Author: Dackel Princess

Miracle Soup

It’s called Miracle Soup because it’s so Easy!

2-3 Cans fat free Chicken Broth
1-1 1/2 Pounds ground turkey
1 TBS. Salt
1 TBS. Parsley
1 TBS. Basil
1 TBS. Chopped Garlic
1 Cup each:
Celery
Onion
Green Pepper
Sliced Carrots
1/3 cup uncooked barley
1 can French style Green Beans
1-2 cans red Kidney Beans
1-2 cans Italian Stewed Tomatoes

In large soup kettle sauté garlic with small amount of oil. Add
turkey and brown. Add broth, salt, parsley, basil, onion, green pepper,
celery, carrots, barley, and a dash of pepper and the stewed tomatoes.
Simmer slowly about an hour or until vegetables are done. Add green beans
and kidney beans and heat another 15 minutes. Thicken gravy with flour, if desired,
serve with a garden salad and hot crusty bread. This recipe also freezes
well.

Note: Add any other vegetable that you might like. I like red peppers.
Enjoy!!!

Unconditional Love

I’ve decided that when I come back in the next life, I want to come back as my own dog!
I spoil my pups. They get special food, special cookies, nice toys, sleep in my bed under the covers and of course get patted and cuddled continuously!

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We are the type of people who don’t treat our dogs like, well, dogs. They are our babies and we treat them like our little children.
Someone once asked me why my dogs were so personable, so sweet, so loving? My answer? It’s easy, they were raised with all the love, gentleness and caring that I have in my heart.
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Granted, I’ve made certain accommodations around the house. I cover our sofa with a soft blanket,
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I make sure that I vacuum frequently and water dishes are always filled. I’m also never too busy for a cuddle or to open a can of food. For that I am rewarded with unconditional love and affection.
How good is that?

More Snow…

It snowed again yesterday. Not a lot, but enough to keep the trees frosted in white. I drove out to the Post Office and I was just in awe at the beauty around me. I decided right then and there, that I was so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world.

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I drove along the back roads to my home. the pine tree branches were drooping with the weight of the snow. Ah, how lovely.
Children were playing with their sleds, and tossed snowballs back and forth, their cheeks bright pink from the cold. How special.
I parked in the garage, and came up the stairs and looked out onto the patio. It needed to be shoveled so the dachshunds can make their way to the back yard.
More shoveling!!!
That’s when I decided that Florida looked pretty good too!

Must Love Snow

We had another snowfall on Sunday night. I would say we had about three inches of really heavy snow. Every tree was covered, and the world looked like it had been frosted by God himself!
Immediately the debate began in my mind. Do I drive to Waterville Valley on the slippery roads to ski or do I stay home in my nice warm house?
I drank some coffee and thought again. Do I drive to Waterville Valley on the slippery roads to ski, or do I stay home and shovel the snow all around the house?
Hmmmm. That’s a no-brainer!
In short order I packed a breakfast and put the Jeep in 4-wheel drive and pulled out of the driveway.
I was on my way.
The entire ride was spectacular. Mile upon mile of frosted trees and slushy roads, but I have a Jeep and I drove through it with an ease that truly surprised me.
After walking up from the parking lot to the lodge, I had a nice breakfast, put on my gear and made the first run of the day. I was amazed at the fantastic conditions. After the first four runs, I was sitting on the chair lift, and I decided I just had to call Hubby and tell him how great it was. Somehow I managed to get the phone wedged into my helmet and we chatted briefly. I did three more runs, before deciding to call it a day and head home.
I had my camera with me and decided to snap some snow shots.

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When I was nearly home I remembered that our friends home always shows so nicely against the snow. So I pulled way over to the side of the road and stopped to take a picture. I hopped out of the car, took the picture and then drove off.
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When I got home I started to gather everything up in the car. No cell phone! I dumped out my ski bag, my purse and checked all my pockets. No cell phone.
I yelled to Hubby and raced back to where I had taken the last picture. Hoping…
As I drove up I could see it lying on the ground. I ran over, picked it up and jumped back into the Jeep. The phone rang.
“Did you find your cell phone okay?” asked Hubby. Ha, ha! Hubby was calling to make sure the phone hadn’t fallen under the seat in the car.
I still cannot believe that I found it. That is hadn’t been run over. And that it wasn’t damaged at all!
All in all a very good day.

