Dackel Princess

Friday With Savannah!

On Friday I spent the day babysitting Savannah. It’s really the first time that I have had Savannah for this amount of time, and did I have fun.

We played on the floor, we danced to music, we read books and I made her lunch and then she fell asleep in my arms.

That was the most special part of the day! Feeling that sweet, perfect, little body fall asleep in my arms.

Savannah is really a delight.

She is happy, and has such an even temperament. For instance, she has a little cold right now, but you would never would have known it by the way she was acting.

It was the best day and one I want to remember always, so I can tell her stories about it in the future.

Today is Fritz’s tenth birthday! My how the years have flown by! We have said this before, we have had wonderful White Shepherds, but Fritz is in a league of his own! He is quite simply the best White Shepherd we have ever had!

He is gentle and kind with all that he meets, he loves the dackels and is their body guard.

Most of all, he loves his Daddy beyond words! Following him everywhere that he goes.

If I call him, he comes, and is always happily wagging his tail! He loves me and I adore him too!

So Happy Tenth Birthday, Fritz, Darling!!!

Sauteed Shrimp and Tomatoes Over Pasta

Ingredients

1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails removed)
pinch of salt and ground pepper
1 small white onion, chopped finely
6 teaspoons olive oil
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 can (7 oz.) diced tomatoes, in juice
1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
200 grams pasta of your choice (I used plain spahetti this time)
a dash of dried basil leaves
parsley leaves for garnish (optional)

Cooking Instructions

Season shrimp with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat 3 teaspoons oil over high. Add shrimp; cook until opaque throughout, turning occasionally, 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; set aside.
Make sauce: To the same skillet, add remaining 3 teaspoons oil and chopped onions; cook over medium heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add canned tomatoes and their juice, along with a cup of water; bring to a boil. Stir in dried basil leaves and garlic powder. Reduce heat; simmer, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes have softened and are saucy, about 15 minutes. Remove sauce from heat; stir in cherry tomatoes.
Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain; return pasta to pot. Add tomato sauce, shrimp, and basil; season with salt and pepper, and toss. Serve immediately, garnish with parsley leaves, if desired.
If sauce seems too thin, use a tsp. of tomato paste to thicken.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. July 24th is Amelia Earhart Day. Earhart was the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. What’s something you’ve recently accomplished solo?

I drove all the way down to Cape Cod alone (not so bad) but when returning alone, I was hit with vicious weather, which required me to stop twice to allow the rain to pass. I left the Cape around 9 AM and didn’t pull in at home until nearly 4. Tonight I’m feeling pretty tired, but VERY happy!

2. What’s one product you use that never ever fails?

Oxyclean Washing Booster! It really works! Even on set in stains!!!

3. Have you found your place in the world? Where is it?

I think I have. It isn’t necessarily a physical place, but a place in my mind and in my heart. I know who I am, who I love and value, and what life is all about.

4. Worst movie you ever saw?

Oh boy, that’s tough. I’ve gone to movies and walked out. One movie was critically acclaimed, but I did not like it at all! There have also been movies that I will just not go to because I’m not into them. (PS: I don’t want to say what the movie I least like is, as it may be someone’s favorite, and I would not want to hurt anyone’s feelings.)

5. What’s the last fun thing you did?

I went to Cape Cod to attend my cousin’s spur of the moment Beach Wedding! We met on the beach at 7:45 (moonrise). Janet and Dave said their vows, I recited the Apache Wedding Poem, and we all celebrated.

It was a small wedding, but it was perfect! Intimate, full of love and very, very, happy.

6. The month of July is named for Roman Emperor Julius Caesar…ever been to Rome? What’s your favorite Italian dish?

Never been to Rome, but love Italian food. I love Eggplant Parmesan, so that’s it, my favorite Italian dish!

7. What is one piece of advice you’d offer new mom Kate Middleton?

Enjoy every single day of your child’s life. Their childhood will fly by. So, hold your baby, rock your baby, and breathe in all the happiness he brings to your heart and your life!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

It was funny to go back to the Cape (Cape Cod). I grew up there, and there is something about the smell of the marshes and the ocean, that bring me right back to my childhood. I found myself closing my eyes and inhaling deeply!

I also had a Portuguese Sweet Muffin! There is nothing like it anywhere. As a child, Gene’s Bakery was owned by a nice Portuguese family and their breads, rolls and muffins were awesome!

