Dackel Princess

Wonderful

Today Gail and I drive to Maine to visit her friend, American Artist Jack Lewis. I ask that you go to this web site and learn a little more about this incredible man. I didn’t know anything about him, until Gail introduced me to his work. Today she wanted to go to Maine to present him with an award and I was the chauffeur.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I have to tell you. Today I met a truly magical man. Yes, I am now not only a fan, but a friend. Jack is 97 years old. He has seen, and recorded so much of the world with his art, and is Delawares native son.

He has a gleam in his eye and a warm and wonderful personality. His daughter, Heather, joined us and she is a delight as well. In many ways, she reminded me of her Dad.

We went to The Stage Neck Inn for our lunch. It is a wonderful spot right on the ocean. In fact when I stepped from my car, I inhaled and the smell of the ocean brought me right back to my childhood on Cape Cod. Salt, the sea, simply wonderful!

I took this picture with my cell phone.

We ate and we talked and shared and I felt as though I had known Jack and Heather all of my life. They were both so warm and gracious!

Even though we spent several hours with them, the time simply flew by! Before we knew it, it was time to leave to go back to New Hampshire and Hubby and the pups.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to go, but I was so torn. Today I met two people I now consider friends. I hope my next visit will not be too far off.

Catching Up

Life has been so full lately that I wanted to quickly catch you up before I get caught up in my next round of activities.

Last weekend I worked at the local Greek Festival. This is my third year working selling goodies there. As I have for the last two years I worked selling Lemon, Fig and Raspberry bars and Apple Turnovers. Previously I have had help with this, but this year it was just me.

Yes I was busier than a one armed wallpaper hanger!

But, I love it and I enjoyed selling all my goodies. They literally flew off of the table. Technically the festival wasn’t due to start until 10 AM, but at 9:15 people were lining up for the Greek and home baked goodies!

Just after the noon hour Hubby and Gail arrived and got in line for the lunch that is served each year. Hubby got an actual luncheon of 1/2 a chicken with Greek spices, a Greek salad and stuffed grape leaves.

I had pastichio, grape leaves, and a Greek salad. I also washed it all down with an ice cold, beer! Oh, did that taste good.

Gail had pretty much what I did. It was a fabulous lunch!

Soon the kids began to do their Greek folk dancing, all dolled up in their Greek costumes. They were so cute and I enjoyed watching them a lot.

What a blast! I can hardly wait until next year!

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Then there was Greta’s appointment with Dr. N. where we found out she was pregnant. Here she is being examined. What a perfect little patient she is!

Me with my friend and their technician, Dori.

I’m so excited about Greta and her litter and I can hardly wait for her puppies to come. Oh well, September 1st will come soon enough!!!

And Greta Is….

PREGNANT!!!

I am so happy for her! I had worried that perhaps she would not be able to have another litter, and that would be a shame. Her puppies are beautiful and she is an excellent mother.

I have to give her boyfriend, Bernie an A+ here. Greta was not an easy girl for Bernie, but he did not give up! What a stud! They do make an excellent couple, and their babies are terrific from their first litter. After all could they get any better than Anneliese and Arnie?

The Vets today said that she is healthy and well and all is right. She goes back in three and a half weeks for her x-rays to determine how many little babies she has inside there. Should we start a pool?

Well I am a happy Mommy. More puppies to watch grow and to teach all about life, tracking and loving.

Puppies, Movies & Pregnant Dogs

Today I received updates and pictures of my two boys, Bogart and Baron. They are both doing well, and changing each and every day. Bogey looks so much like his Uncle Arnie. Quite a handsome fellow. His mom, Alexandra Daley-Clark sent me these pictures of her boy.

Bogart 13 weeks

He is a cutie and Alex is a terrific photographer! Thanks for the great shots.

Then I heard from Baron’s new family. I looked at the pictures and thought, “Wow! He looks a lot like his Mom!”

He is happy with his new family and having a great time. He even went swimming the other day!

It make me smile and feel so great to see these guys doing so well. Thanks for the pictures and keep them coming!

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Gail and I went to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Wow was that good. I am so glad that we had our Harry Potter film festival over the weekend, so we knew everything up to the start of the movie.

I suggest if you haven’t seen the movies in a while, watch them before you go. It really helps to make sense of it all.

After all, we are just mere “muggles”! Ha!

Tuesday morning at 11:30 we take Greta to the Vet’s for her pre-natal exam. I have my fingers crossed that she is, in fact, pregnant.

This & That Sunday

Today was spent watching the Harry Potter series of movies. Gail and I decided to do this in preparation for going to see the new Harry Potter film tomorrow.

Now we are all up to date and ready to face “The Half Blood Prince”! It was so much fun watching them all, seeing the kids grow and change, and actually their acting improved. I still miss Richard Harris as Dumbledor, but I enjoy all the other characters so much. (The good ones anyway!)

