Dackel Princess

Friday Fil-Ins

Happy Memorial Day weekend to all who celebrate it 🙂

And…here we go!

1. Deviled Eggs — the best food to take on a picnic.

2. Summer barbecues.

3. I never wear flip flops.

4. To love someone is to know the greatest joy as well as the greatest pain.

5. Climbing Mount Washington is a long hike.

6. When I crave food, it’s usually dark chocolate.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to relaxing with Hubby, tomorrow my plans include spending time with my cousin and her boyfriend and Sunday, I want to work at Wienie Weekend with Altrusa. For those that don’t know, my ladies club sells grilled hot-dogs at the Craft Festival to raise money for our outreach programs !

94 Degrees & Anneliese Is Getting ‘Hot’

I almost never wear shorts here at home. On a cruise, or a vacation, yes, I will wear them. However, today the thermometer topped out at 94 degrees (F), so I broke out the shorts and donned a tank top.

I watered my garden twice, turned two of our air conditioners on early and made sure that I filled the dogs water dish three times with ice cold water.

Hubby went to work, I went to Weight Watchers, and then on to get my hair done, before returning home, in the sweltering heat.

I wasn’t home long, when Hubby arrived home, earlier than usual. I was so glad to see him walk up the steps. No one should be out pounding the pavement in this heat!

After getting a cold drink, we set about putting the window air conditioners in the kitchen, office and guest room. With those in place, we can now cool down the house and keep it at a comfy level during this heat wave!

On Tuesday I thought Anneliese had gone into heat, but overnight the telltale signs disappeared, confusing me. I called the Veterinarian and learned that she is probably close, and that this can happen. She encouraged me to wait on having her Health Exam for the trip until her symptoms were nice and strong.

So I tried to chill out and not worry about whether or not Anneliese is in heat and just went about my day. When I arrived home, after I got my hair done, I checked her and there it was again. Just enough to drive me crazy, but not enough to make me sure.

Arnie has been very attentive to his sister, so I am thinking that her heat is just around the corner, and I have decided to not worry about it tonight and wait and see what Thursday brings.

This weekend is our town’s Arts & Crafts Festival! Janet and Dave are coming up to enjoy the day with us. I can hardly wait!!!

Random Dozen

1. Would you rather host a party or simply attend a party?

Oh I love giving parties! I love the preparation, the cooking, the fellowship! Yes, I love giving parties!

2. Tell us about the most memorable party you’ve been to.

I think last year’s 4th of July. I hosted the party and I had all four of Anneliese’s 10 week old puppies running around. It was so great!

3. What is one thing you hope for in the after-life?

I hope the be reunited with my daughter and have the time with her in Heaven that I did not have with her here on earth. I also hope that one can eat anything and everything and not gain weight!

4. What do you enjoy most about sunshine?

The warmth, the happiness, and the promise of another wonderful day!

5. When you attend a bridal/baby shower, do you prefer to bring your own gift or chip in with others to buy a larger gift?

I love to try to buy a unique gift. If it is a bridal shower, I try to find something handmade from my area, like pottery or glassware. Something special, that the bride and groom might not buy for themselves. For a baby shower I love to buy clothes in assorted sizes, diapers and toys and put it all in a decorated wicker laundry basket. This does, of course vary at times.

6. Would you rather have a FREE week of having your house cleaned or all of your meals cooked for you and your family?

Any one who knows me, knows I would take the free cleaning in a heart beat! Since I love to cook, but hate to clean, that makes perfect sense.

7. What song describes your mood today?

Mother Nature’s Son (daughter)

Born a poor young country boy–Mother Nature’s son
All day long I’m sitting singing songs for everyone.

Sit beside a mountain stream–see her waters rise
Listen to the pretty sound of music as she flies.

Find me in my field of grass–Mother Nature’s son
Swaying daises sing a lazy song beneath the sun.

Mother Nature’s son.

8. What is something you received for your own bridal shower/wedding that you still own or use? (If you are not married, feel free to sub a gift you received a long time ago.)

Hmmmm. First marriage ended in divorce, and I have nothing left from that. So nothing there. I got a great set of beer mugs for my second wedding present and I still have those and we use them occasionally because you can put them in the freezer and then have a real frosty brew!

9. Your favorite flavor of ice cream is?

Vanilla, with big chunks of dark chocolate, and dark chocolate syrup on top!

10. When was the last time you felt “tested?”

Tuesday morning when I had to drive my husbands big, standard shift truck to the repair shop! I did just fine, but that truck is a bear and a real challenge to drive!

11. “[Roasted Eggplant] is a food that once I start eating I find really hard to stop.”

12. “The mirror” is the best motivation for me to lose weight.

Cucumbers & Squash & Tomatoes, Oh My!

Okay, I have to say that today was probably the nicest day we have had this year. It was 90 degrees, with bright sunshine and a little breeze. I got out early into my garden to plant my purple and green beans! Then I watered like crazy so that they would germinate.

Of course due to the heat, I had to go out and water again so that they didn’t dry up. I was trying to also do some raking of the soil, but it was so dry and with that gentle breeze, the dirt was coming up in clouds. Not too good for my breathing.

Hubby was working again today, so I was alone with the beasts, and that meant I had time to get some work done out in the green house. In just a few more days I will be transplanting my ‘seedlings’ into the garden.

Here in my growing zone, we wait until after the last weekend in May before putting any plants in the garden. Up until then, there is always the possibility of a frost. However, the way our temperatures have been, I am pretty sure that this isn’t going to be a problem.

And as you can see, my ‘seedlings’ are pretty healthy looking plants now!

I do have four tomato plants outside in large patio pots. These will remain like this all summer and usually I get a lot of fruit from them.

