Author: Dackel Princess

Busy Work

I have the feeling that I will be as busy as I was today until I leave here on Monday to go down for my operation on Tuesday. Today I literally did not sit down until dinner.
I made another 9 pints of Moonglow Pickles, got three batches of peaches cleaned, chopped, mixed and ready to make Heavenly Jam tomorrow.


I also did 4 loads of laundry, picked up the mail and my prescriptions at the Pharmacy and took care of the garden and my tomato plants. Oh yes, and cooked a stuffed Lamb breast for our dinner.
(Whew!)
I’m sitting here, in my chair, trying to just relax and do nothing for a while. But that’s hard. I’m finding that the busier that I stay, the easier it is for time to pass. I also find that I am less and less worried about Tuesday.
Friday I’m getting my hair done. Not sure yet if I will crumble and cut it shorter or just get it gently shaped while still growing it out. Stay tuned.
As soon as I get back, we’re making jam. That will take us all afternoon.
Saturday and Sunday I plan to finish the laundry, vacuum, and basically just get the house ready. The only thing I can tell you for sure is this: No more pickle making this year.
But next year…

My Day On Wednesday

1. I got up at 5 AM because my brain clicked on and I couldn’t sleep.
2. Picked up my car at the shop.
3. Stopped at a local farm stand and bought a bunch of cucumbers to make some pickles for Megan. (LOL)
4. Came home and cut the cucumbers, onions and peppers up for the pickles Cutting my thumb up as well.
5. Made an assembly line with Hubby and Emily, (my young neighbor) to dip and peel peaches.

6. Sliced the peaches in half and set them to soak in Fruit Fresh.
7. Made 8 pints of canned Brandied Peaches.
8. Made a 7 pints of regular canned peaches.
9. Washed the floor that had gotten sticky from the dripping peach juice.
10. Washed a ton of dishes from our cooking.
11. Foraged in the refrigerator for dinner.
12. Fed the dogs.
13. Pre registered on the phone for my surgery.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

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. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!


The News About My Eye

5 Years ago I went in for “simple cataract surgery”. You know, everyone that has that comes home, exclaiming, “Wow, everything is so bright, beautiful and clear, again!”. Not me. The day they removed the bandages, I was horrified because I had these prisms running through my vision. If I was in a room with pot lights in the ceiling, I was literally blinded.
This is what I see when I am in a brightly lit room or outside in the sun.


(A friend took a picture facing the bright light in the late afternoon, and when I saw it, I excalimed that this is what I see all the time!)
I complained to my doctor, who assured me that he had done a wonderful job and that everything was fine and I needed to recover and relax.

Continue reading “The News About My Eye”

Senior Citizens

It not everyday that you begin to question how you look. Recently I started to do this. Mostly I feel I look pretty good for a 47 year young woman, but the other day something happened that made me think that perhaps the upcoming eye surgery can’t happen soon enough.
Hubby and I had gone to our favorite Chinese Buffet. The place was not particularly crowded and we got a good table with a very friendly waitress. We ate and had a great time, and while Hubby was getting his dessert I decided to be a sweet wife and pick up the check.
I got out my credit card and the waitress came over.
“Oh, I have a coupon too!” I said.
“No need.” she said, “I gave you both the senior citizens rate.”
I sat there dumbfounded. Was she just being nice, or do I really look over 65? I looked at my hands, vanity prevented me from whipping out my pocket mirror and checking out my face. I felt a lump in my throat. 65! Why, that’s not going to happen for 18 years right?
18 years. Why, why that just around the corner! Suddenly all the gray hairs I work so hard to cover, and those crows feet around my eyes and the aches ad pains I feel each morning when I get up, they were all telling me, “You Are Old!”
I smiled weakly at the waitress when she brought back my check. Hubby returned from the dessert bar and I told him what had occurred. He laughed at me and smiled.
“It’s just the company you keep.” he reminded me.
Well, I’m not sure I believe him, but just in case I am starting to look old, I have ordered a case of Oil of Olay and made an appointment with my hairdresser for a dye job.

Revised Recipe For Carrot Casserole

This one is even better than the original!

3 Eggs
1/2 cup sugar or (1/3 cup Splenda sugar blend)
1 stick butter
1 tbs. baking powder
2 tbs. flour
1 cup milk
1 tsp tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 cups hot cooked carrots

Place all ingredients into blender and puree. Pour into buttered (or Pam) casserole dish 8 X 10 and bake at 350* for about 30 minutes or until set.
This is good either warm or cold.

