Savannah, 10 Months Old

On Friday Hubby and I met up with Mandy and Savannah for lunch. I cannot describe to you in adequate words, what it is like to walk into a restaurant, walk over to your grandchild, call her name, and see a bright smile light up her face!

March 15 005

Yeah, I just melted into a big Grandma puddle!

She is growing and changing so fast that I simply cannot believe it! She is now eating real food! I was amazed at her chowing down on broccoli and actually liking it!

Mandy got orange chicken and Savannah’s first bites she made the funniest faces! Priceless!

March 15 006

I am just so proud of my daughter. She is such a good mother and it is obvious to see that she is doing it all right, as Savannah has to be the happiest baby I’ve ever seen!

March 15 007

And Mandy, one of the happiest mothers!

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill-Ins

1. I was looking for my cell phone, which was no where to be found! So I took Hubby’s phone and called mine. It was right where I left it…in my jacket pocket.
2. Family and friend dinners (are) is one of my favorite ways to socialize.
3. I looked at the clock, darn Daylight Saving Time! I hate to spring forward and lose sleep like this.
4. Big thick pens that actually fit in your hand is the type of pen I most prefer to use.
5. What in the world will my nose look like in a week?.
6. Arriving early for things seems to happen to me often.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to putting boxes in the attic and watching TV, tomorrow my plans include lots of cleaning, mopping and bed-making and Sunday, I want to finish the laundry, and pack our bags!

Thursday Thirteen

Aug 1 002

I’m actually feeling positive today about my upcoming surgery.

  1. Lucky for us, we found a house sitter/dog sitter, so Hubby will be with me every step of the way.
  2. We got a hotel reservation with a hospital discount. Woo-hoo!
  3. Not only do they include breakfast in the price of the room, but dinner with wine or beer as well.
  4. That’s a good thing because after my first procedure I may not feel like going out.
  5. The reviews for the hotel give it 5 stars out of 5.
  6. One reviewer said the beds were very comfortable! Yay beds!
  7. I got all my pre-registration done on the phone last night.
  8. All my paperwork is in order!
  9. I went out with my girlfriend for lunch today to catch up.
  10. I went to Weight Watchers in the morning and lost half a pound!
  11. The Dackels go in to the Vets for their yearly exam tomorrow.
  12. Friday I am off to see Savannah and Mandy for lunch.
  13. Then it is packing, cleaning, and preparing over the weekend!

Congratulations to all my Catholic friends. The new Pope seems like a lovely man. I will pray that he cares well for the Church.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Do you play games of luck/chance for money? Have you ever played bingo for money? Visited a casino? Placed a bet on a horse? Bought a lottery ticket?

No, I do not gamble at all. I have seen families ruined when someone literally gambled their entire life away.

2. Will you be preparing and/or dining on the traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage meal this St. Patrick’s Day? Mashed-baked-hash browned-french fried…your favorite way to have potatoes?

I will be making the traditional corned beef and cabbage. Love it! (Once a year!) My favorite way to have potatoes are french fries. However, I try not to have them. When I am being true to my diet I eat baked potatoes most of the time.

3. What’s the last thing you felt ‘green with envy’ over?

I cannot think of any. I have always tried not to want what others have, and to be happy for them when they have good things in their lives.

4. What’s at the end of your rainbow?

Mandy and Savannah Rose! I am just over the moon with love for my daughter and granddaughter! (Hubby too, of course!)

5. March 12th marks the anniversary of the death of Anne Frank (June 12, 1929-March, 1945). Anne’s diary detailing her time spent hiding from the Nazi’s during the war ranks as one of the best selling books of all time. Besides your blog, do you keep any sort of diary or journal? Was this a habit you developed as a child or is journaling something new for you?

My blog is my diary. Honestly, when I need dates and to identify happenings, I look back into my blog archives.

6. What’s an item in your home or closet that contains every color of the rainbow?

A Mexican blanket that we got years and years ago. Literally, it has all the colors of the world.

7. Write a limerick with you as the subject. You can do it!! Just remember this is a family friendly blog…don’t make me get out my wooden spoon.

There once was a girl named MB
who cooked so much that it seemed
that the pots in her house were all full
with soups, stews and cheesy fondue

And MB smiled broadly for all!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Tuesday is election day here in my little town. It’s a crucial election, as we have some people who would like to raise our taxes considerably. The other candidates would like to use some funds to repair roads, town buildings, but not heap onto that new taxes to build newer buildings. Right now, our little town of 6000 people cannot handle more taxes. We shall see how it all shakes out.

Surgury

I got my surgical dates today. They’re getting me right in on March 18th for the Mohs Surgery and the next day I will have the reconstructive surgery. It’s good to get it over with, but then I found out that no one can go with me.

Hubby will drive me over in the morning on Monday and drop me off for the first part of the surgeries. He’ll drive back to spend the day and night with the dogs, and then on Tuesday he will pick me up after the plastic surgery.

The good thing is that on Monday I intend to enjoy a nice Mexican meal at one of our favorite places! (Or maybe order take-out!)

Anyway, now I go into planning mode. I need to pack, (lightly) write two blog posts, as I am not bringing my laptop, (just my Kindle) and make sure Hubby has foods in the house that he can cook for himself and for me.

