Dackel Princess

Friday Fill-Ins

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Hope you had a very Merry Christmas if you celebrate that…and a happy Boxing day to those that celebrate that! And…here we go!

1. They’ve always made me wonder, why I should make Christmas all about buying a lot of gifts.
2. I was supposed to be going to the cardiologist today, but with the snow storm the office closed and my appointment was rescheduled until next week..
3. What is your favorite Christmas treat? Mine is Stollen bread.
4. Over the holidays I was upset with the lack of holiday tv shows.
5. Eyes bright, with the wonder of Christmas.
6. The dog felt ill, ut oh I think this may be a 24 hour dog bug!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to sleep. I’m actually pretty tired, tomorrow my plans include finishing up the laundry and ironing and Sunday, I want to figure out what I’m cooking for New Years Eve!

Our Christmas With The Kids!

Hubby and I drove down on the 26th of December to spend the day with Matt, Mandy and Savannah! Oh what a great day we had. It was easy going, relaxed, and so much fun! We opened gifts, and played with the toys that she got!

She is so close to crawling.

I think one of the biggest hits was a xylophone that she got. She also had dolls, books, phones and puzzles for babies, as well as puppets and clothes.

Today also gave Hubby time to learn all about his grand daughter. She seemed to take a shine to him and they both cuddled and enjoyed the closeness.

I had told Mandy and Matt to just plan a stress free day. We were so lucky to to get just that. We talked, we laughed and we enjoyed some great foods! Mandy cooked her first turkey and it was moist and fabulous!

I’m so happy that we got to share this time. In the end the love of family and the time we share is so important!

Anneliese’s Christmas

Since we spent Christmas Day home alone with the dogs, we focused on their presents and gifts. They plowed through crunchie bones, and seemed to enjoy these natural bones that I got. The last few time I bought compressed rawhide, they have gotten sick. I looked at the label, and they were made in China! So no more rawhide from Asia.

We also had packaged wrapped and Greta made quick work on those. But Anneliese got the last package and this is what she found.

Isn’t she the cutest thing? She really seemed to bond with this toy and when Arnie or Greta took it away, WW III broke out.

So as I sit here, with a packed car, ready for my day with savannah tomorrow I am really enjoying watching Anneliese with her first ever Christmas toy! Oh she has had they before, but she’s just never really bonded with a toy like this before.

Merry Christmas!

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!

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I worked literally all weekend long, shopping, wrapping and baking. It was crazy. I actually reached maximum burn out today (Sunday) when my feet literally gave out on me. They hurt so much to stand on I just didn’t know what to do. I finished the wrapping sitting down on my bed and I somehow managed to get dinner made before collapsing in my chair.

Now I am sitting, yes, with my feet up and my plan is to grab a nice glass of wine and get to bed early.

For as Scarlett O’Hara said in “Gone With The Wind” ‘Tomorrow is, another day!’

Thoughts From The End Of The Year

The card table was set up in my bedroom. The movie “The Santa Claus” was put on the VHS player. I started, what would take me about 2 hours of non-stop wrapping before I needed to stop and give up for a while. I’d wrapped almost everything, including dogs toys and treats. Tomorrow I probably have another hour of wrapping to do, but will finish that up then.

On Sunday I want to bake loaves of banana bread, and make up baskets of goodies for two of my neighbors. Then on Monday I will make a Rum Cake to bring down to Mandy’s for our celebration there. It’s been forever since I made a Rum Cake, so I am really looking forward to that.

Tomorrow I need to get all my recipes out for our Christmas dinner, so I can make sure I have all the ingredients. We’re having Prime Rib. What are you all making?

The last present I ordered for Savannah arrived today. Can you believe that FedEx delivers on Saturday? I am so excited about it.

I’m also amazed that here we are December 23rd and soon the year will be over and we will start all over again. How did that happen? A year ago I didn’t even know who Savannah was. Now, I’m learning more and more about her every day. And even though she is a mere six months old, it’s like we’ve always known each other.

