Dackel Princess

Mother’s Day

I’m usually not one of those people who gets too excited about Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, but on Sunday we met up with Mandy and her boyfriend M. and his parents. We went to a fabulous restaurant in Manchester, New Hampshire called Fratellos.

The food was delicious and while we ate, we talked and talked. It was warm and friendly and I felt like I had known M’s parents for a very long time.

Here are the ladies.

And here are the gentleman.

What you see in the picture above were the appetizers. They were awesome! An Antipasto, and Bruschetta with a side order of Calamari, that was cooked just right!

Soon our meals arrived. M. and his Dad had the Prime Rib, while Hubby had the Seafood Fra Diavolo. M.’s Mom had salmon, Mandy had Stuffed Haddock and I had Lobster Ravioli!

May 09 10 007

Doesn’t this look wonderful!

We talked and talked and soon the hostess came over and gently reminded us that they needed to prepare our table for the next seating. So reluctantly we said good-bye.

I hugged my daughter, this beautiful woman who made me a mother, and thanked my lucky stars. She is someone I would want to know, even if she wasn’t my daughter.

My Mother’s Day was complete, and I thank Mandy and M. once again for such a wonderful afternoon!

Einstein

Despite pretty horrible weather conditions, Hubby and I braved the elements, and drove the 45 minute drive to go and meet the World’s Smallest Horse…Einstein!!!

We had heard of this little guy right after he was born on our local news. Born April 22nd. He was far smaller than most miniature horses are when they are born. Overnight, this adorable little guy became a celebrity!

The diminutive horse born in New Hampshire could lay claim to the world record for lightweight foal. The pinto stallion named Einstein weighed just 6 pounds and measured 14 inches in height when he was born. Yes, gentle readers, he is a real horse!

We arrived fairly early and actually got a decent parking place. This was important because it was raining fairly hard. Thankfully, I had my raincoat and two sturdy umbrellas! We found we were nearly at the end of the line at 10 AM!

Fortunately we were in line with some very nice people, and when I look back I can actually say, despite the rain, everyone was in a good mood and we all got along nicely!

As the time went by, we watched the owners take kids for horse rides up and down the street. No one seemed to even notice that the rain was coming down. It was definitely a festive atmosphere!

There were other miniature horses in pens. These horses were so friendly and I can confess to actually kissing one in the nose. They are that precious!

These horses truly were kid magnets, and every time I turned around I found kids running over to pat them.

Even this woman couldn’t resist going over to look at the small horses. As you can see, the weather really was amazingly bad!

Soon we turned the corner and saw the sign on the Barn. “Tis A Miniature Horse Farm”. Oh, my heart started to beat quickly as the anticipation of meeting Einstein hit home!

While we waited, I was running all around taking pictures. I went into the tent where they had other mini horses and I met this Mare who was due to foal any day. I touched her side and could feel her baby kick! It was amazing!!!

And then….we were there, inside the barn and we started down the row to see the babies in the barn with Einstein. This was particularly helpful because the night before a foal had been born and this gave us an idea of what a normal miniature foal should look like. Below is the newborn foal.

In the next stall…. Einstein! I stood on a box and took this picture. A handsome, tiny, sweet boy! Einstein with his Mommy!

The gentleman standing by asked everyone not to use a flash and I said, “Oh, of course. He’s just a baby and the flash would hurt his eyes”. He chuckled and said I was the first one to understand that today! Then he asked for my camera, and took this next picture!

“There’s your picture!” he said, and I leaned over and kissed his cheek and thanked him!

We also met Einstein’s Daddy, who is an award winning Stallion. He was not phased by all the attention.

Then it was time for us to leave, two soaked, cold, horse lovers, who had thoroughly enjoyed their morning and never felt the wet or cold until after we got in to the car to come home.

You can learn more about him and see pictures of him at Einsteins homepage, that can be found HERE.

Friday Fil-Ins

Friday, May 7, 2010
#175

Hosted by my cousin, Janet.

And…here we go!

1. Salsa and chips. Real salsa and real chips!
2. Pastrami and you’ve even got mustard.
3. By the time I get home I’ll be ready for a glass of wine.
4. A good sale is what I look forward to most when grocery shopping.
5. And I was dreaming _of an ice cream come today, but I was strong, and didn’t have it!
6. A dackel,…is there anything else better?!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to putting up my feet, tomorrow my plans include _going to see the worlds smallest horse, Einstein and Sunday, I want to enjoy a nice luncheon with Mandy and M and meet M’s parents!

Fiber One Muffins

FIBER ONE MUFFINS

2 points in 6 muffins and 1 point in 12 muffins.

