The Friday Five ~ August 7th

The Friday Five

The week was a busy one for us. It seemed each day was planned around an activity or two. Some good and some sad. So here goes.

  1. My week started off with me being exactly two-tenths of a pound away from a total weight loss of 50 pounds! It sort of hit me that all my planning and hard work have paid off. I’m just about 20 pounds from my goal weight!
  2. My weekly meeting with my friends was a very good one! We all sort of unofficially drafted Holly to be our Leader. I have to tell you, she is a born leader and she is doing a wonderful job keeping us focused on our weight loss journey! I have known Holly since 2008 and consider her one of my very special friends.
  3. I had to take Arnie and Anneliese in for their re-checks. Arnie had to have blood drawn and it’s been sent away.50084565102_5f947152a3_3kArnie has made quite a good recovery from Lepto and he is back to his spunky self!
  4. Anneliese needed her urine checked and again she has another UTI. We’re all at a loss as to why, but Anneliese’s medical history (many UTIs and of course the breast cancer, not to mention being nearly blind), so the Vet and I decided that she will go on antibiotics indefinitely.Anneliese copyWe will keep her comfortable and do what we can to make her last months on earth really good ones. At nearly 14 we feel so lucky that we have had her all of this time!
  5. And today I am off to see my Glaucoma Doctor. I have not been in since Covid-19 all began, but I need my pressures checked. After that, I will be driving to my daughter’s home to spend the night! I foresee lots of pool time with my two grandchildren!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

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TBT: As The Years Go By

I went out today and walked around the cement pad we had poured for the camper. We’d done it the first year we were here.

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We put our handprints in the wet cement and our initials.

We had two dogs then. Our old White German Shepherd, Max.

Max at sunset

These are his prints.

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And the love of our lives, and many others, Shubi.

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These are Shubi’s little paw prints.

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We loved having their footprints in the cement. It somehow blessed this land that we had decided to call home.

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Shubi and Max.

Today, for the first time in many years, I saw their prints, and our hands and remembered all those years ago. I smiled, I cried a little and then was thankful for all that Hubby and I have now, and the three dogs we are blessed to share our life with, but also thankful for the dogs we have known in the past.

Me with my Shubi in the camper.

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“And oh how the years go by
And oh how the love brings tears to my eyes
All through the changes the soul never dies
We fight, we laugh, we cry
As the years go by”

Lyrics by: JENNINGS/CLIMIE

Another Busy Day

My Tuesday was rather incredible. Jack had an appointment to be fitted for shoes (After the amputation he needs special shoes) and he asked for me to go with him. After he wanted to see the new Grocery Store.

We were due to get the remains of Tropical StormĀ Isaias. It was cloudy and humid on our drive over, with a few spits of rain. But nothing heavy.

I sat in the car reading while Jack went in for his exam. As I sat, all of a sudden, the skies opened, and the wind blew, and it was like being caught in the middle of a terrible storm!

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I watched people come out of the building, run for their cars, and get soaked to the skin. It made me happy to be sitting in the car reading my book.

Finally, Jack was done, and he came out. Lucky for him the rain had lightened and he did not get drenched!

I think the new super grocery store overwhelmed Jack. He began to seem tired and so I skipped many isles, and just got to a register and checked out. I did not finish my shopping, I just wanted to get him home.

But he had two more stops to make and by the time we got home and put things away and sat down for lunch, it was after 3 PM, and I was deliriously hungry and not able to think clearly.

After eating a small lunch I tried to rest a little, but the house and husband and dogs kept me on my toes. As did the Tropical Storm.

The Storm has been with us now for a bit. Not as bad as some places, but with high winds and rain we have had flickering lights, and outages with our satellite.

I managed to prepare a quick and easy dinner and get it all cleaned up. So, if the lights go out now, I could care less.

As I work hard to lose weight, Jack is having trouble keeping weight on. (If only that were my problem!) So, I bought him a pie at the store and although he insisted he wasn’t hungry at dinner I forced him to eat.

Meanwhile, I hold fast to my goals. This week was a very good week! I lost 2.2 pounds bringing my grand total to 49.8 pounds lost!!! I am a very happy girl!

