Dackel Princess

Life

On Saturday after I got done writing my 5 page report (I still have another 12 or so pages to organize), I went out to capture a few pictures of my growing vegetables. I have these itty-bitty baby vegetables that are so darn cute right now!

I’m always amazed at how fast they grow. Last night I went out and the squash and zucchini were only about two inches long. Today they are three and a half!

Quite honestly, I didn’t notice this darling little green pepper yesterday when I was watering the plants, and yet, there it was today!

The tomato plants are all blossoming, but I swear I looked for little mini tomatoes and could not find any, but there is hope, as there are flowers!

I even checked out the fruit trees and found this tiny baby peach all fuzzy and cute.

I think this time of year is probably my favorite. I watch the vegetables and the fruit growing and there is so much life around me!

What The Heck?

I started to have a problem with my Web Browser. I simply could not unlock certain web pages and it was making me crazy. So, I decided to reinstall the program and see if I could “fix” the problem.

I would not recommend this for the faint of heart, nor for anyone with high blood pressure.

The first thing that happened was it just locked up my computer! Then it just deleted all my bookmarks.

Crapity, crap, crap, crap!

Earlier in the day, for a reason I will never know, I decided to back up my bookmarks and so I actually had them all, but they needed to be put in and then sorted out.

So, how did I spend my Friday night? Getting my computer to work the way it should! And how was your Friday night?

Friday Fill-Ins

And…here we go!

1. One of my favorite birthday presents was the year my sister gave me a surprise party. My Dad and Uncle were still alive and it was so special for me to have everyone together!.

2. I wrote down every thing I ate and lost weight, it was as simple as that.

3. The moon also rises.

4. My lunch includes vegetables and protien every day.

5. I was tempted by The fabulous picture my cousin sent me of Fried Clams!.

6. See knew things and new places are some of the things I like to do on vacation.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to cooking a roast beef, tomorrow my plans include working on a report and Sunday, I want to weed the garden and pay bills!

Thursday Thirteen

This weeks Thursday Thirteen finds me sharing with you thirteen things I am thinking about right now.

I lost a fair amount of weight at Weight Watchers yesterday, and I only have five pounds to go until I reach my goal!
This made me quite giddy this morning after class. I felt really proud of myself!
I did not reward my achievements with food as I have previously done.
I came home and enjoyed a large diet lemonade! Made with real lemon!
I thought about what to make for dinner. I stood and stared into my freezer.
I grabbed some clams and clam juice from Memorial Day and made Weight Watchers Clam Chowder.
It is nearly done and I can smell it. YUM!
I did taste it and it really does taste good.
We had sunny weather today, so pleasant, but it is clouding up.
I need to go and grocery shop for fresh vegetables.
It will not be long until my garden is producing.
Then I can just go out and pick some squash and saute it up!
Life is good and I am happy!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What is one thing on your bucket list? If you don’t have a bucket list let’s pretend you do.

Going to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. Since they are in the same hemisphere I would try to do them during the same trip.

2. What makes a good dad?

A Dad who is never too busy to talk to their kids, and spend time with them as well. In this day and age, it is not always possible for Dad’s to spend a lot of time with their kids, but finding those moments, where you can communicate with your kids, makes all the difference. A friend of mine probably doesn’t even know this, but I think he is a great Dad and Grand-Dad. I love his easy going ways, and how his kids and grand-kids love him.

3. Are you afraid of insects? Which ones?

I hate black flies because of my allergy to them. I swell up like a balloon! I do not like Scorpions, but other insects don’t freak me out too much.

4. We’re barbecuing…what’s on the grill at your house?

I love to cook ribs, chicken, or swordfish. That’s lately. The usual burgers, hot-dogs and steak are fine, but I’ve been going more low-fat and healthy meat meals. Grilled vegetables are fun too!

5. Do you believe that playing is more important than winning?

Yes. When Mandy was little and we taught her to play Backgammon, we taught her all the basics and the rules and then let her go. I think she was 5 or 6 years old when she beat one of my husbands MIT educated friends, who has not recovered to this very day!

6. Do you tan? Use self tanners? Visit tanning salons? See your dermatologist at least once a year?

I actually worked in a Tanning Salon and had a super dark tan at one point. But then I started working somewhere else and then I stopped tanning.

I had cancer surgery 3 years ago for a skin cancer on my face, so I no longer tan. I liberally use sun screens and I really need to get back and get my skin checked by the Dermatologist.