It was also Fritz’s birthday, and I got him a piece of cake and a candle and sang Happy Birthday. Now here is the funny part. He is so picky that he wouldn’t eat Angel-food Cake! The dackels liked it and ate the piece quickly, but my buddy Fritz turned up his nose.

Then as we sat watching the films (do you still call a DVD a film?) Greta cuddled up to me and with her two paws, held my hand. Isn’t that adorable?

I talked to Baron’s new owner, Mike to check in with him, and Baron is doing well. I hope to hear how Baerbel is soon. Bogey and Ali are great! When I get pictures I will post them for you.

So, Sunday is nearly over and tomorrow brings a movie day and laundry too. Happy Monday everyone!

Happy 6th Birthday, Fritz

Six years ago our little boy Fritz was born out in Portland, Oregon.

Hubby flew out when Fritz was eight weeks old and brought him home in the super soft, dackel travel bag.

They arrived late and Shubi and I were waiting for them. Oh my goodness what an adorable little fluff-ball he was!

Slowly he settled into our family and I found myself totally captured by his sweet nature and adorable face! Especially his eyes!

Over the years he has grown. He is a big boy, 75 pounds, and still he thinks he is a dackel boy! You see Shubi raised him this way. Even though he is the oldest, he treats the dackels with a great deal of love and respect. He is their brother and protector.

He has the sweetest nature of any of the White German Shepherds that we have had. We are so lucky to have him.

So Happy Birthday, dearest Fritz. We love you!

Friday Happenings

Today, the first post puppy day, we did something wonderful. We made cherry jelly! About 10 days ago we picked the ripe cherries from our trees. We’d eaten a bunch, sold a bunch and had saved a gallon to do something with. Two days ago I cooked the cherries down and made the cherry juice, and today I took the juice, some sugar and pectin and made the jelly. Would it be good? I wasn’t sure.

I followed the recipe in the post below and crossed my fingers.

I needn’t have worried. It turned out really well. We had enough left over to pour into a little dish and set aside for breakfast tomorrow, but we all tasted today and WOW it was awesome.

I heard news that Baerbel had landed at LAX and was now a California girl! I got the cutest picture via my cell phone of Baerbel standing in front of the LAX Welcome sign! Too cute!

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My best friend from childhood, Gail is here visiting. She helped me with the jelly and the dogs also find it quite wonderful that their Auntie Gail is here visiting them. They don’t seem to understand that Auntie Gail is actually here to see me!

Saturday is the local Greekl Festival that I always work at. My neighbor is a member of the church and I like to volunteer and work with her. I’ll take some pictures and post them on Sunday!

Happy Saturday everyone!!!

Cherry Jelly

To Make Juice
Place 1 full gallon of cherries (minus stems) into large pot.
Add 1 cup of water and cook 10-15 minutes mashing the cherries as they cook.
Put cherry pulp through strainer and then place the pulp into a nylon bag and press remaining juice from pits and pulp.

To Make Jelly
3 ½ cups cherry juice
1 tsp butter
1 box dry pectin
4 & 1/2 cups sugar

Place juice in pot and add pectin.
Cook on high heat until it reaches a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down cook 1 minute.
Add the sugar, bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down and cook for 1 minute.
Remove from heat, and ladle into jars that have been sterilized for 5-10 minutes (along with their lids and rings).
Apply lids and rings, tighten.
Place in boiling water and process for 5 minutes.
Place on a towel to cool.
This made 5 pints of jelly.

I had remaining juice and reduced the amounts of sugar and pectin and made a second half batch.

Anneliese’s Litter…The End

Today Rob came to pick up Baerbel. He is Belle’s new forever Daddy. I’d been worried about how she would do, as she had been nervous about meeting new people since her brother, Baron left us last weekend, but Rob is so good with dogs and she is doing great with him and they are bonding already.

Still, it was hard for Hubby and I watch her go down the road. Baerbel is a truly sweet girl, and I think she is more grown up than I gave her credit for. She was ready for her new life, even if I wasn’t quite ready to let her go.

Baerbel, Me, Anneliese and Arnie.

I’d spent the early part of the day taking her picture, walking her outside and cuddling with her. Ah yes, once last smell of puppy breath!

We were so happy to meet Rob and for him to meet Baerbel.

Baerbel is going to his family where there is a Mommy, and two young children to play with. How great is that! Rob and his family have many adventures planned for Baerbel. I just know she is going to have a wonderful life.

Now all the puppies have gone. We opened up the puppy room gates, washed up the floor, put the puppy pen away, and sat down. I looked back over all the pictures, patted Anneliese and thought, “Wow, what a great time this was!”

Happy Birthday, Mel!

Today is my sister’s birthday!!! Happy birthday, dear Melodie!!!

Love you!!!