Dackel Princess

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What makes you stand to your feet and cheer?

I don’t actually do it at home, but would do it at a sporting event, or recently when attending Hubby’s 50th college reunion, they also had two ladies there for their 75th college reunion! We all stood and cheered!

2. What’s your favorite patriotic song?

I love “America the Beautiful” but I also love “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood.

3. Do you believe that opposites attract? If you have a significant other are you opposites?

To a certain extent. Hubby and I are very different, but we do have similar interests. I think that this is why our marriage has worked.

4. You’re going to get a behind the scenes look someplace…where would you like that someplace to be?

I’d love to go behind the scenes at a Broadway Show. I’d love to see how they change scenery, change sets, costumes, etc.

5. How far would you have to travel to ride a carousel (merry-go-round)?

I’m not really sure. I think Canobe Lake Park is the closest and that’s about 1 our and 15 minutes from here.

6. When was the last time you saw fireworks? What was the occasion? Do you enjoy fireworks?

Yes, I love fireworks. I think the last time I saw them was last year on the 4th of July.

7. Of all the ‘beauty products’ you own, what item do you consider to be the most overpriced?

If I thought they were overpriced I wouldn’t buy them. However, the nail polish at $6.00 a teeny tiny bottle is ridiculous!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

We have finally had three days in a row without torrential downpours. This has got to be one of the wettest spring/summers that I can recall since I was a teenager.

Back then, I think I was thirteen years old, we had a summer (I lived on Cape Cod then), where it was cold and rained the entire summer. That was terrible for the restaurant owners and the motel owners because the tourists didn’t come.

Nothing grew in the garden and everything seemed to have a layer of mold on it. It was so damaging to Cape Cod’s economy that the newsmen spoke of it a lot. It also made quite an impact on me. I think, back then, I thought that life was full of sunshine and roses!

I certainly hope that the continuous rain cycle that we “were” on is over. Time for a little sunshine!

Why Washington Chopped Down The Cherry Tree

We have a couple of wonderful cherry trees in our yard. We planted them years ago, and they have been producing nicely ever since. I love the fresh cherries to eat and I love to make cherry jam! Delicious!

Now here is the problem. We have all dwarf or semi dwarf trees in our yard, but there is this one tree that was obviously mislabeled and it is a cherry tree!

Each winter Hubby prunes it back to a normal size and each summer it grows larger and larger. Why is this a problem? Well, because as much as I love cherries, so does every bird in southern New Hampshire.

We have been, quite literally, overwhelmed with feathered friends. Entire flocks of them! They come to munch on our cherries and I swear to you, they tell their friends, cousins, Uncle and Aunts!

Hubby, a friend, Tina and I attempted to net the one big tree today. The mission was difficult and I swear to God, I do understand why President Washington cut down the cherry tree! For as much as I love those cherries, the only way to get them is to net the tree and that is darn near impossible!

Not only is it hard to net the tree, but the hard unripe cherries fall and can really hurt your eyes if they hit you! So I wear ski goggles to protect my eyes.

I’ve told Hubby that we simply have to chop that tree in half over the winter. We simply have to get that bad boy under control. And then, we must put a net on right after the blossoms are gone.

One thing is for sure, we must do something or like Washington, I’ll be chopping down the cherry tree!

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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It was actually a busy weekend for me, despite the fact that I wanted to be lazy. Perhaps that is a good thing. Being lazy is not something I think I can actually pull off and be happy with. So here it is Friday to Sunday.

Friday I took Fritz in for his yearly exam. He did just great and came through with flying colors. It’s nice to know that at the age of almost 8 he is still in wonderful condition.
Made dinner on Friday and did the usual clean up.
Saturday found me making breakfast and then going off alone to do the grocery shopping.
Went to three stores and the gas station and loaded up on everything.
Made a nice dinner for Hubby and then watched two episodes of “From Lark Rise to Candleford”.
Sunday morning I decided that this pain in my sinuses and face is definitely a sinus infection, so when you read this I am more than likely either calling my doctor or on my way to his office to get some antibiotics.
Made WW French toast for breakfast, and then checked out the garden
It’s finally not raining and so I am enjoying the dryness even if it is still cloudy!
I changed our sheets and cleaned our bedroom. I had some help!

