Dackel Princess

A Mixed Thirteen

I started off my day by waking up with a fever, cough and a lot of congestion.
I dressed, made my breakfast and went to Weight Watchers.
I had worked the plan very intensely this week.
I lost three and a half pounds!!!!!
After class I got the mail.
I came home and literally jumped into my pajamas.
I got out my fuzzy throw blanket and snuggled down with Greta!
She has been taking good care of me all day.
We started to watch a Documentary on Youtube on our smart TV.
I fell asleep half way through, and slept for two hours.
When I woke I was shaking again with the silly fever!
The last thing I wanted to do was cook, so I took just about every leftover in the fridge and made a meal out of it!
I can hardly wait to go to bed!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Share your traditions surrounding the Christmas stocking.

When I was a child, we always got a fresh navel orange and chocolate coins covered in golden foil! The usual candy cane was there too, but the orange and chocolate were my favorites.

2. How many hours of sleep do you average at night? Is it enough?

I try for at least 8 hours a night, but lately it’s been about 6 hours. When it is 6 hours, that is not enough.

3. If you had to give up one thing for the remainder of this year what would it be?

Shopping. It seems that there is so much pushing and shoving and people have totally lost their manners. I wouldn’t miss it for the world!

4. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (or Wills and Kate as I like to call them) have announced they’re expecting a baby. Do you follow news of the Royals?

Oh yes, I’m a real Anglophile! I’m happy they’re expecting (although sad that Kate is so ill), and hope for many healthy children for this young couple.

5. For me, the sound of childhood is during the holidays it was always Christmas music on our town Green. My Dad was the local church organist and he always organized a Christmas sing the night the lights were lit on the Green.

6. Fruit cake-yay or boo? What’s your favorite dessert made with fruit?

I do like Fruit cake, although it is not my favorite. I’d rather have Plum Pudding. My favorite fruit dessert, is just plain cut up fruit!

7. What is one thing you want to accomplish before 2012 comes to an end?

I want to address, sign and get the Christmas letter done and all of them sent out!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Toys For Tots

Every year I find a toy or two and donate them to the Toys For Tots campaign that the US Marines have going. This wonderful campaign, makes sure that each child in the US has a toy to open on Christmas Day.

I got involved after losing my younger daughter. I felt her loss so much at Christmas. I decided that if I couldn’t buy her a present, I could buy something wonderful and donate it in her memory.

This year I am asking everyone in the USA, who reads my Blog, to pick up a toy and drop it off at the nearest donation center. You can find out where your nearest center is, what types of toys they need, and any other information HERE. Imagine being homeless, like the children in Super Storm Sandy areas. Their toys have been destroyed.

Or the children who are homeless and have no one to give them a gift. Your generosity, could make all the difference.

I have not been paid for this post. I am asking, just because it seems like the right thing to do.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas. I hope each child in the USA has a Merry Christmas too!

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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Although I wasn’t super busy this weekend, we seemed to find that the time slipped by. I did get the electric candles in my windows, and started to write my Christmas Cards.

I did a little laundry, but found I didn’t have to cook too much because we had a fridge full of leftovers.

I did discover that my health insurance has skyrocketed, so that I will now be paying close to $1000.00 per month for it. Thank you President Obama. Since he took over my medical insurance has increased $750.00 per month! And I have less coverage than I did before. I despair to think what it will be like when Obama Care goes in to full effect in 2014.

Hubby is sick with a dreadful cold. He coughs and sneezes and I think I will be putting him in the guest room until he gets well.

I’m thinking that I will pull the Christmas tree out of the attic tomorrow, along with the decorations. Then during the week I will work to get it put up all decorated! I did put up my skaters twirling in front of a snow covered church, that Mandy gave me a few years ago. This always makes me feel all Christmassy!

Have a great Monday Everyone!!!

Walking In A Winter Wonderland

The dogs actually let me sleep until 9 AM this morning! I was so pleased and surprised, until I opened the door from my bedroom and saw that it was dark and snowing. Not a lot of snow, just enough to look pretty. And as I stopped, long enough to turn the calendar from November to December, I suddenly felt all Christmassy!

After breakfast I climbed up into our attic and got down the window candles (electric) and the Christmas cards. They are now sitting in my kitchen, but that was as far as I got today. I did get out my Christmas card list, but need to do a few updates (if any of you have moved, be sure to email me and let me know) and tomorrow I will start writing the cards.

I’m old fashioned in that I think I should hand address and sign each card. However, the arthritis in the hands gets worse every year, so if you know a good program that actually will print out sheets of address labels from an address book, let me know.

The entire day it lightly snowed. So beautiful, really. Hubby went out for a while to push around the light snow, but eventually he gave up. I made a fire in our hearth and he’s got football on.

Life is good.

PS: Happy Birthday to my cousin’s boyfriend, Dave!

Pop

Friday morning I was taking a little time trying to figure a few things out on my Kindle Fire. I was set it down on top of the laptop keys and then went to pick it back up and my finger nail clicked the #4 key and it went flying!

That’s right people. I am doomed with laptop computers! I sat there, and fear gripped me!

