Dackel Princess

Samsung Galaxy S51~ 5G

For nearly a week I read everything I could about today’s Cell Phones. It had been many years since I last purchased one, and even then, that Cell Phone (the S8) didn’t have everything I needed.

So, I read and read and when I felt I was ready, I went down to our local wireless store and bought the Samsung Galaxy S51 ~ 5G. Here is why:

At the top of my list was the 5G. I’d noticed that my reception on my old phone wasn’t too good and it was getting worse. Why? Well, as they replace the old towers they are putting in 5G Towers and somehow my S8 wasn’t too compatible. I was dropping calls left and right!
The battery life on my S8 was terrible and was getting worse. The S51 has the longest battery life of those I read about.
The camera has:
MAIN CAMERA Quad
48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0″, 0.8µm, PDAF
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide)
5 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
5 MP, f/2.2, (depth)
Features
LED flash, panorama, HDR
Video
4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS
SELFIE CAMERA
Single
32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8″, 0.8µm
Features
HDR
Video
4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
all of which appealed. I am sure it will take me a while to learn to use it.
This model also has two things I still wanted. The ability to plug into my car because I do not have Bluetooth in my car, and a place for a memory card slot, as I have still not figured out the whole cloud system.
The overall layout was much the same as the S8 and I have been able to set it u so it almost looks the same.
Still, I had forgotten how much of a chore it is to set up a new phone.
I had them pour on the Liquid glass, but I still need a good Cell Phone protector. I usually get Otter Boxes, but they do not have what I like for this phone. (So far, the only drawback!)
So, I have had two days to work setting up my pho9ne and so far I quite like it. I simply asked myself honestly what I needed and then went for my best option!

SO I am working each day to learn the new phone and get it set up so it is just right!

Thursday Thirteen May 20th

Wow! Can you believe this? May is more than halfway over! So, today I thought I would put together a list of the things I did on Thursday, May 19th.

On Wednesdays, I meet with my ladies for our version of WW. Since we were abandoned by WW during the Pandemic, we made our own group and carry through the old WW mantra. These are thirteen women that I love and care about very deeply. Lucky 13!
I rushed to the Post Office and got my mail. There was a lot of mail and packages.
I have seriously been looking at Cell Phones. Tomorrow I am going to the local Verizon store and getting a new phone.
I drove Jack to his doctor’s appointment. It was a beautiful day and the ride was a pleasant one.
After the doctor’s appointment, we headed over to the grocery shop. We got many items that we needed.
Then we went to fill up on gasoline. Boring, yes, but we really needed the gas.
We came home and put everything away. I was simply beat, but at least we bought a rotisserie chicken and salad for dinner. It was all easy!
The dogs were so happy when we got home! Apparently, the Pandemic has caused them to believe that will never go out.
I need to clean up my basket of flowers. Mandy sent me a beautiful arrangement and they have lasted a long time. I need to weed out the old and dried and freshen it all up!
I bought my best friend, Gail a nightshirt just like mine. Hers came quickly to her, and mine arrived today. I love it! Twinsies!
We’ve started Arnie on some cranberry/pumpkin seed extract in hopes to help his urinary tract problems.
Tomorrow I need to do laundry and pack. I am staying at Mandy’s overnight on Friday. Should be fun!
And lastly, I am so tired! I think it’s the kind of tiredness that is mostly emotional. It can only get better.

Way Back Wednesday

As you know, Arnie isn’t doing well and I find myself looking back in time to when he was a young, sprightly puppy!

We’ve had Arnie since the very moment he drew breath. Arnie was Greta’s son. The only boy in that first litter of five.

Arnie was the one pup who just moved about quietly, stealing people’s hearts. Those eyes, that sweet look, he simply went around collecting fans!

We had never intended on keeping Arnie. He was due to go to a woman in New York State, but at the very last minute (the day she was supposed to come and get him) she canceled. At that point, he was little orphan Arnie and we knew he was meant to be with us.

Where have the last 14 years gone? Really, it just flew by. And now my handsome little guy is an old man.

It matters not. Way back when or now, Mr. Arnie is still the most loving and amazing little man ever!

The Weekend Wrap ~ May 17th

My weekend was a tough one. I was feeling rather emotional, and in the end, I was tired and actually needed to take a nap on Sunday. Here’s what was happening.

Arnie is still unwell. I will be calling his Vet tomorrow to see what we can do. Part of me is really panic-stricken because I’m afraid Arnie is nearing the end of his life. My boy. My last link to Greta and the Dackel Princess Puppies. My heart is breaking.

Taxes. I bugged Jack until the middle of last week and finally, he started the taxes. He needed me to do some typing for him. We finished them on Saturday, printed them on Sunday, and I will mail them, registered mail tomorrow. May I just say that Tax Season is very stressful for me each year because Jack always wants the one thing I have not saved! This year, I did have it all, but the struggle was real.

Our Apple Trees are blooming beautifully. I managed to snap a few pictures! They really are beautiful!

I was not in the mood to blow out my hair today, so I embraced my curls. They’re still there and actually made my hair prep easier.

The week is a busy one, and should Arnie need Vet care, I will be driving out to our Vet’s. Whatever he needs.

Have a great week ahead!

The Friday Five ~ May 14th

The week has flown by, but quite honestly, I am wiped out. Arnie has been sick and I have been back and forth to the Vets, and then worried sick about him. At fourteen and a half years old, even a sneeze elicits panic in my heart and soul! Anyway, here is my Friday Five!

