Author: Dackel Princess

The Garden 2013

On Thursday, Hubby and I laid out the garden. My seedlings looked good and we are pretty much past when a frost can happen, so we raked up the hills and planted our vegetables.

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For the most part, it was just Fritz out there with us, but later in the day we brought Arnie out too, and he was so good. He just hung out with us, and did not wander off.

The garden looks good. But working so long in the dirt, I felt like a kid who’s been playing in the sandbox all day.

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When I came in I felt really grubby and needed nothing more than a nice hot shower! After that…..ahhhhhhh. I felt so great!

Oh, I am a little still, a little sore, but knowing that the garden is in and all I will need to do now is weeding, makes me incredibly happy!

Thursday By The Numbers

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  1. I went to Weight Watchers and after a week of weighing and measuring and journaling, I lost three and a half pounds!
  2. I was so psyched about this and was walking on air!
  3. After class I drove down to see my girlfriend, Barbie.
  4. Her female wire-haired dachshund, Veela just had six puppies a month ago.

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  5. The father for these puppies is also the Daddy of Arnie and Anneliese.

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  6. I climbed right in the puppy box and played with them, and felt their little puppy tongues lick my face!
  7. One thing I love about dogs is that they do not look at my face and see scars. They just shower you with love!
  8. After a few hours I left to come home.
  9. I stopped at the grocery store and picked a few things…
  10. To the tune of $125.00.
  11. Okay I got three meals of meat and some fresh vegetables.
  12. Oh yes, and a rotisserie chicken, so I didn’t have to cook much tonight. Just the corn on the cob!
  13. I got home and my dogs did nothing but sniff me for an hour. They all knew I had been with a bunch of puppies!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Have you learned more from success or failure? Explain.

I have learned more from life. Things I never planned, but just happened to me. My car accident is a good example. That was such a defining moment in my life, that taught me compassion, empathy, and so much more. I learned about appreciating the life we have, and those in it, is the most important thing in life.

2. What did you call your grandparents when you were growing up?

I called mine, Papa Fred, and Grandma Honey. And Papa Sam and Grandma Elsie.

If you have children, what do they call your parents?

They had Mimi and Papa Jim. And Grammie Alice and Papa Bobby.

If you have grandchildren, what do they call you?

My granddaughter is lucky. She has Grammie Alice and Mimi as Great Grandmothers. Crazy Grandma (that’s me) and Papa Jack. Grandpa Bob and Grammie Diane and Nana and Grandpa Arthur.

3. You’re invited to a luau. In keeping with that theme, what dish will you bring to share?

I would try to do something with coconut. You see I’d love to do something with pineapple, but I’m allergic to it.

4. Besides Jesus, what one person’s life story do you think everyone should know about?

I loved Mother Theresa. She was such a good and selfless woman.

5. “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Agree or Disagree? Why?

Trust me. The small stuff is not worth getting upset over. In life, there are so many more things to worry about.

6. June is National Rivers Month. When were you last on a river? What’s the prettiest river you’ve ever seen? What’s a river you’d like to see?

I have taken several cruises on the Rhine River in Germany. Just beautiful. I would love to go along the River Seine. I have heard it is amazing. Not to mention the French cheeses, baguettes and wines!

7. Speaking of rivers-paddling, fishing, swimming, or bird watching safely from the shore? Which activity would you choose? Yes-you have to choose.

Swimming. I grew up on Cape Cod and I love to swim in the ocean. Not so much in lakes.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I’ve been thinking about historical men in the military. During the Civil War, General Grant. In World War Two, Patton. What do you think of heroes like this? Were you taught about historical figures like these two men in history? Do you think that Seal Team Six will be remembered for all they have done in our War on Terrorism?

Maribeth’s Potato Salad

4 pound(s) uncooked whole white potatoes
2/3 cup(s) uncooked celery
2/3 cup(s) uncooked red onion(s)
1-2 hard boiled egg(s)
3/4 cup(s) fat free mayonnaise (or as much as needed to make a nice creamy salad)
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp table sea salt
Instructions:

Wash Potatoes. Boil California White Potatoes in their skins. When they are tender (you can tell by piercing them with a sharp knife). Carefully place potatoes on a plate to cool. Slip skins off potatoes and place potatoes in a bowl overnight in the fridge.
The next day, cut the potatoes lengthwise in half. Then cut the half lengthwise. Slice potatoes very thinly. It takes a while, but it is worth it.
In a food processor finely chop the onion and then the celery. Also use the food processor to chop the eggs. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper, add enough mayonnaise to make a creamy salad. Check the seasonings and add more salt or pepper if desired.
I like to decorate the top of my salad with stuffed eggs.

