Dackel Princess

Sunday Aches & Pains

The day started earlier than usual because of my aches. I got up and started moving, with hope that I would loosen up. Ha! All I did was ache some more. I am nearly done with the [painting and the room looks good. Stay tuned for some pictures later in the week.

Once I was done with that, Emily came over and I was talked into having a cookout here at 1 PM. I had hot-dogs and I had just made potato salad, so I just needed some hamburgers and rolls and I was good to go. I also made my “Double Chocolate Pie” and Wow was that a good dessert for a summer day. (see recipe below).

Now I am sitting tired and almost ready for bed. I think I will sleep like Sleeping Beauty. I am that tired!

Double Chocolate Pie

This fat-free and sugar-free dessert is rich and creamy, using Jell-O as its secret ingredient.

Ingredients

2 C. cold fat free milk, divided
1 pkg. (4-serving size) Jell-O Chocolate Flavor Fat Free, Sugar Free, Instant Reduced Calorie Pudding & Pie Filling
1 pkg (4-serving size) Jell-O White Chocolate Flavor, Fat Free, Sugar Free, Instant Reduced Calorie Pudding & Pie Filling.
1 8 oz. tub Cool Whip Free Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
1 ready-to-use reduced fat graham cracker crumb crust (6 oz. or 9 inch) I like the chocolate one.

Directions

Pour 1 C. of the cold milk into medium bowl. Add chocolate flavor pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk 1 minute. (Mixture will be thick.) Gently stir in 1/2 of the whipped topping. Spoon evenly into crust. Pour remaining 1 C. cold milk into another medium bowl. Add white chocolate flavor pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk 1 minute. (Mixture will be thick.) Gently stir in remaining whipped topping. Spread over pudding layer in crust. Refrigerate 4 hours or until set. Garnish with additional whipped topping. Store leftover pie in refrigerator.

Tip: Top with fresh strawberries!!!

Yield: 8 servings

Leonardo Da Princess

Oh sweet Mother Of God! Do I ache!

I had decided a couple of weeks ago to repaint the puppy room. It had taken a beating when the puppies owned the room, and so I wanted to clean it up and put a fresh coat of something delicious on the walls.

I selected “Cinnamon Coffee Cake” from Home Depot as the color in a nice eggshell finish. I knew it would warm the place up a little, as stark white can be a bit too bright.

Now back when Hubby and I built the house in 1998-99 I did all the painting. Inside and outside. There was no ladder that I didn’t climb and no job too big or too small. In fact I also hand dipped the 12 thousand shingles that Hubby hammered onto our house.

Now that was 9 years ago. I was about the same weight, but I was 9 years younger and well, I was 9 years YOUNGER!

In the middle of my personal painting chaos, Emily arrived with a friend and they were looking for a project. No I did not draft them to paint (although every fiber of my being craved foisting this job on them!) I had them make Brownies and Chocolate Chip cookies to bring to our shut in neighbor tomorrow. The girls had a blast making the goodies, and even though I got stuck with the clean up I felt good at helping them at the same time I was painting. These kids think I am fantastic because I make things from scratch and not slice and bake cookies, etc.

Click on the image to see the difference in color)

My little job took me all day. I still have more to do. However, I was too tired to finish it up today.

I made dinner and after I got done with that, I crawled into the bathtub and soaked for over half an hour. I came out only because I threatened to shrivel up and become one of the dancing California Raisins!

I still ache now, but will make myself an hermal tea and hope for an early bedtime tonight!

Saturday Scavenger Photo

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.
Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

HAIR
This is probably one theme I could write and produce page after page about. Those of you who know me know I am always worried, crazy or unsatisfied with my hair. I actually have pretty nice hair, but being the “hair perfectionist” that I am, I am seldon happy with it.

This was taken when I was 13 years old. I am with my dogs, Baby and Laurie. My hair was down to my waist and I remember it being very heavy when I swam or washed it.

When the girls were small I had shoulder length hair. It was easy and still made me look young. From there I grew it back out, and Hubby’s first memory of me was when I had waist length hair again. That did not last, as when I had my car accident I had to cut it short for the plastic surgery to repair my ear and the places that were stitched up.

