Dackel Princess

The Latest on Anneliese and Arnie

The last few days have found me sort of running around trying to do my very best for Arnie.

Leptospirosis is a tough illness. I am hoping that since I caught it fairly early on, that Arnie will make a full recovery.

Anneliese seems somewhat better, which is a huge relief. She is finally happy with me again, as I finished washing and drying her little dog bed and all her blankies. She is eating well and seems more like herself.

If only Arnie was following her right along. This morning (Wednesday) he was still quiet and not drinking! Call me panicked!

I was wracking my brain on what I could give him that he would like. I called and checked in with my Vet, who reminded me that if Arnie became dehydrated he would need to go to Boston where they could isolate him. (Insert a long string of obscenities here)

I went off, with a car full of garbage to drop it off at the Recycling Center. Only, it was Wednesday and they were closed! Ugh!

I went over to the Grocery store to pick up a few things and I was walking down the soup aisle when I turned and saw Tuna Fish! Arnie loves tuna and he loves tuna juice! Four cans were quickly purchased.

I got back out to my car and upon getting in the smell from the garbage assaulted me! I mean, oh my, sweet mother of all that is holy! The stench!

I drove home with a plan. I would remove each trash container and rebag in supersize garbage bags. Then I set about cleaning the garbage cans.

All I can say right now is that I don’t get paid enough to do this kind of crap!

Arnie loved the tuna and tuna juice and he ate a good lunch and dinner. He is still very weak and all he wants to do is sleep. That’s okay. Right now, this is what he needs to be doing to get well. It is still very hard for me to see him this ill. He is my baby-boy and this just breaks my heart.

So now I need to bring the trash to the Recycling Center today and then get ready for the 4th of July craziness here in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire.

Despite thunderstorms and heavy rain, the Tourists have all come and my town population is swelling to unheard-of levels. No one wants to fly, so people are taking “stay-cations” and we are a beautiful place to be.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Are you currently making plans of any kind? What kind? What emotions are associated with the planning process? Tell us about one plan you had to cancel due to the current situation which shall remain nameless. Ha!

Well, I have no plans. Right now I have two sick doggies, and they both need my love, affection, and attention. I have become nurse, pharmacist, and doggie chef. Anneliese seems to have turned the corner, but Arnie is still one very sick boy and he will be for a while.

It’s my hope that at some point I will be able to get away to see my grandchildren, but right now I simply cannot leave Arnie.

2. Last time you saw stars, either literally or figuratively?

Tuesday. I am not sure what happened. I am thinking it is stress. But just before lunch I was so dizzy I needed to lie down. Arnie and I took a two-hour nap and now I am feeling slightly better.

3. Blueberries yay or nay? Blueberry pie, blueberry muffins, blueberry yogurt, blueberries by the handful…what’s your pleasure?

I love Blueberries! Blueberry anything!!! So sweet and so very good!

4. Swim against the tide, swimming upstream, in the swim, sink or swim, makes your head swim…choose one of the ‘swim’ idioms listed and tell us how/why you relate?

Makes my head swim! Yes, right now with so much doggy illness and neediness around me, my head is swimming.

5. Sum up your June in a single sentence.

It was the best of times and the worst of times, with health and happiness and sickness all around.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

The healthy lifestyle change continues. I am doing great! Another week with a good loss, and now, I am a mere 28 pounds from my goal weight! I am happy and proud and thrilled all at the same time.

It’s the hardest thing I have ever done and yet, once I set my mind to it, I did it. Learning the correct way to eat was a really big thing for me. I also promised myself that this will be something I will carry through the rest of my life.

Arnie is Home

On Monday morning at 7:30, I drove over to the Emergency Vet and picked up Arnie. He came out the door and looking around, and I said, “Hi Arnie!” and as soon as he heard my voice his head went up and his tail began to wag! I got him in the car and we drove home.

At 8:30 I called our regular Vets and they took over Arnie’s care. They had just vaccinated him for Leptospirosis in January of this year. Anneliese as well. Lili was vaccinated in May. So on paper, everything is current. But for some reason, Arnie’s vaccine seems to have failed.