Ingredients
3 c. Fiber One Cereal
1 c. Skim Milk
1/2 c. Brown sugar, packed (Can use Splenda Brown Sugar)
4 oz Eggbeaters = 2 eggs
2/3 c. Applesauce, no sugar added
2/3 c. Raisins, optional (Add points for raisins)
1/2 c. Oatmeal, any kind, I use old fashioned
1 tsp. Baking soda
1 tsp. Cinnamon + 1 tsp Nutmeg (I use 1-2 tsp pumpkin spice)
1 c. Whole Wheat flour

Preparation
Mix cereal and milk in mixing bowl and let soak. Add sugar, eggs, oatmeal. Add baking soda, applesauce, raisins and flour.
Stir well. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray. Do not use paper muffin liners.Fill muffin tins full with batter (they do not rise much. Bake in preheated oven of 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Makes 12-15 muffins. Eat immediately or freeze for later. Freezes well.

NI: Calories 141; Total Fat 1.5; Fiber 7.5
(Does not include raisins)

Put in any spices you like! I’ve also made them with nutmeg and vanilla, yum!bb

For those overseas, this is what Fiber One cereal looks like.

This & That

It was sort of a wild and busy day, so I decided to just quickly jot down the day’s happenings.

Woke to rainy skies. It makes the early morning dog walk easy. I let them out and they hurry do their thing and run back in!
Took Anneliese out for a ride. Now that we are less than a month to her Heat due date, it is time to start allowing her out to ride, so she gets used to traveling.
She shook like crazy at first, but by the end of the ride, she was acting like she always went for rides like this.
In fact, when we got home, she was showing off in front of the other dogs! It was so funny to watch!
Hubby bought a new Peach Tree. A Reliance Peach Tree. I love the Reliance Peaches, and look forward to the time when they bear fruit!
I bought three eggplant plants (redundant, yes?) and one green pepper plant. Hubby asked me why. That sure is easy. I love eggplant!
After Hubby left to go to work, I spent time in the Greenhouse. I needed to re-pot some tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and Ichiban Eggplants.
Hubby worked late and I was starved. Sine I am working hard on Weight Watchers, I did not blow the diet by eating junk. Instead, I went outside with the dogs and walked around the yard.
Did I mention I now have a pedometer? Love it. I try to do 10 + miles per day.
Since working up to over 10 miles per day, my feet have stopped hurting! Perhaps what they say is true…”Use It Or Lose It”!
The rain stopped, and the wind blew up. The skies are clearing as the sun is setting. I sure hope tomorrow is a nice day!
I made my Fiber One Muffins! That will be breakfast in the morning. Yum!

Randon Dozen

1. What was the last thing about which you procrastinated?

What to cook for dinner. I thought and thought and thought. Finally figured it out.

2. How long does it take you to fall asleep, and do you sleep through the night?

It takes me anywhere from a half an hour to an hour. And no, I don’t stay asleep which explains the exhaustion!

3. Which decade would you choose to exemplify your favorite fashion styles?

I like it now. Although I could see myself in turn of the century clothing. Think “Somewhere In Time”.

4. What is your personal best dish to feed a crowd?

I asked Hubby about his the other day and he said meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans. Probably because he likes them. However, I think my lasagna is pretty good.

5. Are you an impulse shopper? What was the last thing you bought on impulse?

I almost bought a new pocketbook today, but I resisted. It would have been an expensive impulse buy, but I was stronger!

6. What is one wish you have for your own funeral?

That people will laughingly recall the good things about me.

7. If it’s true that joy is found in the simple things in life, what does your joy look like today?

Getting a call from Mandy, and seeing my friends at Weight Watchers succeed! Also the pups and Hubby.

8. What is your favorite type of bread?

Bauernbrot. A nice coarse German bread, that I hope to be eating soon. (hint, hint, Anneliese!)

9. What trait do you fear developing the most? (Laziness, greediness, grumpiness, etc.)

The inability to see the good in the world.

10. What trait would you like most to develop?

The ability to cope with anything.

11. Which room in your house best reflects your personality? Why?

Oh goodness, none of them, or all of them. I’m not really sure. I should ask my husband. Perhaps my little green house. I t is full of dirt and pots and plants. Full of life. I like to think I am full of life too.

12. How do you maintain balance in your life regarding, work, family, church, other organizations and activities, and blogging?

I’m always trying to manage it all. Dogs, Husband, activities and blogging. Sometimes I postpone the housework, but I always put my family first, then the dogs…

I do blog every day though. It was a vow I made when I started Dackel Princess. If I was going to do it, I was going to do it with gusto!

Computer Karma

Today was another long drive as I had an appointment on the other side of the state. The day started out lovely and bright and with the lilacs and the fruit trees blooming, and the flowers out, it was a beautiful ride, both over and back.

