Dackel Princess

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.

Let It Snow

My phone rang before 8 o’clock this morning. It was my mother, who wanted to talk and talk and talk. She woke me, before I had a chance to visit the little ladies room or walk the dogs, so the five of us were all squirming around in bed! Finally I could stand it no longer, and I put the phone down and dashed to the bathroom!

Then I explained that the dogs were next and I had to go. By then Hubby was awake and our day started far earlier than any of us had actually wanted it to.

When we pulled up the shades, and glanced outside we found 5-6 inches of snow! And, it was still snowing! And as I write now, it is still snowing.

I love snow, don’t get me wrong, but today I actually needed to do a few things. I’ve decided to put it off until tomorrow when the weather will be better.

Meanwhile, Monday was laundry day, snuggling dackels day and watching the dachshunds plow through the snow day!

Dec 3 010

Fritz, Anneliese and Arnie.

Jan 17 011

Greta

Oh, how much fun it is to watch the dackels in the snow! Especially when it is deep enough so they get buried!

I still need to run some errands and buy the last few gifts for Christmas. Then I am done! Well, sort of. I still need to do cooking for Jack!

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 finally got to see Savannah before the snow moved in. What a doll she is! And smart as a whip too! And did I mention incredibly beautiful?

6 month old Savannah & Grandma!

Then I told Hubby that it was shopping day or else. I knew that snow was on it’s way, and we desperately needed food and a few gifts.

So off we went on a reconnaissance mission. Three hundred dollars later, we had food for us, food for the four dogs, a few Christmas presents and some gas for the car, before heading home.

We got back 15 minutes after the dogs dinnertime, but somehow they survived, and after feeding them, we worked to put it all away.

Sunday is a quiet day as the snow started about 10:30. It’s light snow and so now six hours later, it is measuring only about an inch. I call this pretty snow!

Have a great Monday, Everyone!!!