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Memories Growing Up

I was thinking about my family recently. Growing up, I recall that my mother’s family got together a lot. When I was very young, we all met up at my Grandmother’s House in Brighton, Massachusetts. She had a three-story home, that at one time or another had housed Grandma and Papa Fred; her parents; her sister, Tilly, and Tilly’s son, George; Papa Fred’s sister, Hedwig and her husband Abert; my Mom and Dad; and my Uncle Bob and his wife Cynthia and their two children Carl and Erica.

Now, these people all passed through the house at one time or another, never all at once, but somehow, Murdock Street was the home base for many years.

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Family always gathered at Grandma’s house to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. It was always so much fun. Good food, a lot of laughs, and a lot of hugs. My memories of those long-ago days are still very strong. I recall each family member, be they my Mom’s brother and his family, or all of Papa Fred’s family, as he had many brothers and sisters.

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Papa had a heart attack when I was about 10 years old and Grandma and Papa moved closer to us in Falmouth, on Cape Cod. They moved three streets away from us, and I remember running through the woods to their house. The door was always open and they were always happy to see me.

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Grandma Honey & Papa Fred

The family parties continued, although I admit, they’d gotten smaller because slowly, the family was dying off. Papa was the youngest in his family and I recall his brothers and sisters passing early on. All except the eldest in the family, Hedwig, and she lived to be very, very, old.

In any case, after a few years, Grandma and Papa needed more help and so they bought a house with my Mom and Dad. It was a beautiful big home. Which meant, the family parties continued.

It was great because All the cousins were getting married and having children, and suddenly the parties were filled with babies, toddlers, and children! There was a small lake down the road and in the summer, during the cookouts, this meant swimming times too!

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When parties were planned, everyone came. They came to see Grandma. She really loved family and would plan everything and call everyone. Mom would do most of the cooking, with Uncle Betty by her side, and Uncle George and my Dad were great at flipping burgers and hotdogs.

I can still taste my Mom’s potato salad! And why is it that the watermelon tasted so much better when we were all sitting on the fence spitting seeds?

I miss those days. I miss all those people. I miss the family gatherings when we all were together. They do not happen anymore. My sister Melodie and one cousin, Janet, and I get together twice a year. But gone are the days of those big family gatherings.

MB Surf DriveMe at my Beach. Surf Drive Beach.

Right now I am trying to establish a time each summer when I share beach time with my grandchildren. I want them to have the Cape Cod experience. I want them to know salty air, sunsets into the ocean, and cookouts that last forever. I want them to spit watermelon seeds while they’re sitting on a fence and Dairy Queen runs on a hot summer night!

So many wonderful memories of my own childhood.

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Summer Coats

Sunday found me giving the two dackels hair trims. It’d been a while and both were overgrown and I also found their fur matted in places.

Both are elderly dogs and I just hate bothering them with stuff like this, but it had to be done. Tomorrow will be a bath day for both of them and me.

Currently, with their fur trimmed, they look absolutely adorable! After their baths, I will strip their coats when they are dry. Ah, this is nice for them. Less fur and no mats!

Here is Arnie after his trim. He’s a handsome boy with a full wire-haired coat. He takes a lot of work to strip and keep up with.

20200802_170927I must have taken a pound of fur off of him!

And, here is Anneliese. She has a shorter, tighter coat and it’s easier to take care of. She is also easier to do because she actually sits still!

20200802_154928So the pups are looking pretty spiffy and they even seem to have a spring in their step! Or at least they do for now. I’m sure when I get their baths done tomorrow in the sink they will be none too happy!

Things I have Learned

I think the biggest thing I have been doing the last seven months that I have been following The WW Green Plan, is to write down each meal (using their online App) and plan out what I am going to eat.

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Here I am at 10:15 on Saturday morning and I know what I will be eating the rest of the day.

A friend told me she couldn’t be so rigid with her eating. Her life would stop if she had to give up the things she loves.

I told her I don’t “Have” to, I “Want” to.

I’m sixty-one years old. I’ve been waiting for the “Skinny Fairy” to arrive. I’m guessing it isn’t going to happen in this lifetime.

What this means to me now, in order to avoid becoming a Type 2 Diabetic, or developing a heart problem, changing the way I eat, the very way I look at food needed to change!

And it has. Big time.

I’m a Carb-a-holic. This means there isn’t a loaf of bread, donut, cake, cookie, or breading that I do not crave and love. In fact, it’s funny, even when I am not eating bread, if I am making Jack a sandwich, I will hold the bread close and “inhale the scent” of it. Ahhhhhh!

