Author: Dackel Princess

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MUSIC

When I was four years old I tried out for a part in the community production of “The King and I”. Much to everyone’s surprise I was given a part. That of the King’s youngest child, the one that slides in at the last second near his feet going the wrong way. The King lovingly picks up the bowing child and turns her around and places her in line with all the others. I sang, and I got all made up with thick pancake make-up and hair color spray to make me look like a Siamese child. I can still recall showering after and watching all that brown make-up wash down the drain.

But my best memories are of all the singing we did with the woman who played Anna. Her name was Fuzzy and she loved all of us kids, or at least we thought she did, and it made every performance that much more fun.

This first picture was taken during rehearsal. I just love those little girl curls of mine!

king

The second is at the end of the performance. I am the first child in the first row, on the right, looking at the King and Anna. Even though I was only four I remember so much of this first performance in my community theater.

kk

Fritz

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I took Fritz in to the Vets today for his yearly exam and shots. All went well with his health, but OH MY GOD, the ride over and back was a real trip.

You see Fritz hates to be in the car, even though he loves to go for a ride. He just can’t sit still and he is 73 pounds worth of moving fur! I rolled the passenger side window down and let him stick his nose outside, which does seem to calm him, but then I found I was getting whacked by his tail!

He walked into the Vet’s office calmly and was actually pretty nice while he was weighed and had his heart listened to. But once his shots were done, and the exam over, I returned him to the car to wait for me.

I paid the bill and got into the car to go home. We stopped at the Post Office, and Fritz didn’t like that either. I patted him, told him I would be right back, and ran in to the Post Office, grabbed my mail and went back out.

There he was, sitting in the driver’s seat as though he intended to drive off without me! It made me laugh!

We got back home before lunch and Fritz was so happy to get out of the car and come in and see the dachshunds and Hubby!

Thursday Thirteen #52

Scav Sat

Thirteen Things I Love About September

1. The cooler air temperatures.
2. The drier air.
3. The first frost is usually during this month.
4. The leaves begin to turn color. Red, orange, yellow, russet. All beautiful and bright.
5. The smell of wood fires burning in the hearth.
6. Fresh apple cider.
7. Apples for eating and for baking!
8. The kids go back to school and the neighborhood is quiet during the day. Then they come home and I look forward to that too!
9. The tourists leave our area and life slows down.
10. My best friends birthday is this month, as well as her grandson’s.
11. The German Dog show is this month.
12. We’re going to DC for an Army Reunion.
13. The last of the produce comes in. Pumpkins, butternut squash and the pears.

Lucky Lady

I was up early, made a quick breakfast and then hopped in my car and headed off to spend the day with my daughter. Do you all know how much fun it is to have a grown up daughter? For those of you who do, isn’t it great? For those of you whose kids are still growing, just wait! It gets really good!!!

I arrived at her place about 9:30, patted my grand kitties, and then we dropped her car off for service. Next, we headed to the mall. Neither one of us had been to this particular mall in years, and aside from Macy’s and Starbucks (yes, I was brave enough to go inside and get a cup of coffee!) the mall was a real disappointment.

However, I got a few tops at Macy’s on sale for $9.99 each and a dress, as well as a cute skirt.

Then we were off to the LL Bean Outlet, where I got the cutest blouse, and then decided I should look for some new hiking boots. So, I went back to the shoe section and began hunting for some comfortable boots. The first and second pair felt horrible and quickly went back on the shelf, but the third pair fit perfectly and felt like bedroom slippers! I looked at the price and it read:

$9999.99!!!!

Sept 4 003

Now that is some hefty price for hiking boots! I Took them up to the check out counter and asked the girl if this was the real price? And if it was, was it perhaps because they were magical boots? LOL!

Yes, it was a tremendous mistake that took several minutes to figure out. In the end they were $81.99, a much more manageable price! They came home with me too.

The best part part of my day though, was sitting at Bugaboo Creek having lunch with my daughter. For that hour it was just us talking, and enjoying each other. I really am a lucky lady.

I dropped her off to get her car and then headed home late in the afternoon. My ride didn’t seem so long because my friend Gail and I got a chance to talk on our cell phones and play catch up on life. Gail and I have been best friends since we were 13 years old! We met at summer camp. This is our 35th year of friendship!

When I arrived home, Hubby and the pups were all so happy to see me. Greta even sang me a sweet doggy song, then Hubby took me out for fish and chips. That was great too.

Now I am ending my day, in my pajamas with Greta by my side, thinking I am one very lucky lady.

Meeting Mitt & Ann Romney

Early on Monday morning (Labor Day) Hubby and I joined our neighbors, Jim and Laura and we drove to a nearby restaurant where Mitt and Ann Romney were meeting people. The restaurant also has a wonderful breakfast menu, so we arrived early enough to have omelets and home fries and toast before the guests of honor arrived.

One of the really great things about living in New Hampshire is that we can go and meet the candidates. We have the first Primary in the country and so the candidates really make an effort to come here and meet people.

We were not disappointed. Mitt and his lovely wife Ann arrived just as we finished the last bites of our breakfast and suddenly the room was alive. People stood and applauded and they moved through the crowd speaking to each person and shaking their hand.

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Mitt and Ann. Photo by Hubby.

