Dackel Princess

Groceries

I went out on Monday and was actually able to get a great shopping done. I needed to stock up on so much, and I had a ton of coupons. I actually saved just under $20.00 with them!

We also stopped for lunch at our little Chinese Buffet, and as I was getting some food I looked up and there was my doctor. I am actually due to go see him this week. We chatted a moment and then I wished him a good day.

A friend of mine many years ago, was a doctor, and he could hardly go out to get groceries without the little old ladies bugging him. So I have always backed off when seeing my doctors in restaurants.

Meanwhile, in the grocery store I met a man stocking the cheese shelves. He was having a tough day and I smiled and said, “Oh I so understand. I did this job for quite a while myself”. The man smiled and asked me where I had worked?

“Alexander’s Supermarket in Merrimack, New Hampshire.”

“Oh, said the man, I remember that place. My Mom took me there all the time when I was a kid before it closed”.

Yes, I now feel very old. This man looked about my age, but was obviously not.

We came home and put all those groceries away. Wow, were there so many! It felt good though. I have the house full of good foods, and as of Wednesday, it is back to Weight Watchers for me.

A Great Movie

I watched The Bridges of Madison County today, and I’ve decided that this is my favorite love story movie. If you haven’t seen it recently, watch it again. If you have never seen it, plan an evening, sit down and watch it. Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood are at their best. This movie tells the story of what real love and sacrifice is all about.

Here is a short clip.

Hot Pastrami Reuben Sandwiches

Photo courtesy of my cousin Janet!

I decided today to make my world famous Reuben Sandwiches when Janet and Dave came for lunch. I seem to have gotten the knack down for making this scrumptious sandwich. So I am going to share how to make the perfect Hot Pastrami Reuben! Makes 4 Sandwiches.

Rye bread with or without seeds. Personally I like the seeds as I think they give the sandwich more flavor.
1 pound black Pastrami sliced very thin.
1/2 a pound of Swiss Cheese. I get the Finlandia Lite Swiss.
Spicy German mustard.
Soft butter.
Thousand Island salad dressing.
German Sauer Kraut.

Take 8 slices of the rye bread. Pair them up two slices together and set in toaster oven one slice on top of the other. Toast these lightly.

Meanwhile, squeeze all the moisture out of the Sauer Kraut. Place in the microwave and heat. Take three ounces of pastrami per person and place in a large bowl all together. Cover with a paper towl and slightly heat in microwave.

Follow for each sandwich:

Now that the toast is out of the toaster oven, divide the bread. The insides of the mated sliced should be un-toasted. Spread with soft butter on these soft sides.
Place one slice, butter side down onto a medium heated griddle.
Spoon on some of the thousand island salad dressing.
Place two sliced of the Swiss cheese on top of this.
Then three ounces of Pastrami.
Then place some of the Sauer Kraut.
Place two slices of Swiss cheese on top of this.
Spread the last slice of the rye bread, toasted side with spicy mustard.
Place that on top with buttered side facing up.

Now cook until first side is nicely browned. Cook the second side until it is brown and it is ready! If you have a nice stove top griddle you can do all four at once.

Serve with French Fries, and more mustard for spreading or dipping the sandwich into. It is so easy to make and your guests will love it!

Out & About

Friday I was finally able to go out. I have been house bound since January 18th and finally today, I went out. I got some groceries, I picked up the mail, and I saw this little town I live in getting ready for the Ice Fishing Derby.

It is very cold, but I bundled up, wore my old winter hat and gloves and off I went. Hubby came with me, mostly because he is still worried about me and feeling over protective. I was glad he was there. By the time we were done, I was feeling tired, and on the way home I did not have to think about snow covered roads.

I wanted to go to the grocery store because my cousins, Janet and Dave are coming tomorrow for lunch. I have learned how to make the perfect Pastrami Reuben Sandwich. So, tomorrow I plan to wait until they are here, and then show Janet how I do it all. Maybe I will have her take pictures for me.

Well, now that they have interviewed the President for a half an hour, hopefully they will get on and show us the Opening Ceremonies from the Olympics!

My Friday Five

The week seemed longer this week. Perhaps because I’ve finally been feeling better, after getting sick, literally the moment we got back from our trip! Another 103 degree temperature, sore throat and dreadful cough. I’ve been on two rounds of antibiotics and an antiviral. Then they started a new antibiotic and that seems to be doing the trick.
The doctors have been confused and concerned. Something you never really want your doctors to be. It’s a scary thing when you are so sick and no one can pin point why. Yeah, call me scared to death.
Finally, after going through my records we recalled that I had Lyme Disease. Silly me thought it was something you had and took antibiotics for and then you were well, never to be bothered again.
It turns out that it’s with you forever and can evolve into an autoimmune disease. And I’m thinking that is what has become of me.
I’ll be going in soon to see what the future will hold for me, so I can avoid four months of illness. At least I had twelve wonderful vacation days.

