Dackel Princess

Crazy Busy!

Forgive me, dear readers, for not being on top of things in the last week. I’ve been pretty busy, and by the time evening rolls around, all I am thinking about is climbing into my cool, comfortable, bed.

Excessive heat combined with errands and mail runs, and then laundry, groceries, and dogs. Well, heck, at 61 I admit, I’m tired!

But something happened today that hasn’t happened in a long time. I heard my cell phone ring and I was doing laundry in the basement, so I ran up the stairs. Yes, you read that right. I RAN up the stairs, and best of all, I did not collapse at the top of them!

I also had another wonderful moment today! I am now 47.4 pounds down! Now this made me pretty happy, especially when I put a picture from a year ago next to my most recent picture. I feel like I am starting to look like the Me, I feel I am.

On the left is June 2019 and on the right July 2020

I still have a ways to go in my plan for weight loss and better health, but I am really proud of what I have accomplished!

Finding Joy

During Covid-19, many people are having trouble finding the joy in life. Right now, life is still hard.

Many people are still not working, and many are working from home which can be its own source of stress. Long hours, children running around in a state of summer boredom, and those darn meals and dishes that don’t seem to ever get done by themselves.

I’m dealing with a husband, who has been in lockdown since mid-March. He has gotten short-tempered and sees very little joy in his life. He yells a lot. He yells at the TV and at me. Last night I had just about had it.

Early on, during the Covid-19 Lockdown, I admit to being scared, literally a wreck! I would wake in the morning with aching jaws after clenching my teeth all night long. Thankfully, I have a bite guard, or all my teeth would be cracked by now!

Anyway, I decided that I needed to find joy in each day of my life. Be it big or small.

Certainly, the success I have had on the WW Plan with losing weight has helped me, and I worked hard creating good meals for us and trying very hard to live in the land of light.

Once I began to see my grandchildren every few weeks, that also has helped.

My daughter’s family has isolated very strictly like I have. Hygiene is the most important thing for me and for them. So expanding our bubble to include each other has been such a joy!

Tending to, and finding a return to health for Arnie and Anneliese, although stressful at the start, makes me feel so very happy.

Things in the world are crazy and wild, but I try to stay grounded and remember the love, the joy, and the hope for a better future for us all.

I know it isn’t like this for everyone, and I wish I could help them find their own Joy, but this is something they must do for themselves.

Have you been able to find your joy during Covid-19?

The Friday Five July 17th

Ah, the summer is halfway gone. We’ve been having sunny skies, hot temperatures, and somewhat lazy days. Here is my Friday Five list of what’s happening!

I went in on Wednesday and got my hair cut and re-colored. I look more like myself once again.
My poor hair, uncut since February really needed to be shaped. Call me happy.
I returned for a re-check on my Corneal Abrasion. All is going well, with the exception of my eye pressure. That was up slightly.
My Pampered Chef Party is going well. We have a few more days to go, so if you want a little something from the party let me know.
A close family member has come down with some sort of Virus. We are all hoping and praying that it is not Covid-19.
I’ve been watching a lot of documentaries and Veterinarian shows. I so enjoy this type of TV.

So, that’s it for the week of July 17th. I hope yours was a happy and healthy one!

Getting Things Done

Tuesday found me determined to do a big, deep cleaning in the master-bath. This room is so big, it’s like an apartment in New York City! Yes, that small and yet for a bathroom, that big!

I love this room, with its double sinks, shower with a small seat inside, and separate potty. But the one thing I would do differently if designing it now would be to not put in a heart-shaped jacuzzi. It is so large and it is very hard to clean.

That being said, I left that for last, but in the meantime, I did sinks, floors, lavatory, and vacuumed everything, including the tub.

That’s when I got into trouble. You see, Lili’s heavy white fur, and a little moisture, will clog any vacuum! Thankfully I was able to fix it with pliers as I pulled out the clog!

Lastly, I washed the tub. It took me forever, but during this time Jack actually was skating on thin ice as he directed me on how to do it!

So the Master Bath is spotless, and the throw rugs are drying. They’ll be all set tomorrow. The Master-bedroom is vacuumed as well as the family room and kitchen.

Wow, this really was a lot!

And lastly, I tended my Pampered Chef Party and made meals. Of course, my back is biting me right now, reminding me that I should have slowed down and worked a bit more carefully.

That’s okay, tomorrow I will be seeing my friends in the morning and then in the afternoon I will be going in to see my Hair-Stylist and I will get my red hair fixed!

Stay tuned!

This & That July 14th

Yesterday I was busy, busy, busy, and in the end, all I really got done was three loads of laundry, one bed changed, and three meals. I did attempt to get more done, but between my back (slightly sore right now) and helping Jack with a few things, I just was not accomplishing that much.

Well, okay, I admit. I was on the computer a lot as I was helping to co-host my Pampered Chef Party. You know that is actually a fun thing. And I have enjoyed every minute.

Arnie and Anneliese are doing much better, although neither of them enjoys the heat and then the loud and heavy thunderstorms that come along with that. Needless to say, Poor Lili hates any sort of weather except cool, clear, and quiet weather! Currently, she is pacing during this noisy thunderstorm we have going, complete with pea-size hail!

I am now down 46.4 pounds! Call me thrilled! I have lost 5 and a half inches off my waist! Yay!

And if anyone would like to join my Pampered Chef Party you can follow me HERE to join the party! Sadly I cannot ship out of the USA, but join in the fun if you are Stateside!

The Weekend Wrap

Over the weekend I decided to lighten my hair with the lightener that Madison Reed sent to me. The very dark brown was not rocking my world.