Shake & Bake 101

Cooking Day. Yes, today was cooking day. I planned it all out. I made the turkey stuffing in the morning, some brownies came next, a carrot casserole and then of course the main event, roast turkey in the afternoon.
I had an 11 and a 1/2 pound turkey in my freezer that I’d gotten for 49¢ a pound last December. So, it was time to cook it. I also decided to make up plastic containers of turkey, stuffing and gravy to freeze and now the bones are all simmering for a pot for turkey soup.
Why this sudden burst of domesticity? Desperation. I want to be able to eat while I am recovering.
Hubby is good with the usual things. He can mash potatoes, scramble eggs and he is absolutely legendary with shake and bake, but I learned long ago that his repertoire is limited, thus the sudden burst of cooking.
The brownies were fun to make. I didn’t have everything I needed to make brownies from scratch, so I found a great recipe for brownies made with…a chocolate cake mix! At first I thought this would be weird, but I have to tell you, if you like chocolate, make this recipe. You will simply never be the same.
The day is nearly done and I am taking off the apron for the day. A sense of domestic well-being is washing over me.
Ah, life is good.

Cake Mix Brownies

These brownies are so easy because they are start with a cake mix! I’ve tried making brownies before with a cake mix, but I’ve never had much luck until finding this recipe.
1 (18 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1/3 cup milk
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Spray a 13X9-inch pan with non-stick cooking spray.
3. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, milk, butter, and eggs with an electric mixer.
4. Stir in chocolate chips (batter will be VERY thick).
5. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan.
6. Bake for 20-30 minutes, until brownies are done.
7. Cool completely and cut into squares.

The Dog Days Of Summer

You all probably think I pose Greta in these pictures. Truly, I don’t. Greta is such a ham, that we now keep our digital cameras all over the place to catch her every move, (or non move).




Today it was her stuffed basketball. She dragged this thing all over the house and then settled it up on the chair where she could snuggle it. This thing is larger than she is!




She finally fell asleep with this ball and once again I caught her with the camera.


Later in the day, Lily, an eight month old White German Shepherd, female came to visit us. She is a little smaller than Fritz and just a tad on the apricot side, but she is the sweetest little girl and I would have kept her in a heartbeat!



Fritz, Greta and Lily


The dogs played and played and got along so well. The funniest episode occurred when Greta was chasing the two big shepherds! That girl has no fear!



Fritz and Lily


I was amazed at how well all the dogs got along. There are times dogs will be snappy with each other, or not want to share their toys. This was not the case. All the dogs shared, and seemed to enjoy each other.



Two beautiful dogs


Sadly it soon was time for Lily and her owner to leave us. The two beautiful shepherds stood, one last time for a picture. What regal beasts they are!


Lily and Fritz

Snippets

The Peaches are coming in! Hubby went out and picked a medium basket of the large, ripe and juicy delights. Last year and this year as well, we will make Heavenly Jam, Brandied Peaches and then just can some. When we grocery shop, I will finish getting all the things I need to do this, including the, (hiccup) brandy!

*************************

The lovely and talented Megan and her boyfriend, Jimbo came yesterday to share some food, some chatting and some wine. It was so much fun! We got to try batch #3 of the Mustard Pickles, and we also tried the Moonglow Pickles. Man of man, the Moonglow Pickles were some kind of good! I had only a few jars of this, and so I have decided that I need to make more. I will try to find some cheap pickling cukes to make up a new batch. I don’t think I will have 6 pints of cukes coming out of my garden in the next few days.
*************************

Today was one of those really beautiful, warm, (upper 60’s) wonderful days. Instead of being like a day in August, it was more like late September. I will not complain, mind you, because I am not a hot weather fan. I like to be able to walk around in jeans and a shirt and not sweat to death. Today was like a breath of fresh air after the last few weeks of unbelievable heat! I say to the coming of Autumn, Bring It On!!!
**************************

Have you ever noticed how there are movies you can watch again and again, or just have on while you’re working and you never get tired of them? Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets was on earlier and I had it turned on. I made dinner, I fed the dogs, and I could watch or not watch and not lose my place. Harry and Company are all friends now.
No sooner had that movie ended than Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban came on. So I switched over to that and have been watching/listening to that too.
I sure hope that JK Rowling doesn’t kill off Harry, Hermione or Ron. I would simply be heart broken if she did. There are other ways to end the series.
**************************

Lastly, the next ten days will be busy ones as I prepare the house for my post operative down time. I’ve frozen some meals, and now I need to get all the laundry done, stock up on some simply meal components, and show Hubby a few little tricks to housekeeping, cooking and patient tending!