Below, I also have several tomato plants that I started from seed that I will put at the edges of my garden to grow as they may.

Lastly, there are my two beautiful Ichiban Eggplants. (Japanese Eggplants) They are prolific and the fruit is sweet!

I hope that the new fence I have put up around the garden will keep my bunny friends out and my beautiful leafy ‘seedlings’ will grow and flourish!

Cell Phone Madness!

My mission today was to get my cell phone dilemma solved! For the last few weeks, no months, my phone was slowly dying. In fact, have any of you ever tried to call another cell phone and get a busy signal? And do you drop calls all the time? Or experience crackling and then a dead call? Yes, these are all the things I have been putting up with until I could clear some time and drive the 45 miles south to our local Cell Phone Provider.

I didn’t know what to expect…a new phone…high prices…a lot of guff? I was pleasantly surprised by the level of service that I got.

I arrived and was the second person in line for service. My name was called and a very nice young man named Robert helped me. He checked my dropped calls and tested the phone and found that my LG ENV3 was defective. He brought out a new one and programmed it for me, and off I went.

Wow, easy!

However, I am a little paranoid about it. You see I had a succession of LG ENV2’s before they gave up and upgraded me to the ENV3. Five of them to be exact!

I’m starting to think that my electrical weirdness with computers is spilling over to cell phones!

That’s a scary thought!

Hope & Happiness

What a nice Sunday Saturday we had. My cousin Janet, came up for a visit with her boyfriend, Dave. We were celebrating Janet’s good health reports! We cooked chicken breasts outside on the grill, and ate salad, potato salad, and corn on the cob! Since the day was warm and sunny, we spent the entire time outside sitting and eating at our patio table. For dessert I made strawberry shortcakes, and we all devoured them!

After that I re-potted a tomato plant and then we put up the cages around the tomato plants to keep them nice and steady. I still have several more tomato plants that I am going to put into the garden, as well as a few eggplants. Usually I put them into large patio pots, but this year I think it will be easier to have just a few patio pots and the rest in the regular garden.

I’m also thinking that this week I will plant all my grown up seedlings into the garden. I am thinking that we are past the time when frost will kill my garden, but I will wait a day or two before planting. I am so pleased with this years seedlings! They have grown to a huge size and are truly ready to be transplanted into the ground where they can grow and flourish!

So many wonderful things happening this spring! It makes me so happy and fills me with hope! Now if only Anneliese would do her part, then I would be even happier, if that is possible!

This & That Saturday

Another week without Anneliese going into heat. I wonder when she will decide to go ahead and just do it? I know in the past, about the time I am ready to take the little doggy girl into the Vet to see what is wrong, she goes into heat!
Friday night saw me going out for dinner at my favorite restaurant Kevin’s Cafe for their whole Belly Fried Clams. Total yumminess!
I found a great item to donate to the Town Yard Sale. Altrusa is having a spot of their own and I found a bunch of bits and bobs to donate, but the best was an electric bread making machine, with not only the instructions, but a cook book as well!
I brought 50 books to the Library to donate to their part of the yard sale. I love sharing books like that!
My cousin is coming up for a cook out with her boyfriend and that will be nice because we can let the dogs run around and play outside in the sunshine, while the chicken breasts cook on the grill. We can visit and celebrate her return to health!

Have a wonderful Saturday Everyone!

She is Free!

I have not written too much about my cousin’s brave battle with cancer. I did not want to invade her privacy, and also because I have just been plain freaked out at the mere thought of losing her. She has been going through this battle for nearly a year now, and today she got the report that all her blood work and scans have come back showing NO CANCER!!!

She will need to be checked on more often, and we will watch her like a hawk, but for today my cousin, my oldest and dearest friend, Janet is free!

I am so proud of you! In the last year, you have showed me how to be tough. How never to give up. How to keep going. I am not nearly as brave as you. I’m not sure I could have gone through all that you have with such dignity and grace!

I’m sending you, peace, love, blessings and joy! Yes, lots of joy!

Friday Fil-Ins

And…here we go!

1. Fantastic News_ never fails to make me smile.
2. I’m looking forward to celebrating with my cousin soon_.
3. CSI_ is what I’m listening to right now.
4. Potato salad must have _eggs in it!
5. _Roasted eggplant_ was the best thing I ate today.
6. Today was _A really GREAT day.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to a new episode of “Say Yes To The Dress”_, tomorrow my plans include a visit from my cousin and her boyfriend_ and Sunday, I want to get ready for my Germany trip. I’m hoping to pack. One day Anneliese has to go into heat_!

My Wednesday

Rain, clouds, laundry, ironing, cooking.

Boring.

Not even the television provided a good escape. The dogs slept, lest I toss them out into the rain, Hubby worked and I finally, in self defense, got out a DVD to pass the time.

Last night I attended an scholarship banquet. Since I am new to this women’s group I was not too sure what the scholarships would be. I soon learned that these scholarships were for women going back to college! It is women helping women!

My club gave out several scholarships to some wonderful, marvelous women and I am thrilled to be a part of this.I sat with one of the recipients, a young mother of two, going to college to get her Nursing Degree!

The dinner was fine. I chose baked haddock with vegetables, and I drank water and coffee, I resisted a wine or beer for fear of ruining my latest attempts to get back on the Weight Watchers Band Wagon! This week it didn’t make a lot of difference, but I don’t let it get me down. After all, eating this way is something I will be doing for the rest of my life.

I am looking forward to my trip to Germany. (Do you hear that Anneliese?) I will eat as I wish, enjoy the best bread and beer in the entire world, and then come home and really get back to the Weight Watchers basics!

Meanwhile, until Anneliese goes into heat, I need to keep myself busy, and perhaps get the house cleaned just a little better than it is right now.