They got to us and Laura snapped this picture. Hubby was telling Mitt about how he had met Henry Cabot Lodge when he was running for President back in the 1960’s and that he hoped Mitt did better than Henry had. Mitt smiled and said that he hoped so too! I was telling Ann that I had heard her speak recently about family values and that I greatly admired her.

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Hubby, me (bad picture) our friend Jim, Mitt and Ann.

They are such a devoted couple, which is nice to see. As I watched them, their care for each other was evident, but never forced. I came away feeling as if I had met some truly nice people.

I have never said anything political on Dackel Princess and I won’t now, except to tell you that I am a registered Independent voter. I am hoping that at this next Presidential election people will look at the moral character of the people running for this office, as well as their ability to handle our country in this complex world.

Labor Day Thoughts

It’s a holiday weekend here in the USA. It’s Labor Day. The official end to the summer. We live in an area that is popular with summer guests. They arrive the last weekend in May, which is Memorial Day and seem to flood our streets, stores and parks until Labor Day.

I grew up on Cape Cod, with it’s narrow streets and back roads, but truly lovely beaches. People come by the thousands to enjoy their time on “the Cape”. Those of us that lived there year round, always looked forward to the end of summer when life would return to normal, and now here I am in New Hampshire, faced with the same tourist problems.

I used to get all upset about it, but then I realized that I was really the lucky one. I get to live here year round! The tourists only see it in the summer. To live here and witness the autumn, the winter and the spring is fantastic!

So today when Hubby and I went out to get a few things at the store and we were stuck in traffic and then had to wait in long lines I just smiled, feeling happier than I have in a while.

I’m living with the man of my dreams, in the most beautiful part of New Hampshire and we not only have our home, but 4 pretty nice dogs to keep us company.

It doesn’t get any better than this!

A Beautiful But Odd Day!

After some really awful hot and humid weather, a cold front moved through, bringing with it cool dry air and bright sunny skies. As is common with the passing of a cold front, today also was a tad windy, but it was a gentle breeze that made you feel good.

Hubby and I were up early to go off and get a few errands done. He had a tire problem to solve and I had some unmentionable clothing problems to solve.

Hubby dropped me at the Outlet Mall and then he headed off to the tire center. I was a wee bit early so I sat talking to a woman about nothing in particular, just enjoying being out in the wonderful weather.

Soon the stores opened and I stopped in to get some new underwear. Usually I get boring old white in the style I like, but today they had these funky colors that I can only describe as watermelon color. One watermelon flesh color, one green and one sort of yellowish. Pretty, but definitely wild and totally unlike what I usually wear. So for the next year or so I’ll be feeling funky even if no one can see why!

Then I went to another store to buy something I really hate to buy, but well, I’m a woman, over 40 and let’s face it. There are certain areas of my body that need help staying up.

The very kind sales lady offered to measure me. She asked what size I’d been wearing. I told her. She laughed.

Then she took a tape measure and began to measure me in all sorts of places that I don’t always let Hubby touch! Her judgment? I was seriously undersizing my unmentionable area.

She brought me several of these items. I tried them on and realized that the “girls” were not the same size or shape, nor had they stayed where God had actually placed them twenty or so years ago.

I stood there staring at my former perky friends, and it dawned on me.

Gravity!

Need I say more?

Zucchini Bread

Here is a great way to use up all that zucchini that is overflowing in your garden.

Preheat oven to 350

You will need:

o 3 Large eggs
o 2 cups sugar (1 brown, 1 white)
o 2 cups grated zucchini
o 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
o 1 cup vegetable oil
o 3 cups flour
o 1 teaspoon salt
o 1 teaspoon baking soda
o 1 teaspoon baking powder
o 3 teaspoon cinnamon
o 1 teaspoon allspice
o 1 teaspoon orange peel

Beat eggs until foamy. Add sugars, oil, zucchini and vanilla. Combine flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and allspice and add to egg mixture. Stir well and add orange peel. Spray 2 – 9X5 Inch loaf pans with non-stick spray. Split evenly between pans, bake at 350 for one hour or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

Thunder…

Tonight was an interesting night. I made dinner a little late, but oh my, it was good. I made sauteed scallops, with fresh asparagus and potato salad. Just about the time that we finished eating I noticed the sky getting very dark. After a 92 degree day, it was no surprise that a thunderstorm was on its way.

I turned on the weather channel and saw we were under a severe thunder storm warning, so I went around and shut down all the high tech stuff. Computers, satellite dish, and printer.

Then as the storm grew closer, we shut off the TV and went out onto our screened in/glassed in porch where we could sit and watch the storm go by in safety and of course, completely dry.

All four dogs joined us and the puppies played while the thunder rumbled. Fritz, big, lovable sweetie that he is lay across Hubby’s foot and Greta paced around until she realized that now was her chance to get all the bones, so she returned to the family room and collected them all in my chair.

The rain fell in a heavy sheet, that lasted for some time. Our parched lawn finally being fed some delicious water from the sky! No matter how hard you try to keep it watered, in 92 degree heat, it just cooks the grass.

The storms passed and now we are in and winding down from the day. But it was a good day and it has ended in such a nice way, with a shower and cooler weather forecast for the holiday weekend.