Dackel Princess

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What’s one thing that’s still the same about you as when you were young?

I thought about this for a long time. My hair is gray under the color job I get. My eyes have both been operated on. My nose no longer resembles the one I had. Even my appendix scar is ‘larger’ than it was at age 3-3/4. But, I still love The Beatles music! Almost any one of their songs can put a smile on my face!

2. What’s more important-history or science? Why?

Oh tough question. Both are incredibly important. Without History we are doomed to repeat our mistakes. But without Science there will not be cures for illnesses, new drugs to treat medical conditions nor will we have advances in cell phone, TVs, or other products.

So I guess in the end, Science. (Although, as I said BOTH are still important!)

3. Lima, kidney, string, garbanzo, black or pinto-your favorite bean?

Purple Beans! Ha! They grow a deep aubergine color in your garden. When you cook them they turn a dark green. Their taste is a lot more nutty than a normal bean. But they are delicious!

Our elderly neighbor came down one day as I was setting out my garden, 5 years ago. He handed me a container of dried bean seeds. He told me to grow them. Well I did, and I have been planting them ever since!

4. What’s something people come to your town to do?

Leaf Peep, Boat, Camp, Dine. Fish. Ice Fish. We have so many thing you can do here, all year long. I think that is what makes it so much fun.

5. When was the last time you were in a meeting? Sum it up for us in five words or less.

Two months.

6. What special event would you like a VIP pass to attend?

New Years Eve in Sydney Australia. They have one of the best firework shows and the city is simply one big party!

7. What’s one piece of advice you’d give a writer?

Allow your hero or heroine to be human. They will be far more interesting, and people will be able to relate to them.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Well, I am still struggling with this virus. I think last night was the hardest. I coughed and coughed and coughed until I almost couldn’t breath. I hope that last night was the turning point.

2013 vs 2014

Ever have one of those years? You know, the ones where you sort of feel challenged all year long?

Eighth grade was like that for me. I mean all those new classes, and the fact that my body developed and I started having all those wild and crazy feelings about boys, brought on by hormones!

Wait! Looking back now, that was a good year compared to 2013! This year has been really…well…challenging!

I’m actually looking forward to New Years this year. I am planning a big celebration with Hubby, as we ring out 2013 and ring in 2014!

I just have a feeling that 2014 is going to be so much better!

A few times during the year I sat myself down and did the old pep talk. “Life is good!”, “Happiness is just around the corner!”, “The glass is half full!”. But then, it seems like no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t run fast enough to get away from all the stuff descending on me this year.

Woops, before I start to fuss and whine, let me just say that I was doing really well until this virus hit and then I just said, “Forget about it!” I just give up!

I am going to try to slide through the rest of 2013 unscathed. And yes, I’m starting today to plan that New Years party!

Come on 2014!

Concord Grape Jelly

Concord Grape Jelly

3-3 ½ Concord Grapes

Discard stems, and place grapes in large kettle. Crush and add ½ cup of water.

Bring this mixture to a boil and cook for ten minutes, until the grapes have softened.

Put juice through nylon jelly bag to remove seeds and skins and allow to rest overnight. Pour juice through clean jelly bag again to remove crystals.

Measure:

4 cups of Grape Juice (you can add water if necessary)
7 cups sugar

1 pouch Certo Liquid Pectin

Mix Grape juice and 1 teaspoon of butter and the sugar in a large heavy pot. On high heat, bring to a full rolling boil, that cannot be stirred down.

Quickly add Pectin and bring to a full rolling boil again and cook exactly 1 minute.

Ladle into hot sterilized jelly jars, seal. Process jars for 10 minutes in boiling water bath.

Makes 7 (½) pints

Back In The Saddle Again!

After nearly a week of doing nothing but coughing and sleeping, I decided to actually cook a real meal. Oh nothing fancy, mind you, but something that is not a frozen TV dinner.

I chopped up an onion, and a green pepper and sauteed some sweet Italian sausage. I tossed that into a pot with a bunch of chopped up garden tomatoes, and now I have that simmering on the stove for dinner.

Not the best meal I have made, for sure, but not the worst either!