Arnie from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

I also started laundry. We needed our favorite bath sheets washed and dried.
I’m cooking pork ribs for dinner. They’re actually not pork ribs, but lean pork cut like ribs. Yummy!
I plan an early bedtime tonight so I can get in to the doctor early tomorrow.

The Cupboard Was Bare…

Saturday I woke up and peered into the fridge looking for breakfast, and I realized that there wasn’t much in there. An egg, a little bit of cheese, and some toast, but the cupboard was bare!

**Groan**

So, once I had made something for Hubby and me, I grabbed my list and off I drove the 25 miles to the grocery and supply stores. Hubby usually comes with me, but he was watching the tennis and having a lazy morning, so off I went alone.

I went to three stores and a gas station, bought everything on my list and then some, and spent over three hundred dollars. If we are lucky, it will last us ten days to two weeks.

I’d left the house at 9:30 and arrive back at 1:15. All I have to say about that is this: I used to be able to go on long shopping sprees with no problem. Now that I am over 50, well, I get tired.

That is funny. In my mind I feel young and vital. But as I write you, I am really feeling every one of my 52 and a half years!

But now, my husband has food and drink for the weeks ahead, and so do the pups, My job is done! Except I do have to cook it! lol!

What I would like to know is this…when did it happen? How did I suddenly get old? Is it all down hill from here?

Friday Fill-Ins

And…here we go!

1. Getting away for a vacation in the middle of the cold winter, to a warmer place is always wonderful!

2. Coffee, toast and an egg always help me to start my day off right.

3. Coffee, tea or ME! (HA!).

4. Fresh fruits and vegetables in place of junk food, will make me a cute little chick.

5. The lights are bright and my heart is full.

6. Find your happiness. It may be right in front of you!

7. And as for the weekend, Friday night I’m looking forward to watching some TV with Hubby and the pups, tomorrow my plans include writing up a few reports and Sunday, I want to kick back and watch more Wimbledon Tennis!

Rainy Days….

Rainy days and “raining most of spring” will always bring me down.

Usually spring means the end of precipitation and the start of warmer drier weather. Not so, this year. Oh, we did have a few wonderful days earlier this year, but the skies opened last night and we are forecast to have rain on and off for the next week.

I shouldn’t complain, I know. After all, this means I don’t have to stand out and water my garden. I did go out to check on the garden in between raindrops, and found everything blossoming brilliantly!

Still we must all start to think positive thought because the daughter of our friends is getting married on July first. Outside! I’m sure they can set up a tent, but…

I have a lazy weekend ahead and then next week will be a little bit on the crazy side. That’s okay though, with the wedding and the meetings I will be attending, it will keep me busy!

Thursday Thirteen

It’s summer! Here are some miscellaneous thoughts on this hot Thursday. It seems I’ve been busy with this and that, and so I will share with you what I’m up to.

Wimbledon has started! I love to watch tennis and thankfully we have Direct TV which offers great coverage during the week. We put it on at breakfast and just leave it on during the day as we do our chores.
The garden is growing quite well. I was concerned with the cucumbers as a whole, but suddenly all but one hill of them are doing well. I will not get the pickling cucumber seeds next year that I did this year, because over all, I am just not happy with them.
I brought Hubby’s trousers in to the dry cleaners, and guess what? They have lost his pants! I couldn’t believe it! They are still looking for them, but it appears that they are truly gone.
If said trousers do not appear, Hubby gets a new pair. He will have to go to a special men’s shop due to the length of his legs! Hubby is 6 feet 4 inches tall, and most of his height is in his legs!
Taxes are paid. **GROAN** Until December.
We have had the most awesome weather this week. Just what summer should be. Bright blue skies, sunshine and warm temperatures. The humidity has been low and it makes doing anything that much nicer.
I went to Weight Watchers on Wednesday! I lost one and a half pounds!!! It makes me feel that I am finally doing something right.
One thing I do know is that it is important to me to keep on this plan. With the history of obesity in my family, as well as diabetes and heart disease, taking care of my body and my weight is important!
I went out to lunch with a friend of mine on Wednesday and before I went I decided to go, enjoy, but to stay on plan and only eat what would be good for me. I had a salad with lobster, but no mayonnaise and no salad dressing!
By the way, have any of you tried a spinach salad, with strawberries, goat cheese and raspberry vinaigrette dressing? Oh wow! is that tasty!
We have friends coming for dinner tonight. We’re cooking Sauer Braten, mashed potatoes and sweet and sour red cabbage! It’s an old family recipe for the Sauer Braten, straight from Germany.
I’m looking forward to our cherries getting ripe. I think we are two weeks from that. Oh yum! Fresh cherries and cherry jam! Today we netted the trees against those thieving birds!
Yesterday was my cousin,Janet’s birthday. I just want to tell her again how much she is loved!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Summer’s here-whoohoo! What’s your favorite sight, sound, AND smell associated with summer?

