Dackel Princess

Goodbye My Friend

Today I learned that a woman I had known and admired for over thirty years had passed away. Her name was Lila Jean.

She was a remarkable woman, having gone to college and married her college sweetheart. He was an officer in the Army and she was a wonderful military wife and mother to their children. Lili Jean and Bill were together for over seventy years.

Although I am sure Lila Jean had moments of sadness and despair, what drew me and everyone who knew her to her, was her bright positive personality and the fact that she chose kindness over hate every time. And she did it with gusto!

I met her when I was a new wife to Jack. We attended a Reunion and I knew no one. But soon Lili Jean was at my side and I found I had a friend. She made me laugh and smile and suddenly I felt like I was a part of something.

Over the years we met up each year at the Otter/Caribou Association Reunions all across the country. She was always the first person I looked for. In the last few years due to Covid, none of the Reunions were held. So I hadn’t seen her for a while, but we kept up via Facebook.

Still, the sadness I feel at her death has really moved me. God Bless you, Lila Jean. I will miss you and one day, I hope, I will see you on the other side.

A Dog’s World

I have been working to get Lili to accept that the puppy is here to stay. Lili didn’t seem to mind the puppy, but she was like a new fiancee going to meet her future inlaws. Lili has been on her best behavior. Afraid to do anything wrong.

I knew the day would have to come when Lili got sick enough of Heidi to let her know, that she wasn’t going to accept ankle-biting, ear-biting, and other obnoxious treatment from this young whipper-snapper.

That day was yesterday. The pups were up early and then Heidi was like a whirling-dervish. Go, go, go!

She ended up biting at Lili’s ankles and this time, dear, sweet, Lili turned around, and growled and snapped at her. I was monitoring, so I could see that this was doggy-puppy instruction, because immediately Heidi backed off and stared at Lili. She tried again. Again Lili growled and snapped her mouth in the air. This went on for a moment or two and I called Heidi and told her to stop. She left poor Lili in peace and then played with her bones and toys.

Later in the day, Heidi was playing tug of war with me, and Lili came over to see what we were doing. I got Lili to take the rope and for several moments they played with the rope together before Lili walked away. But this is a start!

Aside from this, Heidi is still in puppy learning mode and doing well. It’s now two weeks since her last accident, which is encouraging. She never used the pee pads I bought. In fact, I don’t even put them down. So I have 48 pee pads that will go unused.

Is Heidi completely toilet trained? No. But she does know where to go and has started to go right to the door when she needs to go out. Since I decided early on to devote myself to doing this and training her to the leash, coming when called, etc while she was still young, I have been very busy. Even during the Flu. Even during snowstorms. But the progress is amazing.

So the girl is not just beautiful, she is also smart! How did I get so lucky?

Life Is Good

Like many new mothers of active puppies, my days are filled with periods of manic activity and then an hour or two of cuddling with my little piranha-toothed baby.

I can actually tell you that the only problem I have with this sweet girl is her teething. Oh my goodness, will I be glad when that is over, I am sure Lili will agree!

But Heidi has brought such joy to us and once again our home is alive with new life.

Heidi isn’t like any of my previous dackels. I guess none of them have been like each other. All were individuals who stole my heart. But it’s this marvelous breed that I love so much.

The wire-haired dackels are funny and feisty and fearless. They are loving and devoted, and once they claim you, it is for life. Those innocent eyes can change to devilish merriment in an instant and then a little body moves into your lap and you look down to see closed eyes and a sleeping, snoring little puppy.

Yes, I’m smiling more these days. My days are full, and when I sit down for the evening around 9:00 PM, I am almost instantly asleep. Hiedi is wonderful. She is everything I’d hoped she’d be and so much more!

The Weekend Wrap ~ January 24th

The weekend was a busy one. Despite the frigidly cold temperatures and my continued flu/cold, I managed to make meals and bring Heidi to commune with nature. And even with all the ice around my house, I have managed to slide and not fall. All positives!
Me and my girl. (Please don’t look too closely at me. I know I look terrible. I call this Flu Face!)

I dragged out my food scales, planned my menus for each meal, and currently have two days under my belt.

Heidi is growing and changing each day. I know her schedule pretty well, and I make sure to walk her then, as well as watch for signs that she needs to go out.