My Vet is helping me deal with the Pharmaceutical Company, as they will cover much of Arnie’s treatment.

He also began with a good protocol and schedule for treatment. I had to go out to the office with Arnie and both the doctor and the technicians that work there were very concerned about this happening to our boy!

The other dogs were happy to see Arnie. I was surprised at how delighted Lili was. She was dancing around Arnie with her happiness.

Anneliese sniffed him a lot and her body language said so much. And of course, Jack and I are both thrilled to have him home.

I’m still washing everything I can in the house. My washing machine and dryer have been going non-stop, morning until night.

At least I know I will sleep better tonight. I will have my boy in bed with me and I can listen to his muffled breathing. Such peace.

Sick Dackels

I am contributing to the college funds of several Veterinarians’ children.

On Friday we had Anneliese in with her Urinary Tract Infection. Testing to be done, and medications. I brought her home and began nursing her back to health.

On Sunday, Arnie woke as usual, and just went downhill super fast. One minute he was okay, and the next he was staggering all over the place and couldn’t lift his leg to pee.

This was a dead giveaway that something was going on and it was serious. Ever since Arnie was about 6 weeks old, that boy has lifted his little leg to pee!

At 9:40 I was in the car with Arnie to race the one mile from my home to the Emergency Veterinarian. Arnie was shaking violently by then and throwing up.

At first, we thought it was a simple infection, but then the blood work came back and it showed he has Leptospirosis. (Despite the fact that he has been vaccinated!) It was decided that Arnie needed to stay overnight to get IV’s and Antibiotics.

He was so out of it, that he did not care about being in a cage. However, after some lovely IV Fluid, and antibiotics pumped into his veins, he started to come around.

I called the Vet’s several times to check on him and they told me that he was singing the song of his people! That’s my boy!

He will need a long course of antibiotics and rest when he gets home. This is a serious disease.

Meanwhile, I was washing everything when I came back home. Lepto is highly contagious to humans and other animals. So all my bedding was washed and dried, the floors were washed, the bathroom floors cleaned and tomorrow I will work on the mounds of laundry I now have. At least, my bed is made and sleepable!

So, that is the story of my sick dackels. It’s so hard emotionally to deal with all of this, but what can I do? I put one foot in front of the other and just keep going.

Happy Birthday to my Mom

She was born Rosamond Ruth Prussman, to parents Frederick and Mary on June 28, 1929. She had a much loved older brother, Robert, and a cousin George, (who grew up like a brother to her). In fact, until the day they passed, they really adored each other.

Mom’s brother, Robert, and his wife Cynthia.

Aunt Betty, Larry, Janet, and Uncle George.

She met my Dad when she was 13 and she was dancing and my Dad played the piano. I asked Dad once what made him look twice at Mom and he said “It was a bright red sweater that she was wearing! She looked so beautiful in it! I was hooked!”

A collage of their life together.

They married early on, and Dad finished getting his teaching degree. They moved to Monument Beach, Massachusetts,

and lived in a little white cottage in the Burtonwood section, where my brother, Richard, and my sister Melodie were born.

Then they moved to Falmouth, Massachusetts, and shortly after, Mom had me.

My parent’s stayed married for well over 60 years.

Mom was with him until the end of his life, and really until the end of hers too. She never remarried. I think in her mind and her heart she was always Jimmie’s girl!

Her last days were spent, not in fear of dying, no, Mom knew Jesus Christ and she knew she would see Dad again. She just worried about Mel and me and all of our cousins.

Me, Mel & Janet with Mom.

This was the last time we were together before Mom was diagnosed with Liver Cancer. It was a wedding. Mom was so happy to be with us all. I almost didn’t go because of my facial surgery, but I am so glad I did now. Seeing her so happy and sharing that day with her, left us all with wonderful memories.

The last time I saw her, at Hospice Care, Mel and I, sat there, with Janet and the four of us were talking quietly. I asked Mom how we would know if she was with us. She smiled and said, “You will see butterflies, and that will be me.” This really surprised me because she always had related to beautiful flowers in the past.