I arrived home late in the day, had a chance to have a quick dinner alone, fix a plate of left overs for Hubby before leaving for my evening meeting.

That meeting went well, and quickly, enabling me to get home in time to watch my favorite TV show, NCIS!

I do not believe I mentioned this, but my long time readers will all be laughing, as I fill you in on another computer illness. Now I have the worst luck with computers of anyone I know. I chalk it up to having a strange magnetic field emanating from my body! I cannot wear a watch, as within a week it dies. Whatever the cause, if I touch a machine long enough, it breaks.

We have had our master, desktop machine for 3 years. We don’t use it much for actual work. We use it for storage, as the master of our wireless system, and for things like taxes, the annual Christmas letter and scanning.

I went in the other morning, after a power interruption and the machine would not start! So I unhooked everything, and drove it down to my computer gurus. The diagnosis? A blown Power Unit, a blown Video Card, and seriously outdated drivers.

A considerable amount of money later, the machine is back and plugged in and working. And the curse goes on. At least this time, it was simple hardware replacement, but I am looking over my shoulder for the next computer disaster!

I think I will have to start chanting or something to the Gods, for better computer karma! What do you think?

Happy Birthday Hubby!!!

Today is Hubby’s Birthday. Usually birthdays we spend doing something special. Dinner out, gourmet meal in, but today, Hubby is working and I have a meeting to go to as well. So any celebrations we share will be on Monday night or Wednesday night.

In any case, I wish my dear Hubby a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Happy Birthday Hubby!!! from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

Abundance

Hot. Yes Sunday found us having our first real hot day. The temperature was 87 degrees (F) (or 31C.) here, and it was very humid! The sun peeked out for a bit, but mostly it was overcast and like I said, very muggy.

Sunday, while Hubby was at work, I cleaned, I did laundry, and I ironed. Truthfully, I felt pretty good about it, because I really like it when I get a lot accomplished!

While I was doing all of the above, I watched three movies. All movies I have seen before. The Blind Side, The Lake House, and Julie and Julia. Seeing The Blind Side again, I liked it even more the second time around.

The apple trees in our yard are so totally beautiful! I went out with the pups and took some pictures of the blossoms. Here is a short montage of the beautiful blossoms.

Our Apple Trees from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

We also have beautiful blooming pears.

And in my green house, all the little seeds I have planted are sprouting, with the exception of the regular eggplant. I just do not seem to have the knack for doing that!

Time to kick off my shoes, get my nightie on, and watch some TV. Hope you all have a great Monday!

It’s Spring

I had another long drive Saturday. Long drives always give me time to think, and to ponder life. Which I have been doing a lot lately. So, the drives just afford me the time to do this. There are times I wish I didn’t have to think at all, but life is life, and my mind tends to wander off on all sort of things when I am driving.

So the trip down to my cousin’s went quickly as my mind was racing. There was almost no traffic, and except for one really funny incident, I made great time.

As I was coming into a known “speed control” area, a man flashed his headlights at me, indicating that a speed trap was ahead. I slowed down, and just then my radar detector sang to me, telling me that a laser gun was being used to check the speed. It lasted a moment and then stopped and then started again.

In the car directly behind me, there was an irate man. He flipped me the finger and was just so obnoxious because he wanted to get going faster. I just smiled and kept my speed.

Then suddenly, on the side of the road we all could see a State Police Motorcycle Cop with the laser gun. I smiled again, and I looked in my rear view mirror. The irate man, was waving at me and saying “SORRY”!

Oh how I laughed!

So, I spent the day with my cousin and it was a warm and wonderful visit with her. Warm as in Loving, and Warm as in 80+ degree temperatures! The flowers are all out, the lilacs blooming and there was a pair of Canadian Geese raising their goslings! They were the cutest things, but I had forgotten my camera and couldn’t get a picture.

After I’d helped Janet with a few things I headed back home. Now this too was interesting. As I was driving through Manchester, there was an old bright yellow car following me with a couple of teens in it. They were talking a lot and whoever was driving was not doing a very good job.

Anyway we got to the tolls and they used another lane and roared off. I got stuck after that in a traffic jam and about 15 minutes later I see police cars and two ambulances pull up to the side of the road. I slowed down, looked over and there was the yellow car, in the ditch, smashed into a tree!

I got home, safe and sound, in time to watch the Kentucky Derby. I just knew that “Super Saver” would win, because he was being ridden by my favorite jockey, Calvin Borel! That man knows how to ride a horse and it was a joy to watch him again this year!

Our apple blossoms are out and I plan to spend Sunday taking a lot of pictures. Right now, my back yard is the most beautiful place int he world!

Happy Sunday, Everyone!