I made the best ever Pot Roast for Jack. Thankfully there are leftovers for him to eat so I can stick to my plan.
I lost six pounds this week on WW. I am thrilled, but I also know I need to be careful as it comes back far too quickly!
I am planning an overnight with my grands very soon. Quite honestly, it can’t be soon enough. I sure have missed them!
I am not sure if I mentioned that my Insurance Carrier refused to pay for my facial surgery last October. They claimed it was cosmetic despite the fact that three tumors were removed. I appealed the decision with 23 pages of supporting documentation. I heard back, that after reviewing the documents and the pictures of the three tumors, they had decided to pay! Well, happy days are here again!
I had lunch with several of my WW Ladies on Wednesday. We have decided to make this a monthly thing. It was so nice to relax and just chat away!

So that’s it this week. Please keep Arnie in your prayers. He is such a good boy and honestly, I am not sure what I will do if he takes a turn for the worst!

Meanwhile, have a great weekend!

TBT: Newborn Arnie

December 10, 2006. The day that Arnie and his four sisters were born. Such a handsome boy then and now.

He was a big boy. And a very happy puppy.

Now he is all grown up, in fact, an old man. But still handsome, still very sweet!

Sixteen Years

I noticed today that it is now sixteen years since I started to write Dackel Princess. Where has the time gone? I recall thinking that only three or four people would ever read me, and those people were all related to me.

Here is the LINK to the first entry I made all those years ago

However, over the years I have met so many great people as they found my blog. It really has been a thrill!

It all started with Shubi and then Greta and Fritz. My original three all those years ago.

Shubi, Greta, & Fritz

Shubi was at the end of her time with us, and Greta and Fritz were puppies! Time sure does fly when one is having fun! And these three were so much fun!

Of course, soon Greta took a husband and she brought to us, Arnie & Anneliese. Fritz went to Rainbow Bridge and we got his niece, Lili.

Arnie, Anneliese, & Lili

Of course, Anneliese left us in January, but there is still a lot of doggy love in this house!

During this time I also became an Oma! That is the best yet! Two beautiful and very special people named Savannah and Quinn came into my life. They are the loves of my life, along with my wonderful daughter, Mandy.

So in 16 years, so much has changed, but the love continues and the joy of sharing my life with my family, friends, and my pets continues. Each day presents an opportunity to find something new in life!

So Happy 16th Blogoversary to me!

The Weekend Wrap ~ May 10th

Despite the fact that it was Mother’s Day on Sunday, I decided that this weekend was not going to be wasted. I had far too much to do, so I got up on Saturday and started laundry. I’d gotten waylayed during the week and so I had an awful lot to do to catch up.

I ran up and downstairs, hung some clothes out, and folded and actually put the clean clothes away.

I cooked some nice meals, and I ate my share of melon and strawberries. Plain, but quite delicious!

Flowers and an assortment of teas from India arrived from my daughter. What a splendid surprise! While smelling the beautiful flowers I spent time tasting different teas. So far, they are all wonderful, but the Darjeeling is my favorite!

My Baltimore Orioles are back and so beautiful as they gather at the feeders.

My Brown Thrasher and my Norther Flicker made an appearance.

So the weekend really was a nice one. Quiet but nice.

Mother’s Day

I’m often torn about how to celebrate Mother’s Day. Many of the happiest times in my life revolved around being a mother to my two girls.

Yet, for thirty-six years there is a part of me that grieves on Mother’s Day for the daughter I lost.

Katie

But, God is good! He sent two beautiful children to my older daughter, Mandy and the three of them just rock my world. I feel like I am the luckiest!

Life is funny you know. I thought that my life was over thirty-six years ago, and now I feel like I am on the grandest trip of all, along with Mandy and her family!

I see the world in a whole new way. Through the eyes of my grandchildren.

Although my love will never end for Katie, and I shall never forget her or the way she was when she was alive and in our lives, I have been able to move forward and live again myself.

So on this Mother’s Day, I celebrate my own motherhood, but more than this, I celebrate my daughter’s Mother’s Day.

Mandy is a wonderful, caring, and gentle mother. She listens to her kids and adores them and I admire her so very much!

So, Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers. Be you biological, adoptive, or step. Mothers and their love come in all shapes and sizes.

Honesty

Ah, so you haven’t heard from me about my “Healthy Eating Plan” for a while. So I thought I would write and tell you a little bit about what has been going on.

A lot of people tell me that they over-eat when they are happy or sad, celebrating, or grieving. But you know, I am not really like that. If life is going along well, I find eating what I should is easy for me. Mostly because I really enjoy all the “good” foods, like vegetables, fish and poultry.

My problem is when I am grieving. Then I find all I want to eat are sweets, carbs, and sugar!

I’d been doing pretty well until my birthday in November. That’s when I allowed sugar back into my life. Never a good thing. Christmas came and New Years’ too.

Then, in January, Anneliese became very ill and I knew her time with me was limited. Even before she left me, I was grieving for her.

The day arrived and I drove her out to our Vets for the last time. I was alone with her that one last time, and then I held her while she left me, and I drove home, alone.

My eating became erratic and before I knew it, things with my diet were not going well.

My friend passed away on April first and I was still drowning myself with food.

Did it help? Not really, but for those moments when I was eating there was almost a calmness that came over me. Or so I thought.

Then I sat myself down and had a long talk with myself. Was this accomplishing anything? Was it really making me “happy“, or was this making my depression even worse?

I went grocery shopping. I bought fruit, vegetables, some fish and some poultry. I also did not buy any item that was over 1-2 points. Mostly I stayed in the Produce and Meat Section of the store, but I did shop for some frozen vegetables. I especially enjoy the riced cauliflower.

I’ve had a constant conversation with myself this week. Who can make this “Healthy Eating Plan” work? ME! Who can sabotage my efforts with this Plan? Also me. So at 62, I decided it was time to stop playing emotional games with food and hold myself accountable for what I was eating and doing with my life.

I really want to do this, and the only way to do it is, to be honest with myself and work every day to make myself healthy and well!