Note: Be sure to use a red onion. It makes all the difference.

Masterpieces or Disasters

Last night I made this great meal. I sauteed onion, peppers and mushrooms, cooked some chicken, and served it with boiled California New Potatoes (my favorite!), and corn on the cob. The meal was stupendous, and best of all, it was so easy. I hardly gave it a thought.

Tonight, not so much. I had a meatloaf in the freezer that I took out and thawed, potato salad (okay, that was good) and green beans. The meatloaf was just terrible!

Hubby didn’t complain, but I sure did. Being on Weight Watchers means eating meals and enjoying them. This meal tonight was not enjoyable at all (except the potato salad!)

Now I am thinking about tomorrow night and what I can make for dinner then. Will it be an easily produced masterpiece or a hard fought disaster?

Stay tuned!

What I Did This Past Weekend

Miss Marple 2

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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Oh, what a wonderful weekend it was! With the celebration of Savannah’s first birthday,

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to my nephew and his wife’s delivery of healthy twin boys, to record breaking heat, and a wild thunderstorm, it is a weekend I will not soon forget!

I was even surprised by Savannah’s ability to walk! She is very nearly running around! Here is a short clip showing her walk/running to her Grandpa Arthur.

Sunday began our official heatwave, with temperatures well over ninety degrees. However late in the afternoon on Sunday, a storm moved in with high winds, and a little thunder and lightening, helping to drop the temperatures in the state.

Greta helped me put the lines out for me pea plants which are just now sprouting! It looks to me like we will have a fine pea crop this year!

The peas I planted those two days before the beans, which have not yet sprouted. I’ve been waiting to re-plant the seedlings due to the extreme heat. Hopefully sometime this week.

Yes Greta “helped” by bringing me her ball and insisting I throw it for her. Fun was had by both of us! She was one hot-dog when we came in though. I couldn’t get her to drink, but gave her ice cubes to chew. That worked like a charm!

I hope you all had as great a weekend as I did!

Happy Monday everyone!

Savannah’s Party

Today was our dear Savannah Rose’s Birthday Party! She was born at the right time of the year for a cook-out and lawn party! It was 95 degrees, but no one cared. We all just had a great time.

Mandy and her sister, Ally decorated the house, and Matt did the grill work cooking hotdogs, hamburgers and chicken!

The family all got together and we all had such a great time watching our girl celebrate! The funniest thing was when she opened a card I’d gotten for her which had Minnie Mouse singing. Well Savannah thought that was the best thing and she played with it over and over until her dad pried it out of her hands so she could finish opening gifts.

Anyway, here is a short video of the days happening!

They’re Here!

On Friday, May 31st, Savannah’s First Birthday, my family welcomed into this world Gabriel and Nolan. Identical twin boy! They are the sons of my nephew Mike and his wife Karan.

This was truly a one in a million pregnancy, as the boys shared an amniotic sack. It is a dangerous thing, and many families are not as lucky as ours.

Karan went in hospital April 6th. She was totally selfless, and gave up so much to ensure that these boys had the best chance to survive and thrive.

This morning, at 32 weeks, her boys came into this world. Nolan Daniell and Gabriel Alan. Nolan was 4 pounds 1-1/2 ounces, and 17 inches long and Gabriel was 4 pounds 1 ounce and 16 inches long!

Best of all Karan is doing well, and the two boys have so far not needed any assistance. By this I mean, no oxygen or feeding tubes. Hopefully they will remain healthy and strong and be ready to go home very soon!

Once their parents say it’s okay, I will share a picture. But for now I thank you all for your prayers!

Life

On Wednesday I went shopping! Many of you will recall, Friday is my darling Savannah’s First Birthday! So, after Weight Watchers I went out to get a few things. It is so much fun shopping for my granddaughter! I found the cutest dress and when I went to read the label I found it was made by a company called “Savannah”! Needless to say, the dress came home with me!

I also was looking for baby clothes for my nephew Mike and his wife, Karan’s twin boys! They will be delivered on Friday, which of course means they will share Savannah’s birthday!

Karan has had a difficult pregnancy and she has been in the hospital on bed rest since the beginning of April. Her boys are identical twins, and also share the same amniotic sack. This makes her pregnancy even more risky.

But things have gone well, and Karan is one of the bravest women I know. She has written a mini blog on Facebook and through that I have started to get to know her. I can see why my nephew is so crazy about her!

I will ask you all today to say a prayer for Karan and her boys. They will be delivered first thing on Friday morning. We are all on pins and needles waiting to hear that Karan and her boys have been safely delivered.