Author: Dackel Princess

We’ve been working hard to organize and decide what we are cooking for the dinner after the service for my Dad. Yesterday we went out to BJ’s and Stop & Shop and got the things we needed and this morning we will be cooking up a storm.

We did take my Mom out for breakfast yesterday to a place that she and Dad went to whenever they could. Their favorite waitress took care of us and we ordered one of dad’s favorite’s, Strawberry Pancakes! yum!

I was amazed to discover that I can’t eat the way I once did. I filled up very fast and ended up leaving things on my plate. An unheard of event a few years ago. Mostly I craved coffee, and they make great coffee there!

We came home to Mel’s in time for lunch, and Mel made us roasted asparagus! Oh WOW, that was good! We also had Portuguese Sweet Bread. Also a big YUM!

I then noticed my niece’s cat Annie lounging on the foot stool and took a picture for Gattina and her cat Arthur! Now you can see, Gattina, why I love Arthur so much!

We also have made a collage of picture to have at the supper after the service, showing Dad thorughout his life. I think it came out well.

I got down to my sister’s home in fairly good time. I’d actually left later than I usually like to because my windshield cracked and I had to wait for the repairman to come and replace it. He showed up early and by 11:30 I was on my way.

The sky was bright, the sun was warm, and the traffic light as I made my way along the highway. I listened to music most of the time, but as I neared Mel’s home, I shut it off and just listened to the noise of the road, and the thoughts running around in my mind.

I don’t suppose that it is ever easy to bury your father. I found myself thinking of all the times throughout my life when I’d done things with him. School, church, barbecues, clambakes, weddings, and funerals. I just kind of let my mind go and remember, and grieve a little, quietly, calmly.

The next few days I will spend with my Mom and sister as we make the last minute arrangements, and set things up for Sunday’s service.

For tonight, I plan a good night’s sleep and the comfort of spending this time with my family.

Part of the wonder of having lived through a closed head injury is that my short term memory is not always that great.

For instance, I must always have a list when I go shopping because I simply cannot recall anything when I get into a store.

I can remember that I do actually own a back dress, but totally forget that it is size 14 and since being on Weight Watchers, I am now wearing a size 8.

You can watch a movie more than once! Enough said.

And today I did the ultimate short term memory loss test, only this was a good one and we actually learned something.

It was time for us to once again invest in a 3 litre jug of Olive Oil. For a few years I have been buying our store brand because it was a single blend Greek Oil. However, economic times are tough, and I didn’t want to pay $24.00 for 3 litres when I could try a new Italian Olive Oil for $10.99. Ah but the flavor was important. Still….

So we bought the cheaper one and on the way home I said to Hubby, “Listen, I have a little of the Greek Olive Oil, plus another Italian Olive Oil, and now this new one that we are bringing home. Let’s do a taste test!”

“How do we do that?” he asked.

“Well, we’ll take some Italian bread, and pour a little Olive Oil in three separate bowls, dip the bread, taste and decide.”

So, after I got done putting away all the groceries I got some masking tape. I wrote down on each piece of tape the name of the oil, stuck it on the underside of the dish and then poured in the different Olive Oils.

“Okay.” I said to Hubby, “Come on over and check these out.”

The best part here? Once I had set the bowls on the counter and turned to get the bread, I had completely forgotten which oil was in which dish!

So we took a small piece of bread and tasted each oil. After a few moments we both agreed that the far left dish had the best Olive Oil. I had sort of thought that this dish had the expensive oil in it, but when I looked at the underside, I found:

It was the cheap Olive Oil!!!

So how is having had a closed head injury a good thing, you might ask? Well, you can set up and participate in blind tests like this and be surprised every time!

That is definately, the bright side!

Here it is, Sunday night and I am sitting here thinking about what I accomplished this weekend.

Ah, well not so much. I could have done more, but I guess I was just feeling tired and a little run down.

I did gather the paperwork for our taxes. I did do a couple of loads of laundry, and I did cook some truly great meals.Tonight’s gourmet treat for Hubby was Baked French Onion Soup!

However, I feel guilty because I should have gotten more done and I just didn’t.

Anneliese has suddenly found her appetite again. I guess her little doggy morning sickness is over. Good thing. She needs to eat well and help those babies grow!

The moles are having a blast in my back yard causing the worst looking mud tunnels all over the place. This lasted until the dogs were out more last year, and then the moles seemed to vanish.

The snow is melting, and there is bare ground in more places than there is snow. It’s funny because when I bring out Anneliese she must find a patch of snow to relieve herself on. What will she do when it is all gone?

The week is before me. I need to prepare for my father’s services next weekend. One thing I discovered today was that the dress I’d thought I was going to wear is 2 sizes too big. I somehow thought it was a smaller dress!