So, I read the directions and set out to “lighten my hair”. Just a shade or two!

What happened will go down in another volume of “Things Maribeth Will Never Do Again”!

My hair came out a very orangey/reddish color. Which on some people looks very nice, but on me, not so much!

Ugh!

Yes, it’s this bad!

So I wrote to my hairdresser and threw myself on her feet, begging for mercy and help. I go in to be normalized on Wednesday!

I call this shade Corona-19-Red!

This about the craziest thing I have ever done with my hair. I’m just not that much of an adventurer!

I am also all set up with my Pampered Chef Party. As I said, if you want an invitation let me know.

The two dackels seem to be better, although they tag team me as to who is feeling better and who is feeling worse. I suppose this is to keep me on my toes.

It’s been hot, humid, and hazy here for the last week and it looks like the week ahead is going to be the same. At least having lost 45 pounds, I am no longer hiding under heavy clothes.

Have a great week Everyone!

Let’s Party!

After 32+ years of marriage, I have been buying some new kitchenware. My daughter had a Pampered Chef Party earlier this year, her cousin had one this Spring and now it’s time for me to have one of my own.

For those who are not familiar with Pampered Chef, they sell wonderful cookware, utensils, and bakeware. I’ve slowly been buying things, and what I have gotten has been really good quality.

Anyway, I will be sending out invitations via Facebook. Should you wish to join in the fun, and take a peek at what Pampered Chef has, send me a message in FB Messenger, and if we are not already friends, Friend me.

You can also send me your email address. My email address can be found in the side-bar.

So, tomorrow I will be setting up the page with the Online Host, James. He is such a nice man and makes these parties very fun.

As Tropical Storm Fay approaches, I am tucked safely in. Let the rain fall!

Stay happy, healthy, and dry!

The Friday Five

For a while, 2020 seemed to be going along at a snail’s pace, but here we are in early July, and I feel like life is starting to get on a roll. So, here’s this week’s Friday Five.

This week has been so busy. Tuesday started my week by having a meet up with my WW friends, from our now-defunct class. It is the best way we can keep in touch and share in each other’s weight-loss journey.
Wednesday started with me driving to my Veterinarian’s Office to get pills for the dynamic duo. It’s 20+ miles there. From their office to the grocery store it’s another 20+ miles. All on back roads in my hilly and mountainous State of New Hampshire.
I did a full shopping at the huge market, taking me almost 2 hours to get it done. Once checked out, I went to my car in the heat and put my cold stuff into coolers and then grabbed an apple, and bottle of water for the 20+ miles to drive home. Really, when you live in the sticks like this, nothing is close and everything is a drive away, and the drive is never an easy one. But, luckily, some are very beautiful! And Wednesday it was splendid!
Thursday I fixed the problem we were having with Turbotax. I knew I could do it, I just needed to figure out the glitch. Fortunately, I did and the taxes are in the mail!
The donation to St. Vincent DePaul was made 56 items of my larger clothing have been donated to those who might need them. It was so hard to say goodbye to those clothes. But, they are gone. And my life moves forward.

Have a great weekend and stay safe and healthy!

TBT: My Nose & Me

Seven years ago, my face underwent a rearrangement due to Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma. If the surgery had been on my leg or arm I think I could have handled it better, but having my cancer right smack dab in the middle of my face was hard. Very hard.

The picture below was taken well after the initial surgery. That is somehow too gruesome to reshare. You can go back to March 2013 if you’d like. I posted pictures back then because I was really struggling with the horrific image that met me in the mirror each morning. It took me well over 7 months of additional surgery to get to where I am today.

Below as I look today. Scars have faded and after extensive reconstruction, this is the face that greets me now. I can handle this. I think it’s not so bad.

Savannah asked me about this one time. I explained that I felt ugly back then and she was the only one who never noticed. She smiled and said, “That’s because I see your heart, Oma.”

Out of the mouths of babes.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. The Hodgepodge lands this year on National Secret Keeping Day…on a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being I’m a blabbermouth and 10 being-I’m a vault) how good are you at keeping secrets?

Interesting. I used to have loose lips, but when I entered my 60’s I realized that keeping my own council was a good thing. I’m not a 10, but I am far better than I used to be!

I read here nine jobs for people who can keep a secret-cybersecurity worker, executive assistant, housekeeper, lawyer, nuclear plant technician, physician, private investigator, psychologist, security guard. Of the jobs listed, which one most interests you and why?

Psychologist. I would love that as I truly believe that talk therapy can make so much difference in people’s lives.

2. What’s the secret of life (or one of them anyway)?

Live, Laugh, and love. Be selfless and giving and you will lead a happy life.

3. Off the record, best-kept secret, a fly on the wall, top-secret, my lips are sealed, secret shopper, as quiet as a mouse, poker face, spill the beans, open secret, bite your tongue…which secret idiom can you best relate to right now? Explain.

Off the record. Arnie’s illness is causing everyone to be very nervous. I cannot seem to get people to speak to me on the record..yet..about Arnie’s illness. But the day will come.

4. Spill it, what’s the secret ingredient in one of your favorite recipes?

Parmesan cheese added to my meatball recipe gave it a really rich flavor!

5. My mama celebrates a big birthday tomorrow. Share a favorite quote, song lyric, saying, or verse of scripture that will add some sunshine to her day (ours too!)

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I know Arnie is feeling better. He is running around, barking at Lili and the day to day hum of doggy life is returning to normal. For all of this, I am very thankful!

Have a great mid-week everyone!