She is pretty smart and thanks to her breeder, who kept the puppies meticulously clean, Heidi came to me wanting this. I used just two of the puppy pads that I had, and then after a few days of her totally ignoring them and actually sitting by the door, I chucked them.

Heidi loves the sunshine and will sit anywhere there is the warmth of the sun. She also loves her toys and her chew bones. In fact, the little devil will beg for her chew toys, and then when I give one to her and to Lili, she will run off with her bone, and then rush back and steal Lili’s bone!

I love how the winter sunshine dances on her coat, making it appear almost reddish/gold.

I am buying her only things made in the USA, and sourced here as well. Her food does cost a bit more, but it is made here. The chew bones I get are also made here. It’s all about reading the fine print.

So that wraps up the weekend. Slow and steady as Heidi adjusts and I work to feel better.

Brrrrrrr!!!!

Well, I’m quite simply, ready for Spring!

I woke on Saturday morning to -14 degrees! I put on my down parka, hat and gloves, Then dressed Heidi in her sweater, hooked on the leash, and went out for our first walk of the day. Heidi took three steps and quickly did her business and then ran back inside, and curled up in the blanket. I followed. At 5:30 AM, I wasn’t quite ready to get up.

Later on, I saw that I had a ton of mail. As much as I didn’t want to go out, I bundled up and went to get the mail. I was happy that I had brought my tote bag as I had a full mailbox plus packages. (One package contained 2 Covid 19 tests I had ordered before the Biden Give-a-way!

I finally started back on my healthy eating plan, and so I have been a bit grumpy. I think the first week off of all sugar products is the hardest.

Heidi is doing very well. She is almost sleeping through the night and despite the bitter cold, she is asking to go out.

Those of us in the deep freeze, stay warm, and everyone else, I am jealous of your warm temperatures!

The Friday Five ~ January 21st

Here we are another week gone by. It’s been so cold here in New Hampshire that Jack and I live in long underwear with layers over them, and for me, a blanket too. Besides freezing up here, this week, this is what’s going on in my world.

On Monday we called to order oil for the tank. We were down to just below a quarter of a tank, and with single-digit- below zero temperatures we knew that wouldn’t last long. On Thursday we were very nervous about running out, then the Oilman cometh! 219 gallons later, we are no longer worried about that and having to deal with freezing pipes.
It’s been fun to watch Lili and Heidi become friends. Although Heidi can still bug Lili when they play.
Mostly, they play together nicely. Lili allows Heidi to lick at her and snuggle her.

Heidi will roll on her back telling Lili that she means no harm. And Lili starts playing once again.
Heidi went to the Vet on Thursday for her shots. She weighed in at 11 pounds. I guess this means she’s eating well here and likes her new home. Our Veterinarians love her and joke that they would take her in a heartbeat!
I am slowly starting to feel better from the Flu. This has been a tough one to kick. I am sure glad I went and was tested for Covid, Strep, and the Flu, or I would have mistakenly thought I had Covid.
I’ve been home for a few weeks now, but aside from the dirty clothes that I removed from my suitcase, the case is not unpacked. I plan to set aside time tomorrow to unpack it and put the case away. I don’t see myself traveling now for a while.

So there we go. This week’s Friday Five. All good and positive things as we head into the weekend.

I hope you all are well and enjoying your days. And most of all, I hope that Covid departs very soon!

Heidi Almost 13 Weeks

I am sitting here thinking that Heidi is a prodigy. Here she is 13 weeks old and she is nearly housebroken. I say this because she shows a desire to go outside for all of her business.

Why over the weekend, she started barking at the door. However, I know that at this young age, I still have to stay on top of things with her and take her out every few hours.

Heidi is a sweet thing, but still has episodes of puppy nibbling. I have given her things to chew on as she teethes, and that has helped. I will be so happy when those pesky baby teeth are gone and she loses the desire to gnaw on everything. (Including her Mama!)

She goes in tomorrow for some shots and another Vet check. I can hardly wait to see how much she weighs and how she is doing.

We’re still sleeping in the recliner and I expect it will be like this for a few more weeks. She does very well curled up with me in the recliner. I want to make sure she is completely housebroken before I attempt sleeping in my bed.

I feel so lucky to have this little girl in my life. In many ways, I think all my previous Dackels told God to send her to me. She is truly a gem!

