Food, Food & More Food

Friday was a too busy day. I had cooking to do, laundry to do and a report to write. I thought I’d gotten the report done okay, but when I went back and looked (and got a few corrections from various people) I saw the mistakes and had to rewrite some of it.

E-mail-dackel

Now, I think it is done, and I have walked away from it.

I’m also in the middle of making spaghetti sauce. I am making a triple batch and will freeze it for late use. I also have a Sauerbraten soaking to cook on Saturday, and a turkey thawing to cook on Sunday.  After we’ve eaten some of the turkey, I will make turkey soup and freeze it.

Hubby and I also watched a movie. “Gone Baby, Gone”. It starred Casey Affleck and was directed by his brother, Ben. WOW! Watch it. They try to imagine what you would do!

Glasses & Food I Do Not Like

The new glasses arrived and Hubby drove me down to the shop to pick them up. For those of you who wear glasses, you will understand how I felt. I put on the new glasses, with the new prescription and for the first few minutes I couldn’t see anything well.

Then slowly, my eyes adjusted and I am happy to report a real improvement in my overall vision! Since the doctor told me that I will not require surgery for a while, my goal is to have the best possible vision that I can.

Maribeth

We shopped and came home and I made a new recipe.  Chicken and sausage with vegetables. It sounded great, but when I sat down to eat it, I didn’t like it! Now this doesn’t usually happen, thus my lifetime membership at Weight Watchers! I simply love almost all food!!! However this chicken and sausage recipe just didn’t do anything for me, and after three bites, I pushed the dish away.

I did, however, eat all of my beets!

Hubby liked the recipe. He ate well and when I asked he said that he enjoys stews. So I wondered what it was that turned my taste-buds off? I am not sure. All of the ingredients were things that I liked, but together, well….

Tomorrow I am making two steaks. I may have Hubby fire up the grill and cook them outside. I have a real hankering for a good grilled steak!

Happy Friday everyone!

Time

On Wednesday night, I seemed to toss and turn all night long. Finally about 4 AM I settled in, and fell into a deep sleep. Apparently, I’d kept the dogs awake too because they slept deeply as well, and right past their usual wake-up time of 7 AM.It was now 8 o’clock and both Hubby and I needed to be out the door in just a few minutes.

What did this mean? It meant that I grabbed my clothes and ran to the kitchen while trying to put them on. In my sleep I attempted to make the coffee and ended up putting the coffee grounds into the water filler! Of course I did not have my glasses on, so I ran back in the bedroom, grabbed my glasses, went back into the kitchen, and cleaned the coffee maker out and then set the coffee to brew.

Teeth were brushed, dogs were walked, thermoses were filled and we both made it out of the house, only slightly later than we should have.

Time.

After my class, I came home to three happy doggies. One was missing! Yes, Fritz went off with his Daddy for a day in the woods.

I picked the last of my Ichiban Eggplant and made an eggplant parmesan for our dinner. It came out pretty well, and I managed to eat a little before racing off to my meeting.

I finally came home and for the first time all day I am not racing around. I’ve put up my feet and gotten my pajamas on and I’m enjoying the quiet.

Random Dozen

1. Have you, or has someone close to you, ever won an award for anything?

  • Hubby was awarded the Air Medal when he served in Vietnam.

2. Who is the nearest relative to you who has served in the US Military?

  • My husband was an Army Aviator.

3. Share something that stirs the patriotic spirit in you.

  • We’re going to an Army Aviator’s Reunion soon and seeing all those men and knowing how they sacrificed to serve their country always makes me misty. I have been able to visit cemeteries in England and Washington, DC (Arlington National Cemetery) and seeing all those headstones also brings tears to my eyes.

4. Where are you in the birth order in your family? Do you think your “placement” made a difference in your personality?

  • I‘m the baby of my family. I was the last one in, not terribly wanted by my parents, but totally loved by my sister!

5. Name one trait you hope you carry that was evidenced in your parents or grandparents.

  • My grandparents are the example that I tried to follow. I have tried to be honest, loving, and giving.