A Prayer

I’ve been amazed at the attitude of a few people this Christmas. This year, for the first time in many years, I am sort of shocked at man’s inhumanity to man.

At the grocery store a few days ago, a man went ballistic on me and a woman I was speaking to. I mean really ballistic! I tried to calm him, telling him to chill out, and then wishing him a Merry Christmas. I was then flipped off and told to F*** Off! The Dairy Man threw the guy out of the store and my friend and I sort of stood there with our mouths hanging open.

Undeterred, I started the next day with a smile on my face. I was not going to let this man get me down. It’s the joyous season of Christmas. I went about my day, smiling and wishing everyone I saw a Merry Christmas. The day was a good one!

The next day, Hubby and I went to the big city to shop. Usually shopping in the larger areas is frustrating. A lot of pushing and shoving and frustration. But no, it was wonderful! The best part is, we kept running into people we knew from our little town, it made the big city seem a little smaller.

Today we went out to finish up the last bit of shopping, and as I waited in a long line to check out, a woman came barreling past us and cut about 12 people in line. I was a little shocked by this. I stood talking with the woman next to me, and I realized that sometimes you have to let it go. Maybe this woman was late to pick up her grand kids. Maybe she was late going to work. I don’t know, but she sure was not happy and in a hurry.

So I got home and sat down with the dackels and relaxed for a bit. People are stressed this year. People aren’t really all that happy.

There are more people in my area getting food at the food pantry and Toy’s for Tots for their kids. So, it’s not a very Merry Christmas for some.

If my letting someone cut ahead of me in line, or just not come to blows in the grocery store, well that’s a good thing.

I can pray for my country. For my people, and hope that by this time next year, things will be better.

Amen

Friday Fill-Ins

And…here we go!

1. Ahhhh I have finished my Christmas shopping!.
2. Tomorrow is wrapping everything, preparing for the big day!
3. Creating a happy and warm Christmas is so important for me.
4. Eggnog and a little rum, often lead to relaxation.
5. Kick start my energy now, I have baking to do.
6. The Mayans predicted the end of the world but since they died out long before now, I’m not too worried.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to quiet and maybe some Christmas movies, tomorrow my plans include baking and wrapping and Sunday, I want to do some more Christmas movie watching!

Happy Birthday Mandy!

Today is the birthday of my daughter, Mandy. She is the apple of my eye, and also my dearest friend! How lucky we are to have each other!

It seems like just yesterday that she was born. What an amazing thing. Before that I was just Maribeth. But after her birth, I became a mother…her mother. That was when I knew what pure happiness was all about!

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!!!

Happy Birthday Mandy from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Here are this week’s questions-

1. How will you spend ‘the night before Christmas’?

Hunkered down with Hubby and the dogs. We’re doing Fondu and sipping some Prosecco!

2. What is one thing you are not?

Mean. If anything, I am really extremely sensitive

3. Fudge-are you a fan? Your favorite flavor?

I like fudge once in a blue moon. I like chocolate-walnut.

4. Did you attend any craft/vendor fairs in the month of December? Do you prefer homemade goodies or the more professional stalls? Are you giving any homemade gifts this year?

I did go to one Church fair and I bought a handmade gift there. Then, sadly, the other stalls were all “made in Chine” stuff and I left empty handed!

5. What’s your favorite type of holiday gathering?

Casual, family, low key!

6. We’re approaching a new year…what’s going to be different in 2013?

I have absolutely no idea. I’m hoping for good health, and much happiness for my family, and me and all my friends!

7. Share a favorite scripture, quote, saying, or song lyric relating to peace.

From “It’s a Wonderful Life”: “Dear George, Remember no man is a failure who has friends. Thanks for the wings, Love, Clarence.”

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Snow, Sleet and Rain! Seems it’s the season of dreary, yuckiness! I’m breaking out my mud boots, to make a trek to the Post Office and grocery. As usual, I forgot three items at the store.