I kept my hair this length for probably the last 15 years. I know, boring. But I’ve been busy. In February of 2006 I got the worst hair cut of my life. The woman left only about 1 inch of hair on my head!The only good thing about this picture was that it is the last picture taken of me with my Shubi.

I started to grow my hair that very day!
By December 2006, when the puppies came, my hair had grown out a bit.

And now, here we are in June 2007 and I can actually put my hair into a short little pig tail on the back of my head. But most of all, I look like a girl again!

And I will keep growing it for a while. I sort of like looking like a girl!

Walking into Wonderful

Today I was determined that I would get out and walk. I need to do this to strengthen my knee and to work my body. Also, the puppies need to get used to walking on a leash and so today, after purchasing two harnesses for them, I put on my baseball hat and snapped the leashes on the dogs and off we went. Just the three of us.

The pups were eager to walk up the driveway, but as I reached the top I looked over at the small house where my 83 year old neighbor lives. She is a widow, with a great love of dogs, and until recently she was caring for her Newfoundland, named Gus, (I call him the Goofy Newfie!) and a mixed mutt, named Bella. She was recently in the hospital and her grandchildren have taken the dogs and have been caring for them.

The dogs are still gone as she is bedridden and unable to care for them. As I got close to her house I turned and went and knocked on her door. I heard a small, feeble “come in”. And we did.

I cannot begin to tell you how thrilled she was with the two puppies. She patted them, and kissed them and Mr. Lovable, Arnie was the sweetest of all. For me, the best part was seeing her strained face turn bright with pleasure at having a visit with some furry friends.

I plan to go back again each day. They will grow to love her and she really needs this special kind of puppy therapy.

I saw this on the web, it says it all.

Author Unknown.

A man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and poverty, in health and sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, when the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of a pauper as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert… he remains.

Thursday Thirteen #44

Thirteen Favorite Summertime Loves

1. Potato Salad. I love the kind made with hard boiled eggs. Yum!
2. Chips. I used to like plain, and then I started liking the Salt & Vinegar. Now I love the Honey Barbecue.
3. Hot-dogs in a roll. Topped with relish and mustard.
4. Hamburgers. Sometimes with cheese, sometimes not. But always with relish and ketchup.
5. My cousin’s mango/black bean salsa. This is a new one to my list, but boy is it good!
6. Barbecued ribs. Cooked slowly on the grill with a nice smooth barbecue sauce.
7. Grilled eggplant. Oh my heaven. What a delicious thing!
8. Fruit salad. You name it fruit wise, toss it in and I am in heaven. (well everything but pineapple. I’m allergic to that)
9. Grilled chicken breasts. Hubby is getting good at cooking those.
10. Marshmallows. Browned lightly over the coals of the fire.
11. Must always use charcoal. I love the flavor.
12. Going swimming when it is 90 degrees F. Then coming back to the house and cooking out.
13. Sharing these days with family and friends.

Remembering

In recent days there has been quite a controversy about the release of the pictures of Princess Diana in her car after the accident. One news show gave you all the key words to use in Google to find them. Did I follow the link and go and look? Yes I did.

Why?

I asked myself this question as I stared at the photo. Because in my minds eye I could see myself.
You see 22 years ago today I was involved in a terrible car accident. I have written about it here. It’s a time of my life that I no longer dwell on (not too much anyway) but it is always with me.

Usually on June 13th I write about my feelings of loss for Katie and I tell you all about how wonderful she was (and she was) and how much I miss her (which I really do). All of this is true, and to a certain extent it is even more painful as the years have gone by. I think of the times I would have had, if she had lived. I think of what she would be like as a grown woman. Yes, the feelings inside of me can overwhelm at times.

As I put together this montage of her pictures I noted with great sadness that there are no more new pictures of Katie. And Amanda and I have grown and changed over the last 22 years. Life has gone on for us, but sadly, not for her.

The music in this montage is sort of interesting. You see one day I drove to pick Katie up at kindergarten and when she saw the car she started jumping up and down waving at me. I can still see that when I hear this song. The lyrics, which many people have never heard, can be found in the extended entry.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I chose to live in the present now. I allow myself two days a year (the anniversary of the accident and Katie’s birthday) to remember, to grieve and to wallow a bit, but it is hard.