6. If female, do you prefer wearing a skirt or pants? If male, shirt and tie or polo?

  • I live in New Hampshire, and we have a lot of cold weather. So, I like pants!

7. Approximately how many times do you wake during the night? What do you do to go back to sleep?

  • I’m up 2-3 times at night. Big babies gave me a small bladder! Usually I fall back to sleep quickly, but if not, I have learned to put myself back to sleep through relaxation techniques.

8. Share a favorite movie quote.

Since I have several, I will share my favorites.

  • “You must make your own life amongst the living and, whether you meet fair winds or foul, find your own way to harbor in the end. ” The Ghost & Mrs Muir
  • “May the Force be with you.” Star Wars
  • “I’ll have what she’s having.” When Harry Met Sally
  • “After all, tomorrow is another day!” Gone With The Wind

9. What is your favorite Fall candle scent?

  • Pumpkin Pie

10. What is one Fall activity you’re looking forward to?

  • Making Applesauce.

11. Tell us about a pleasant surprise that happened to you recently.

  • I went to a movie, expecting not to like it at all. We saw “The Town” with Ben Affleck and I loved it!!!

12. What was it like when you first met your in-laws-to-be?

  • My first in-laws were wonderful and I loved them dearly. Sadly, that marriage didn’t work out. My second in-laws were quite elderly and didn’t really accept our marriage and so the relationship was strained.

Numbers

I was watching Kathie Lee and Hoda

NUP_132740_0213

this morning and they were talking about age. You know, if you are honest about your age, or your weight and the numbers that define us.

You all know that in November I will be turning 52 years old. I’ve never been uncomfortable talking about my age. In fact, I’m quite proud that I even survived my twenties, so arriving in my 50’s two years ago, felt good. I feel young inside my head, even if various parts of my body are now heading south, or totally rusting up and falling off.

They asked people on the street how old they were and I was amazed at how many people  didn’t want to answer. Am I the only person on the face of the earth that feels pride at being their age? Do you tell the truth about your age, fudge the numbers or simply not answer?

Now weight is a totally different thing. I shall be 129 pounds until the day I die. No matter the hour, day or year.

mb28

(And the fact that I haven’t weighed 129 pounds since I was 26 years old won’t stop me either!  Just look at my drivers license! 129 pounds!)

Of course, back in my head again, I am 129 pounds, and my body resembles the firm and toned body I had when I was 16 and doing gymnastics! Even my 28 year old body wasn’t too bad, although not quite as good.

I’d just like to think that when I do die and hopefully go to Heaven that slim and perky body will be restored.

One can hope…

What I Did This Weekend

Miss Marple 2

Our host is Gattina. Come join us and tell us what YOU did this past weekend!

My weekend was actually quite full. On Friday I was on my way home from my cousin’s home after caring for her overnight. I was tired and a bit on the cranky side, but when I arrived and was greeted by my very own four doggies, I felt a lot better. Oh yes, and Hubby was also glad to see me!

Saturday I worked around the house, cleaning and doing some computer work before I showered and got ready to go to Mandy’s house for dinner.

My daughter lives about an hour south of us in a town next to where Hubby and I lived when we were first married. The roads are familiar and it was nice to drive down.

Mandy made the most delicious spinach lasagna and garlic toast! I brought a garden salad and her boyfriend’s mother brought a fruit salad. We all sat on their deck drinking wine and beer, and talking in the cool Autumn sunshine.

Time with my daughter is always too short, and before I knew it, we had to leave to come home.

Sunday was Dackel Dog Bath Day! All three of them were put in the shower and washed from the tops of their heads to the tips of their tails! Fritz was off with Hubby, and escaped being bathed again!

I’ve started making “chow-chow” relish. It’s a tomato recipe that calls for you to do half one day, let it sit overnight and then do the rest the next day. I sure hope this relish comes out well. I will keep you posted.

The week ahead is another busy one for me. Tuesday, and Wednesday I have meetings, but Thursday may find me on the road again.

Have a great week, everyone!