But you know what? We see beautiful butterflies all the time. And we smile!

Family Party June 26, 2010 027

Happy Birthday, Mom!

We Love you and we miss you!

Anneliese

I woke early on Friday morning. The day before I noticed that Anneliese was going down-hill fast, with, what I suspected was another urinary tract infection.

I’d prepared her little pan to catch her urine, and was ready to go as soon as they could fit me in.

At 9:15 I carried Anneliese to the car and off we went. It was a beautiful day, sunny, warm but not humid. The sort of summer day one always wishes for.

The trip took no time and soon I was in the parking area of their office. As I sat out bounded a beautiful White German Shepherd! This dog could have been Lili’s twin! Of course, I had to meet them. I jumped out of the car (putting on my mask) and spoke to the husband and wife. Soon their other dog was brought out. Two amazing White Shepherds!

Beautiful White German Shepherd boys!

Next, it was Anneliese’s turn. She was just burning up with a fever of 104 and she is a very sick little girl.

I knew she was. I hoped she wasn’t. There are moments that I find myself almost holding my breath with the thought of losing her.

I knew Anneliese before she was even born. I recalled the moment of her birth. She was the last one out, the littlest of her litter, Greta’s first litter, and when she came into this world she came out kicking and screaming. So unlike her brother Arnie and her three sisters.

She was a scrappy little thing and I admit she stole my heart at that very minute although, I recall saying, “We sure aren’t going to keep that one!” Famous last words! She might be loud, but quite early on she let us know she had a heart of gold.

Anneliese and me.

That was thirteen and a half years ago!

Thursday night I dreamt of my Vet. He came to me in the dream and told me that I needed to prepare myself as Anneliese wasn’t long for this world.

Needless to say, I woke with a start and couldn’t get back to sleep. Later when I told my Vet about the dream, he said he tries never to say that to his patient’s families, but that yes, Anneliese is slowly moving toward the end of her life. I’m glad he validated my feelings. Now I have to enjoy Anneliese, while I mentally prepare for her loss.

That will not be a good day.

The Friday Five

Well, this was just the nicest week! Probably one of the best since the Covid-19 lock-down. So, here we go. Why this week was so darn nice!

As I wrote on Thursday, I got together with my friends in a safe way. We got to catch up with each other and share our lives once again. The best!
During my visit with the girls, they reminded me that a new Grocery store had opened. It is 13 miles from my home. I used to go to their sister-store which is 22 miles away, but after going to the new “Super Store” which is closer, I doubt I will go back to the other!
The new store was filled with everything one needs to live. As soon as a person would take things from a shelf, a clerk would be right there filling the shelves back up! The store is immaculately clean and well designed. And I am in love! Best of all, I was able to get Jack’s favorite soups which he has had to do without during this lock-down.
Jack mentioned he would love some of my homemade potato salad. They had beautiful new white potatoes in the new market, so I bought a bag and made him a batch. It came out very well.

We’re hoping for rain over the weekend. We are currently in a drought and desperately need rain! My grass is looking parched and crunchy. We have had amazing sunrises and sunsets! Here is one of the sunsets from this past week!

So that was my very happy week. I hope you all have a wonderful, happy, and fun-filled weekend!!!

Why Tuesday Is The Best Day Of My Week

During this horrid Covid-19 lock-down there were not too many days I would have termed as my good days. It was a very narrowly lived life. I fixed three meals a day and would go out once a week to collect mail and groceries, before racing home and jumping into the shower to de-germ myself.

My State has been doing very well. We have been on the way down with new cases, with only 15 new patients on Monday and Tuesday. Best of all, there have been no deaths in a few days!

Last Tuesday my back row group of WW Attendees, my pals, my gals, my friends, all met up at a local park in my town. We get there early and bring our own lawn chair to sit on. We share the Big Lake (Lake Winnipesaukee) with the ducks and geese and the Ultra-Lite Planes, and we sit there talking and smiling at each other, while we enjoy being together once again.

Most of us have been devoted friends since 2008. We gathered a few more into our group and we share our ups and downs and struggles, and best of all, when the chips are down for one of us, the others are there!