Sight: My growing garden.

Sound: The children playing at the beach in front of my house. Just think of all those giggles.

Smell: Anything being grilled on a charcoal grill. I am such a foodie!.

2. Fireflies or lightning bugs…what are they called in your neck of the woods?

Actually they call them both, but I guess fireflies is what I tend to use, when I refer to them.

3. What is something from the past week that reminded you of your childhood?

My little community just got done hosting Motorcycle Week here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. I grew up on Cape Cod and summers always meant crowds. So the past week with all the crowds makes me think of growing up in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

4. Define ‘the good life’.

I suppose not having to worry about bills, the laundry, and having the freedom to do what I want, when I want. Wait! I did that when I was about 13! LOL!

5. Tell us what we’d see if you took a snapshot of your desk/work space?

Right now that space is a work in progress. It’s terribly messy, but I hope by Sunday to have the office finally finished and clean!

6. Peaches or watermelon…yes, you have to choose.

Since we have our own peach trees I will say…Peaches!

7. Ever been skinny dippin’? Is that too much for the Wednesday Hodgepodge? Rest assured we won’t need details…unless of course you feel you must but remember, this is a family friendly blog so keep it G rated.

When Hubby and I lived in Florida, we had our own pool, that was caged in and was very private. On a really hot night I would slip out and take a dip! So, yes, I have skinny dipped!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Today is my favorite cousin’s birthday! Go on over and wish Janet a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday, Jan! Love you!!!!!

Wonderful Monday

Monday was the nicest day we have had in New England all summer long! Pleasant temperatures, bright blue skies and low humidity! I mean, how good does it get?

Hubby puttered around in the orchard, we both worked to water the garden and the potted plants on the patio, and I decided to try out the new laundromat, washing my heavy cotton blankets.

What I found at the new laundry, is a clean place, with new and well cared for machines, a family owned business, where someone is always there. And everyone was so nice! Best of all, the prices were reasonable, and since I had errands to do, I didn’t worry about leaving the blankets in the wash with the pleasant gentleman working right next to the machine.

So, I got the blankets done, and brought them home to dry, and then it just seemed that the rest of my day was terrific. The dogs were good, Hubby was in a good mood, my computer worked well….it was all good!

Tonight we’re grilling steak (for Hubby) and chicken (for me) with some baked potatoes and a spinach, strawberry and goat cheese salad, with a raspberry vinaigrette.

Yeah, I guess I do talk about food a lot! lol!

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 woke Sunday morning to the sounds of crows outside. There must have been something on the road below interesting them because they stuck around until I went outside with the dogs and then they flew off. While the dackels roamed the yard and I picked up the newspaper, I heard the sweetest of calls. That of the Loon.

Many of you may recall the movie “On Golden Pond” with Katherine Hepburn and Henry Fonda. Well that was filmed very close to our home here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Although my lake is not the lake in the film, we also have Loons on our lake, and their sweet calls speak to me in a way that not many other birds do.

Here is Hubby with the dogs (Fritz, Arnie, Anneliese, and Greta) at the top of Rattlesnake Mountain overlooking “Golden Pond” also known as Squam Lake. This is a great hike for people and for their dogs too!

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On Saturday I did paperwork for our Library. It took me a long time, but I got it done. Five written pages. All that is left now is to organize about 12-15 pages of documents. Then I will be done with that. In the afternoon the skies opened and it just poured rain, so I didn’t have to water the didn’t have to water the garden.

Friday, Hubby sold his motorcycle, and when our friend came to pick it up, I had lunch all ready for them. I’d planned to do nothing on Friday, but I was so happy to have something fun to do like make lunch for friends!

What did you do this past weekend?