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There are certain foods I know I cannot eat because they trigger me to start down that bumpy road.

Sugar is also one of those things on my addiction list. I have ended my love affair with the white stuff. It took about two weeks of going cold turkey before I got the need for sugar out of my system.

I’m learning to fully enjoy new things. Melon, berries, apples, garden salads, and this is a big surprise, Carrots. I’ve always liked carrots, but now I cut them up and add them to my salad. I love them!

I have given up pork and salty ham. Never a favorite, so it wasn’t hard to eliminate it from my eating plan. I love to eat fish (any kind) and I love poultry. And very occasionally I will enjoy some beef.

I know I need to use portion control, but I also need to use my head to pick and choose foods sensibly.

I’ve written a lot about my journey on WW because it helps to keep me honest with myself. I also hope that if anyone else is struggling with their weight, maybe they will see that there is a way to lose weight and still eat!

I admit that after the age of 60 it’s a little tougher to do, but not impossible.

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Something New

I’ve decided to try out this way of answering your comments, in hopes that more people will comment here. Below you will see the comment area. Simply write your comment and tick the box Notify me of new comments via email before you submit the comment. I will reply here to each comment and you will get notified. Who knows? This could be fun!

How toA Blogging friend of mine does this on his Blog and I always enjoy his feedback on my comment and the comments of other readers.

So, let’s give it a try!

The Friday Five July 31st

The Friday FiveWell, here we are. The very last day in July of 2020. Another month and the summer will be over. I am actually grateful that right now time seems to be going by very fast. In fact, the sooner 2020 ends, the better!

Alas, here we are, and so, here is this week’s Friday Five!

  1. This week was not what I had planned. I’d started cleaning out my closet and was mostly successful. But the heat slowed me down and I still have the shelves to finish.
  2. My daughter had given me a beautiful Vera Bradley pocketbook last Christmas! I so adore it. However, the last month, my left shoulder has really been bothering me, and my right as well. What to do, what to do? Well my daughter has these cute wristlet type wallets and I found one to match the purse and best of all, it is on a small strap.20200727_164911Just enough to carry my credit cards, and cell phone! It slips in my purse for long-range trips, and then I pull it out when I go grocery shopping.
  3. While doing laundry I noticed that there were telltale signs of mice! Ugh! It is a big process, to go through everything, find the nest, vacuum and wash everything and throw some stuff away. At first, I was grossed out, but now I am thinking how good this is for me to get rid of a lot of crap! I will be bringing a load first thing in the morning to the Recycling Center
  4. So while I cleaned in the basement, from 8:30-3:45, I realized I’ll be down there a lot for a while. The bug has bitten me and I want to basement clean, NOW!
  5. Lastly, The two dackels have finished their antibiotics and I will need to bring them in some time at the end of next week or the beginning of the week after for blood and urine tests. They both seem to be doing well, but I need testing done to prove to the Pharmaceutical Company that Arnie really did have Lepto and I believe Anneliese did too.

So that’s it for the week. I’m getting a lot done, but I am reminded that I am not as young as I once was as my body creaks and I groan!

Have a great weekend!

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I’m Tired

I’m tired. I admit it. I think I finally have hit the wall as far as carrying the load on this whole Covid-19 thing.

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Since March I have been essentially doing all the work in the household. Looking back, I thought it would only be for a few weeks, and now, here we are, at the end of July and our Governor announced that they are expecting a surge in our numbers and we should continue to stay in, protect ourselves, and our elderly population.

My days start early. I am up with the first glimpses of light. The dogs are cared for and I am usually able to find some peaceful time, but with the dachshunds having been sick recently, this did not happen.

I’m not thrilled about going out or ordering out meals. Not that we actually have many places to chose from, but I am not comfortable.

This means I’m cooking six separate meals a day. My meals, and Jack’s.

I’ve let the house cleaning slip a little admittedly, so today I am overwhelmed with vacuuming and washing surfaces down.

And that all makes me tired!

I know, wah, wah, wah! I am full of self-pity and woe. And personally, I do not find it very becoming on me either.

But, I’m tired!

I realize that it’s not just physical tiredness, but I think emotionally I am tired too. How long will this whole Covid thing be with us? How long will normal life not be normal?

I remember the good old days when I went to a WW Class. Afterward, I would slip over to TJ Maxx for a little retail therapy, and stop here or there running errands. Remember those days?