Dave, Me, and Michelle. The Bride took the picture!

Happy Birthday, Melodie

Today is my sister, Melodie’s Sixtieth Birthday. She’s always been a very important person in my life, as well as my dearest sister!

It’s been both a tough and joyous year for her, with the illness of our mother, but she also has the greatest joy of the birth of her twin grandsons, Nolan and Gabriel.

I wish for you a Happy Birthday, today, Mel and a wonderful year ahead!

Happy Birthday, Melodie!!! from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

What I Did This Past Weekend

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!

***************

I found myself finally able to see my nose this morning, as my bandage fell almost off int he night. I am amazed at the beautiful wound.

Side One.

Side Two.

And Front.

Now, I must say I think it is looking so much better and flatter. Yes, we have a ways to go, but really, things are looking up!

********************

I learned today that a man who was our doctor from 2000-2009 has lost his medical license. Over the years he had several brushes with the medical ethics committee in our State for writing undocumented prescriptions. Something I did not know about. Now he was arrested for writing false prescriptions to himself for Oxycodone.

I feel so sad for this young doctor. First of all, he is brilliant. He went to the finest schools, and became a Board Certified General Practitioner. I suspect that one of his sports injuries got him on this slippery slope, that we all know as addiction.

Yes, like so many in our world, much had been given to him. But addiction knows no social class or educational background.

I am sad for him, for his wife and his young children. Their lives will be forever shattered by this.

*************************

I made a new recipe. I will post it on Thursday this week. It is for Shrimp and tomatoes and pasta! Oh my goodness! It was fabulous!

*************************

I’ll be having surprises to tell you about soon! Stay tuned!!!

Sizzling Summer

I woke on Saturday morning way too early. I guess I am a little bit like the dogs in that I wake as soon as the sun rises. Right now, that is about 5:30 in the morning.

Coffee always tastes best at 6 AM. I’m not sure why, but recently this has been the case. By 10 AM, I am all coffee’d out! But oh, those first few cups taste so good!

We’ve also had very weird weather this summer. First it rained most of June. This caused the cherries to rot. Now in July, we have had 90 degree + heat and the humidity, oh my goodness…grim!

We’ve also had some really strong thunder storms some during the day and others at night. Keeping us on our toes!

Poor Fritz really suffers during the storms. Between Hubby and I, we try to keep him calm.

The dackels could care less. They are too tough to even blink when the thunder starts!

I guess this is why I like winter better than summer. In the winter one can always add clothing. There is almost never a thunder storm, and there is no humidity.

I detest humidity, and so does my very curly hair! I am not looking too elegant these days. Yes, between the humidity and my bandaged nose, I’m rather a freight!

God Bless The Broken Road

Okay romantics, here is a musical interlude for today. A beautiful, heartfelt song. If you have someone that you have been lucky to find along the way, then I know you will relate to this song. Enjoy!

Things Are Looking Up

In the last few days I have begun to feel very lucky and very happy. I suppose a large part of this is the fact that my nose is looking so good. But the other part, is that there seems to be a peace in my life right now, that I have not had since the whole cancer nose thing began.

I was lying in bed last night thinking about our Christmas letter for 2013. So far 2013 has been full of drama, trauma, and sadness, but today, today, I feel like I’ve turned the corner.

Hubby got a glowing report at the doctor’s office when he was in for his physical. He’s been taking insulin shots now for 3 months, and it has been a miracle for him. He feels so much better and has a lot more energy.

My nose is looking better, and my new plastic surgeon is so talented that I believe that in the end my nose will be better than ever!

Although my Mom is still dying from liver cancer, they have accepted her into the Hospice Program, and she will be cared for more humanely and with gentle kindness.

A relief, for sure!

So here we are, half way through the year and things are looking up.

Yay! I Have A Nose!!!

Today we drove to Boston and I got my stitches out! I’ve been so excited, and I could hardly wait!

What I found was that he had put in a bunch of little stitches, and it took a while (and a little bit of owchie) to get the stitches out, but I am thrilled with how the nose is looking and feeling!

I once again have a profile, and once the redness and swelling goes down, I think I will have a fabulous nose! What is it that the Brits say? It’s Brilliant!!!

It’s so nice to finally have a profile again! I know it still needs work, but WOW! It looks so good already!

The next surgery is August 19th. He will be working on the upper part of the nose.

Author: Dackel Princess