She had the most beautiful red curls and dancing green eyes and a little voice that made one think of Leprechauns. She wasn’t perfect, but she was special and sweet and she was my daughter.

The accident forever changed me, and Amanda, but from the ashes of our previous lives, like a Phoenix, we have risen to make a good, happy life in the present.

But you just never forget that time, those events…

…or that wonderful little girl.

Kathleen Alynne

Continue reading “Remembering”

Do Dogs Get Cramps?

I wonder. Do dogs get cramps when they have their periods? Greta sure looks like she is having them, doesn’t she?

I was making the bed this morning and I noticed a couple of tiny blood drops on the comforter. I hadn’t really expected her to go into heat just yet. But 6 months from the day of her delivery here we are.

She’s got her little fashion panties on and now she is just laying around doing nothing but chewing on her rawhide bone. I’m convinced she is feeling under the whether.

Anneliese seems to understand her mother’s pain, as she has been snuggling up to her all day. Isn’t it nice to have a sympathetic daughter?

Yep, I’m convinced. Dogs definitely get cramps!

What We Did On Sunday

It was a busy day here in Dackel Princess Land. As our cupboards were nearly bare, we needed to go grocery shopping. I also wanted to get paint for the puppy room and in the end I got Hubby a new lawn mower for Father’s Day which is next week.

It was a pretty day and nice for our trip south to the shopping area. As I have mentioned before, we live in the country and aside from one very high priced grocery store, there isn’t much around.

The shopping took a few hours and then we returned and drove the car up and around the side of the house so we could avoid the 14 steps up to the inside of our house. Fourteen steps! What a pain. But I have no one to blame for that one but myself, as I drew the plans for the house. In fact, I remember saying, “Oh that will be good. The stairs will keep my legs in shape”.

What an insane thing to think! How about the reality of grocery shopping and having to make a dozen trips up and down the stairs? Sheesh!

Anyway, we drove the station wagon around to the back of the house where it would be an easy job to unload the car.

We worked putting the groceries away, and Jackie arrived to play with the puppies. I love when the kids come over, so I let the dogs out for a run with her and her friend, Cameron.

Jackie

After a bit, the girls left and we let the pups run around the yard a little more. Hubby was putting his new lawn mower together and I was trying to get a few pictures.

Hubby with his new mower

Anneliese

It’s wonderful to see the puppies grow and play. They’re 6 months old now! So grown up. Arnie weighs a whopping 17 pounds and Anneliese is a lightweight at 14 pounds. One thing is for sure, they are both beautiful and sweet babies!

Sunday night is the “Soprano”s” finale. Will they kill Tony or not? Will Carm save Tony’s life, or AJ? Will they go into witness protection? One thing is for sure, it’s got the world talking!

Grrrrrrrr…….

It is Bike Week here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. One can step outside and hear the low grumble of Harley engines in the distance. Yesterday I was sitting at my desk when I heard a biker revving his engine at the beach down below us. The puppies, of course, have never heard a Harley engine before, so when they heard this great rumble they stopped their play and became alert, fearing the unknown.

Arnie

Anneliese

Soon the biker in question finished his revving and off he drove, the sound of his engine growing dimmer as the time passed.

The puppies have been having trouble when they go out to doing their business because they hear the drone of the engines in what is usually a quite and tranquil spot. The drone starts early in the morning and continues all through the day and past the time when we all go to bed.

Last night Arnie was feeling a bit unsettled while I was watching the TV. He tried

sleeping,

but could hear the rumble and so he woke up, looking very unhappy.

The traffic is a nightmare, and forget about going out for dinner for the next week, as all the restaurants are totally full all day and all night long. However I try not to complain because our area merchants really need this 10 day period of time to fatten their coffers for yet another season. I remember how our favorite restaurant served only about a dozen patrons on Valentines day this year due to a heavy snow storm. So, Bike Week helps them to stay open at times like that.

I’ve tried to tell the puppies not to worry, and to relax, but right now they just know that the grumbling monster is out there and they want me to protect them from it.

And I do. After all, Daddy doesn’t have a noisy Harley, he has a nice quiet 1981 BMW R-65! Now that is a nice quiet bike!