Dackel Princess

The Mind Is A Mysterious Thing

Friday is the big day. Greta goes to the Vet and we will get the word on “if” she is pregnant. Oh how I wish I had experienced fingers! I could feel my girl up and just know if she had “biscuits in the oven”! Alas, my fingers are not so learned, and although I “think” I feel a hard little mound in her belly, there is part of me that worries that she is just getting fat!

I’m like that, you know. When presented with almost irrefutable evidence of a condition, I always come close to convincing myself that it’s nothing.

A few years ago when I lost the vision in my left eye as I was instant messaging with my friend Uschi, I immediately suspected something serious. I actually called the doctor and when told to come immediately to the hospital I got in my Jeep and headed to the hospital. Half way there, I had convinced myself that it was nothing and that the doctor would be angry that I had wasted his time.

I know, you are thinking I am a nut case. Blind in one eye and then convincing myself it was nothing. As you all know from this entry, I had a detached retina. So it wasn’t all in my mind. It was real.

Even with this history it doesn’t stop me from thinking that perhaps I am wrong about my Greta and that this

July ’06

Nov. 8

is just my imagination.

I take her in at 10:30 in the morning. I will post as soon as I get home and let you all know.

Thursday 13 #27

Thirteen TV Shows From the 1980’s That I Watched

1. Three’s Company
2. M*A*S*H*
3. Happy Days
4. Newhart
5. Dynasty
6. The Cosby Show
7. The Golden Girls
8. Cheers
9. The Wonder Years
10. Roseanne
11. Moonlighting
12. Taxi
13. Magnum PI

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things.

Kathleen Alynne November 8th 1978

(to speed up click the plus sign)

My youngest daughter Katie was born 28 years ago at 5:29 AM. She weighed 8 pounds and 10 ounces, and was 23 inches long. She had little red curls and green eyes.

As Katie grew she was best friends with her sister, Amanda. They went everywhere together, did everything together and more than anything loved each other deeply.

Katie was a happy child. I enjoyed her sense of humor, her quick smile and her silly little giggle and the dimples she had in her cheeks! They somehow suited her red curls and green eyes, making her look a bit like an elf!

I was lucky to have her in my life for 6 1/2 years. Yes, it should have been more, many, many, more, but I am grateful for the time we had and for the love we shared.

So, today on her birthday I will think of her with love, and yes, an ache too. Until the day when God reunites us, our love will remain, somehow frozen in time.

TV & Doggy Pregnancy

I know I am a day late, here, but what did everyone (who watches) “Desperate Housewives” on Sunday night think of this episode? All I can say is wow! After several long weeks of the obnoxious former girlfriend of Lynette’s husband making everyone nuts, she finally took the big hit. Hallelujah! Now we don’t have to listen to or watch her character anymore. I also felt like it was the first episode this year that was any good. Well? What do you think?

Greta is doing well, but she is showing more and more signs of pregnancy. She sleeps a lot

and is hungry a lot of the time too. I finally gave her a bath this morning and then after I dried her I groomed her coat. She had a ton of old hair to be removed and after I got done she looked beautiful. Or should I say more beautiful than usual?

I can hardly wait for Friday to come. I have never been so excited to take an animal to the Vets as I am right now!

Back Home Again…

I was up fairly early at my sister’s on Sunday and since this was the day to drive back north, I decided to hit the road once I had showered and had some coffee. I was on the road by 7:30 with almost no traffic. It was sunny, cold but clear for the drive home, thus it was enjoyable. What wasn’t enjoyable were the state police, sitting out every 10 miles or so waiting to nail unsuspecting drivers. I’m a “Granny Driver”, so I was safe. I managed one stop for gas 15 miles from home, and still made the trip (usually a 4 + hour drive) in 3 hours and 45 minutes!

When I entered the house, Emily was here, pup sitting, and when I entered Fritz and Greta went crazy! Especially Greta. Then I nearly fainted when I saw how much her belly had changed!

Emily also took a few pictures of Greta today. She is changing in so many ways, not just her ever growing belly. She seems quieter and just wants to snuggle with blankets.

I can hardly wait for Friday when I take Greta to the Vet’s and we get official word on her pregnancy!

Meanwhile, it’s really good to be home!

A Surprise for Me!

Today for family day, all of Mel’s kids and grandkids, were due to come over along with my folks for dinner. Mel was making my favorite turkey dinner, with chestnut stuffing, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, gravy and of course, lots of turkey.
However, when the doorbell rang and I went to open it, thinking it was Taft or Luke, there stood my daughter, Amanda! Oh I was so surprised and I started to cry! No sooner had I stopped crying with happiness then my Uncle George and cousin, Janet arrive too! I was so shocked by this surprise party for me!!!
I am afraid I am a real emotional person. All of this love and caring for me, struck a very soft place in my soul and I cried like a baby.
I have dreamt of someone giving me a surprise party all of my life, but I am such a detective that no one has ever even tried to do this. My sister planned well and I didn’t have a clue!
We had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all of the trimmings. This is my favorite meal and at one point Maria, my niece said that it felt more like Thanksgiving than some Thanksgivings that they’d had. This made me feel even better because here we were, all of the family together for the first time in many, many years and it just felt so right.
I’m still floating on cloud nine right now with so much happiness. I fear I am over using that word right now, but happy I truly do feel!
To end, here are some pictures from my day.

