Dackel Princess

Snow Baby

Friday night we had a big snow storm. I think when all was said and done we had about 12 inches of snow! Hubby dragged out the ancient (and currently not working well) snow blower, and unhappily cleared the driveway, twice! Arnie took two steps out the door and pooped and then turned around and came back in, and Greta took three steps, did her thing and came in looking quite indignant!

But we had one family member who was dancing with delight.

Anneliese!

She raced out the door, jumping from one pile of snow to the next. She tunneled,

she ran like a wild girl,

licking the snowflakes, the mounds of snow and almost laughing at the winter weather.

The other dogs stood, gazing at her with shocked eyes. How could she possibly be enjoying this cold wet stuff? But she did. I swear at one point she actually stopped, looked back at them and grinned.

She has been going in and out all day and staying until her little doggy lips turned blue (what do you mean dog’s lips don’t turn blue?), before returning to the warmth of the house.

Saturday night I thought for sure she would be exhausted. However, she isn’t and I think if I opened that door one more time she would be out and running around in the snow again.

I may not be thrilled with the snow, but for Anneliese, this is a dream come true!

Happy Birthday, Mandy!!!

Today is the day I gave birth to my daughter, Mandy! What an exciting and special moment it was. I remember seeing her for the very first time and my heart immediately filled with love for her.

She is an incredible, bright and fabulous woman and I am so pleased, not only to be her mother, but also her friend.

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!!!

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Sheets, Shoes, Pocketbooks and Fleece!

I bought new sheets last week when I was down visiting my sister. The sheets were in the discount store, TJ Maxx and were marked down to almost nothing for the king size set, which included 4 king size pillow cases!

Now these are super sheets. They are 100% cotton and are 400 count, which means that that there is 400 threads per inch.

Why is this so special? Well, because the higher the thread count the softer the sheets feel against the skin.

Hubby isn’t terribly impressed. He’s practical. If the sheets are clean, he is happy, but I am ecstatic! I have this real penchant for nice sheets. Actually thinking about it, I have strong passions for a few things.

I love not only nice sheets, but soft leather pocketbooks, Merrell shoes and long warm bathrobes made of fleece. I joke that I have the sheet, shoe, bathrobe and pocketbook gene! Lol!

Yes, we all have things that we love that make us feel special, now don’t we? What makes your list of things that you are crazy about?

Dashing Through The Snow!

I was up early this morning as Wednesday is Weight Watcher Day. I looked outside and I could see the snow falling thickly to the ground.

I took the dogs to the door and one by one pushed them out the door and into snow, which was deep enough so that it reached their bellies! They quickly did their business and then ran back in, shaking off the cold wet snow!

I called the Weight Watchers 800 number to check and see if my meeting was canceled and it was not. Rats! This meant that I had to drive 10 miles down hill to the next town to the meeting.

I made my breakfast sandwich to take a long, grabbed some coffee and off I went.

Oh, it was so pretty! The trees were covered in lacy, wispy, white snow. Unfortunately, so were the roads!

I took the Jeep, and put it in 4-wheel drive and off I went. The roads were tricky. I drove by a car that had slid off the road, I watched people sliding around. I felt happy that I had my Jeep and the 4-wheel drive!

I did well at Weight Watchers, in fact I lost another pound. I need 6 weeks at goal and then I will go onto Lifetime.

After class I drove back home and felt relieved to get here. Another storm is predicted for Friday. A big one! Oh yes, I think winter has finally arrived in the mountains!

I’m Dreaming….

I’ve been thinking about what I will be serving for our Christmas dinner. I’ve been making an Herb Crusted Roast Prime Rib of Beef for a couple of years and it is hard to go wrong with the recipe I have. So I am thinking that this will be the centerpiece for the meal.

I’ll also be making broiled salmon, baked stuffed potatoes, mashed butternut squash and green beans. Mandy is bringing her delicious apple bread, and for dessert I’m making Hubby his apple pie ala mode!

I’m unsure what I’ll be serving for appetizers. Any suggestions out there?

What will you all be cooking for Christmas Day? What is your favorite Christmas meal? Your favorite dessert? What foods make you think or feel the Christmas spirit?

Being Missed

I was missed.

That’s a nice feeling, you know? To have both man and beast miss your presence when you have been away. It warms the heart.

I woke up in the night to discover this scene around me. Arnie was curled up near my chest, with his little head resting on my shoulder. Anneliese was cuddled up to the bend in my knees. And Hubby was sleeping facing me, holding my hand. He almost never does that.

I smiled. What a nice scene this was.

Someone was missing! Where was Greta?

Panic!