7. Five years ago I would never imagine that today I would_______________.

Be so successful on Weight Watchers. I am so close to my goal and I am feeling like I finally understand the new program.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Today I am visiting a different Weight Watcher’s Meeting because my usual meeting has been canceled due to “Bike Week” here in The Lake’s Region of New Hampshire. My little meeting center is being used as The Police Station! I’m sure they’d love it if I showed up with my running shorts and tank top on!

Our Garden

Monday found Hubby and I braving the mosquitoes and going out into the garden to work. We’re in between rain, so this was the only time we could weed and tie up the peas. So after our breakfast, we sprayed down with bug spray and headed out.

A Super Sweet Tomato Plant.

Hubby will tell you that HE did not use the bug spray. He claims that they like that stuff. He also claims they never bite him. I say it’s because he isn’t sweet enough for a mosquito to want to bite…but they love me. So I spray myself down liberally!

We worked quietly, with just Fritz for company. The dachshunds had dashed off, so they were scolded and put inside. Fritz just kept walking back and forth while we worked. Hubby hoed the weeds and I tied up the peas. In two hours we had it all done.

A Summer Squash plant with flower.

The garden. All weeded and in the back you will see the trellises for the peas.

I came in and made our lunch, and after that we finished the planting of my herbs. Now it is all done, except I have a few bonus plants that I’d love to give away. Anyone want a cucumber, summer squash or zucchini plant?

The sun finally came out at supper time, but there are still many clouds in the sky. I looked back over the day and I was happy that I was able to get so much done.

Katie 1978-1985

If tears could build a stairway,

And memories were a lane,

I would walk right up to Heaven

To bring you home again.

No farewell’s were spoken,

No time for goodbye,

You were gone before I knew it,

And only God knows why.

My heart still aches in sadness,

And secret tears will flow,

What is meant to me to lose you,

No one will ever know.

Author Unknown

Katie Memorial from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

You can read all about Katie and I and the accident HERE.

I Am….

I worked today helping out a friend at her store. She needed me to clean and answer the phone for her. Well, I started in cleaning and three and a half hours later, the place looked fabulous and smelled great. As I sat down to have a coffee break, I noted that I really need to do the same thing at my house.

Why is it that my house is not as clean as my friend’s shop? Well it could be because of the computer. I’m afraid I spend way too much time on my computer. I love it..I love communicating. I love watching the world go round. I love my computer.

What I need to do is learn to limit. I need to limit the time on the computer until I get my house in shape, and then after that, I need to tell myself no computer time until I get my housework done each day.

So, there you have it. I’m finally admitting it.

I am a computer junkie!

Stormy Night

Thursday found us having an incredible storm move through our area. We had 48 mile an hour winds, and when Hubby and I looked out our front window we saw the the biggest down draft I have ever witnessed push down on our lake. The sky was black and the trees were blowing so much that I feared that they would be pulled out of the ground and thrown up in the air!

Our power flickered off and on, and so we decided to unplug the TV and the laptops , although we left the router on so we could stay on top of the weather reports and radar.

It felt like the storm lasted a long, long, time, but it actually was only about half an hour. The rest of the evening, the lights flickered, but we never did lose power. Many of the surrounding towns were not so lucky.

Some towns had to close their schools due to the trees down and the lack of electricity. When I arrived at work, we had no Internet, as the router had been fried. At least the computer there was fine.

As customers came in, they told their tales of the storm. One man had his roof shingles ripped right off his house and several large trees snapped in half.

Even my sister, down in Connecticut had damage at her house. Here is a tree that came down in her yard.

Friday was sunny, bright and cooler. Interestingly, during the storm yesterday our temperatures went from 92 degrees (f) to 68 (f) in half an hour! Yes, it was a rather crazy, wild ride.

Friday Fill-Ins

And…here we go!

1. I remember when I first heard my daughter cry in the delivery room! There was such joy in her birth.

2. Rain showering down watering my garden.

3. Most humans fail to learn the most important thing in life. To love and be loved.

4. I tripped over my own feet while walking across an open walkway…sound familiar?

5. I was inspired by my cousin Janet to start this blog.

6. I’m hoping to take a trip next year. But, who knows where I will go!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to come home from work and make a quick dinner, tomorrow my plans include working half a day and then coming home to pick up my blankets and bring them to the laundry and Sunday, I want to read the paper, weed the garden a bit and make Hubby a nice dinner!