In fact, after my Staph Infection, I quit WW. I told the girls I wasn’t coming back. I was miserable, depressed, and in pain, both physically and emotionally.

My girls arranged a lunch with me and took me out. They encouraged me, with their love and concern to come back. I realized I didn’t just need my Class, I needed them. So I went back.

From 2017 until 2019 I didn’t do too well in Class. But I never missed one meeting unless I was sick. Wednesday Morning = WW Class.

I wonder if WW will reopen our Class? I’m thinking that they may not. It isn’t that the Class wasn’t big enough, we were 50-75 people strong year-round. But the one strike against us is that we are all middle-aged women, and we do not fit WW’s new Branding. Too bad because there are a lot of us 60+-year-olds who have been loyal members for years.

Anyway, We’re going to keep meeting at the Lake for the Summer, and will figure out what to do in the Autumn when things begin getting colder around here. But, for now, we have each other once again!

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. This time last year where were you?

Just back from my vacation and trying to get caught up with my life.

I was also really getting into my birds.

2. In honor of National Pink Day (June 23rd) tell us your favorite pink food or beverage. Was it on the menu at your house yesterday? Do you like to wear the color pink? If we came to visit would we find this color in your home decor? Blush-Fuschia-salmon-raspberry-your favorite shade of pink?

I used to love pink and various shades of pink, but in recent years I have become a blue lady. I am not wearing any pink today.

3. Stop and smell the roses, looking through rose-colored glasses, a rose by any other name, not all moonlight and roses, no rose without a thorn…which rosy saying currently fits your life in some way? Explain.

Stop and smell the roses. I am trying each and every day to remember to look around me and find things that are beautiful and good and lovely. There is too much in the world that is bleak and bad. No, we should all, Stop and Smell the Roses!

4. Are you a ‘reader’? Do you tend to read lighter books in the summer months? Do you have a summer reading list? If so, give us a title or two.

I used to devour books. That was before all my eye surgeries. Now my eyes become very tired, very easily. I do like light reading when I do read. Romance, the simple family reads. I do not like horror or murder mysteries. I LOVE reading to Savannah and Quinn!

5. Share with us one rose and one thorn from your weekend.

My three roses.

Anneliese.

Arnie.

Lili.

And my THORN!

I am not happy with this week’s weight loss. I am sure in the grand scheme of things there is some cosmic reason for the crappy weight loss, but it really ticks me off! I do not eat the way I once did and you would think it would show more than -.4! I know the grand total is good, but I really like it when I lose more than a pound a week. Errrrr!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Since the numbers on the scale were not kind to me this week, I will double down and try even harder. Hopefully, I will do better next week!

Turkey Scallopini

Turkey Scallopini

This is a quick-cooking meal made with turkey breast slices. This recipe is a winner when you only have a few minutes to fix a satisfying meal. Instead of the flour/egg/bread crumb combo (featured below the recipe), I use Extra Crispy Shake & Bake.

Ingredients:

package (17.6 ounces) turkey breast cutlets
1 package Extra Crispy Shake & Bake
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
PAM
2 tbs Olive Oil
Minced fresh parsley
Lemon Wedges

Directions:

Flatten turkey to 1/4-in. thickness.
Mix package of Shake & Bake and Parmesan Cheese in a bowl and mix well.
Then Place on a shallow plate.
Cover each Turkey Cutlet with the Shake & Bake and Parmesan mix.
Chill for half an hour.
Spray a large skillet with PAM and heat olive oil over medium-high heat;
Cook turkey for 2-3 minutes on each side or until meat is no longer pink and the coating is golden brown.
Sprinkle with parsley & lemon wedges.

Note: I like using my cast iron skillet and when I do that I just use the olive oil.

Alternate Mix:

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 large egg
2 tablespoons water
1 cup soft bread crumbs

In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, salt, and pepper.
In another bowl, beat egg and water.
In a third shallow bowl, combine bread crumbs and cheese.
Dredge turkey in flour mixture, then dip in the egg mixture and coat with crumbs.
Let stand for 5 minutes.

*Follow the cooking directions above.*