Now, I can report to you, I have not been in a store for retail therapy since early March. The only store I go to is the grocery store. And thankfully, my friends from WW and I have decided to get together once a week at a local Park and share in our weight loss journeys and crazy wild lives.

Thank God for my friends!

I am also deeply grateful for my diet. Planning my meals and staying on this plan has kept me sane. I know I would be a lot more unsettled if I were gaining this whole time instead of losing.

So I apologize, gentle readers, for basically having one giant pity-party today. I just needed to get it all out!

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My Thoughts

In the last few days, I have been reading excerpts in articles about the book Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand have written about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. They claim they never spoke to them about any of what is written, but certain events and accounts of them were obviously given to them by the dynamic duo.

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Here are my personal feelings about the entire Sussex Affair. Please read the disclaimer below.

Meghan Markle grabbed on to being a “Senior Royal” the second that ring was on her hand. She obviously never understood that one must “EARN” the title.

This was another odd thing. Senior Royal? Who the heck coined that term?

The only Senior Royals are the Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince William

Even back in the day, pre-marriage, and children for the Queen’s children, it was always understood that the line of succession started there, behind the Queen.

Personally, I was leery of MM even before the wedding. I didn’t want to be, but something in my gut suggested that she was, perhaps, a very good actress. And Prince Harry had led a somewhat sheltered (spoilt, gets everything he wants and has never worked a day in his life!) life, it would not be hard to turn his head.

MM’s family members claim that she studied the Royal Family. Most especially Princess Diana. And looking back over the last few years I have watched her dress like Harry’s late mother time and time again.

The new book claims that Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge are horrible snobs with bratty children.

Well let’s see, William has never missed a beat. He is a good son, a good husband, and a good father. He recognized that the public would want to be part of his life.

He and Catherine have graciously shared their children with the world while maintaining their privacy.

William and Catherine are good leaders and excel at being Patrons of their charitable organizations. They are the bright light for England’s future.

In my opinion, MM has done nothing but demand things, have temper tantrums, and has been displeased with everything offered. It is never enough.

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Imagine, you are given a Fairy Tale Wedding, to a Prince in a beautiful land (not your own). It is completely paid for, and the groom’s father, who will one day be King of the land, walks you down the aisle.

Your living expenses are covered, as are all of your clothing expenses. A driver takes you wherever you want to go, and a chef cooks for you and housekeepers clean for you. No more “Tidy Bowl” moments for you Ms. Markle!

In return is was expected that she follow the rules of decorum. Dress in proper clothing, wear stockings when at official gatherings, and conduct herself in a manner becoming a Duchess.

She did not. She was bitter, angry, fired people for not doing their jobs “good enough” in her measure. Others simply left to escape her wrath.

When her baby arrived, there was no announcement for some time. We didn’t see the baby for a while either. After the initial viewing, that was all we saw until Archie was presented to Desmond Tutu.

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The people of England and the world were never included in Archie’s life. Except when his publicity hound mother wanted to make a statement.

The unhappy Sussex Family somehow made their way to Los Angeles California. This is where a “Little Fish” Prince and his wife and son can pretend to be something special.

Who would ever have thought that anyone could turn our hardened hearts about Camilla? She has worked tirelessly, quietly. She has made Prince Charles happy, and she has never missed a beat with her Patronages. She is a delightful Lady!

After the last two years, we’ve seen what a real selfish family and friend wrecker can do in short order. Harry no longer speaks to any of his family and friends. MM may think she is Royal, but no, MM was never Royal. You have to work hard to earn that.

Since we live in a fishbowl of sorts, please read the disclaimer below.

Disclaimer: All material on my blog is found in the public domain and is for entertainment/discussion only. It complies with the US fair use and UK fair dealings guidelines. It is up to the individual to make up their own mind and do their own research. Everything written in this blog is considered ‘allegedly’ in its correctness. I sometimes voice my opinion which might be wrong. I sometimes post information I don’t agree with for discussion purposes. I DO allow FAIR CRITIQUE of people in professional roles ie: the British Royal Family BUT will not allow any form of racism, body shaming, pack mentality, or similar abuse on this Blog. While I disallow & moderate inappropriate language in the Blogs’ comments section, I am not responsible for the comments and might not necessarily agree with the comments. I do encourage lively debate and opposing ideas, but reserve the right to delete conversations if they are obvious trolling or inappropriate.

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