I got two loads of laundry done and I am actually feeling better, despite the fact that my voice is non-existent. I think Hubby is actually happy about that because it has remained quiet around here all day.

In fact, while he was picking fruit, I turned the TV down and just let my ears and head rest.

I checked out the TV schedule for tonight and there is NOTHING on. So I am thinking about just watching a movie or two in the bedroom. I’m sure Hubby will want to watch football.

Slowly but surely, I am getting back in the saddle!

The End Of The Week

Well somehow I managed to live through the week! I actually think I am doing a little better, despite not having any voice. I have done a little laundry and prepared a couple of easy meals, and even took a long hot shower, allowing for some sense of normality to return to my life.

Hubby even went out for me and bought more Nyquil, Halls Cough Drops and honey for my chamomile tea. What a guy!

I did have plans for the weekend. I’d wanted to go to the Highland Games, just north of us, but alas, that will have to wait until next year.

I had put a couple of chicken breasts in to marinate a couple of weeks ago, and when I couldn’t use them right off, I tossed them in the freezer. Today I pulled them out, and I will roast them along with some sweet potato fries for dinner. I hope I can eat some of it. If not, it will be a good lunch for Hubby tomorrow.

I am simply loving my new gas range and find that cooking is once again a pleasure for me!

Hubby is busy picking apples and soon we will make up some applesauce for the winter! I want to look for some canning recipes and see how a batch or two of that goes.

Someone also mentioned seeing a recipe for apple pie filling that you can. Must look for that.

Well, have a nice weekend everyone!

Coughing My Head Off

Have you ever had a high fever, where even you hair roots hurt? How about coughing so much and so hard, that you feel like your head will actually explode?

How about being so sick with an unknown virus that you actually start to think your significant other should bring you to the Emergency Room, because you simply might die on the spot?

Well the last 24 hours have been like this for me, and after actually getting up this morning, I found myself crawling back into bed right after breakfast and sleeping well past lunch.

I got up to have a little soup, but mostly toast and tea. And in the hours since lunch, I’ve been counting down the time until I can go back to bed.

I think it will be tea and toast again, but I somehow think if I can live until the morning, I may just, finally, be over the worst of this!

I just would rather be doing anything in the world, other than coughing so hard that my head pops off!

What Would You Do?

For those of you who have been following my blog this year, you will all recall that I had to have a Mohs Surgery and reconstructive surgery after. You also will recall the horror of seeing my face for the first time, and then the second time after that surgery.

After going to Boston and meeting a fabulous plastic surgeon there, I decided that the hospital should know what had been done to me.

My first attempt was to drive over and meet with Patient Relations, bringing my unfixed face, and pictures of the first two surgeries. I was patted on the head and told that “Sometimes these things happen”.

So, I wrote them a letter. I sent it to my daughter first to get her advice. She cleaned it up, and in the end produced a fantastic letter!

I sent it off, registered letter in July, and then waited. In fact last night Hubby and I were talking about how strange it was that we had not heard a word from the hospital.

Then on Tuesday in the mail, was a letter from the hospital. It was filled with apologies and concern on one hand and then a disclaimer on the other.

The one really laughable paragraph is when the doctor says he spoke to me in the OR before the first surgery. I think if you check dates on the blog you will see that the Anesthesiologist had me snowed under before I left the pre-op area.

Anyway, their letter showed me two things, 1) they realized that the original plastic surgeon could cause them real problems, and 2) they were covering their butts!

Hubby still isn’t happy, but I told him if I caused the surgeon one sleepless night, then I was happy. At least now they know why I did not come back for further treatment, and perhaps that surgeon will think twice about butchering someone else like he did me.

So, tell me. Have you ever had a doctor do something that either made you angry/uncomfortable/etc.? Did you alert the hospital to let them know what had occurred?

My current plastic surgeon Dr. P. is always up front with me and explains everything. Now that I have local anesthesia, he even tells me what he is doing while he is doing it.

Should doctors be accountable so that they teach their patients via slideshows, what they will do, so the patient will not pass out from the shock when they wake up in the recovery room?

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. When did you last sing happy birthday to someone? When were you last sung to? Does that embarrass you or do you enjoy being the center of attention on your special day?