Strangely, I am actually caught up on laundry, and will only need to dust and vacuum this weekend.

I do need to get out a sheet set up for my chair, as when I get home I will need to be sitting up to sleep for a week or so. This means that Hubby gets the dackels all to himself in bed! lol!

The dackels all go to the Vets on Thursday for their annual check-ups, so unfortunately I will probably miss my visit with Savannah on Friday, as I will need to grocery shop then.

Too busy, I think! Oh well, after the surgery things will quiet down for a little while.

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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It was a busy weekend! Crazy busy! Loaded with work, cooking, laundry and planning. Oh yes, and then there was the phone.

We’re one of the few, who has kept their land-line. The last few days I’ve noticed a hum on the line, and this morning it just was terrible and I could hardly hear the person calling. So Hubby and I spent about 2 hours troubleshooting the problem, and it came back to the fact that it was the phone companies problem, not ours!

So, Hubby called them and they will be here by six o’clock tonight. I hope this will fix the problem once and for all!

Friday the Plastic Surgeons office called and switched my appointment to Monday at 8 AM! This means I must get up at 5:45 to get to the other side of the state for the appointment. Ah well, at least I get in there faster. The appointment they canceled was for this coming Wednesday.

It is bright sunshine and 44 degrees here this Sunday afternoon! Just beautiful! I could say goodbye to Winter and just go right into spring.

Spinach Salad with Strawberries, Candied Pecans, Feta, and Craisins

First a very Happy Birthday to my friend, Bernie! Hope it is a happy one and a good year ahead!

♥♫♥♪♥[̲̅̅H̲̅][̲̅̅A̲̅][̲̅̅P̲̅][̲̅̅P̲̅][̲̅̅Y̲̅]♥[̲̅̅B̲̅][̲̅̅I̲̅][̲̅̅R̲̅][̲̅̅T̲̅][̲̅̅H̲̅][̲̅̅D̲̅][̲̅̅A̲̅][̲̅̅Y̲̅]♥♪♥♫♥

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Spinach Salad with Strawberries, Candied Pecans, Feta, and Craisins

salad

Yield: 6

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of pecan pieces

1 tsp of white sugar

Pinch of cardamon

(I’ve also used raspberry vinaigrette)

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3 cups of baby spinach

2 cups of romaine lettuce, chopped

1 cup of sliced strawberries

2-3 tbsp feta cheese or goat cheese

2-3 tbsp craisins

Balsamic Dijon Vinaigrette (see recipe above)

Directions:

Make the Balsamic Dijon Vinaigrette then set aside.

Heat a small skillet over medium low heat. Add the pecan pieces, sugar, and cardamon. Stir often until the sugar caramelizes and sticks to the pecans and the pecans are toasted. Remove from the heat and let cool.

Combine the spinach and romaine lettuce to a large serving bowl. Top with sliced strawberries, cooled pecans, feta cheese, and pomegranate seeds. Toss with the vinaigrette and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Happy 9th Birthday Greta!

Can you believe it? Greta is turning 9 years old today! It seems like just yesterday that Hubby and I went to Germany and with Auntie Uschi’s help, found dear, little, baby, Greta, and brought her home!

She grew rapidly and shortly before she turned three, she met her boyfriend Bernd Vom Ahorn Wald AKA Bernie, and the following fall, they got married and had their first litter of pups.

In the montage you will see handsome Bernie, as well as a very pregnant Greta, and the puppies in the montage are from the litter that had Arnie and Anneliese. In fact, watch closely and the infant puppy with the blue collar is Arnie and the green collar is Anneliese!

Greta is a sturdy, self sufficient girl, and she doesn’t take any crap from the other dogs. Not that she fights or anything, she just has a splendid attitude!

She is loving and cuddly with both Hubby and I, and you will notice that she always is there for us when we are down and out.

So, Happy Birthday, dearest Greta! And may you have many, many, more!

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Life is full of so much happiness and love, we just have to be on the look out for it.
2. The clouds came back and then a little snow fell.
3. I knew it was love when I looked into my baby daughter’s eyes when she was born.
4. I can hardly wait for sunshine and blue skies.
5. A little nap is wonderful on a cold and snowy day.
6. Lobster and corn on the cob are my favorite things to eat for dinner.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to watching some TV, tomorrow my plans include laundry, as usual and Sunday, I want to spend some time reading my kindle!

Thursday Thirteen

Aug 1 002

Here is a brief fill in of yesterdays visit with my Dermatologist/Mohs Surgeon.

  1. I went alone to the appointment as Hubby was busy with some business.
  2. The drive was long, both over and back, but it gave me time to think.
  3. I met Dr. S. and i really liked him and his nursing staff.
  4. Apparently, because this is a recurrence, I will need more work done than I expected.
  5. Dr. S. believes having a Plastic Surgeon on call is my best bet.
  6. Then I can have him close the incision one time with whatever procedure necessary.
  7. At first I was reluctant, because it means I have to line up both doctors for one day.
  8. Now that will be tricky! We all know how busy they are!
  9. Then I decided that my poor nose needs tender loving care.
  10. After all, I don’t want it to fall off my face like Michael Jackson’s nose!
  11. I will meet the Plastic Surgeon next Wednesday.
  12. Then we will plan and synch it all up.
  13. After that, I will get this cancer taken off my face and get a new nose!