Daughters & Memories

Saturday was a great day. I got to spend some time, relaxing and enjoying my daughter, Mandy and her boyfriend, M. M’s parent’s also came by and we sat around talking and joking and Mandy made a delicious spinach lasagna!

The weather was beautiful and we all sat out on her balcony, in the slightly crisp air. Yes sir, it felt like Autumn!

My daughter lives in the town next to where Hubby and I lived when we first were married. Before that Hubby lived in that town, and I lived one town over and so going back is always a trip down memory lane.

This part of New Hampshire has grown like crazy. The strip malls are everywhere and along one road, where there wasn’t one stop light when I first moved there nearly 30 years ago, there are now stop lights every 500 to a 1000 feet! Or so it seems.

And yet there were roads and corners and trees and homes that have remained the same, so that in many ways it felt like we were driving home.

Of course, by the end of the evening, we got into our car and headed back to our real home an hour north, and when we returned we were greeted by 4 happy doggies!

Family & Dogs

I was off to the great state of Massachusetts to see and take care of my cousin, Janet. She really is doing better than she was, but her recovery will be a long one. Her surgery was on her back, and she has a 4 inch incision. She is on massive amounts of antibiotics, and at this point, needs lots of rest.

On Thursday night I did cook my, “World Famous Chicken”

Aug 18 002

It was a big hit, and made Janet smile. So, it was totally worth all the work making it and then cleaning it up! As I said yesterday, I need someone who likes to wash dishes after I cook because I tend to use every pot and pan in the kitchen!

This morning the Visiting Nurse came back again to give Janet her antibiotic infusion. Once again, Wolf got all freaked out! Poor guy. I sat him down next to me and tried to calm him.

Sept 17 007

Eventually he started to relax and respond positively to my calming kisses and snuggles.

Sept 17 006

I stayed until early afternoon when Janet’s friend Lauren arrived. She was going to stay until Dave got home from work. Then he will be with her all weekend.

Saturday I am off to see my daughter and her boyfriend and I have a dog sitter coming to take care of the pups. Am I the only one you know who gets a baby sitter for their dogs? Just call me a loving dog Mommy!

Hold Tight!

I’m down at my cousin’s home showering her with a lot of TLC! I made her favorite meal of Roasted Chicken, green beans, butternut squash and mashed potatoes, and everyone ate like crazy. In fact, Janet’s boyfriend went back for seconds! I was glad I spent the time to make this dinner!

The ride down here from my home went well, and was pretty uneventful. I made it in record time and really never broke the speed limit.

Janet’s dogs were thrilled to see me, and naturally very happy that I took them out for walks. However, poor Wolf really suffers when Janet’s home Nurse comes in to change her dressings and administer her medication.

Today I thought Wolf might have a seizure he was panting and shaking so hard. I sat with him wrapped in my arms so he couldn’t see what was happening and he stayed there for a very long time. I was glad to be able to calm him.

4431550077_8a6a8d9d09_o

Max, Me and Wolf.

After fixing the great meal, it was time for the great cleanup! I’m starting to think that Julia Child had the right idea. Be the great cook, and then let someone else do the dishes!

Later on Thursday I will head home to Hubby, my four dogs and the Great State of New Hampshire!

Weight Watchers, Dresses & Glasses

Wednesday I was running all day long, and here I am at 9 pm, just sitting down to write. Total craziness!

I had Weight Watchers, and did okay. I mean, I stayed the same, so that’s okay. I stayed as long as I could, and then I headed out because I wanted to find a new dress for the Reunion we will be attending in October.

I tried on many dresses and it is amazing how different styles make you look either too fat or just right. After I tried on 6 dresses, I finally found one I like, and at $39.00 I cannot complain at the price. It’s a solid black dress with an A-line skirt. Very pretty. I look very slender!

Then I was off to get my eyes examined and that went okay and I picked out new glasses.

glasses_0

I like these and so I ordered the new ones. They should be here in two weeks.

Our friends from Florida arrived this afternoon for the night. We went to dinner at Canoe and now we are sitting chatting.

Today I will be going to my cousin’s house to take care of her. She is finally home and now it’s time for the TLC! (Tender Loving Care!)