We called up and sang Happy Birthday to my sister in July. Yes, on my last birthday I did get sung to. No, it doesn’t bother me to either get attention on my birthday or for people to know my actual age. Some people really flip out about about that.

2. Name a famous or ‘infamous’ person (living or deceased) who shares your birth day and month. Is that someone you’d like to meet in person if it were possible?

Rock Hudson, Martin Scorsese, Lauren Hutton, Danny DeVito. There are a ton more, but these are the most notable. I think probably Martin Scorsese. He has had a long and brilliant directing career. Danny DeVito would be second.

3. Someone hands you a box tied up in a lovely bow…what are you hoping to find inside?

There is very few things I want in life. Perhaps two tickets to Germany! Or maybe two tickets for a cruise.

4. What can you guarantee about yourself?

That I will always be there for my family. Good times or bad. I will be there.

5. Talking art and beautiful cities here…’The Last Supper’ in the Santa Maria della Grazie Abbey in Milan Italy or ‘The Mona Lisa’ in The Louvre, Paris…which would you most like to see up close and in person? Why?

The Mona Lisa. I have never been to the Louvre and I so want to go!

6. Your favorite dessert?

Hot apple pie with vanilla ice cream!

7. This coming weekend marks the official start of autumn (in the Northern hemisphere)…what is something you do to get ready for fall?

Switch out my closet clothes from summer to winter.

What is one thing you’re looking forward to on your fall calendar?

The Autumn County Fairs. I love Fairs with the animals!

Spring or fall-which do you prefer?

Fall! I live in New England, with trees that turn the most awesome shades of yellow, red, orange, burnt orange and a sunset red.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My fever broke in the night on Monday. I still feel rather weak and lousy, but I hope the worst is over!

I Hate Being Sick!

Monday started out about 6 AM, when I woke in a haze. The dogs had all come to bed with me at 7:30 on Sunday night, needless to say they all had to commune with mother nature at that early hour. Even in the rain.

I went back to bed, not even stopping to make coffee, and slept with the TV on until they broke in with the news about the shootings in Washington, DC at the Naval Base.

By then it was 9 o’clock and Hubby was just stirring from the guest room. Feeling as sick as I do, I sent him straight to the guest room to keep him from getting my germs.

We sipped coffee, and just listened to the news until well after 10:30, when Hubby announced he was hungry. An easy breakfast was made, and then I settled into my recliner.

The day seemed to slip away and before I knew it, it was time for lunch. Hubby ran out to get hamburgers and Still I slept on.

Later in the day, Hubby brought in three and a half pounds of Concord Grapes. This meant I needed to mash them up, and cook them down and now they are in a jelly bag. I can let it rest until tomorrow.

I’m planning another early night, to see if I can kick start a resolution to my illness. Trust me, in the morning, if I am not much better, I will be calling the doctor.

What I Did This Past Weekend

And I will tell you, it was not fun!

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend! After all, you never know when you will need an alibi!

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I woke at 3 AM on Sunday with a burning throat, and the inability to swallow without pain. I was also freezing cold and shaking, which told me that I probably had a fever. My muscles and joints ached (even my fingers) and my neck is swollen and it hurts to move it.

I got up and made coffee and breakfast, and I knew I needed to go get the last few things to make stuffing for the turkey, and turkey soup tomorrow.

As I walked through the store, my body began to ache. I could feel the sickness coming on.

I got home, knowing I needed to make stuffing for the turkey and then get the turkey in my new oven.

Have I mentioned how much I love my new stove? It works so well, and the temperature is right on every time I check!

Once I got the turkey in, I sat down with a thermometer! Not to take the turkey’s temperature, but to take my own!

102.6! Yeah, I’d say that is a bit of a temperature! I was quiet in the afternoon, watching a movie, and then in the end, I stumbled around and got the meal cooked.

Now the bones are simmering in my crock pot. Tomorrow I will try to make a turkey soup, but I need to see how I am feeling. I didn’t even finish the dishes tonight. Just too darn sick!

The turkey was nice, the Brussel Sprouts too, but in the end, I had no appetite.

So I will be busy tomorrow making the soup, if I feel better. If I don’t, then it’s off to the doctor’s office.