A new computer shop had opened up, and it is less than a mile from my house. I threw on my clothes and grabbing the computer, and three pieces of the key, off I went to hopefully get that repaired!

First, the two guys were really nice, and yes, they got my key back on and working! Best of all, they are reasonably priced.

I was a little surprised to see the inner workings of my key. Do you realize that most of it is plastic? It was good because, it gave when my finger nail pulled it, still I was amazed that it was fairly simple. I sort of thought it would be more complicated!

In any case the laptop is repaired and I can once again use the number 4 or the $ sign!

I never did figure out the Kindle problem. Perhaps I will do that tonight.

Friday Fill-Ins

And…here we go!

1. Why is it that you always forget one thing to buy at the grocery store, and when you go back for that one thing, you buy six?.
2. How on earth did my pants suddenly go from fitting me perfectly to being super tight, that’s what I want to know!
3. Hold on I’m making a nice stir fry now and we can eat in a minute. (It was very good!).
4. Christmas will be here very soon.
5. Do you set up Christmas decorations even though your kids are all grown up?.
6. I live, I laugh, and I love.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to watching more movies through Amazon Prime, tomorrow my plans include working on the Christmas letter and Sunday, I want to address Christmas cards!

This & That Thursday

I am so tired. I was up for two hours the other night with Anneliese. She was not feeling well at all. Plus she was violently shaking her head. I suspected she had a problem/infection with her ears. They smelled very bad, so after Hubby got up on Tuesday morning (he slept until almost 10 AM!), I called our Vet. No doctor was on call, so I ended up taking Anneliese to the other Vet location.

I saw a lady Vet. Dr. M. She had done Anneliese’s spaying surgery. In any case, I liked her very much, and indeed, Anneliese had a yeast infection in both ears! The doctor cleaned her ears and then put in the medication. She will need to have the drops instilled twice a day.

While I was there I talked with the receptionist. I discovered that their office is open 6 days a week. Since the woman I liked at the other office left her practice, I am not happy that they only have a Vet 2 days a week! So today I moved their records to the Laconia Office, and Dr. M.

So now I am off to an early bed and I promise to be a little more diligent with my blogging.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Which do you prefer-pretty gift wrap with a bow or a pretty gift bag with/without a bow? What percentage of your holiday gifts are currently (as in right this very minute) wrapped in some form or fashion?

I love wrapping paper. The good old fashioned kind! I have my Germany presents wrapped and will mail them off today! Yay me!

2. What is one item on your Christmas list this year?

I want to go out and buy a Barbie Doll and bring it in to the Marine’s pick up area. I’ll be doing this in Katie’s memory.

3. What makes a home?

The love within the four walls. Since Hubby and I are on second marriages, we know that above all, having love is the most important thing of all. Many people feel that things make the difference. However, it is just not true. Trust me on this!

4. Motown founder Berry Gordy celebrates his birthday on Hodgepodge Day-November 28th. Are you a fan of the Motown sound? If so, who’s your favorite Motown artist and/or song? Here’s a list in case you’re stuck.

Some. But I grew up loving the Beatles, The Carpenters, and (I admit), David Cassidy and the Partridge Family!

5. Red or green-which one is more prevalent in your closet?

Red. I really do not look good in green. It causes my skin to look sickly. Ever heard of the saying “Feeling Green”?

6. True or false-bacon makes it better? If you answered true, what’s your favorite dish made with bacon?

Oh gosh, I love bacon, but as I get older, it doesn’t like me! So I tend to use it a lot less. I do love it cooked crisply with over easy eggs! Yum!

7. Share a favorite holiday memory.

My favorite Christmas memory is Christmas 1976. My daughter was born on December 20th.

I had just gotten home from the hospital with my first born baby, Amanda Mae. I remember thinking that I had gotten the greatest gift of my life. This perfect, beautiful, healthy, baby girl Yes, it doesn’t get any better than that.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

To all of you who have been following my closet dilemma, I finally finished cleaning it on Monday! It’s amazing how out of control it had gotten. As I stood in the middle of the closet, prior to starting the cleaning, I felt I was in the middle of my boat after being tossed about in a Nor’easter! It seemed that nothing was where it should have been, and my Christmas count hopelessly lost. Now, the closet contents are folded, stacked and beautiful! How long it will remain this way is anyone’s guess!

Tangy Herb Pork Roast

Ready In: 3 Hours 20 Minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 (5 pound) boneless pork loin
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons soy sauce

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. In a bowl, combine sage, salt, pepper, and garlic. Rub thoroughly all over pork. Place pork in an uncovered roasting pan on the middle oven rack.
3. Bake in the preheated oven approximately 3 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), depending upon your desired doneness.
4. Meanwhile, place sugar, cornstarch, vinegar, water, and soy sauce in a small saucepan. Heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture begins to bubble and thicken slightly. Brush roast with glaze three or four times during the last 1/2 hour of cooking. Pour remaining glaze over roast, and serve.

Hubby and I just love this recipe. Tonight I am making salmon, and I may use this same glaze!