Thursday Thirteen

We got close to 10 inches of snow today. Hubby went out twice to snow blow the drive and keep it open, but he could actually go out again, as it’s snowed enough to be done one more time. But it is late and he is tired.
I made Hubby’s favorite meatloaf and mashed potatoes with gravy and wax beans. He is in Heaven, and I think, “oh well it’s just another meal!”
He is going skiing on Thursday, so once again, I will be Queen of the remote control!
In bed last night I kept hearing a strange computer type noise. So, I got up and Hubby had set his mouse down on the keyboard and would blink on and off, thus the weird noise.
Funny the things that wake you!
I did 5 loads of laundry. We are either the dirtiest people I know or the cleanest!
Savannah was sick last week with pneumonia.
Thankfully she is doing better now.
Love watching the HGTV house remodel shows.
You know, Property Brothers, Love it or List it.
I also watched “The Silver Linings Playbook” the other day. Excellent movie!
My plan for Thursday is to finish the laundry.
And figure out, what’s for dinner!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Are we always responsible for our actions? Are there any exceptions?

Yes, but there are exceptions. For instance, when something unexpected happens to you and how you react. We cannot always be held responsible for that. After all, something that happens in a split second (like a car accident) doesn’t give any warning or time to consider how to react.

2. Has anyone from your home town become famous?

Robert Ballard. He works at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. They have made many fascinating discoveries such as the Titanic. Also Katharine Lee Bates who wrote the lyrics for America the Beautiful.

3. January was National Slow Cooker month. Do you own a slow cooker/crock pot? Did you use it last month? What’s a favorite dish you make using a slow cooker or crock pot?

I do own one and I do use it often, but not last month. My favorite dish to make in the crock pot is a Yankee Pot Roast.

4. How do you feel about private companies collecting data about you?

I do not like it. In fact I don’t like anyone collecting data about me.

5. The Games of the 2014 Winter Olympics kick off with their opening ceremony this coming Friday….will you be watching? Which Winter Olympic event would you most like to see in person? Have you ever been to Russia? Any desire to go, Olympics or otherwise?

I’ll be watching. I love the Olympics. I would love to see the skating in person, or the ski jumping. I have been to Russia. And really, I have no desire to go back.

6. Share a good or bad sports related memory from your childhood or teen years.

In High School I took gymnastics. I loved it, despite my height 5 feet 8 inches. I got into such great shape. It was fantastic.

7. What’s a must have song for you on a work out play list? If you don’t work out, run, swim, bike, walk, or anything else that could be construed as ‘exercise’, then what’s a song that motivates you to at least get up off the couch?

Waterloo by ABBA. I love that song. It always gets me up and going.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I Want To…

I want to…

Go and spend the day with Savannah and Amanda and just talk and play with Sav and have time with them. It’s been too long.
Go see my sister and spend a few days so we can talk and do sister things. I haven’t seen her since Mom’s services.
Get back to Weight Watcher Class and get the strength of the program and see my friends.
Feel better and stronger and get rid of this insidious cough!
Get the dackels stripped and trimmed up.
Work on a sewing project and repair my favorite blanket. I have this cotton comforter I bought in Germany 25 years ago and it is starting to become tattered. Time for me to sew it up and perhaps put a binding on it.
Go and get my hair done. I need color and this time I actually need a shaping cut.
Sleep through the night without a cough drop in my mouth!
Plan something special for our anniversary in April. (26 years)
Write more each day.

Today would have been my grandmother’s birthday. She has been gone since I was 26 years old. I still miss her a great deal. I hope she knows that every time I have a cup of tea I think of her!

Grandma Honey on her wedding day.

Mary Francis Daniell Prussmann

My sister, Melodie, Grandma Honey and me!

(1966/67)

Drugs

Phillip Seymour Hoffman died yesterday from a drug overdose. He was only 46, and leaves two little girls and a son fatherless.

While this is a great tragedy, it got me thinking. In the last twelve month we have had so many of Hollywood’s elite systematically destroying themselves. All that money going up their nose or a needle in their arm, and a life that should have gone on for decades ends.

Certainly we can look and see that all that money isn’t helping their situations. Look at Justin Bieber and Lyndsey Lohan. They are slowly on a path of self destruction.

Athletes are not exempt from this either. They get all those millions and then pump it up with steroids. That leads to attacks on their wives or girlfriends, and in Aaron Hernandez’s case he is sitting in jail on murder charges.

What’s the answer? I really do not know. I understand that normal people have drug problems too, but it seems that the rich and famous just push it to a whole different level.

They get “YES” people who supply them with everything they want despite knowing that they’ll be dead before they reach the age of 50. Look at Elvis. Gone at 42 after years of drug and alcohol abuse. And his manager and staff were his suppliers.

It’s sad, and until we recognize that million dollar salaries aren’t good for people then I guess we’ll just have a fairly regular turn over in Hollywood.

Hockey

It’s a gray winter day here in New Hampshire, despite the warmer temperatures. Everything just looks like that cloudy milky gray.

The Pond Hockey Tournament is this weekend and our little town is overflowing with tourists, as it will be next week when we host The Ice Fishing Derby.

Life does not stop for us here in New Hampshire in the winter. In fact life is quite busy on our frozen lakes and ponds.

This picture was taken early in the morning, by mid day the ice is packed with onlookers and concession stands. I usually go and walk around, but this year I’m staying in. Too many people!

Still it’s fun to see the town come alive and have so many people enjoying themselves like this.