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Many of you have asked, and I have been thinking it is time to write about one of the most devastating moments in my life. It is, after all these years, still the most painful time in my life, and if I allow myself to dwell too much on it, I will get lost in the past. So, I will try to write about it now and then put it away for perhaps another 20 years.

In 1985 I was married to my ex-husband, Bob, and we had just finished building a small house in southern New Hampshire. We did everything in it from the design, framing, insulation, wall boarding, painting, etc. It was quite an accomplishment.
We had two daughters, Amanda age 8 and Katie age 6. Katie had just graduated from Kindergarten at the end of May, so she was already out of school, while Amanda was still in classes for another few days.
We had planned a huge house-warming party to show off our new home to family and friends for the 15th of June. The weather was good and so we thought it was all coming together.
On the 13th of June, the electric company came and did the final hook up for our water heater! Finally hot water. The workman suggested I wait for an hour or so before using the hot water. Great, I thought, I’ll go out and do errands while I wait for my first hot bath in our new home.
Katie and I dressed in our work clothes, got our 4-month-old puppy Sheba, and climbed into my 1979 Ford Fiesta car. It was a beautiful, warm sunny June day, with such a bright blue sky and not one cloud. We stopped at the bank, and we stopped at the hot tub shop to make the final arrangements for the delivery of our new tub. I was happy and I felt carefree.
Katie and I climbed into the car and headed to another store to get her and her sister new bathing suits. Both the girls had grown over the winter and their swimsuits no longer fit them.
As I started the car, I looked over at Katie and smiled. She had buckled her seat belt and locked her door. Just as I was getting ready to move the car she looked at me and said, “Mom, put your seat belt on too.” Little Minx! So I dutifully put mine on and off we went.
As we drove we listened to the radio and we talked. Out of the blue, Katie said, “I love you so much Mommy!” and I replied, “I love you too, Katie!”
Less than a mile from our intended destination, the traffic light turned red. I shifted out of gear and slowly came to a stop.
That is all I remember.

Continue reading “”

Greta, Oh Greta!!!

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I let the dogs outside yesterday for the usual run in the back yard. Shubi and Fritz made short work of it and hurried back inside for their cookie treats, but Greta seemed to just disappear! I called and called, slipped on my jacket and started walking around the house. Where was that little devil?

I called and called. Ice Fishermen on the lake heard me and waved! Still no Greta.

I came back to the doorway and called again. Nothing. Darn that little dog! I walked down the stairs, convinced that she had somehow run away and that I would never see her again. I started to feel tears sting my eyes.
I turned to walk back up the stairs and tell Hubby that our little girl had run away. Just then I saw a flash of fur rush past me and up the stairs! As I reached the top of the steps there stood Greta with her tail wagging wildly! She was, of course, looking for her cookie!

She got her cookie and I took a deep breath filled with relief.

I”ve Got Nothing!

I’ve got nothing today. Nichts, Niets, Niente, Nada, Nothing!
Since Hubby’s knees gave out and he spends his days in a bathrobe in front of a computer screen drinking coffee, and I spend my days, doing all his work and mine, I am finding very little that is funny to write about.
Here is a sample of yesterday.
After making our breakfast and putting in time on the exercise bike (also known as the machine of torture), I showered, dressed and put all the trash, newspapers and bottles into the back of the Jeep and did a dump run. I will have you know that I was the only woman there. I’m not saying that women don’t do their own trash, but I think somehow, the men get stuck with this job. After sorting through all of our junk, clear glass here, brown glass there, green glass here, newspapers there, etc… I told Hubby that I plan a quick run to the Recycling Center once a week so it’s a more manageable job.
I picked up our mail at the Post Office, and arrived home just in time to let the dogs out and in, and then made lunch.
Meanwhile, I had laundry going, so immediately following lunch there was a basket of laundry to fold and put away before, Fritz was demanding that I open the door and let him out again. I must note here, Fritz is always on the wrong side of the door!
I attempted to straighten the family room. (I should just forget this and go with the fact that it’s going to be a little crazy in here while Hubby is laid up).
Then it was time to make dinner. I covered my Perdue Oven Stuffer Roaster with herbs and placed it in my rotisserie, while I snapped the beans. The dogs also needed to be fed.
Now isn’t this exciting?
I tortured Hubby with the scent of the chicken cooking for an hour and 20 minutes before I fixed our plates and served dinner.
After that I cleaned up the kitchen, let the dogs out and in again, climbed into my pajamas and then just vegetated in front of the TV.
So that’s my life.