as she didn’t seem to be enjoying life.

One day, I let Shubi out in the back yard and she was sniffing around. The next thing I knew she was tossing a mole up in the air and catching it in her teeth. There was a spring in her step and happiness in her face. Yep, that awful mole was making her happy.

Aside from that, I really do not like them a bit. They really are terrible destructive pests, and ugly too!

Spring Comes To New Hampshire

Here I am, 8:15 PM on Monday night and it is still 70 degrees (f). Spring definitely has sprung! In fact, Hubby was out today putting his first spray on the fruit trees to protect them against fungus’.

Many of you may not realize this, but Hubby went to school and took extensive tests to get his pesticide permit license. He sprays up until so many weeks before harvesting, which gives him the right to say that the fruit is organic. He also does not use the really strong sprays that the commercial growers use.

Our fruit is wonderful. My favorite are the peaches, with which I make Heavenly Jam!

And Concord Grapes, that I make out of Grape Jelly!

So now, Spring is in the air and soon the trees will blossom. This is probably my favorite time of year!!!