I slowly got up and still looking at my little human and doggy family with loving eyes, I went out to the kitchen. I called to Greta, but there was no response. I took the little flash light we have there and brought it into the bedroom. Then carefully I knelt down and I shined the beam of light under the bed. There she was, wide awake and staring right back at me.

I turned off the flashlight and climbed back into bed, happy that she was okay and not missing.

A moment later Greta hopped up onto the bed and strong pawed Arnie out of his spot. Then she curled up and kissing my face, let me know, that she too had missed me.

Thankfully, everything was right with my world!

Sunday Happenings

I spent Sunday catching up. I arrived home on Saturday to a mound of mail, bills and laundry. I put some laundry in and then started working on my mail.

I’d been waiting for documents to arrive from the Canine Ophthalmologist with Arnie and Anneliese’s eye reports. We had them in last week to have their eyes certified and I’d forgotten their AKC registration numbers. I’d called them in and while I was gone the paperwork arrived. Now I forward them off to the people who make out the certificates. In a couple of weeks I’ll receive their formal certificates.

I also worked on a letter to send off to a German breeder to see if I can bring Anneliese to her kennel to mate with one of her males. Once I am done, Hubby will translate it for me and then I can send it off.

Today Hubby called me after he went skiing. He was having a lot of problems with his old ski boots and had reluctantly stopped to look at new boots. I told him to go for it, and get properly fitted. It took some time, but he did and now he is the owner of a brand new pair of boots! Merry Christmas.

Everything is still hard and icy here in New Hampshire.This is our local TV station. They have reported many things about the ice storm, including a place where you can go and view pictures. Check it out!

Up where we are things are not as dire. Hubby was able to go skiing today (I needed some extra sleep) as well as work some of the ice out of the driveway when he returned. I really need to get out my ice walkers because when I took Anneliese out earlier I nearly fell on my bottom!

The day ended with a meal of steak, Röschti and rutabaga. Hubby really is happy I am home!

ICE

I drove home today from Mel’s house. Most of the early ride, was uneventful. However, as I neared Vermont and southern New Hampshire I saw ICE, and lots of it.

At first I thought it was just incredibly beautiful. All lacy and crystallized against the bright blue sky!

But then as I drove further north I began to see that this was no innocent light ice storm. No, this was quite honestly an ICE Disaster!

The Public Works Department was out trying to clear the roads. Until they can do their work, I’m afraid that pictures like this,

will be quite common. In fact I have heard that many areas in our state will not get their electricity back until mid-week.

I stopped to get groceries and happily found that our grocery store had power and I was able to stock up on food for Hubby and me and for the dogs as well. I ran into the meat manager that I have known for many years and he told me that several of their sister stores are closed due because they don’t have electricity and that the perishable foods were being moved to the remaining stores that have power.

Coming home I was greeted by 4 very happy doggies and one extremely happy husband!

We cooked Lobster for dinner (I truly know how to make Hubby even happier to see me!) and we have cuddled close together as the temperatures are really plummeting tonight.

It is very good to be back home though, despite the ICE!

Shopping, Ice & A Birthday!

Friday was a wild day. While Mel and I went shopping here, in New Hampshire everything was closed due to a horrific ice storm. Poor Hubby was stuck home clearing the driveway, and running the generator to have electricity to heat the house and run a coffee maker!

Mel and I had a great time. We found many wonderful items and although I have not finished my Christmas shopping, I have certainly made a dent in it.

Saturday I will be driving home. I’m a tad nervous about it because of the ice storm. You see, when I said it was a serious storm, I wasn’t kidding. Roads are closed due to downed trees, everything is covered in ice and Friday night a cold front is set to move through and freeze everything again.

I’m pretty sure that Hubby will be happy to have me back home. Four dogs, plus an ice storm is a lot for any one person to handle!

Also today is my best friend, Gail’s birthday. She is my oldest friend. I wish her the best of birthdays, and many many more!!!

Me & My Sis!

Here I am with my sister, Mel. We’ve been sharing the last couple of days together, and Friday is our big shopping day. Just the two of us! I’m looking forward to that. We haven’t had a lot of time, just us two since we got married and started our own families, all those years ago, but here we are in our prime, with opportunities to be “sisters” once again.

One of the things I love the best about Mel, is that we have shared those first years in our lives together. She knows that I was a real Barbie Doll nut, and I know that she was almost never too busy to stop and play Barbies with me.

She read to me as a child, comforted me when I had bad dreams, and helped me do the dishes when I had to use a kitchen chair to reach the sink.

We sang silly songs together, played outside in the summer after dark, watching the fire flies and the moon, and we dreamed about what our lives would be when we grew up.

She found her Prince Charming and I found mine. Our kids are good kids, grown and with lives of their own now and she has wonderful grand-kids that I just adore.

Yes, I’m lucky to have Mel, and I sure hope she knows just how much I love her!