The Weekend Wrap ~ January 17th

The weekend proved to be a fairly quiet one for me. Aside from taking Heidi out to potty every hour or two, I was able to get some much-needed rest.

Do any of you recall the blanket I crocheted that was so bad, and pilled? I had to get a fabric shaver to make it look presentable?

Well, I pulled it off the back of the sofa, and since it is so heavy and warm, it has become my sick blanket. Oh, it is still pilling, and when I am well I will need to de-fuzz and de-pill it once again.

As I sat watching movies and contemplating life, I was reminded about the values instilled in me by my parents and grandparents. Doing what is the right thing to do in a calm and respectable way. (Not that I have always achieved this, but in later years, I certainly have tried.)

Then I watched the movie “Some Kind of Wonderful“, which is probably my favorite of the John Hughes films about growing up. There is so much in it about the right and wrong choices in life, and I wish people could watch and learn from it. If you have never seen it, find it on a streaming service and watch it.

Heidi is doing very well. She and Lili are becoming friends and she is also taking over the house.

Gone is that little bit of puppy fear of new places, without her Mom and Dad and littermates, and now she has accepted Jack, Lili, and me, as her family.

I’m not really using the crate. I mean it is in the room, with no door on it, and she actually uses it as a child would use a blanket fort. She races inside carrying a toy, rolls around, and then races out. It’s fun to watch.

So really, that was pretty much my weekend. Quiet, resting, and being a doggy Mama when needed. I hope your weekend was a good one!

Hurry Up & Wait!

On Thursday, with concern that Monday would bring heavy snow, I decided to venture out to our walk-in clinic and get tested for Covid.

I’ve been feeling unwell for a few days, and I’d convinced myself that I’d be just fine and I didn’t need to go. But when I started having breathing problems, I felt that I was just being silly and I could handle the Q-tip up the nose and just know for sure.

Usually, you walk in, get seen quickly, and then off you go. Yesterday was not like that at all. With the surge of the Covid variant, Omicron, the place was a Zoo and I was given a waiting time of 2 hours (to be spent in my car). Wanting nothing more than to drive away, I gritted my teeth and went back to the car to wait.

After close to two hours, I went inside to check on my status on the list. I was told it may actually be another two hours! I was asked to go home. I told them I couldn’t do that as I live ten miles away. The secretary was sympathetic and told me to wait in the mall area. A few minutes later, she came and got me.

I was tested for Covis, Strep Throat, and The Flu. It was the longest 15 minutes of my life. But the Nurse Practitioner came back and told me no Covid, No Strep, but it was the Flu!!!!

In all my 63 years I have never been so happy to be told I have the Flu! I felt so light as if I could dance right there!

I went to get my prescriptions, and my pharmacy is conveniently in a grocery store, so I picked up food that is easy to cook, and a few other things as we are due for that storm.

Then, with worry in my heart, I came home to see if Heidi had behaved for her Daddy. She had done well, and the house had remained in one piece.

So I am taking it easy, which is a bit hard right now as we have -10 below zero for our morning wake-up weather, with a stiff wind. Heavy snow is due on Monday with totals of 8+ inches.

But I can be lazy and sleepy and take care of this Flu. And hopefully, get over it quickly.

Sometimes it is better to know what’s going on than to be left in the dark imagining the worst.

The Friday Five ~ January 14th

The week sped by, and as I am a new Mom to baby dackel, Heidi there are not enough hours in the day. Here are the top five things on my mind this week.

1. Tuesday was a big day. I had to drive all over New Hampshire, as Jack had appointments. The roads were fine, but we left here at 8:30 AM and didn’t get home until 4:45 PM. It was also a big day for Heidi as she came with us!

Heidi on the go!

2. On Tuesday night I started to feel crappy. Tired, congested, coughing, and sneezing. I fell asleep in my chair and Jack claims I was snoring loudly. (Who, me?)

3. Wednesday I felt like I had a cold. All stuffy, tired, and with a giant frog in my throat.

4. The symptoms have stayed about the same and so I have not gone and been tested. I really think I have a simple cold. Jack is fine.

5. Heidi is teething, and she is chewing on everything. Bones, toys, me, and poor Lili. We are correcting her and look forward to the time when she is done with teething. For now, we keep providing chew toys and then when we must correction. Which is so frigging hard to do because she has the most innocent face ever!

So that’s my week. I hope you are all well!