My Uncle George hugging a teary eyed me.

Me, Amanda, Uncle George and my mother. (Janet is in the background)

Taft, Abby and Luke.

Getting ready to blow out those candles!

My daughter, Amanda.

My sister, Mel, Taft, helping me open my gifts and me.

A very happy me.

Taft and me.

My parents, my sister and me.

Amanda and Janet

Me with my favorite cousin!

My parents with me and my daughter.

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Going To Visit The Family

I awoke to gray drizzly weather in New Hampshire. Dreading the ride south to my sister’s in such conditions, I made coffee, showered, dressed and left home at 7:30 AM. I’m a “Granny Driver” and I estimated it would take me more than my usual 4 hours to get there.

No sooner hd I hit the highway then I was faced with snow! Great. The snow turned to ice and then to rain, heavy rain. I wasn’t a happy girl.

I’ve never really liked to drive. I hate traffic of any kind, but most especially tucks. So, I live in the country where I don’t see much in the way of heavy truck traffic, but I love my sister so I was determined to make the trek.

By the time I got to the New Hampshire/Massachusetts border, the precipitation had stopped and it was just cloudy. Cloudy I can deal with. I drove on, through endless “road work” areas, and eventually hit Connecticut. I drove by Pam’s mother’s town and I waved! (I did this for you Pam!)

Then I arrived at my sister’s house a mere 3 hours and 45 minutes after I left my home! This is a personal best, time wise.

We picked up my grandnephew, Luke from pre-school and took him out to a kids play place that also served really good pizza. My nearly 4 year old grandnephew snarfed down 4 slices of the pizza! Trust me, we were amazed! The kid is just not that big! We had a grand time with him though and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Then we were off to meet up with my old grandnephew as he got out of school. Taft is in first grade. He was so happy to see his Auntie Em, and brought me in to meet his teacher, show me his locker and his classroom.

My goodness how the kids have grown, and how fast the year has gone since I have seen them.

Thursday 13 #26

Why I Am Looking Forward To Thanksgiving

1. Chestnut Dressing. This is a family tradition and both my cousin Janet and I are addicted to this.
2. Pumpkin pie. I think this is my all time favorite pie. Made with a little bit of brandy, Mmmmmmm!
3. Mashed potatoes with butter, not gravy. I know a lot of people like gravy with their potatoes, but not me. Gravy is for the turkey and stuffing.
4. Butternut squash made with butter, cinnamon and brown sugar. This year I will have my own squash on the table.
5. Turkey. The best kind of poultry ever. I just love it!!! The day after Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches are the very best!
6. Apple pie I love that too. Let’s just say that dessert has many layers in our house!
7. Cranberry sauce. It is the perfect condiment for a turkey meal!
8. Plum pudding with hard sauce. My mom makes the plum pudding from an old family recipe. It’s fabulous!
9. Gravy. Home made and smooth. (God willing that my gravy will be lump free this year!)
10. Pickles, and relish and olives. We love to have these on the table to dress up the meal.
11. Pearl onions. Not one of my favorites, but Hubby really loves them.
12. Fresh green beans.
13. The traditional, day after turkey sandwich. 2 slices of hearty bread toasted. Mayonnaise and cranberry sauce spread on each slice. About 2 Tbs. stuffing spread on the toast, and then several slices of turkey. My all time favorite sandwich and one I look forward to every year!!!

Power Shopping & Lobsters

Halloween was a busy day for me. I used the day to shop. Mmmmm. My very favorite type of sport. I’ve been called a “Power Shopper”. True. Given a deadline and a list of people to buy for I can get the job done in half the time of most mere mortals. Today was just that kind of day.

I was blessed with a beautiful day. Bright sunshine, warm temperatures and great sales. So off I went to enjoy myself. Which is exactly what I did. Osh Gosh B’Gosh, Liz Claiborne, Wal-Mart and grocery shopping too. All of this was done in less than three hours with everything on my list acquired!

It’s quite funny, but I truly am obsessed with Greta and her pregnancy. I realized this when I was leaving Wal-Mart and the alarm went off and I found myself telling the security lady all about Greta, and even showing her pictures!

So, what do you think?

As I finished up my shopping I looked at my cell phone and realized that Hubby would be about finished at his health club, where he is doing rehab on his knees. I called his phone but got no answer. Oh well. I no sooner had hung up, but my cell phone rang and it was Hubby! I invited him to lunch and he accepted!

We met at a Chinese Buffet nearby and enjoyed a quick lunch and conversation and then we said good-bye. He was off to the dentist and I was off to the Vets to get Greta’s food and then to the Post Office to get the mail.

When I arrived at home Greta met me at the door much the same as she did yesterday. Happy, but a tad frantic.

For our Halloween dinner I made boiled Maine lobster and asparagus! Yum!

Everyone can come on over for some Halloween candy. We didn’t have even one trick or treater this year!

And how was your Halloween?